Why do you support Sheffield United?

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My dear old dad was a fanatical Wednesdayite and when i was about 6 (72 now), he bought me and my bro wednesday kits . Luckily my dads best friends son was on Uniteds books. His name was Garth Lee and he used to bring us stuff from the lane like bits of kits and stuff. One day he asked my dad if iot was ok to take us to the Lane and so off we went. I think it was Newcaslte and we won after coming from behind. No turning back then. I did go to a couple with dad at the sty, mainly inter citys fairs cup ties. One of the games was v Barcel;ona but even that couldn't sway me.
 
Like the majority of supporters on this thread, it’s my Dad.
He was brought up on Shiregreen but used to go to watch United with his uncle who lived on Arbourthorne. All his mates were Wednesday fans and in those days they used to go and watch whoever was at home.
I was brought up in Sheffield but have lived in West Yorkshire for the past 30 years and am proud to report I’ve inflicted this madness on my sons who are are season ticket holders.
PS My Dad still attends most games and he was 90 last birthday. Supporting United has never been about success but always been about deep routed family traditions in my opinion.
 
54yrblade said:
My old man was the cop that sat between the dug outs for years, John Street side. He used to have access to complimentary tickets that he couldn't use, so my Grandad took me.

He was a lifelong S6 fan, but got two busses from Hillsborough to ours, bus to and from the matches at BDTBL, and two busses home just so I could go to the Lane.
My Nan packed us up with cream crackers and cheese too, for HT.

Grandad used to go to Wembley every year for the England v Scotland games or a final. One of my proudest possessions is a small gold Spurs badge he was given by a London mate.

My football history.
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Did he ever know Mr Meadows? 😉
 
Used to go as a nipper with my Dad in the mid 60's,although can't remember my first game.
It was always United from an early age.
 
My dad took me to Blades v Spurs in 1991 when I was 6. Had a season ticket from the season after, missed a few seasons since through either playing Saturdays in my early 20’s, then moved overseas and in my second stint overseas now.

My dad was born in Chesterfield but as the youngest of 7 his sister’s, husband’s dad used to take him to the games as a kid. Really not sure why he was a Blade though, he lived near my dad’s childhood home. Chesterfield are crap so maybe that was why?!

I used to watch both teams for a period in my early teens, used to go to Saltergate when the Blades were away and then was a ball boy for a few years due to playing for the youth setup there. I don’t think I could watch Chesterfield nowadays, some proper stupid fans and they all look a bit odd.
 
I grew up just off Bramall Lane (Alderson Place) and I was a bit of a street urchin in the 1970s. When I was about 7 years old, and without telling my mum, I used to just wander off and walk through the Bramall Lane exit gates on matchdays when they were opened up for the last 15-20 minutes of games. The rest is history.
 
derfblade.3 said:
My dear old dad was a fanatical Wednesdayite and when i was about 6 (72 now), he bought me and my bro wednesday kits . Luckily my dads best friends son was on Uniteds books. His name was Garth Lee and he used to bring us stuff from the lane like bits of kits and stuff. One day he asked my dad if iot was ok to take us to the Lane and so off we went. I think it was Newcaslte and we won after coming from behind. No turning back then.
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In Alan Birchenall's book he recalled a kickabout in training session when John Harris shouted "Hold the ball, hold the ball", Garth suddenly picked the ball up and held it above his head! 😆
 
HighfieldBlade said:
I grew up just off Bramall Lane (Alderson Place) and I was a bit of a street urchin in the 1970s. When I was about 7 years old, and without telling my mum, I used to just wander off and walk through the Bramall Lane exit gates on matchdays when they were opened up for the last 15-20 minutes of games. The rest is history.
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Somewhat romantic
 
HighfieldBlade said:
I grew up just off Bramall Lane (Alderson Place) and I was a bit of a street urchin in the 1970s. When I was about 7 years old, and without telling my mum, I used to just wander off and walk through the Bramall Lane exit gates on matchdays when they were opened up for the last 15-20 minutes of games. The rest is history.
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Thats my favourite up to now, paints a proper picture in my head, mainly about you being a street urchin.
 



