Can you be a big Blade even if your dad wasn't?

[blade79]

My Dad is from manchester and a city fan with the blades now his 2nd team, he moved to Cheshire where I now live but I'm a blade and hope my boy will be one (although he keeps stating he likes the blue team - he'll learn, he's only 3 but wears his blades shirt with pride!!) Can't get to many games but still follow every game and get to regional ones.

 

[cahill]

I grew up as the only Blade in my family or social circle, the others being mainly Leeds or Barnsley fans. It does make you resilient and forced to "dig in".

My Dad is from manchester and a city fan with the blades now his 2nd team, he moved to Cheshire where I now live but I'm a blade and hope my boy will be one (although he keeps stating he likes the blue team - he'll learn, he's only 3 but wears his blades shirt with pride!!) Can't get to many games but still follow every game and get to regional ones.

Just show him something red and reward him, show him summat blue and give him a crack, or if it's really cold lock him outside for 10 minutes ( don't want to be cruel). If that doesn't work put him up for adoption

 

[Gimli]

My dads a Brentford fan, as are loads of his family, I'm the first in the family who's a blade and I've got my mum to thank for that - making my dad move up north to Doncaster and then deciding the Doncaster kit was terrible quality fabric and buying my a Blades shirt for Christmas as a 6 year old. Haven't looked back since and have even converted one of my brothers into bladeness.

 

[INTAKE BLADE]

My dad was only interested in the horses, he never understood my obsession with the raww, it also annoyed him how I missed work after midweek away games, he always said I'd grow out of it, but, 22 years since he was with us I can honestly say I'm just as bad. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Grecian2000]

I just mean, how can you hate the team your dad supports.

Now you say that and, in some cases it might be true. However, I think back to a long forgotten testimonial from sometime in the 80's or 90's. Can't have been a vastly popular player as only South Stand open and we're playing Blades XI v Pigs XI and a pre game of Former Blades v Former Pigs.
We were sat in front of a couple of blokes who spent both games ripping each other to shreds (even in the old timers game) with proper back and forth calling of cunts and twats. We seriously thought it might end in some sort of fight.
Come half time of the main event and they're both still at it and it hasn't relented for a minute but, remarkably, no blows have been struck. Bloke A decides to have a break and utters the immortal words "Right, I'm off for a cuppa DAD, do you want a tea or a Bovril bringing back?", "Nah lad, I'll come with thee". Cue absolute astonishment from our seats as we spun round to see them disappearing together for some refreshment. We simply pissed ourselves at the thought that father and son could be so het up and intense and forget it all in an instant when the whistle blew. Quite extraordinary!

 

[Blade-on-Tyne]

My dad took me to Bramall Lane frequently when I was a kid. But only to watch Yorkshire !
Being of the other persuasion, he made barbed comments about a "three-sided football ground" and "not a place to visit in winter " which were intended to put me off.
It didn't work. When I was old enough to get on a Woodseats via Shoreham Street tram by myself, I went there and became hooked. Been a Blade ever since.
Motto: Like religion and politics - work things out for yourself. Don't always believe what others tell you - even if it is your Dad.

 

[Plymouthblade]

I'm not trying to start an argument, and I'm certainly not playing the "bigger blade card" I just wondered if fans who didn't have the support of their family (mainly their dad) had the same passion as the ones who did.
I've just read some posts where people are saying that their dad's were piggies, surely that most hold you back from going to games at an early age or having a real rivalry between us and them?

Thoughts?

Once a blade always a blade

 

[ForgeBlade]

I'm not trying to start an argument, and I'm certainly not playing the "bigger blade card" I just wondered if fans who didn't have the support of their family (mainly their dad) had the same passion as the ones who did.
I've just read some posts where people are saying that their dad's were piggies, surely that most hold you back from going to games at an early age or having a real rivalry between us and them?

Thoughts?

Yes you can. As posted in the "how did you become a Blade" thread recently, my dad wasn't into football when I was a kid. I was introduced by my uncle, and my dad came to it later than me, wanting to see what it was all about. We're both now die-hard Blades, and if I ever have kids I will make damn sure they are too.

 

[BerksBlade]

My dad was an Owls fan tho he rarely went - he took me a few times when I was little but then I saw the light when I saw Woody and TC for the first time! UTMB!!

Same here Dave. I remember Wed vs. Man Utd when I was 5 or 6. That's the only game I remember my Dad going to. He was often working until early afternoon on Saturdays anyway.
My best mate's Dad was a copper and a Blade (he usually volunteered for Saturdays at the Lane), so I started going with him. TC & Woody vs. scufflers like Tommy Craig & Brian Joicey - it was no contest really!

