Fred Tunstall

Who was Fred Tunstall?

Fred Tunstall was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and England.

Tunstall started his footballing career with amateur side Darfield St George's, before joining Midland League side Scunthorpe & Lindsey United. In 1922, he signed for Sheffield United from Scunthorpe for £1,000. Tunstall who played at outside-left was part of a United team who were always guaranteeing attractive and enterprising play at the time. He made his debut for United on 4 December 1920, against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The left wing pair of Tunstall and Billy Gillespie was one of the dominating partnerships in the Football League in the early 1920s. Their mutual understanding of each other, ability to command instant superiority by quick thinking, accurate passing, and determination to seize an opportunity when within goal-range, were alone sufficient to keep the Blades in contentment and respectability. The third part of an apparent attacking triangle was striker George Green, who had the ability to move the ball sweetly around the field. And between the three of them, they became one of the most admired and feared attacking units in the Football League. Only Sunderland scored more goals than United in the 1923–24 season, and Tunstall, Gillespie and Green contributed in no small way to a final league position of 5th in Division One.