Interesting and accurate info on the Blades from Bristol City forum.

[FATTYFOULKE]

The guy on Bristol City’s forum who has done a matchday thread on today’s match has included a few snippets about us I thought well worth sharing, I certainly learned a couple of things.

Well researched and a credit to ‘Jerseybean’…



“Sheffield snippets

• Bramall Lane played host to the first ever game under floodlights way back in 1878, which is before Sheffield United were even formed!
• Bramall Lane is currently the oldest football ground in the world still to be hosting professional football matches. Bramall Lane was opened in 1855, a whole 39 years before the Blades were even formed. The ground was initially used to host cricket, before it was adapted later in the century to become the home of Sheffield United upon their formation in 1889. It has hosted both international football and cricket matches, making it one of only two grounds in England to have hosted such events.
• Sheffield United FC, was the first English football club with “United” in its name.
• The nickname of The Blades is gleaned from the famous and bespoken cutlery and knife industry that Sheffield is famed for.
• In 1904 the club became the only one to this day in the top flight of the English game to field a starting 11 of full England internationalplayers.
• Their match with Arsenal on January 22, 1927, was the first game to be featured in a live radio broadcast. The BBC gave live commentary of the match and the Radio Times featured a map of the pitch with numbers so listeners could work out where the ball was. The goalkeeper’s area was called square one and this was the first use of the phrase ‘Back to Square One’.
• They scored the first ever goal in thePremiership. Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal when he headed home against Manchester United at Bramall Lane on 15th August 1992.
• Famous fans include Sean Bean (actor); Kell Brook (Boxer); Jessica Ennis-Hill (Olympic champion); Paul Heaton (Beautiful South,Housemartins); Joe Elliott (Def Leopard); Flea (Red Hot Chilli peppers); Matthew Fitzpatrick (golfer); Mark Labbett (The Beast, Chase); Sir Michael Palin (Actor); Joe Root (cricketer); Juan Veron (footballer).
• A number of films and television programmes have included references (some quite subtle) to Sheffield United including:

In 1977 Sheffield United are referenced by Brian Blessed’s character in a third series episode of the BBC post-apocalyptic drama series Survivors from the 1970s. Blessed's character also wears a SheffieldUnited scarf throughout.

In 1990, the BBC produced a six-part documentary series named ‘United’ that followed the fortunes of the club towards the end of the 1989-90 season, in which they achieved automatic promotion to the top flight of English football.

The 1996 film When Saturday Comes stars real-life United fan Sean Bean as a part-time Hallum FC player who is scouted by Sheffield United, who then goes on to play in a FA Cup semi-final. The 1997 British comedy film The Full Monty is set in Sheffield and the character 'Gaz' is seen wearing a replica United shirt in one part of the film, and promises his son a ticket for a game at Bramall Lane between Sheffield United and Manchester United.

The 2004 Walt Disney film National Treasure, which stars Sean Bean and Nicolas Cage as the lead character. There is a scene where Bean's character is writing on a yellow notepad. Near the top right corner of the notepad is a doodle of the Sheffield United club emblem, the crossed blades and a dot to represent the Yorkshire rose.

The 2005 film Batman Begins features a child wearing a 1990s Blades shirt.

Finally, the 2012 television drama Prisoners’ Wives also references the club.”

 

[ForgeBlade]

Knew most of them, but the one about fielding a full XI of full England internationals is new to me.

Always nice to see other fans appreciate the enormous amount of history at our club

EDIT: I knew the origins of "back to square one" were related to radio football commentary, but never knew that we were involved in the first match to use it!

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Knew most of them, but the one about fielding a full XI of full England internationals is new to me.

Always nice to see other fans appreciate the enormous amount of history at our club

EDIT: I knew the origins of "back to square one" were related to radio football commentary, but never knew that we were involved in the first match to use it!

I knew we were the first match to have radio commentary but didn’t know that’s where the phrase came from.

 

[wizadry]

Juan Veron

 

[SRA76]

Dint wendys play at lane b4 we were formed ? Or was that olive grove ? Get this alot tbh

 

[Blade58]

Did Jerseybeans write up make any reference to the Blades being the first club to take 3,000 to QPR on a Friday night?

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Dint wendys play at lane b4 we were formed ? Or was that olive grove ? Get this alot tbh

Pigs played some of their bigger games there as did most local sides. It was never ‘their’ ground.

 

[Jon Bon II]

I never knew Michael Palin was a Blade. Fancy that.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

So we're called The Blades after Sheffield's famous cutlery industry.
Well I never. Every day's a schoolday.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

So we're called The Blades after Sheffield's famous cutlery industry.
Well I never. Every day's a schoolday.

Errrr, it’s aimed at Bristol fans.

They might not be as well informed about Sheffield history just as much as some of us might not be very well informed about Bristol’s history.

 

[KiwiBlade]

Sheffield United FC, was the first English football club with “United” in its name.

