Mexborough and Swinton Times December 28, 1928
Tunstall’s Hundred.
From Low Valley to the Heights.
After 73 minutes play in the match at Roker Park, Sunderland, on Saturday Fred Tunstall, the Sheffield United outside-left, achieved a great ambition and a notable feat: the scoring of 100 goals for his club.
It was a penalty kick and it marked the culmination of Uniteds grand fight back after being two goals down at the interval—and on another clubs ground, too!
Tunstall has been waiting for some time for this hundredth goal. He had already scored six in the season. All the hundred have been got in League games.
Fred Tunstall was born at Low Valley and began his career with Darfield, playing in Barnsley Association League football.
Darfield were producing good players at that time and it was not long before “scouts” were sending in recommendations for Tunstall to be watched.
Barnsley followers have never quite forgotten or forgiven their own officials of that day; Barnsley had first chance of Tunstall’s services, but they were not sufficiently impressed. It was left—as it so very often has been—for a Midland League club to make the first move.
Tunstall went to Scunthorpe and then the League clubs got busy. Sheffield United won the contest for his signature and with the club he has put in the whole of his first-class career. The rest is well known to the reader and to us: how Tunstall became England’s outside left, how he consistently kept up form that made the left always Sheffield United’s most dangerous wing, and how he developed that terrific drive that has got him most of his hundred goals. Congratulations to a great player—one of the greatest of the many great players we have sent out from this district of headgears and tips to make good among the best in the land.
For his early development Tunstall owed much to that wonderful little footballer, Jackie Turton, who played with Darfield till his untimely death four or five years ago. Another who played a part in bringing him out was Secretary John Pascoe of Wombwell, who was his wing partner for a, season or so.
At the time Tunstall was “coming out” the Wombwell club was just being formed and it was a tossup whether Tunstall would join Wombwell or Scunthorpe. It was on the occasion of Tunstall’s visit to Bramall Lane in a cup tie that the young player came under Sheffield United’s notice.
Negotiation were opened at once and Tunstall was transferred for £1000, the record fee for a Midland league player at that time. The cheque was framed and now hangs in the Scunthorpe club house.