When life was simpler

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I was just looking at a couple of photos of BDTBL before it was refurbed, you know, in the days of the old flood lights, and it got me a tad emotional.
My first game was in the early '70's, and although we're all from different generations, everyone's 'early years memories' of watching the mighty Blades will no doubt invoke some pretty strong and some not so strong memories for us all.

For me, apart from the smelling of bovril and pipe smoke and a hormone-fuelled introduction to tribalism, one of my more simple memories was walking down the kop steps and seeing the pitch in pristine condition - even the 6-yard box! - for the first home game of the season. All that promise ahead of us, and if we got off to a good start with a home win, well, Saturday evening in S10 was a wonderful world to live in.
So what's yours?

 

[Brian Deane]

Waking up each morning is a start.

 

[alcoblade]

I was just looking at a couple of photos of BDTBL before it was refurbed, you know, in the days of the old flood lights, and it got me a tad emotional.
My first game was in the early '70's, and although we're all from different generations, everyone's 'early years memories' of watching the mighty Blades will no doubt invoke some pretty strong and some not so strong memories for us all.

For me, apart from the smelling of bovril and pipe smoke and a hormone-fuelled introduction to tribalism, one of my more simple memories was walking down the kop steps and seeing the pitch in pristine condition - even the 6-yard box! - for the first home game of the season. All that promise ahead of us, and if we got off to a good start with a home win, well, Saturday evening in S10 was a wonderful world to live in.
So what's yours?

I definitely miss "the good old days", but if I could resurrect just two things it would be standing, and the floodlights.

 

[MKY]

My 1st game was the late 70s. Seem to remember it was v donny in one of the cups. Sabella ran them ragged. Think the score was summat like 6-1. I spilt coffee down my scarf. Still got it to this day.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

My 1st game was the late 70s. Seem to remember it was v donny in one of the cups. Sabella ran them ragged. Think the score was summat like 6-1. I spilt coffee down my scarf. Still got it to this day.

Probably gone cold by now though hasn't it?

 

[derfblade.3]

We used to walk from the kop , past the cricket pavilion then round to the Bramall lane end when we were kicking that way in the 60s.
The ground was hushed at half time when the guy put the half time scores up on the fence around the ground waiting for the Wednesday half time. I remember the guy once teasing the crowd when he put up a 1 for whoever they were playing, then held the Wednesday number to his chest for an eternity before revealing a 0. The roar was like we had scored!

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Oh, and to see what shape the programme was going to be for the season!

 

[alcoblade]

We used to walk from the kop , past the cricket pavilion then round to the Bramall lane end when we were kicking that way in the 60s.
The ground was hushed at half time when the guy put the half time scores up on the fence around the ground waiting for the Wednesday half time. I remember the guy once teasing the crowd when he put up a 1 for whoever they were playing, then held the Wednesday number to his chest for an eternity before revealing a 0. The roar was like we had scored!View attachment 215530

Ah, the alphabet thing to update the scores - magical

 

[Sheffsteel]

My early memories from the late 70’s was you always used to smell cigars in the foyer area on the South stand where the posh fans went.

There was a big split. It was always quiet and safe in the seated areas. Where as the standing areas were always a free for all, quite rowdy and noisey.

Also during the early 80’s always remember the excitement to see football results. At the ground they had letters with the scores but you needed a programme to understand what the letters meant and they only ever game the half time score but sometimes they ran out of numbers so it was never reliable. Only the Sheff Wednesday score was updated when there was a goal and I remember the general excitement of anticipation when the guy with numbers was walking pitch side towards the letters to update the Sheff Wed latest score.

Also there would be small crowds outside Dixons shop window checking the scores on teletext. Also after a great performance (especially when both Sheffield teams won) there were often large queues at the newsagents everywhere waiting for the Green Un.

The Green’Un sports paper would generate huge excitement as we could see the latest results and league tables. As well as read reports and check league tables for local parks football.

 

[CPB]

I still like the nightime. It's the best time of night.

 

[Balti Pie]

My first magical experiences of BDTBL were in the mid eighties, when I'd have been around 10 years old. My dad had absolutely no interest in football whatsoever, so I had to beg my grandad to take me to home matches. Looking back he probably didn't take me that often - perhaps 2 or 3 times a season. He always bought me a programme (they smelled amazing back then, right?! ) and I've probably still got them somewhere! The thing which captivated me was watching the players warming up before the match. The Heat Is On (Glenn Frey) was often blaring out through the speakers, the ground would be filling up, and I was amazed how hard the players could kick the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, seemingly without even trying. I idolised Budgie (I was a goalkeeper at the time) and of course Keith Edwards.
I remember Steve Wigley (sp) taking on 3 or 4 players and scoring a worldie for us (possibly on his debut - loan?) and my grandad missing it as he'd gone to the bogs! I also remember Leeds fans ripping the seats out and chucking them on the pitch at half time in another game.
We'd always sit in the South Stand, but I remember my uncle taking me on one occasion and us standing on the kop - a whole different experience!

 

[Snowflake]

I still like the nightime. It's the best time of night.

My first match was at night in March 1958. Jimmy Hagan’s benefit match. All I can remember was thousands of little lights around the ground as fans lit their fags !

 

[Nosworthys Throw]

I dont remember much of me first game but what comes to mind is the smell of piss, a Tarzan yell and a bloke with a drum

 

[KMC-1889]

I wish you old boomers would pick a lane, you flip from The Good Old Days to You Whippersnappers Don’t Know How Good You Have It constantly.

