Memories Of Jimmy Hagan

terence smith wrote:

I first saw Jimmy Hagan play in 1946 when I was 9 years old. He quickly became a living legend at Bramall Lane due to his silky skills and terrific ball control.
As well as scoring regularly one of his favourite tricks was to score "in - offs" (as per a snooker game) mostly off team mates or opponents legs or bodies.
Truly a very gifted footballer, two footed, not a great header of the ball but didn't have to be.
How he would delight us today!

Ashley Hagan wrote:

i've just stumbled on this site and started reading up about my grandad. i never knew him as a footballer or manager, but he was a top grandad.
it's nice to know that people thought a lot of him as a footballer and manager. thanks for the memories.

Frank Turner wrote:

Subject: FA Cup and that wall.

I remember one particular 3rd round FA Cup tie at Bramall Lane, I think in 1953, against New Brighton who were in Div. 3 North at the time and at best could be described as a modest club.
Unbelievably they were leading 3-0 when Hagan took charge, dribbled from the centre circle into the goalmouth past almost everybody, ended up facing the wrong way and calmly back heeled the ball into the net. He smiled at Harold Brook who was centre forward as if to say "that's how to do it". The final score was 5-3 to United. Happy memories of a great player with perfect ball control.
At the back of the cop end he had a rough wall built with the goalposts outlined on it and four 2' squares drawn in the corners. He would spend hours hitting balls at those squares which came off at random angles which he then hit first time on the rebound. Legend has it that he never missed. I believe the legend.

Damian Astley

Jimmy Hagan was my great uncle, and i really mean GREAT. I have some lovely memories of kicking the ball about in the back streets of Washington with him, thinking he's not a footballer he's a magician.
The things he could do with the ball any footballer today would love to copy, and uncle Jim was in his 60's when he was kicking the ball about with me, i was 18 and found it hard to keep up with him.
His brother, my great uncle Colin Hagan, has a portrait of uncle Jim with his England shirt on, hanging in his living room, in Auckland New Zealand,when i see it the hairs on my neck stand on end, i am so proud of my uncle Jim, not only as a great footballer but as a GREAT MAN.