Why i support the Blades is a lot easier to answer than why I keep supporting them. Let's face it....its not a particularly healthy relationship is it?!.

But to answer the question it was because my Dad was a Blade. Mum's side of the family were fans of the other lot but, in a bizarre twist, it was mum who first took me and my brothers to the Lane.

Started going fairly regularly from the late 70's onwards (home games only) ...now in my late 50's and go home and away with as good a group of friends as you could wish to meet. And that's pretty much what its about for me....great laughs with great company.
 
derfblade.3 said:
My dear old dad was a fanatical Wednesdayite and when i was about 6 (72 now), he bought me and my bro wednesday kits . Luckily my dads best friends son was on Uniteds books. His name was Garth Lee and he used to bring us stuff from the lane like bits of kits and stuff. One day he asked my dad if iot was ok to take us to the Lane and so off we went. I think it was Newcaslte and we won after coming from behind. No turning back then. I did go to a couple with dad at the sty, mainly inter citys fairs cup ties. One of the games was v Barcel;ona but even that couldn't sway me.
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Remember watching Garth in the Northern Intermediate league many times. Left winger with sandy hair.
 
Really enjoy reading the replies here, with some real sliding doors moments for people becoming Blades.

I’d love to say my own background is because I love kidney punching disabled orphan away fans and saw the perfect fit. Alas, I’m a lover not a fighter and like many others, it’s my dad’s fault I’m a blade.
 
I’ve told this tale a couple of times but my parents moved to Sheffield for Uni (the Poly as it was then). My dad has zero interest in football, his dad vaguely supported Portsmouth as a Pompey boy. My mum’s dad was a big Middlesbrough fan but mum wasn’t brought up in the Smog (thankfully!) so isn’t bothered about them.

I went to Hallam infants. I came home wanting a football shirt for my birthday (presumably 5th or 6th so 1988 or 1989). Asked which one, I replied “Wednesday” as that’s who most of my mates supported. My younger brother piped up that he wanted a Wednesday shirt too so I immediately changed my mind and asked for a United shirt instead.

I had no idea whether we were good or not until 1993 and 1994 when it was clear that I’d made the wrong choice. Still, you have to stick to your convictions and I stayed true. Unlike my brother, who had a Damascene conversion in the early 2000s and is now a Blade too.

Needless to say, it wasn’t always easy when Wednesday were one of the top 3 sides in the country for so much of my time at school (so they thought). All that said, I am loving it now.
 
Wasn't born in Sheffield but moved from the south late 80s aged 3 or 4, my family had no interest in football but I knew our black and red Umbro jacket looked cooler than the pigs' stupid blue one, and with Dave Bassett as our manager there was in my young mind a vague connection to Liquorice Allsorts, which I liked.
Blade from then on!
 
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Balham said:
I’ve told this tale a couple of times but my parents moved to Sheffield for Uni (the Poly as it was then). My dad has zero interest in football, his dad vaguely supported Portsmouth as a Pompey boy. My mum’s dad was a big Middlesbrough fan but mum wasn’t brought up in the Smog (thankfully!) so isn’t bothered about them.

I went to Hallam infants. I came home wanting a football shirt for my birthday (presumably 5th or 6th so 1988 or 1989). Asked which one, I replied “Wednesday” as that’s who most of my mates supported. My younger brother piped up that he wanted a Wednesday shirt too so I immediately changed my mind and asked for a United shirt instead.

I had no idea whether we were good or not until 1993 and 1994 when it was clear that I’d made the wrong choice. Still, you have to stick to your convictions and I stayed true. Unlike my brother, who had a Damascene conversion in the early 2000s and is now a Blade too.

Needless to say, it wasn’t always easy when Wednesday were one of the top 3 sides in the country for so much of my time at school (so they thought). All that said, I am loving it now.
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You see Zero dark thirty? I keep mentioning that it’s never too late to repent!
 
