For Dads and Granddads everywhere

[Blade in Brid]

Firstly GCB read your threads about losing your dad and offer my sincere condolences. I've been a blade for over 50 years and can say that there is a special feeling about introducing your offspring and grand kids into the Blades way. Through all the highs and lows over the years at least I have managed to fulfill the dream of being able to take my grandson to see the Blades in the PL and to Wembley and hopefully a title win this season. Can honestly say that I am proud to have been part of the Blades 'family' for so long and that it will now continue long after I'm gone.
UTB

 

[Maidenhead]

Firstly GCB read your threads about losing your dad and offer my sincere condolences. I've been a blade for over 50 years and can say that there is a special feeling about introducing your offspring and grand kids into the Blades way. Through all the highs and lows over the years at least I have managed to fulfill the dream of being able to take my grandson to see the Blades in the PL and to Wembley and hopefully a title win this season. Can honestly say that I am proud to have been part of the Blades 'family' for so long and that it will now continue long after I'm gone.
UTB

A mere 46 years for me but I first took my son when he was 4 and 28 yrs on we still go together.

We lived in Maidenhead for most of his growing up years and although it was a long drive 10am till 8pm on home game Saturdays was real father/son time.

Results varied, fortunes varied, but the time together was priceless.

 

[Blade in Brid]

A mere 46 years for me but I first took my son when he was 4 and 28 yrs on we still go together.

We lived in Maidenhead for most of his growing up years and although it was a long drive 10am till 8pm on home game Saturdays was real father/son time.

Results varied, fortunes varied, but the time together was priceless.

Priceless indeed

 

[Bibblybobblyboo]

I am 38, my lad 5 and my old man 68. Took the lad for the first time against Chesterfield last year and since then he loves it, even gets his little sister to sing the GCB and Billy Sharp song. Live in Milton Keynes so don't get to many but he has now been to 7 games, won six and drawn one, I am hoping he is going on a Jake Wright run of games. The time I have had with my dad, together and now the three of us is great. UTB

 

[FriethBlade]

Same story for me, went to a few games with my dad and 2 sons when they were very young. Dad died 8 years ago but both my boys are Blades and the only ones in their schools in Wycombe. We only get to 5-10 games per season due to all their weekend sport but they love it and we'll keep on going until I'm 6ft under.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

It's a legacy they leave

 

[COME BACK CHED]

Took the wife to a away, FA Cup match at Altrincham [ lost 3v0 ] were Divorced now .

 

[JordoBlade]

My grandad asked my old man (his son) to take him to a game a few years back, something he'd not asked in a long time. He passed away not long after and my old man is convinced that my grandad just knew his time was coming to an end. Football can be a powerful tool to bring people together.

 

[Johnstreetstand]

I always think of my late father at football matches as it was part of our bonding process. The Blades gene has passed on to my boys and I hope they stick with it like I have. A lifelong passion, through thick or thin, and a lesson in resilience. Encourage our kids and respect our elders, stay to the end and applaud our team and worthy advisaries.

 

[Solihull Blade]

Firstly GCB read your threads about losing your dad and offer my sincere condolences. I've been a blade for over 50 years and can say that there is a special feeling about introducing your offspring and grand kids into the Blades way. Through all the highs and lows over the years at least I have managed to fulfill the dream of being able to take my grandson to see the Blades in the PL and to Wembley and hopefully a title win this season. Can honestly say that I am proud to have been part of the Blades 'family' for so long and that it will now continue long after I'm gone.
UTB

My dad first took me to a game in the sixties. Lost 2-1 to Shammers, but I was hooked. Dad passed away last year aged 93 and I miss him loads. In the meantime I moved to solihull in the nineties, where my son was born. Took him to his first game aged 5 when Wayne Quinn scored in a dour 1-0 victory over Stockport. I thought maybe this is not for him. Next morning he got up for breakfast singing 'Sheffield Wednesday's foot it up again'. Obviously I didn't try to correct his English. Since then we've religiously made the 3 to 4 hour round trip to BDTBL, been to many away matches and several Wembley disasters but we love it. He's now a 22 year old student at Derby uni but we still get to home matches and several away. We go in the Standard before every home match and it's pretty much like being with your best mate. Love of the Blades has certainly been good for our father and son bonding.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Also a shout out to all those who didn't have the best of relationships with their dads or lost them at far too young an age and feel you missed out.
Thinking of you this morning.
Thankfully, we can all draw strength from this wonderful Blades family.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

4 generations of our family have season tickets together . Me, my son, my dad and my grandad. Lucky really.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Next morning he got up for breakfast singing 'Sheffield Wednesday's foot it up again'. Obviously I didn't try to correct his English.