 

[Stretch]

My Dad is a Miller but never goes to games and only took me a couple of times as a kid.
I spent my very early years confused, kind of supporting Rotherham and Liverpool [as lots of young kids in the 80s did]

Only started supporting United when my [then] future bro in law took me as a teenager. I knew the moment that I set foot in the ground that I had found my team, can't explain why.

My wife, friends and colleaues all say I am 'obsessed' with United, to the point of being distracted from most other things. Got a reyt beer gut these days n'all so 'Big Blade' fits the bill.

 

[super_pig]

I've told this story before but here it is.

My dad didn't have the best start in life. He grew up on Parson Cross, His dad was a Londoner who supported Millwall and his mothers side were all Wednesdayites. His first games were at Hillsborough thanks to one of his Piggy uncles.
He never liked them, he said it just felt unnatural being there and the atmosphere was cold and insipid.
Anyway some time later he went to watch United with some mates and instantly identified as a Blade.

During the 60's and 70's he went everywhere with United (including getting kicked out of Maine Road for running on the pitch with a huge United flag). He stopped going at the turn of the 80's due to a combination of migrating to Canada and the United boards utter lack of ambition (in his opinion).

He only went 3 more times in my lifetime because I pestered him to take me. But the love he had for the club was inherent and completely independent of environment he grew up in and probably borne out of the fact that he was always a stubborn, awkward bastard.

Well on days like this, I miss the stubborn, awkward bastard terribly. He would've been delighted with what Chris Wilder has done with the team as he always rated him as a player. He would've also been proud that one of his sons took that passion from him and ran with it.

good lad
don’t know about my dad never met the c@nt but my grandfather was a blade.. apparently my ggf was ‘united daft’ like his father

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I come from an 'ethnically pure' Blades family, from my grandfather through to my grandson. I doubt it makes much difference, except that each generation blames the preceding one for inflicting the suffering on them...

 

[MarshyBlade]

I was born in Sheffield (1971) and lived in Nether Edge until my parents split up when I was 4. Moved all over the country and eventually settled round the Matlock area. Tracked my grandparents down in Parsons Cross (by flicking through a phonebook in a phone box) when I was 21 and eventually got in touch with my old man who had moved to the Far East not too long after the break up. I could blather on about that story, but to get to the point - he's a big Wednesday fan (yet the rest of the family - aunties, uncles, cousins are all Blades, even though they live on the Cross). Personally, I wasn't interested in football as a yoof, but I watched ManYoo do the treble in '99 and that piqued my interest - followed them on the tv for a while. Brother-in-law took me to the Lane, maybe 15 years ago and I've been going pretty much ever since (when I can) - I did say though if Blackwell continued to be in charge I wouldn't renew my ST and I didn't. I've not had one since, but that's more due to work. Anyway, when my old man found out I was a Blade, he was gutted - said he'd rather I was gay than a Blade and then he followed it up with as it happens, I'm both.

 

[GodricBlade]

My personal experience says it's definitely possible.
My old man was wendy through - off Parsons Cross. Moved to Crookes with my mum & we lived on a street full of Blades. First game he took me to was when South Stand opened mid-70's & I never looked back. Season tickets, trials for Junior Blades, brought my lad up to be a Blade etc etc. He even took me & we sat in Leppings Lane on Boxing Day......
He never regretted any of it as far as I know - we both used to love the banter. Sadly he died before I got the chance (& got wise enough) to ask him why he took me to watch the Blades instead of that lot.
It's one of the many things I never got chance to say 'thank you' for.

 

[stringjunior]

My Dad is from manchester and a city fan with the blades now his 2nd team, he moved to Cheshire where I now live but I'm a blade and hope my boy will be one (although he keeps stating he likes the blue team - he'll learn, he's only 3 but wears his blades shirt with pride!!) Can't get to many games but still follow every game and get to regional ones.

Where abouts in Cheshire? There are a few on the wrong side of the hill on here, including me. We should get a minibus together for the playoff final

 

[silver blade]

I'm not trying to start an argument, and I'm certainly not playing the "bigger blade card" I just wondered if fans who didn't have the support of their family (mainly their dad) had the same passion as the ones who did.
I've just read some posts where people are saying that their dad's were piggies, surely that most hold you back from going to games at an early age or having a real rivalry between us and them?

Thoughts?

