Your childhood United memories.

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spadge

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Morning all,

After watching the legends game yesterday and seeing all the ex players from years gone by, it got me thinking of when i was little and started my journey as a blade.
My grandad took me to matches from around 3, first team and reserves.
I remember one day playing on our next door neighbours back garden running about with my sheffield united shirt on, i managed to kick the ball over the fence on to the next house. The man who lived their with his parents came grabbed my ball passed it back and said nice shirt lad, before going inside.i remember going in the house and telling my grandad what had happened and as i mentioned the sufc shirt on the washing line he said 'you should recognise him, you see him every week'. The man was Paul Stancliffe. From then on Paul and his parents used to always come out and say hello when i was playing football and would give me united posters and programmes.
Crazy to imagine a player living on a council estate with his parents. :)

Anyone got any similar stories.
 



I remember my grandfather taking me to the game when I was just a toddler. I wasn't the best looking kid I admit. Grandad used to pass me forward over the heads of the other standing spectators so I could get to the front. He used to hold me up and say, "punch him and pass him on" and they did. I was black and blue by the time I got to the front of the kop but I loved it you know?
 
Being slightly more sensible:

I was about 12 years old before I went to my first game. I took myself to the Sheffield derby in 1970 at Bramall lane. All the kids in school were going on about it for weeks leading up to the game. I got caught up in the excitement about it, although at the time I supported neither team. I think I had "Everton" written on my dufflebag at junior school, because I remember seeing them beat another team in the FA Cup in 1966. so I always liked them since then. I liked Jimmy Husband in particular. I don't know why. Maybe it was just a form of homo erotic love? Anyhow...

I'd never been to a football game in my life, my parents and family weren't interested in it, but at secondary school the passion for United or Wednesday was at boiling point. I felt I HAD to go and witness this battle to see who was the best in the city. That's how it started. I shouldn't need to remind you folks on here that Blades won 3-2 but it wasn't just the fact they won - it was how. It was like "the football team" versus "the workmanlike cloggers" and the football team won. That went a long way to making my mind up - but I went to watch both Sheffield teams, depending on who was at home, for the next few months before deciding that the roofless kop and crap football at Hillsboro wasn't worth the effort. In fact, it was more fun going and watching United reserves at Bramall lane when the first team wasn't at home, so I started to do that.

I remember though doing something, which, looking back, seems stupid now, but at the time I thought it was a pretty reasonable thing to do...

I used to get into town early and go to Billy Dearden's chip shop on West Street, expecting I might see him in there before the game! o_O I used to go in most weeks just after it opened and ask "Where's Billy?". I think in my own mind I thought I might catch him frying a pan of chips before he set off for the Lane. I never did of course. But it didn't matter. I always wanted to get in the ground early, about 1.30pm at the latest, so I could get a good position on the high step on the kop.
 
Walking along Shoreham street as a something year old when some vermin ran up behind and nicked my Tammy shanter utd hat and ran off. Dropped a hand full of money all over floor so he was gone before I could do owt.
Held this grudge for 30 odd years the bastard.
 
Keith Edwards used to take over our p.e. lessons and give us football coaching
 
spadge said:
Morning all,

After watching the legends game yesterday and seeing all the ex players from years gone by, it got me thinking of when i was little and started my journey as a blade.
My grandad took me to matches from around 3, first team and reserves.
I remember one day playing on our next door neighbours back garden running about with my sheffield united shirt on, i managed to kick the ball over the fence on to the next house. The man who lived their with his parents came grabbed my ball passed it back and said nice shirt lad, before going inside.i remember going in the house and telling my grandad what had happened and as i mentioned the sufc shirt on the washing line he said 'you should recognise him, you see him every week'. The man was Paul Stancliffe. From then on Paul and his parents used to always come out and say hello when i was playing football and would give me united posters and programmes.
Crazy to imagine a player living on a council estate with his parents. :)

Anyone got any similar stories.
Click to expand...

I played for Wickersley Youth with his son John, he was a goalie. (Could never get my head around that)
When he had time off & could go to games he was always there. Had plenty of time for everyone. He was just another dad watching his son.
I was only about 12 & the main thing I remember from back then is how tall he was!!
 
Keith Edwards and Colin Morris were my first Blades idols. It was like a family member had died the day Edwards was sold to Leeds.
 
One of my favourite memories was as a young lad with some mates heading towards the KOP on Shoreham street. Saw this kid in a daft hat and my mates dared me to run last and nick it!!

