The Good Old Days.

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

For years after I started going in 1956 the only song we sang was ' Ilkley Moor bar t'at' but it did feel as though the whole crowd sang it. We had a crowd limit of 57000 in the 60's and we filled the ground regularly in cup games. What days they were. Burnley, Norwich, Wednesday.

Norwich had their current song "On the ball City" which I still know word for word. Don't think the other two had a song. Maybe Arsenal was another 57k crowd.

Anyone know when Ilkley Moor first became a Blades song? I used to love it, particularly on away Cup days. But being as its about the wrong part of Yorkshire, it seems a bit daft now.

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

...or the reply "we'll get that bastard milkman for you"....

It's been a while since anyone risked a half time proposal of marriage to be roundly greeted with "You don't know what you're doing" from the Kop

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

I was a late starter at 17 when I moved to Sheffield in 1971.

My memory extra to those listed was of Keith Macklin. Before the South Stand was built the TV cameras and commentators were on a tower on the cricket pitch. Keith Macklin was the commentator for Yorkshire TV and a legend in his time. He was the Murray Walker of football, making huge gaffs in facts all the time during commentary. One famous occasion he said something like - Goal, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Manchester United nil, no that should be Sheffield United 1 Manchester City nil, no wait a minute it was in the side netting!

We stood on the John Street terrace near half way, and always started a Macklin, Macklin chant as he came out and walked all round the pitch to the TV tower before kick off. He always laughed and waved as he went round.

UTB

In roughly the same era (I first started going 72/73) we sat almost at the front of the John Street seats, just to the Kop side of the half way line.
Always remember an old fella, he would be mid to late 60's and was probably a fixture & fitting, used to sit in front of us, I think he may have been called Ivor.
He had a really deep booming voice & was rather vocal in his criticism of Utd, not in a nasty way and sometimes quite funny. He had a knack of waiting until the ground had gone relatively quiet before launching in to them. I have no doubt whatsoever that the players on the pitch heard him perfectly well, as we were told later on you could clearly hear him in the South Stand.
"Come on girls" was one phrase that particular sticks in my mind, used quite a lot during the 76/76 season as I remember.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It's been a while since anyone risked a half time proposal of marriage to be roundly greeted with "You don't know what you're doing" from the Kop

Replaced these days by, does she take it up etc etc etc

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Memory may be playing tricks but I seem to remember fellas delivering it shouting "Green Un" as they walked up & down the streets on a Saturday evening. Went out & stopped him if you wanted one. That was S2... Bennett Street.

All the houses on Bennett Street were demolished in the 70s, I think? Used to spend ages playing on the bricks and rubble, it was like a giant adventure playground.
I used to get my GreenUn from this shop on Bramall Lane/Alderson Place. Shop long since demolished.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Another memory from the late 70's and early 80's was there wasn't much live football on tv
So any live football on tv was seen as a big event.
Match of the Day with Jimmy Hill was really really popular
Shoot magazine was also really popular.

The FA Cup final was massive, an institution that the whole country watched and showed interest in.
The whole build up was televised starting early morning and there were FA cup related shows the night before too.

FA Cup final day was the most magical event ever - back then.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Used to buy a new set of studs and laces from the sports shop on Bramall Lane. Always knew I was ready for a new pair of boots when the nails from the studs came through the soles of the boots and wrecked mi' woollen socks

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

The numbers in the crowd wearing donkey jackets with either 'British Steel' or 'NCB' on the back. The smell of Wards bitter after effects ( you'll know what I mean) mingled with cigarette smoke, bovril and pies. The anticipation of the scoreboard guy leaving his seat, hoping he was changing for a goal against the piggies. Guy outside the Kop in his white coat with a red star on the back selling papers. The trench in the middle of the Kop getting filled with water on rainy days.

 

[cahill]

Well I'm writing as I sit here in my private apartment in the palace of Versailles, Carla Bruni is getting ready to entertain with songs from her new album, and entertain me if I play my cards.....

Football today has become too mainstream, everybody has to support a team eg " Call me Dave" and Prince William support Aston Vile, "luvvy" and self declared " British Treasure" Stephen Fry supports Norwich, you get the picture.

As someone mentioned above you were looked down on as common if you were a football fan, something you didn't talk about in "polite company". Being a football fan was firmly a working class past time. The secondary school I went to De La Salle ( passed my 11 plus) wouldn't field a football team, had to be fucking Rugby, Union of course.
I much preferred standing, still do, but today it's all seated, all inclusive, ( middle classes, women !!)

Somethings are much better, more inclusive, less racism, language less disgusting, less violence. As mentioned earlier you could stand with opposing fans without fear or wanting to kill.

I really miss that early Saturday evening thrill of waiting for the Green Un to be delivered to see how the Blades had got on, ( if you hadn't seen TV)

I dislike the tribalism of today where matches require Policing like military operations

 

[cahill]

All the houses on Bennett Street were demolished in the 70s, I think? Used to spend ages playing on the bricks and rubble, it was like a giant adventure playground.
I used to get my GreenUn from this shop on Bramall Lane/Alderson Place. Shop long since demolished.
View attachment 23935

Fantastic shot that, brings back the memories

 

[grafikhaus]

It was Park drive, Woodbine and Senior service fags on the terraces, but the smell I aways recall was the pipe and cigar smoke coming from the 'posh' seats at the back of John Street. A bit like Christmas.