I can't stand people who support say Liverpool when they have never even been there, I believe you should support your home town/city I was born in Sheffield & theres only one team worth supporting, Dad supported Rotherham but he was born there so that's ok

 

[FTPE]

I can't stand people who support say Liverpool when they have never even been there, I believe you should support your home town/city I was born in Sheffield & theres only one team worth supporting, Dad supported Rotherham but he was born there so that's ok

Would you rather all your mates be man u and Chelsea fans who never go? Or pigs with a season ticket?
Genuine question.

 

[fintious maximus]

My dad hates football and I remember getting a blades hat and scarff from Suggs when I was about 10 (late 70’s). Went to my first blades game v charlton a couple of years later. Joined the Raf at 17 and followed blades through my mum sending me the Green ‘un every week. Bought kits when home on leave and started watching regular games when I left the RAF aged 30. Me and my 2 sons now have season tickets and are huge blades. Just wish me dad took me to games as a lad as its great father/son bonding times

 

[Jon Bon II]

My dad's Gary Megson and I would have done anything - ANYTHING to piss the filthy, ginger tramp off.

 

[nowtfancy]

I'm a pure-blood
Both parents and all four grandparents blades
My brother in his attention seeking youth once pronounced he was going to support another team, he wasn't allowed to eat until he had changed his mind.
That's parenting done properly.

 

[essexblade73]

good lad
don’t know about my dad never met the c@nt but my grandfather was a blade.. apparently my ggf was ‘united daft’ like his father

Same here pal. Never knew my dad but my grandad loved united..thats why im a blade and always have been. Live down south now and my lad was born here..but hes a massive blade..hates the piggies..the hatred in his face on the kop last friday when that twat wallace was acting up made his old dad proud

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Would you rather all your mates be man u and Chelsea fans who never go? Or pigs with a season ticket?
Genuine question.

I find it hard to respect the glory-hunters who become fans of big clubs from other cities.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

My dad's Gary Megson and I would have done anything - ANYTHING to piss the filthy, ginger tramp off.

I'm beginning to suspect that sometimes you tell fibs...

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

My dad was a Blade but my dad's dad was from Northern Ireland and as far as I know wasn't interested in football. Luckily my dad's uncle (my nan's brother-in-law) was a Blade and he used to take my dad to the Lane, in what must have been the late 40s and then into the 50s. My dad then used to take me to see United (nearly all home games and some aways) from the mid 70s to mid 80s. Once I started going with my mates to games my dad virtually stopped going, he probably did Man U cup qtr in 90, semi with the pigs at Wembley in 93, and Stoke home in the run in to the 96/97 season. I always thought my dad liked football but his real passion was music, playing the guitar, in comparison I like music, listening to it anyway but my real passion is the Blades.

One thing I do kick myself about when Uncle Bert was alive (dad's uncle who took him to the Lane) was that I never quizzed him about United in the early part of the 20th century, he'd have remembered the 1915, 1925 and 1936 finals!!!

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I'm a Blade because my Dad is.

I 'supported' Man Utd when I was a kid in the 90s but gradually saw the light the older I got.

It sounds strange but when we win I'm happier for my Dad than I am for myself.

I actually get a bit emotional about it at times.

 

[Grappler]

My Dad was an Owl, due to wear he grew up, my Grandad, Brother and me were all Blades. My Grandad took me to my first matches and was a Blade right up until he died aged 91 (in 1991), even when he couldn't attend matches, in his final years, he would ask me and my brother about the match, how we set up and played, what were the new players like, etc.

He was a real old gentleman, never saw him without a shirt and tie at home, always wore a suit when out, and in later years, a flat cap and walking stick.

Wore a raincoat in bad weather, with a United scarf around his neck. Wore a United rosette to the games (in the late 60's and early 70's).

I loved that old man. I owe it all to him.

 

[YouFUMS]

My old man said be a Wednesday fan...I said f*#k off, bollocks you're a c*%t

Actually, my dad can't stand football and has never been to match in his life. It was my paternal granddad that started taking me to the lane around 1970.
He lived at foxhill, and would go to games at both grounds. We lived at Gleadless and he would take me along when United were at home.

 

[Bladeian]

My Dad was a Blade .. and had 5 brothers that were all Blades
So me an my cousins are Blades ... all except ONE
Is there always one in every family just to piss everyone off..?

 

[IMABLADE]

If it wasn't for my dad I'd definitely be a chelsea fan. Thank god he saved me

 

[Jehovah]

My dad had no interest in football whatsoever and knew nothing about any of it. It was my uncle who started taking me to the holy ground. My dad bless him always used to have the same scripted speech if the result was anything other than a win.

Dad "Well?"

Me " We drew with Manchester United"

Dad " Bloody hell" in a really long drawn out disapointed tone. Still makes me smile thinking of him doing that pretending he had any understanding about any of it for my benefit..