I don't think it's much of a contest, Billy would win Frickley's hard man contest then get capped for England's hard men, before representing a rest of the world team to take on the martian hard men.

Can anyone remember the full back we had a few years ago Terrell? Saw him spark an opponent with one punch and the rumour after his debut was that we picked him up outside the nick after he'd been released from her majesty's pleasure for GBH.

Always worth a mention is Mick McCarthy, seem to remember him chasing Souness around the pitch in an old firm game.

A different kind of hard men are the ones who get kicked to s**t but just get on with it such as Lionel Messi and George Best, rather than crying to mummy like Nani & Ronaldo.

Mark Hughes would be near the top of that list, could dish it out and take it all day

Also Mick Harford was up there with Billy, he's mentioned in a lot of ex pro's books as the hardest man along with Billy.

When Billy Whitehurst left Hull City to go to Newcastle, he was actually their record transfer signing !!

Gentleman John Harris was manager in 1971 SMS, a great team and had a great run in the old First Division until
stopped by a certain George Best at Old Trafford. I used to travel on the same train as your dad from Moorthorpe
to Sheffield. Think a few foreign defenders did kick George Best out of European games but most British players
failed miseably, too quick, too well balanced, too talented and tougher than he looked.
Agree about Big Bad Billy, SMS.
Under Furnphy that the Blades played Keith Eddy as a sweeper. It was said incorrectly that Sheff Utd needed a point
away at Birmingham City to get into Europe, I went and got concussed, the Brum fans surrounding we United fans near
the end of the match, I had very long hair then and their hooligans pulled it to get their punches in, had it cut short soon
afterwards. I have no memory whatsoever of walking back to Birmingham Railway Station.
Kenny Burns kicked, punched, elbowed Tony Currie out of the game. Furphy the manager that season.

Wasn't Steve Thomas with you Blade back then in the day, he would have taken on the Brum lot by himself !

Went to many games with Steve Thomas, not all Sheff Utd, he didn't go to the Birmingham City one for some reason,
it was a night match, either Monday or Tuesday. Steve trained with Frickley a few times but wasn't a footballer.
Think I was living at Scawsby then, travelled by train more often than not. Never saw him there or anyone else from
South Elmsall, less I saw them walking back to the station of course.

Well done Blade you have come up with a good posting here old lad. Interesting.

Thanks Frickley1, I do try, probably too hard sometimes, no pun intended.
Didn't Charlie Hartfield have some connection with East End villians of some sort? Might just have been in
his head.

that blades side was a very good team,hockey was a legend,mick speight was also a tough nut,and what about eddie colquhoun at centre half,would kick anything that moved,he had a newsagents in conisborough for years upon retirement.

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Eddie Colquhourn was a bit under-rated imo, did a great job, his central defensive partners not always very good,
particularly away from home.
I saw Rob Belfitt play for Leeds and Frickley, could be nasty when he wanted to be, Frickley1.
You're right about Mark Hughes and Mick Harford, SMS.
Roy Keane one of the harder players who could play as well. Suspose Joey Barton's record suggests he can mix it.

I'm sure i said Mick Harford John Boy, :lol

Also, they still sing songs about Eddie Colqhoun at the lane

You did, SMS, don't know where I got Ray from? Saw him play many, many times. Good in the air but poor on the deck.
'We haven't got a barrel of money, but we've got Woodward and Currie and with Eddie Colquhourn promotion follows soon, United.'
Or something like that, remember singing it in 1971 on the old Shoreham Kop - loved it when it was all standing, hate it now,
just not the same.

FRICKLEY COLLIERY/ATHLETIC HARD MEN ELEVEN.

1. WILLIAMS.
2. REED.G.
3. JONES.B.
4. HEANEY.
5. MACDONALD.
6. GILL.B.
7. HANCOCK.
8. THOMPSON.I.
9. BELFITT.
10. WHITEHURST
11. DANIELS.
SUBS:
12. BARWICK.
13. ROBBO (the red)
14. GROOME.
15. HEATH.S.
16. NELTHORPE.
MANAGER. HEATH.B. ASSISTANTS. WHITEHURST AND THOMPSON.I.

Oh, How Robbo will love you...He wasn't hard, just a Wind up merchant...i know he still reads this forum, so he will thank you and me for that. Steve "Stav" Heath was no pushover of recent times, he wouldn't take a backward step to anyone

"sponsored by Stoneacre"

A new hard man from the Frickley files (Dove will love this)............Craig Nelthorpe, all 6 minutes of him

Was just going to edit Steve Heath in as a sub, think Billy Heath would make a good manager for that side.
Robbo might not have been the hardest but he gave his all, too much so sometimes, and he did get sent off a
lot. Nelthorpe as a sub might be an idea too.