Was hilarious at the time, and spent the whole game passing the hat around the kop.
 
Harry's Game said:
Keith Edwards and Colin Morris were my first Blades idols. It was like a family member had died the day Edwards was sold to Leeds.
Click to expand...


As a young lad being taken to the games in the early 80's I cannot recall when or who was my first blades games.
I can recall watching Colin Morris with his bowed legs, and Edwards was playing but pretty much everything else is very sketchy.
My old man is useless...no clue who either.

But I did get a bit giddy when Col Morris ended up manager at Brid Town, and his lad was in the same kids team as my brother along with Curtis. Being older and driving him to games I got on well with Colin as a blade, and even more so when I bought my own first car from him in 94.
 
Grizzly blade said:
One of my favourite memories was as a young lad with some mates heading towards the KOP on Shoreham street. Saw this kid in a daft hat and my mates dared me to run last and nick it!!

Was hilarious at the time, and spent the whole game passing the hat around the kop.
Click to expand...
There was only 2 of em so (some mates) gets you out it lol
 
Me and a mate started going with our dads when we were kids.
First game was a 2-0 at home to Stoke in early 1975,Shilton was in goal for them.
Although very young,10,I remember Tony Currie,Woody,Tony Field,Keith Eddy,Colquhoun,Jim Brown,Len Badger,Ted Hemsley etc playing back then in the old 1st division.
By 1981 I had a season ticket in the south stand in division 4,and I have pretty much watched the Blades throughout the years,apart from not as much when discovering booze and girls in the early to mid 80's :)
My dad is still a season ticket holder in the south stand and in his late 70's now.
I have definitely seen a lot more downs than ups and the best were the Bassett years,promotion with Warnock and this season.
Onwards and upwards
 
brownie4583 said:
Me and a mate started going with our dads when we were kids.
First game was a 2-0 at home to Stoke in early 1975,Shilton was in goal for them.
Although very young,10,I remember Tony Currie,Woody,Tony Field,Keith Eddy,Colquhoun,Jim Brown,Len Badger,Ted Hemsley etc playing back then in the old 1st division.
By 1981 I had a season ticket in the south stand in division 4,and I have pretty much watched the Blades throughout the years,apart from not as much when discovering booze and girls in the early to mid 80's :)
My dad is still a season ticket holder in the south stand and in his late 70's now.
I have definitely seen a lot more downs than ups and the best were the Bassett years,promotion with Warnock and this season.
Onwards and upwards
Click to expand...

Did Shilton flatten Billy D in that game I recall ??
 



Told this story before, but one of my earliest memories was Mick Speight's boots, with fluorescent stripes on the side, pestered my parents for a similar pair, which they duly bought me for Christmas. Puma I think?

Same as other lads have posted on here, my Grandad introduced me to the Blades, aged about 7 or 8, reserve games at first to get used to the crowds. He lived to the age of 91, and still talked about United right to the end. He was too old to attend games, but watched on TV and always quizzed me about match reports, new players, etc.
 
Scaling the railing of the junior Blades pen and escaping onto the Kop. The excitement of walking down Shoreham Street to the ground, the noise, the fans, the anticipation of the game, priceless. Even now just the name Shoreham Street sound fantastic.
 
First match was against Middlesbrough in 98, we won 1-0 thanks to Saunders, who I saw in the carpark before the match. Didn't he have a flashy car? Like a purple sports car? That may have been someone else.

Anyway, Boro had just been relegated and lost Juninho, I remember chants of "Junini-who" from I assume annoyed Middlesbrough fans.

Loads of United adjacent memories before that though, my Dad used to work at the Lane as a steward for a long time from the 80's to about the late 90's and sold 50/50 tickets so he'd tell me his stories about him and his mate somehow getting locked in Bramall Lane and taking thin air penalties in front of the Kop before leaving through the tunnel, and meeting players and stuff. He always talked about showing Sean Bean to his seat and chatting probably about how much my Mum loved Sharpe. Oh, and every time Bruce Springsteen comes on the radio, Bramall Lane gets a mention.

I keep meaning to have a reyt good go through the airing cupboard because I know for a fact I still have two 50/50 sweatshirts somewhere.

Lots of memories of an open day around that time too, listening to Alan Kelly telling stories in the Kop, looking at the Dave Bassett's old office, Vas Borbokis' horrifically muscular legs as I stood behind him on the John Street steps trying to get an autograph, and strangest of all Dane Whitehouse just sat there using a computer while the tour was going around haha..