Was it great in the past or was it shit? Or is it exactly the same as it is now where it wildly varies between the two?

 

[Bladesman]

Waking up each morning is a start.

*Wanking each morning is a start.

 

[DifferentClass]

"When life was simpler" is a dogwhistle for "I want Wilder back".

/s before anyone gets wrong idea

 

[CrookesBlade]

I started going in the early 90s and never stood on the old John St so for me what’s remarkable is how little the matchday experience has changed in over 30 years at the lane.

One thing I’d bring back is players running out of the tunnel towards the Kop, hands clapping above the head and booting a few balls into the air.

Bin the “presentation of the teams” does not nowt for the atmosphere….save that for the FA Cup final or whatever.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I wish you old boomers would pick a lane, you flip from The Good Old Days to You Whippersnappers Don’t Know How Good You Have It constantly.

Was it great in the past or was it shit? Or is it exactly the same as it is now where it wildly varies between the two?

Nothings changed really. Some great moments always eventually ending in disappointments.

You don’t see children smoking pipes anymore though. Even chocolate ones.

 

[Large Mendonca]

I dont remember much of me first game but what comes to mind is the smell of piss, a Tarzan yell and a bloke with a drum

I'm wondering if that was the 1993-94 season?

I distinctly remember a tarzan yell as Bryan Gunn (Norwich) was running up to take a goalkick - he had long straggly blonde hair at the time. That was also the season we had a drum that we used to chant to, like something out of a King Kong film, and the lone bugler who was awful at first, but improved as the season progressed

About the only memorable thing that happened that season really, other than the opening day (3-1 win) and the 2-0 win over Newcastle where we thought we were safe

 

[Snowflake]

I wish you old boomers would pick a lane, you flip from The Good Old Days to You Whippersnappers Don’t Know How Good You Have It constantly.

Was it great in the past or was it shit? Or is it exactly the same as it is now where it wildly varies between the two?

It was different. In some ways better but in many it was worse.
We have seen good times and bad, so I suspect nothing much will change in that respect for a few years, unless our current owners are very different from previous ones.

 

[Geordie Blade]

For some weird reason, when I’m asked to close my eyes and go to my happy place, I see Ian Bryson making a crossfield pass.

 

[BladeByChoice]

I know it’s an unpopular opinion these days because we’re all supposed to be PC, Woke, Snowflake sheeple.

But I miss this.



Not organised meets between firms away from the ground, just half a dozen away fans getting on the kop who are up for it and having a bloody good punch up before getting dragged out by the stewards, without fear of a million year banning order.

There, said it, somebody had to.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

I know it’s an unpopular opinion these days because we’re all supposed to be PC, Woke, Snowflake sheeple.

But I miss this.

View attachment 215542

Not organised meets between firms away from the ground, just half a dozen away fans getting on the kop who are up for it and having a bloody good punch up before getting dragged out by the stewards, without fear of a million year banning order.

There, said it, somebody had to.

What's with the bloke with the lanyard? I don't remember having to wear a lanyard to cause bother.

 

[Sean Thornton]

What's with the bloke with the lanyard? I don't remember having to wear a lanyard to cause bother.

“My other top is Stone Island”

 

[BladeByChoice]

What's with the bloke with the lanyard? I don't remember having to wear a lanyard to cause bother.

its actually a picture I stole from here as I don't have any of my own, theirs one with a 'glasses half knocked off' bloke. classic

https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/E...ame-between-Hull-and-Sheffield-United/1313817

 

[Super Furry Blades]

X91 bendy bus from dearne valley (2p)
First port of call bogs in pond street station for bog rolls to launch down kop when players came out .
Then onto chippy for a bag of chips ...(16p)
Walk to lane quid to get in kop ......
Wagon wheel & a bovril at half time ....
Get back to dearne valley about 6 and wait for green un out side newsagents: ( 16p) ...
Walk home chill in my little bedroom with Aztec camera or Dep mode on record player...while i read the afore mentioned newspaper.
Life was better back then 100%

 

[Aston max]

I wish you old boomers would pick a lane, you flip from The Good Old Days to You Whippersnappers Don’t Know How Good You Have It constantly.

Was it great in the past or was it shit? Or is it exactly the same as it is now where it wildly varies between the two?

I'll just say john Harris

 

[Super Furry Blades]

I know it’s an unpopular opinion these days because we’re all supposed to be PC, Woke, Snowflake sheeple.

But I miss this.

View attachment 215542

Not organised meets between firms away from the ground, just half a dozen away fans getting on the kop who are up for it and having a bloody good punch up before getting dragged out by the stewards, without fear of a million year banning order.

There, said it, somebody had to.

Is that paddy Kenny int middle ?

 

[Bell4]

Catching the supporters coach to BDTBL , tying a silk scarf round my wrist , wearing my Star jumper , standing at the side of the old players tunnel , the smell of Vic’s , the anticipation when IMB Tat started up as the players - led by Eddie , ran onto the pitch , getting home and replaying every moment in my head and acting out the game with my mates by kicking a ball at the electric box .

 

[Gin&Juice]

When i’m feeling nostalgic, I stick on this video from Sufcbabe07.

especially the lad shouting “GOTTA MAKE A CHOICE NOW MCCABE” and the woman at the end saying “sack the bastard”.