It was never in any doubt , since from the age of four my dad would sit me on his knee and regale me with stories about the wonderful football team he supported and his many heroes over his years of watching them which included the likes of Billy Gillespie , Jock Dodds , Harry Johnson and a certain James Hagan who I had the great pleasure of watching for a number of years .

As a result of this what might be called indoctrination , I couldn’t wait to go and watch them which first happened in 1947 when he took me to watch us beat Chelsea 3-1 . Hooked ever since , and for me the exciting experiences I have had along the way far outweigh the dismal ones .
 
Isaw Joeshaw said:
It was never in any doubt , since from the age of four my dad would sit me on his knee and regale me with stories about the wonderful football team he supported and his many heroes over his years of watching them which included the likes of Billy Gillespie , Jock Dodds , Harry Johnson and a certain James Hagan who I had the great pleasure of watching for a number of years .

As a result of this what might be called indoctrination , I couldn’t wait to go and watch them which first happened in 1947 when he took me to watch us beat Chelsea 3-1 . Hooked ever since , and for me the exciting experiences I have had along the way far outweigh the dismal ones .
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Born & brought up in Handsworth , big Blades area so all the mates were Blades to . Ironically both my parents were Pig fans .. so the song my old man said be a Weds fan was quite poignant to me 🤣🤣
 
Champagneblade said:
How did you get here?

I don’t suppose anyone did it for glory hunting! Unless you’re over 100 years old!

For me, my Grandfather was a United fan. I still remember him having a Blades mug even when he was in his late 70s when he passed. He used to go regularly but stopped going when we dropped to the 4th. I think he was born around 1904/05 so he would have at least been around for at least a couple of cup wins.

My Dad is still watching us and is 88 now. He’s more of a TV viewer now and stopped going maybe a couple of years ago.

I went to my first game in the late to mid-80s. A rather drab 0-0 at home to Ipswich when Burridge was the goalie. My first proper memory was with Bassett as Manager and what fun times they were.

I then continued to follow them home and away as part of the London Blades including heading to Trinidad and Tobago to watch them under Warnock.

Despite Bryan Robson being responsible for my commitment waining and moving to Asia, I’ve still watched closely from afar and attended when I’m back. My daughter has taken up the mantle, proudly wears her kit and tells her classmates that Messi and Ronaldo are neither the GOAT as Billy Sharp is!

So fairly traditional at first for me though my daughter can claim slightly less conventional.

How about you?
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My pig of a brother in law told me that only retards support the Blades so I thought that I would fit in
 
In my case Currie and Woodward have a lot to answer for. I’ve also subsequently infected my children, friends and their children and I’ve just started work on a grandson. I’m a ground zero plague carrier
 



Grey Blade said:
When I came to Sheffield as a student in Oct 71, one of the first people I met in my hall of residence was a Blade and his room was next to a Wed fan - both of whom became good friends and I used to go to both Bramall Lane and Hillsboro when I wasn't otherwise occupied. 56 years later, I still go to United games with the friend from Uni days.

The twist to this tale is that I came to Sheffield as a Leeds fan. Having been brought up around Harrogate it was a choice of Leeds, Bradford City, Bradford Park Ave or York City. I continued watching Leeds with odd games at Bramall Lane after I finished at Uni. There was one midweek match when the Leeds fans took over the Kop and I was actually hit by missile (drinks can) thrown by the leeds fans! The only time I've ever been hit by anything at football.

I moved away in 1979 and lived in Orkney until 1986. I went to the first game of the 86/87 season at Elland Road and couldn't believe how hostile the Elland Road crowd were and I never went again (as a Leeds fan). I spent a few years seeing odd matches whilst being preoccupied with setting up my business, but when Dave Bassett took over, my friend from uni days told me how exciting the football was and encouraged me to go to games. I never looked back and I've had a season ticket ever since
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