Aah. Christmas matches with the smell of Manikin cigars (cigars were a bit of treat back then), and the Salvation Army band playing carols.

I was a late starter at 17 when I moved to Sheffield in 1971.

My memory extra to those listed was of Keith Macklin. Before the South Stand was built the TV cameras and commentators were on a tower on the cricket pitch. Keith Macklin was the commentator for Yorkshire TV and a legend in his time. He was the Murray Walker of football, making huge gaffs in facts all the time during commentary. One famous occasion he said something like - Goal, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Manchester United nil, no that should be Sheffield United 1 Manchester City nil, no wait a minute it was in the side netting!

We stood on the John Street terrace near half way, and always started a Macklin, Macklin chant as he came out and walked all round the pitch to the TV tower before kick off. He always laughed and waved as he went round.

UTB

Back then when we were scheduled to be on ITV, the equipment was delivered in an old furniture van (painted in the old YTV shitty brown). So frightened were they about the game being on TV and affecting the crowd, when the furniture van was unloaded they used to park it down a side street where few people could see it.

For a brief time, you could go to the club shop (either that corner terrace on John Street or the newer one at the corner of John Street/Shoreham Street) and buy a video of the 'highlights' of a single game.

 

[cahill]

Aah. Christmas matches with the smell of Manikin cigars (cigars were a bit of treat back then), and the Salvation Army band playing carols.


Back then when we were scheduled to be on ITV, the equipment was delivered in an old furniture van (painted in the old YTV shitty brown). So frightened were they about the game being on TV and affecting the crowd, when the furniture van was unloaded they used to park it down a side street where few people could see it.

For a brief time, you could go to the club shop (either that corner terrace on John Street or the newer one at the corner of John Street/Shoreham Street) and buy a video of the 'highlights' of a single game.

A "video" ?

Positively modern

 

[Dnblade]

Started going mid '60's..used to get in at least an hour early and try and get on the white railings behind the Kop goal..if we were late I'd go further along or John Street or Lane terrace.
Remember you could walk around at Half time...It was mainly a male crowd,cig and pipe smoke...flickers of light with people lit up around the ground when it was dark...I remember the build up with what became familiar tunes on the tannoy..the Kop would start to fill until the first songs from the middle sections at the back went up until out ran the red and white wizards...Hodgy greeted to the goal...then the big roar at kick off.
Half time was often a marching band,although I never liked them...once at a game in '74 when they were still down at the Lane End still determined to finish their tune as the game kicked off.
On the Lane End you would often be mixed in with a few away fans..remember Hull fans commenting on how the Kop seemed to echo,while their team performed an X rated hatchet job and kicked us off the park.
Used to buy Shoot and Goal magazines,save Footy cards with a stick of bubbly before the soccer stars pinini type stickers came in...Green'un every Saturday tea time,Motd,Sunday Soccer on tv plus ...and Sportsnight with David Coleman or Midweek Match for Football and Boxing in midweek,usually through the crack in the front room door as I sneaked down to watch it...Boxing also on the radio listening to Ali,Cooper,Bugner,Frazier,Finnigan,John H Stracey fights.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Noticed mi old stud spanner on a shelf in the garage today.

25 years old?

 

[blade too long]

golden goal tickets
driving new cars round the gravel track at half time .
the big step halfway up the kop separating top half from bottom
chats with the scoreboard man at the pavilion
knowing wendies had conceded when he ran to change the score
the ads for joining the army on the entrance steps kop bottom half
asking the st johns ambulance man to sit down as he was blocking the view in the kop corner
the surge in the kop when we scored could move 20 yards without trying to
hurling the same abuse at every winger who took a corner , thi missus is shagging the milkman
a massive number of balding men playing football

 

[Sean Thornton]

Whole groups of kids in duffel coats, then Parkas, then Crombie style coats as the fashions changed. Posh kids wore macs, not the plastic ones you had when it pissed it down at Blackpool.

Even earlier those type of car coat things that for some reason the Royal Family still dress young Princes in even today.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Old gadges sucking on aniseed twist. Programmes 16 sheets of paper wide. Chelsea fans with axes in their jackets.

 

[Silent Blade]

J
6. The first led, organised chanting group of fans started, I'm guessing, about 1965. They occupied right behind the goal about two thirds up the kop. Prior to that we had stood there. I remember the leading lad' s face well, long greasy blond hair and let's say a 'worn, lived in face'. For some reason I think he worked on the railway as my dad did. He might have been about 21 years old when I was 15.
.

Bob Socks thinks Everton fans started it and in 1965

 

[CarlingBlade]

You don't get the mid game announcements any more that a member of the crowd's wife has just given birth.

