WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
We catch up with Sheffield United’s 1983-84 promotion-winning side
KEITH EDWARDS admits he was stopped by his wife from celebrating Sheffield United’s promotion – they went up by just one goal!
The prolific Edwards won the Golden Boot after firing the Blades to a second promotion in three years with 42 goals, two years after leaving cash-strapped Hull.
But it could have been so different had the Tigers beaten Burnley by three clear goals in their last game of the season, which would have seen them promoted instead.
Difficulties
Edwards, who blasted four goals on the opening day of the season against Gillingham, was left at home listening to the game, which Hull won 2-0, on the radio.
“It couldn’t have got any closer, with Hull being my former club. It made pipping them to the post somewhat special for me,” he said.
“At Sheffield United, we recognised we’d got as low as we could and there was only one way to go, whereas Hull were still trying to get over their financial difficulties, which is why we made progress quicker.
“My time at Hull was difficult because they were broke. I had to be sold to finance some of their difficulties.
“I went back to Hull in 1988 and had some fantastic times there, but the Blades were my team and got promoted by one goal – and how often has that happened?
“I remember a few of the lads went with Colin Morris to the Hull game because he had a connection with Burnley.Then there were half a dozen that went out.
“I sat in and listened to it on the radio but couldn’t stand it too much.When we realised we were going up, I wanted to go out and meet the lads but our lass wouldn’t let me.
“So, I missed out on it. I should have been out with the lads, though we made up for it later. It was a great set of guys at the club then.
“A lot of them were from the North-East like me, but we had a few Yorkshiremen. We all got on great.” 1. Tom Heffernan: A right-back who became a painter and decorator in Bournemouth but has now returned to his native Ireland, remaining in the same trade. 2. Joe Bolton: A full-back who featured in The Housemartins’ hit Happy Hour. He was Matlock Town boss and is working as a lorry driver in his native Birtley. 3. Keith Waugh: A goalkeeper who became youth team manager at Watford before joining Bedfordshire police. He has been a detective for the last 14 years. 4. Paul Stancliffe: A defender who has been assistant manager and youth team coach at York before becoming head of youth of Doncaster Rovers, where he is professional phase development coach. 5. Gary West: The England youth international defender is back living and working in his native Scunthorpe. 6. Paul Tomlinson: A goalkeeper now living in Dronfield, Sheffield, where he has been working in the pub trade. 7. Tony Philliskirk: The former striker went into coaching and is head of youth at Oldham Athletic. His son, Danny, is playing for Blackpool. 8. Glenn Cockerill: A midfielder who managed Woking and Winchester. Has also scouted for Carlisle and Brighton. Now working as a painter and decorator. 9. Steve Charles: A midfielder who has managed Gainsborough Trinity and is working at Norton College, Sheffield, as a tutor in sports science. 10. Kevin Arnott: A midfielder who worked in the family building business in South Wearside. Then became a driving instructor in his native Tyne and Wear. 11. Jim McGuigan: The former Crewe, Grimsby, Chesterfield, Rotherham and Stockport manager died in Chesterfield in March 1988, aged 64. 12. John McSeveney: A former miner who was assistant manager and later scouted for Wolves, Coventry, Bolton, Ipswich and Derby. Now retired and living in Barnsley. 13. Jim Dixon: The former trainer and coach is now living in retirement in the North-East. 14. Bob Atkins: The former defender is now living back in his native Leicestershire. Is earning a living as a prison officer. 15. Mike Henderson: A defender who was caretaker-manager at Chesterfield before becoming a policeman in Sheffield, where, for 19 years, he has been a dog handler. 16. Gary Brazil: A midfielder who went into coaching and has twice managed Notts County. He is now the academy manager across the Trent at Forest. 17. Ray McHale: A defender who twice managed Scarborough Town. He had a spell as Oldham’s chief scout, worked as an FA tutor and ran a soccer school until retiring to Spain. 18. Colin Morris: A midfielder who became a car salesman for Arundale of Bridlington. He then moved to Portugal, where he was a currency dealer. His son Lee played for the Blades. 19. Ian Porterfield: The hero of Sunderland’s 1973 FA Cup win managed all over the world before his death from cancer in September 2007, aged 67. 20. Keith Edwards: A striker who worked as a lorry driver before joining Cancer Research UK. Now a lorry driver with Sheffield Installations and has been a summariser for BBC Radio Sheffield. 21. Tony Kenworthy: A defender who moved to Scotland, where he worked for a youth training programme and then lived in Stockton-on-Tees. Worked for the Press Association. 22. Paul Garner: A left-back who stayed in his native Sheffield and worked as an insurance agent and a milkman before becoming a plumber. NOT PICTURED Mike Trusson: A midfielder who became youth team coach and then first team coach at Bournemouth. Now a coach educator, working for various county associations. Paul Richardson: A midfielder who has spent many years working for BT. Jeff King: A midfielder who settled in Derby, where he is working as a painter and decorator. Alan Young: A striker who lives in Nottingham and has worked for BBC Leicester and in youth development for Notts County, Chesterfield and Leeds. Steve Neville: A striker now living in Western Australia. He was senior coach with Sorrento FC and works as a plasterer. His son, Scott, is an Australia Under-23 international. Terry Curran: A striker, he bought a transport cafe and opened a pallet business. Later turned the cafe into a motel and Italian restaurant before selling up to a property developer and retiring. Paul Smith: A winger who became a policeman in Sheffield. Julian Broddle: A full-back who is now a policeman with the Greater Manchester force. Stuart Houston: A full-back who was twice caretaker-manager of Arsenal, managed QPR and coached a number of other clubs. He then scouted for the Gunners.