Do other fans have a soft spot for us?

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

I was just wondering from your experiences whether you've found from your friends/acquaintances outside of the rolling hills of South Yorkshire, or during chats pre-match from opposing fans, whether other people have a soft spot for Sheffield United?

I've found this on many occasions, and I've known a fair few people who support big clubs but will always look out for the blade's score.

Not that this makes much difference to us as a club, and you could argue its only because we've been largely a failure over the past 20 years or so, but there is definitely something about Sheffield United that draws people in.

Having a think about some of the possible reasons:

• The whole Tevez affair had many neutrals side with us
• Clubs have a lot of respect that we can still attract 20k supporters after 6 years in league 1
• We have that tongue in cheek pessimism (unlike our neighbours)
• We've had our fair share of cup runs and upsets which is always good for the neutral
• Fans like travelling to our "proper ground" in a city centre close to the train station
• Some fans probably disliked the whole mob culture around the resigning of Ched Evans with certain celebrities shoving their nose in

Then again saying all this I'd rather us be very successful with everyone hating us!

 

[Yewsman]

One of my former work colleagues is a PNE fan but lives in Sheffield and has soft spot for us. His two sons are now massive Blades!

 

[Newbury Blade]

Before they were billionaires, Man City fans used to empathise with us as the true city centre club representing Manchester and Sheffield respectively, unlike the middle-class suburban tossers of Man U and Wendy. Not sure if this is still true.

 

[Blade for Sale]

I think for most fans we must be the perfect away day.
Ours is a traditional yet comfortable, large stadium, in a central location of a city which is pretty accessible from most places, by car or public transport. Allocation is usually generous, and atmosphere is probably comparable to anywhere, with the exception of the really big games where I think we exceed most places. We also have one of the best ale scenes of anywhere in the country. You see it mentioned regularly on Roygbiv's previews that people genuinely look forward to a trip here.

 

[I should coco]

Having a think about some of the possible reasons:

Er what about some of the negatives (from other people's point of view):

-Blades fan at Pompey running on the pitch and decking a linesman
-Basset long ball
-Colin
-The battle of Bramall Lane
-Tevez dragging on and us appealing (losing on the last day to Wigan - we weren't good enough)
-'Fan' spitting at Graham Taylor
-Signing Vinnie Jones
-Ched Evans affair and our support for a convicted rapist (at the time)
-Neil Warnock
-Bruce blahting and taking the players off after the Arsenal FA cup 'goal'
-Building on the cricket pitch
-Neil Warnock
-Defensive display at OT in January, no attempt to win
-Kicking Yorks CC out of their original home
-Sean Bean

On balance I'd guess we are no more liked or hated than any other 'middling' club.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

My experience is that people don't tend to like us...

Clubs in this league think we are arrogant. Clubs in higher leagues think we are a hoof ball team - not helped by the amount of commentators who year after year perpetuate that myth.

Most will acknowledge that we get good support though.

 

[Houso]

Yeah, I think we're pretty much universally disliked!

I know whenever a thread comes up on 365, we're probably one of the top 5 clubs for hatred outside of normal rivalry. And interestingly, our dear cousins from across the city are often held in best regard, not least for the their time in the sun around 25 years ago.

Couldn't less in all honesty. I'd rather be hated than forgotten.

 

[Caveblade]

I was just wondering from your experiences whether you've found from your friends/acquaintances outside of the rolling hills of South Yorkshire, or during chats pre-match from opposing fans, whether other people have a soft spot for Sheffield United?

I've found this on many occasions, and I've known a fair few people who support big clubs but will always look out for the blade's score.

Not that this makes much difference to us as a club, and you could argue its only because we've been largely a failure over the past 20 years or so, but there is definitely something about Sheffield United that draws people in.

Having a think about some of the possible reasons:

• The whole Tevez affair had many neutrals side with us
• Clubs have a lot of respect that we can still attract 20k supporters after 6 years in league 1
• We have that tongue in cheek pessimism (unlike our neighbours)
• We've had our fair share of cup runs and upsets which is always good for the neutral
• Fans like travelling to our "proper ground" in a city centre close to the train station
• Some fans probably disliked the whole mob culture around the resigning of Ched Evans with certain celebrities shoving their nose in

Then again saying all this I'd rather us be very successful with everyone hating us!

• The whole Tevez affair had many neutrals side with us - Alternatively you are a bunch of whining northerners who couldn't accept relegation.
• Clubs have a lot of respect that we can still attract 20k supporters after 6 years in league 1 - Just because you have 20k fans, you think you are too good for League 1.
• We have that tongue in cheek pessimism (unlike our neighbours) - Bunch of miserable northern gets!
• We've had our fair share of cup runs and upsets which is always good for the neutral - Plucky little League 1 team (said in a very patronising way)
• Fans like travelling to our "proper ground" in a city centre close to the train station - fir play
• Some fans probably disliked the whole mob culture around the resigning of Ched Evans with certain celebrities shoving their nose in - Scum who supported a Rapist.

Not my views, but all counter views that I have come across. Some like us, some hate us, some really are not bothered. I don't really care, I am just enjoying the resurgence with the dream that we might get out of this shitty league that we are too big and good for!

 

[FlamingLip]

the majority of modern fans in my experience dont really give a toss about us. but those that do i find tend to think lowly and love putting one over us. that said, a lot of fans i chat to speak highly of Sheffield in terms of pre/post match boozers and enjoy the trip (barnsley fans aside who immediately break out in dingle shingles as they cross the border)

 

[JJ Sefton]

Who cares?

