dunsbyowl Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 I came across this photograph for sale on a sports photo site. (for a mere £320!). Wednesday were playing Wolves in a 2nd round FA Cup replay when a retaining wall collapsed during the February 4th, 1914. 75 people were injured, none fatally. The game was stopped but, once resumed, Wednesday went on to win 1-0. Goal by Sam Kirkman. Attendance 43,050. Along the top is printed the date and the title "Terrible Catastrophe at Owlerton". The photograph was owned by Teddy Davison, the Sheffield Wednesday and England goalkeeper, and there is a lengthy caption in his handwriting to the lower border. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumboldowl Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Looking at that photo made me wonder how many of those chaps fell in the even greater catastrophe which started exactly eight months to the day later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Key Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 A Government enquiry determined that the wall collapse resulted from the extra weight of the large hats and long coats which the Wednesday faithful (aka The Hillsborough Heavies) had taken to wearing. The government swiftly ruled that to avoid any repeat of the 'Terrible Catastrophe' future matches at Owlerton were to be attended by males wearing nothing on their top half. Although the law was eventually repealed in an effort to boost the clothing trade as the impact of WWI began to bite, a hard-core of Wednesday supporters established the 'no shirt' tradition. Ironically, the 'no shirt' tradition has continued into the present day in the somewhat weighty form of 'Tango'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darklord Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 god dont let HIP see this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torryowl Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 terrible indeed ..... some of them have lost there caps ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffed Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 There's some top quality pointing from the man on the far right, just in front of the crush barrier and that weird white ghostly figure that someone is trying to pick up. terrible indeed ..... some of them have lost there caps ..... Fallen hats? Oh the humanity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Key Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Unusually, jigsaw puzzles of the terrible scene were quickly on sale in the club shop. Pity that this last known copy has a piece missing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torryowl Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 which part of the ground is this ? don't look big enough for the kop . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darklord Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 which part of the ground is this ? don't look big enough for the kop . looks to be a tower or a church in the background? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) which part of the ground is this ? don't look big enough for the kop . The caption reads at the "Penistone Road end" so it must be Kop - wasn't so built up then. Edited February 4, 2014 by dunsbyowl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 The Kop c 1910! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richowl Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 The Kop c 1910! Tinpot! ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunsbyowl Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) I assume it is in this corner and that white bit in the Top photo is the remains of the wall which can be seen below perhaps it was Tango's Great Grandad bouncing? Photo from 1913. Edited February 4, 2014 by dunsbyowl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southportdc Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Proud we made it to post 4 before a dig about the Disaster, we're improving guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Monkey Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Is it me or does the 'terracing' on the 1st photo look like gravel or soil with a crash barrier on it? I know in later years, the Kop hump was originally earth for a while. My dad said he used to stand up there sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredmciverslovechild Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Is it me or does the 'terracing' on the 1st photo look like gravel or soil with a crash barrier on it? I know in later years, the Kop hump was originally earth for a while. My dad said he used to stand up there sometimes. Most terracing in those days was simply earth with cinders on top and wooden boarding to keep it in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarquin Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Is it me or does the 'terracing' on the 1st photo look like gravel or soil with a crash barrier on it? I know in later years, the Kop hump was originally earth for a while. My dad said he used to stand up there sometimes. Yep thats correct -- to bring things up to date the Wigan match in the cup at Springfield park , back in Big Jacks days , we were stood on a "kop" which was clinker and soil with a couple of crush barriers . Thats if my ageing mind can remember Finished sludged up to the eyeballs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madfan Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 That looks like Grandad- centre picture, must be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owler66 Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 My great granddad was at this match and got a b0llocking from my g grandmother cause he ripped his best suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taximark Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Dunsbyowl threads are mint, love looking at old pictures of Sheffield especially Hillsborough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now