That just put a huge smile on my face SB, thanks!

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

Took the wife to a away, FA Cup match at Altrincham [ lost 3v0 ] were Divorced now .

I was at that game mate, if I remember rightly it was a very sunny day, we were shocking they played good.
Nearly as bad as Aldershot away in the cup 1.0 loss on a foggy night.
Many a times I've felt like divorcing the Blades, but that will never happen. UTB

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I'd link this to the mental health thread elsewhere. When boys begin the progression into manhood, and that awkwardness sets in coupled with raging emotions and other massive changes detachment from parents can be traumatic on both sides. The realisation of the generation gap and profound difficulty in communication can often be bridged by a common bond, football and in our case Sheffield United. When I was that age, like many others I struggled to say more than 4 words to my parents and didn't particularly want to say many more. But a conversation was possible about The Blades; an actual visit out together was possible to watch The Blades; physical contact and hugging was possible when The Blades scored.

People can trivialise football and sport in general. It's just kicking around a bag of wind. But when it is the one thing that keeps the parent/child bond in tact, it is far from trite, it's vital. It keeps the communication path open when it could easily close and for good mental health that cannot be underestimated.

 

[Blade in Brid]

4 generations of our family have season tickets together . Me, my son, my dad and my grandad. Lucky really.

Savour every minute pal

 

[silverfox]

Also a shout out to all those who didn't have the best of relationships with their dads or lost them at far too young an age and feel you missed out.
Thinking of you this morning.
Thankfully, we can all draw strength from this wonderful Blades family.

Nice words GCB....I missed out as my father was not a nice person so never really had the chance to go to matches with him.

I did find the Blades family though, first with school mates, then drinking partners and onto my sons etc...

There are plenty of friendships on here both in people you meet or just chat with!

What a sensible thread!

 

[Buxtonblade]

I am 28 and I have been going to matches with my dad for 25 years (he's been going a lot longer than me). Had season tickets for years however, Not managed to go to a as many matches as I would like to over the last few years, due to work, family and finances being stretched.

Last November my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, 6 months after retirement. He is not able to have it operated on and its not developed enough to have radiotherapy. So he has to wait for it to get worse to have any medical treatment.

My dad being a blade decided to fight it on his own with natural remedies and last week had a review and found out it has reduced in size and becoming less aggressive.

Therefore I decided to get some Coventry tickets for him, me and my 8&9 year old boys to sit on our beloved Kop. What better way to celebrate than with 3 generations of blades get promoted (hopefully). Hopefully we can carry on doing it for a few more years yet.

Sorry for the long winded message.
UTB

 

[blade too long]

 

[sitwell]

Started to go with my dad in 1970 until he died in 1994 6 months after my first son was born ,he started going 4 years later and we have just renewed season tickets together (and my daughter) so its a fair old stint with a 4 years break on my own. I got a reminder from facebook this morning that its 5 years ago today that he left for his first (and very challenging ) tour of Afghanistan and knowing how close he came to an end there it makes you appreciate it even more. Hes in Oman at the moment and gets back a week after the Chesterfield match ,to say hes pissed off is an understatement.

 

[Trickymicky]

Took the wife to a away, FA Cup match at Altrincham [ lost 3v0 ] were Divorced now .

Thanks for that handy tip CBC, I'll be sure to take my wife on our very next cup game

 

[COME BACK CHED]

I am 28 and I have been going to matches with my dad for 25 years (he's been going a lot longer than me). Had season tickets for years however, Not managed to go to a as many matches as I would like to over the last few years, due to work, family and finances being stretched.

Last November my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, 6 months after retirement. He is not able to have it operated on and its not developed enough to have radiotherapy. So he has to wait for it to get worse to have any medical treatment.

My dad being a blade decided to fight it on his own with natural remedies and last week had a review and found out it has reduced in size and becoming less aggressive.

Therefore I decided to get some Coventry tickets for him, me and my 8&9 year old boys to sit on our beloved Kop. What better way to celebrate than with 3 generations of blades get promoted (hopefully). Hopefully we can carry on doing it for a few more years yet.