 

[Bayingblade]

Before they were billionaires, Man City fans used to empathise with us as the true city centre club representing Manchester and Sheffield respectively, unlike the middle-class suburban tossers of Man U and Wendy. Not sure if this is still true.

Wendy "middle class and suburban"? Who's told you that? Their ground is a shithole, Hillsborough as a suburb is about as enticing as Aleppo and their fans swallow every bit of North Korean-like propaganda that comes out of the club without question which points to a level of intelligence akin to an Amoeba.

You were right when you said "tossers" though.

 

[super_pig]

most teams hate us IME but respect the fact we get 20k per match in L1

 

[Houso]

Wendy "middle class and suburban"? Who's told you that? Their ground is a shithole, Hillsborough as a suburb is about as enticing as Aleppo and their fans swallow every bit of North Korean-like propaganda that comes out of the club without question which points to a level of intelligence akin to an Amoeba.

You were right when you said "tossers" though.

Their ground may be in a shithole, and they may have fans from the likes of t'Cross, but I've definitely always seen us as the more... errrm.... 'down to earth' set of supporters.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Who cares?

You care enough to comment

 

[JJ Sefton]

You care enough to comment

Not about whether or not other fans want to suck our cocks though.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Funny how other people have had different experiences.

I do think that we are a lot more "interesting" than a lot of clubs - for good or for bad. Things over the past 20 years just seem to happen to us where a lot of other teams who I would consider of similar stature seem to have quite a tame recent history.

 

[Bert]

You care enough to comment

Who cares about what Walthy cares about?

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

Not about whether or not other fans want to suck our cocks though.

Well you just have done you pleb. If you don't care don't comment. If you don't agree put forward a counter argument like others have.

 

[blade too long]

I have a soft spot for Wednesday

 

[super_pig]

Funny how other people have had different experiences.

I do think that we are a lot more "interesting" than a lot of clubs - for good or for bad. Things over the past 20 years just seem to happen to us where a lot of other teams who I would consider of similar stature seem to have quite a tame recent history.

interesting!?
never a dull moment.. i'd quite like a controversy free year mid table in the championship...
chris??

 

[JJ Sefton]

Who cares about what Walthy cares about?

Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head

 

[JJ Sefton]

Well you just have done you pleb. If you don't care don't comment. If you don't agree put forward a counter argument like others have.

In a thread asking 'Do other fans have a soft spot for us?' asking 'Who cares?' is perfectly valid so dry your eyes.

 

[elgoog44]

I Have an Arsenal supporting friend who is a member of S2 -
Mullers247, he used to talk to me about it watched the boards and always looks out for our scores, I think with fans who support prem teams, they can enjoy the ups and downs with us, with out too much emotional turmoil and feel guilt free as we are not a threat, I think the relish of finishing 2 - 3 or 4th year in year out cant hold that much excitement, compared to the roller coaster we live on.....

 

[Bladepicker]

Having been an 'exile' for circa 12 years I can say we generally aren't like in the midlands - but then not many clubs our size are round here as the other midlands clubs are either smaller and jealous or similar sized so see us as some form of rival. Added to that we have had a fair share of recent controversies and DD, Semi Pro and the Hoofwaffe (copyright Pinches Incorporated Postings 2010) have done little to warm us to others.

However, as WalthamstowBlade legitimately states, in the list of things I give a shiny shit about, how other fans feel about us probably comes just above the life and times of the Kardashian's and below the economic outlook for Papua New Guinea.

I'm much more concerned how we come across to others 'within football' as that could influence our ability to sign/loan players and, under Wilder, I think we will be seen in a favourable light which has not always been the case.

 

[Robby Blade]

Like us or not, it's got to be a top away day for most fans. Off the train into pub, into ground, back to pub and train back home. No bus ride, not much off a walk, decent ground with superb view. What more for a day out?

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Er what about some of the negatives (from other people's point of view):

-Blades fan at Pompey running on the pitch and decking a linesman
-Basset long ball
-Colin
-The battle of Bramall Lane
-Tevez dragging on and us appealing (losing on the last day to Wigan - we weren't good enough)
-'Fan' spitting at Graham Taylor
-Signing Vinnie Jones
-Ched Evans affair and our support for a convicted rapist (at the time)
-Neil Warnock
-Bruce blahting and taking the players off after the Arsenal FA cup 'goal'
-Building on the cricket pitch
-Neil Warnock
-Defensive display at OT in January, no attempt to win
-Kicking Yorks CC out of their original home
-Sean Bean

On balance I'd guess we are no more liked or hated than any other 'middling' club.

Have a like , also like the avatar , stonking tune , infa riot and the business 2 other good bands from that scene .

 

[I should coco]

Off the train into pub, into ground, back to pub and train back home. No bus ride, not much off a walk, decent ground with superb view. What more for a day out?

And last season we had the special offer of a 'bonus 3 points' for the likes of Colchester, Shrewsbury, Bury etc etc etc.....

 

[Bayingblade]

Their ground may be in a shithole, and they may have fans from the likes of t'Cross, but I've definitely always seen us as the more... errrm.... 'down to earth' set of supporters.

I prefer grounded, discerning and enlightened when it comes to us Blades, Houso......................

Despite the best efforts of one or two on here to prove otherwise

 

[I should coco]

Have a like , also like the avatar , stonking tune , infa riot and the business 2 other good bands from that scene .

Never saw either of those but I've just finished selling the old vinyl on eBay.

I guess the lyric; "One law for them, but another law for us" would fit the Premier / Football League chasm quite nicely these days....

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Like us or not, it's got to be a top away day for most fans. Off the train into pub, into ground, back to pub and train back home. No bus ride, not much off a walk, decent ground with superb view. What more for a day out?

Yes but we don't have a park next to our ground.