I remember one early 90's, "congratulations mr xxx, 10 mins after you left the hospital your wife gave birth to a baby girl", I can't imagine that bloke was popular with his missus.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Banners and flags on the Kop

The white railings around the ground .

Matches , cigarette lighters being lit in the old stand especially at night matches .

The white small dug outs .

Massive floodlights .

Watching the match under the cricket pavilion and being able to walk around the ground and stand behind each goal.

Being a ball boy for a season covering the cricket pitch.

Mr Harris telling the players to stop swearing .

Serving Mr Harris tea at half time from a silver service .



This season and next could top everything for us all , young and old .

UTB

 

[Keen Blade]

Another big difference to today was if there was a big match at Bramalll Lane or Hillsboro then a good percentage of BOTH Unitedites and Wednesdayites used to go. Hence the reason for some of the massive crowds pre 1970.

My Grandad & quite a few of his contemporaries went EVERY WEEK to either Swillsborough or the Lane , it was so cheap to get in.

 

[fuerstenberger]

I remember, it must have been late 80's, finishing my game here in Germany, showering quickly and going to the phone box outside the ground and phoning, was it blades line? Waiting with a pounding heart whilst they drivelled on for ages with the welcome etc. then finding out the score. It cost me a bloody fortune. I would collect two Marks coins through the week for that call. It was towards the end of my career when I became obsessed and I couldn't wait till I got home and phone my dad. I also remember listening to Wolves v Blades, 2 all I think, with my team mates. It was on AM radio and it kept fading out. I went mad at the end, can't remember why. My teammates were a tad baffled, though they do love the passion of players and supporters in The UK.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

My Grandad & quite a few of his contemporaries went EVERY WEEK to either Swillsborough or the Lane , it was so cheap to get in.

The best thing I loved about Hillsborough is seeing all the blue leather cushions being thrown on to the pitch from the stand at full time when they had lost and were in the shit .

Great to watch .

UTB

 

[Keen Blade]

Fantastic shot that, brings back the memories

What ? You mean Woodward demolished a load of houses with a shot ? Mind you , I'm not really surprised.

 

[DaveBassettsgoneonholiday]

All the houses on Bennett Street were demolished in the 70s, I think? Used to spend ages playing on the bricks and rubble, it was like a giant adventure playground.
I used to get my GreenUn from this shop on Bramall Lane/Alderson Place. Shop long since demolished.
View attachment 23935

1979 I think.
My Grandma and Auntie lived next door to each other.... both in their 70's and they were pretty much the last ones to leave.
Most of it was rubble,as you say, by the time they left

 

[Supermatic]

Saturday nights, huddled round the Redifusion 22", 625 lines..hmmmm. The verisimilitudinous compare, Leonard Sachs, discombobulating the viewers with his brobdingnagian adjectives... The Black and White Minstrels, hmmmm, racist isn't it? Well, half of em were. Never actually saw the white ones. Down at the Old Bull and Bush -tra-la-la-la-lah, Arthur Askey, Arthur Lowe, Arthur Atkinson... Where's mi washboard? Have you seen it missus? Was he there? Hmmmm, was he? Was he? Isn't it? Hmmmm? Isn't it?

 

[Blackheath Blade]

The sight, sound and smell of the Kop when you'd climbed up to the top of the steps on a night match.

Unforgettable

It still is mate, it still is.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

The best thing I loved about Hillsborough is seeing all the blue leather cushions being thrown on to the pitch from the stand at full time when they had lost and were in the shit .

Great to watch .

UTB

Lord Bos - one of the only few times that I saw my late father absolutely "lose it" was the night at Hillsborough in the late 60's when the Pigs were relegated by Manchester City. I was only 10 years old or so and they only needed a draw to stay up. My recollection of the game has faded over 45 years but I remember it was pissing it down all night and City played in that fantastic red and black striped away kit.

City apparently did everything they could within the laws of the game to give Wednesday the point they needed but sadly, rolleyes the game ended 2-1 to the Mancs and the pigs were down in the 2nd division.

Me and my dad were in the cantilever stand (North Stand for you young uns) and at the final whistle, there was a deafening chorus of booing and swearing which was quite scary for a young lad who'd never heard that sort of thing before. Then the missiles started.

Coins, fag packets, programmes, season ticket books, scarves etc all started raining down onto the pitch. I'd not seen a season ticket before so I went scrambling under the seats to keep one as a souvenir while my dad and many others started to hoy the blue cushions onto the pitch as well. Red in the face and eyes blazing, he was like a man possessed when climbing over rows of seats to get a spare cushion and chuck it towards the departing, crestfallen players.

On spotting me on my hands and knees looking under the wooden seating, he shouted at me to ask what I was doing. On showing him my collection of season tickets, he barked out: "put them back where tha's found em and go and find me some more fuckin cushions sharpish !!"

Great memories.

 

[Sheffsteel]

In the 80's there was always an old bloke walking up and down Bramal Lane
with a billboard round his neck saying "The end is nigh"

 

[Sean Thornton]

In the 80's there was always an old bloke walking up and down Bramal Lane
with a billboard round his neck saying "The end is nigh"

Pommpey wasn't old in the eighties surely?