Also sort of worked in the Business Centre for a bit for my school work experience, the school I was supposed to be going to burnt down the week before my placement so they ferried the pupils to Denby Street which had a vacant school, no IT equipment though, so I taught the kids how to use PowerPoint in Bramall Lane. Claim to fame.
 
Went to a testimonial against Norton Woodseats at the Coach & Horses in 1978. I was sat near the touchline. At one point Alex Sabella was stood in front of me and I couldn't believe how hairy his legs were!
 
"Chatting" to Petr Katchuro at the JBs Christmas party circa 1996. I put "chatting" in quotes because he knew all of three words of English. Still reyt nice mind you.

Getting the full keeper kit at the same Christmas. Yes, it was the Avec "mixed veg" number. I wanted to be Alan Kelly THAT bad :D

Eating Opal Fruits on way to BDTBL. Like Lynne Truss, I were reyt disappointed when they became Starburst!

Wards. Way too young to experience it firsthand but I did smell my share of it :D

4-4 vs. Brum in 96. I'd never seen as many goals in my lifetime :eek:
 
The memories of 1960 going to my first game with My Dad. The thrill of the crowds outside entrance G on John Street where my Dad entered with his season ticket. Met Hodgy that day I was star struck to think I had met United's and England's keeper. Upon going through entrance G my Dad was told to lift me over the turnstile free for
me for seasons United the family club.
Upon entering the stand the sound of boots on the wooden floor still live with me today. The mixture of oxo/ bovril and pipe
Tobacco filled the air. The players used this entrance as well and I was to get to know
most of that team very well.
Then through the stand passing the dressing rooms and viwed the ground for the first time. Dad made it toward the front and I was passed overhead to the very front and immediately jumped upon to the white railings just to the right of where the players came out. Out they came the opponents first to boo and whistles from the crowd. Then United came out and I was amazed with the vivid red stripes on the shirts. We scored inside a few minutes and I jumped up
With my football rattle at full throttle going beserk. We won and I was immediately hooked. I have been hooked ever since and always will be a True Blade. I love this club. I Love our fans. Hooked forever and I consider
Myself to be very lucky indeed to support the best club there ever has been. UTB FTP
 
First game 1981 Altrincham in the cup 2.2 how I'm still coming after that game I don't know .
But I am ,and now my son is here and is cousin, so I'm quite proud I stuck it out.
 
Neuschwanstein said:
Scaling the railing of the junior Blades pen and escaping onto the Kop. The excitement of walking down Shoreham Street to the ground, the noise, the fans, the anticipation of the game, priceless. Even now just the name Shoreham Street sound fantastic.
Click to expand...

Ahh, the old pen. You can see it, left edge of this photograph

009sheffieldunitedkopcopyright.jpg
 
1996-97-sheffield-united-goalk-5148-1.jpg


Unwrapping this thing of beauty one Xmas, along with a pair of Poundland goalkeeper gloves that were just green cotton with a few ridges on the back. Got Kelly and Tracey to sign 'em and they were my prized possession.
Also remember seeing Borbokis run the show v Sunderland in 97ish, and bugging my old man to get his name and 2 on my white away Wards shirt. Cost a fortune and barely fit on the shirt but definitely worth it
 
I lived just off Bramall Lane and I was a bit of a curious street urchin in the '70s. Without telling my mum, I used to just wander off into the ground through the exit gates on BL to watch the last 15-20 minutes of games.:)
 



I didn't get interested in football until quite late for a little lad. One of my auntie's had bought me this t-shirt that said "Sheffield United - The Blades" without me even knowing what it meant. It was weird because half the family were Blades and the other half were Owls, my Dad was a Wendy fan but he had vowed never to go again when they got relegated from Division 1 in 1970, and he was true to his word. I didn't really know he supported them until the Boxing Day Massacre when he was jumping up and down cheering and I didn't understand why. Then not long after that it was a friend of my Mum and Dad's who took me to my first match, 19th January 1980 v Hull, 1-1 draw. Don't remember anything about the game but I enjoyed it and that was it, I'd decided I was a Blade. I was a month away from my 9th birthday.

Second game was the return derby at the Lane that ended 1-1. When MacPhail scored, I was busy reading the programme and got accidently hit in the face by the bloke celebrating next to me! Then of course Curran equalised.
 
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