A look at former Blades legend Jock Dodds, who also played for tonight’s hosts.
With Ched Evans and Darius Henderson facing criticism for their goalscoring record of late, perhaps they could take inspiration from one of United’s all-time greats, Jock Dodds.
Dodds was signed in 1934 on a free transfer from Lincoln City, and went on to top the goalscoring charts in four successive seasons.
His Blades career was almost a non-starter as United looked to bring fromer player Jimmy Dunne back to the club in exchange for Dodds, but the Arsenal man’s knee problems prevented the move.
Dodds reacted to this by scoring four goals in the following game, and firing the Blades to the FA Cup final in 1936, a game they lost 1-0 against Cliff Bastin’s Arsenal.
Eventually Dodds moved west to Blackpool where he would also cement a legacy with the Seasiders.
Despite his ‘official’ goalscoring record reading just 13 goals in 15 games during his seven years at the club, Dodds in fact scored over 200 goals throughout the wartime period, including more than 60 in their 1941/42 Division 1 North league win.
After Blackpool, Dodds moved to Shamrock Rovers, Everton and finally Lincoln City where his goalscoring continued, finishing his career with 201 goals in 308 appearances (not counting the six years throughout World War II).
The centre forward made eight appearances for Scotland throughout the war period, netting nine goals.