Sheffield United legend Brian Deane reveals fond memories of scoring against Sheffield Wednesday in iconic Blades shirt

Sheffield United legend Brian Deane has revealed how manager Dave Bassett once thought he had been tapped-up by another club - but he was actually suffering from glandular fever!
Brian Deane with old Blades boss Dave Bassett at The Star Football Awards Brian Deane with old Blades boss Dave Bassett at The Star Football Awards
Brian Deane with old Blades boss Dave Bassett at The Star Football Awards

The England international is one of the club's greatest-ever goalscorers and, like Bassett, his place in United folklore is assured.

Deane later made football history by becoming the first scorer in the Premier League - but it could all have gone very differently.

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"I played a game at Arsenal and got taken off after 20 minutes," Deane remembers. "I didn't have energy and didn't feel very well at all. I knew something was wrong but on the Monday, Harry called me into his office and said he wasn't happy with me.

"'You haven't been the same player since you came back from the England tour,' Harry said to me. 'I think you've been tapped up'.

"I told him I hadn't, and that I didn't understand what was wrong with me. I went to see Derek French, our physio, and asked if I could have a blood test. It turned out I'd had glandular fever for six weeks.

"I had hot and cold sweats and I couldn't sleep. I was sweating so badly that I had to change my bed sheets every single day. It was a horrendous time.

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"I got a half-hearted apology from Harry and my first game back was against the old enemy, Sheffield Wednesday, in the cup. We won 2-0 and I scored. The atmosphere was unbelievable and I was delighted with the result."

Deane revealed the story on YouTube, in the latest of his 'The story behind the shirt' series. Deane talked about his memories of the luminous yellow United away shirt, which he also wore to score again against Wednesday at Hillsborough.

"My other memory of the shirt is scoring against Wednesday away," Deane added.

"Glyn Hodges put a brilliant ball in the box and I got between Chris Woods and Carlton Palmer, and nodded it in.

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"Two great memories, and I absolutely love this shirt. It's a brilliant shirt and one that I'll keep forever."

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