Sorry for the long winded message.
UTB

That was a great read good luck to you and your family BB

 

[COME BACK CHED]

I was at that game mate, if I remember rightly it was a very sunny day, we were shocking they played good.
Nearly as bad as Aldershot away in the cup 1.0 loss on a foggy night.
Many a times I've felt like divorcing the Blades, but that will never happen. UTB

You have them the wrong way round Intake , Altrincham replay was at night .

 

[Robby Blade]

Not that I held it against him, but my dad wasn't interested in football so never took me. Took my daughter when she was four and that was it. As the years went on, it went from a coke and crisps to beers before, during and after the game. During her uni years we would meet up for the London games and have a day out that money couldn't buy. After uin it was back to normal for a while 'till she went back to London for work. Six years on, she has a beautiful daughter. Fortunately her partner is a Blade so little Elf had her first Blades experience at 18 months. Luckily for her, she slept through the first game, away to Gillingham. She had her first visit to the Lane last year and at three is a committed Blade. I was away for her first visit, but the photo says it all.

 

[dingledog]

Nice words GCB....I missed out as my father was not a nice person so never really had the chance to go to matches with him.

I did find the Blades family though, first with school mates, then drinking partners and onto my sons etc...

There are plenty of friendships on here both in people you meet or just chat with!

What a sensible thread!

Where's that leave me then?

My Dad took me, I remember it as a very special day, dad was always at work so a day with him was just the best.

Since then I have been lucky enough to have met some fantastic people, become good friends with some. My blades family is a very important part of my life.

My son has autism and struggles with crowds and noise. He's got a season ticket though and did ask me to renew it again.

I suspect what we are talking about here would strike a chord with football supporters of many clubs.

 

[djbaldken]

What a lovely thread. Got tears in my eyes reading it.
I took my son to his first match when he was five years old. We played Swindon and sat on the kop. We won three one. As our third one went in he was asleep in my arms. He s 29 now and has been with me through all our play off, Wembley and big match relegation match disasters. Unfortunately through work commitments he can no longer attend. I do miss him being there with me. He still follows us avidly through me. When his daughter was born I made sure she was made a Junior Blade. She is four this year and hopefully next year she will have the pleasure of the Blades experience.

 

[Tyler Durden]

The away match at MK Dons this month will be almost exactly 20 years since my dad surprised me by taking me to my first match. He's gone now, so there will be a moment of reflection for me amidst the celebrations. He instilled that obsession in me before I even set foot inside the ground, and it's never wavered.

I don't have kids of my own, and at this stage I don't necessarily intend to. What I have done many times over the years however is bring along friends who are non-Blades and non-Sheffield natives to join us, if only for 90 minutes. I'm doing the same thing for the Coventry match in fact. They NEVER leave uninterested and they always follow our fortunes after that, from near or afar. It makes me proud.

I know it's no substitute for taking your own son or daughter there for the first time. That must a very special thing, but I do my best

 

[RammyBlade]

Took the wife to a away, FA Cup match at Altrincham [ lost 3v0 ] were Divorced now .

I was there and see why you are divorced !

 

[RammyBlade]

The away match at MK Dons this month will be almost exactly 20 years since my dad surprised me by taking me to my first match. He's gone now, so there will be a moment of reflection for me amidst the celebrations. He instilled that obsession in me before I even set foot inside the ground, and it's never wavered.

I don't have kids of my own, and at this stage I don't necessarily intend to. What I have done many times over the years however is bring along friends who are non-Blades and non-Sheffield natives to join us, if only for 90 minutes. I'm doing the same thing for the Coventry match in fact. They NEVER leave uninterested and they always follow our fortunes after that, from near or afar. It makes me proud.

I know it's no substitute for taking your own son or daughter there for the first time. That must a very special thing, but I do my best

even if you have no kids of your own its still like being a disciple spreading the gospel that is Sheffield United - well done mate for speading the word of Blades .

 

[Mark Hammond]

I'm looking forward to the last match against Chesterfield with my 15 year old daughter. She never seen the joys of promotion only heartache and pain of regulation from the Championship. The pain of losing at Wembley against Huddersfield. I never want to see another play off in my life at Wembley after so many defeats from Crystal Palace to Wolves.
We walk to the ground and stop off at the memorial garden where my Dad plaque is and no doubt shed a few tears. My Dad would be so proud of the Blades this season. Ball on the deck and playing football.