Not true, Hanover United played in the FA Cup a full decade before we were formed.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I thought it was 10 england internationals and one Irish (Tommy Boyle) ? I'm sure Silent can confirm or not?

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Not true, Hanover United played in the FA Cup a full decade before we were formed.

I think we were the first professional football club to use ‘United’ and that is the Blades claim to fame.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

I thought it was 10 england internationals and one Irish (Tommy Boyle) ? I'm sure Silent can confirm or not?

Not sure but I think I’ve seen the same claim before.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

I never knew Michael Palin was a Blade. Fancy that.

Does he know?

 

[JimW1889]

Does anyone remember the story of the Batman Begins one? I'm certain someone on here talked about being in props / costumes and sneaking stuff into movies. Then again I might have just completely made that up.

 

[knowsnowt]

Dint wendys play at lane b4 we were formed ? Or was that olive grove ? Get this alot tbh

They rented it on some occasions. Never owned it.

 

[ghandi]

Juan Veron

His uncle was Pedro Verde hence his nephew's "support" for the Blades and his boyhood wish to play for us.

 

[blade too long]

only team to win the british championship beating Celtic 2-1 over 2 legs

 

[COME BACK CHED]

Lets do one for Bristol but , no mention of Tits

 

[wizadry]

His uncle was Pedro Verde hence his nephew's "support" for the Blades and his boyhood wish to play for us.

I know mate, I still find it funny though.

 

[Blad]

Thought Mansfield were the oldest football stadium? and we were the oldest “professional sports” stadium still holding professional football.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Lets do one for Bristol but , no mention of Tits

Bristol City were once known as the Garibaldians. And no I'm not taking the biscuit.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I've said this before somewhere on another thread but Flea is not a Blades supporter as such. The connection has been made because he played 'The Greasy Chip Butty' song at a gig (or several). The reason for that is because he is mates with Antony Genn of The Hours and formerly of Pulp and Genn IS a Blade who told Flea about the song, and he played it for Genn.

 

[ForgeBlade]

I've said this before somewhere on another thread but Flea is not a Blades supporter as such. The connection has been made because he played 'The Greasy Chip Butty' song at a gig (or several). The reason for that is because he is mates with Antony Genn of The Hours and formerly of Pulp and Genn IS a Blade who told Flea about the song, and he played it for Genn.

Flea does on occasion tweet support for us though. I think he probably barely spares us a thought, but occasionally sees a result and is pleased if we've won, much like many other "celebrity" fans (especially american ones).

I'm going to continue to claim him as a Blade though cos I fucking love RHCP and he's a phenomenal bass player.

 

[Groucho Blade]

I knew we were the first match to have radio commentary but didn’t know that’s where the phrase came from.

There’s no evidence of anyone saying ‘back to Square one’ on any radio commentary, let alone one involving us. It’s more likely to have come from the game of Snakes and Ladders, I’m afraid.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Flea does on occasion tweet support for us though. I think he probably barely spares us a thought, but occasionally sees a result and is pleased if we've won, much like many other "celebrity" fans (especially american ones).

I'm going to continue to claim him as a Blade though cos I fucking love RHCP and he's a phenomenal bass player.

Again, I think this stems from his friendship with Genn. If you search for Antony Genn on YouTube, you'll find an interview with him about doing the music for Peaky Blinders (mates with Cillian Murphy too) and he gives a shout out to the Blades. He was in my class at school and was a really good footballer himself.

Happy to claim Flea though!

 

[Blad]

I've said this before somewhere on another thread but Flea is not a Blades supporter as such. The connection has been made because he played 'The Greasy Chip Butty' song at a gig (or several). The reason for that is because he is mates with Antony Genn of The Hours and formerly of Pulp and Genn IS a Blade who told Flea about the song, and he played it for Genn.I am sure I read an interview and Flea said his Brother in law is a Blade and from Sheffield and he is the one who got him into the Blades

I've said this before somewhere on another thread but Flea is not a Blades supporter as such. The connection has been made because he played 'The Greasy Chip Butty' song at a gig (or several). The reason for that is because he is mates with Antony Genn of The Hours and formerly of Pulp and Genn IS a Blade who told Flea about the song, and he played it for Genn.

I am sure I read an interview from Flea saying his brother in law was from Sheffield and a blade and that’s who got him into it. He may well have played the song for Genn also. Or is Genn the brother in law?

 

[coaxingstar71]

I am sure I read an interview from Flea saying his brother in law was from Sheffield and a blade and that’s who got him into it. He may well have played the song for Genn also. Or is Genn the brother in law?

Quite possibly.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

There’s no evidence of anyone saying ‘back to Square one’ on any radio commentary, let alone one involving us. It’s more likely to have come from the game of Snakes and Ladders, I’m afraid.

Doubt that.

Snakes and ladders has a ladder climbing up from square one to square 38, not a snake leading down to it.