How much of a home is Bramall Lane to the players?

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

So the players turn up on a saturday (and tuesday) in good time to prepare for a game. They pick up the buzz of a building crowd that are on their side, and see the usual faces in and around the back-room and the ground. They get a fuzzy feeling regularly on that basis, but how transient is that - how strong is that association these days that the feeling sticks and gets stronger?

With so much time spent at Shirecliffe is there really as strong a bond as there needs to be - is the Lane just more like a familiar neutral ground?

I know players used to train up at the Ball Inn ground years ago, though we had a gym attached to the old pavilion in the 80s,...but in the past they'd gather at the Lane much more frequently than they currently do. Overall is there as much time spent "at home" as there used to be? Is the "fortress" mentality and "this is our turf and you're getting nothing here mate" .. strong enough. Is that even possible if the only time the players are actually out on our own pitch is during a game?

I'm sure this is little different for most clubs these days, but on the "marginal gains" basis of preparing for success, I'd get the players in and around the place as often as possible to build up that territorial affection and fortress mentality.

 

[itsinyerblood]

So the players turn up on a saturday (and tuesday) in good time to prepare for a game. They pick up the buzz of a building crowd that are on their side, and see the usual faces in and around the back-room and the ground. They get a fuzzy feeling regularly on that basis, but how transient is that - how strong is that association these days that the feeling sticks and gets stronger?

With so much time spent at Shirecliffe is there really as strong a bond as there needs to be - is the Lane just more like a familiar neutral ground?

I know players used to train up at the Ball Inn ground years ago, though we had a gym attached to the old pavilion in the 80s,...but in the past they'd gather at the Lane much more frequently than they currently do. Overall is there as much time spent "at home" as there used to be? Is the "fortress" mentality and "this is our turf and you're getting nothing here mate" .. strong enough. Is that even possible if the only time the players are actually out on our own pitch is during a game?

I'm sure this is little different for most clubs these days, but on the "marginal gains" basis of preparing for success, I'd get the players in and around the place as often as possible to build up that territorial affection and fortress mentality.

Interesting post Mustela. I wonder, certainly with today's player, how it's possible to achieve what you describe? It can't do any harm of course, but I wonder what makes a team feel connected to their ground? Flipping your logic over, and as I say, you make points worth considering, perhaps attempting to create a stronger bond might 'up' the desire factor, but on the basis of what I observe at other clubs, and at the cost of suggesting an over-simplified explanation, wouldn't a collective will to succeed be the best way for any player to realise that he's joined a bunch of players who crave success? It could be that the choice of captain is instrumental in creating this feeling? Someone who won't shirk telling his teammates those home truths when necessary? Passion amongst players is vital. Give me several players who share Roy Keane's attitude and I'll show you a team who fear no one.

None of the above is to deflect from your point about spending time at the Lane, but it might be that a more holistic approach is required if the assumed passion is missing. Good post though, and just the sort of thing those within the club should be considering if they want to make progress.

 

[Harry's Game]

Interesting point, Don Revie believed in it he had the training ground at Elland Road across the car park from the main stand.

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

Interesting point, Don Revie believed in it he had the training ground at Elland Road across the car park from the main stand.

He also used to insist on team social evenings at the ground on a regular basis - they had "bingo nights" every thursday - the bingo being just a backdrop and there was much more involved, and I believe he'd take them out on the pitch after training to do some motivational preparation and tactical talks if it wasn't pissing down. Point being the team were clearly "grounded" (unintentional pun) at Elland Road.

I think Porterfield used to insist players met at BDTBL before driving up to training, and finishing off back at the Lane before they went on their way in the afternoons.

With a modern £1 million pitch would it be impossible to have players doing light ball skills practice on it during the week - especially pre-season to get them feeling it really is theirs?

 

[sitwell]

I used to play 5 a side in the gym on Monday nights ,you could use the main changing rooms and we used to warm up by running down the side of the pitch. It was a crap surface in the gym but we wouldn't have swapped for anywhere else.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Whilst the facilities at Shirecliffe are very good, it always seemed an odd place to base our Academy & training facilities. Much closer to the Sty than the Lane and not the nicest of areas.

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

I used to play 5 a side in the gym on Monday nights ,you could use the main changing rooms and we used to warm up by running down the side of the pitch. It was a crap surface in the gym but we wouldn't have swapped for anywhere else.

Me too!!!

 

[Silent Blade]

I know players used to train up at the Ball Inn ground years ago, though we had a gym attached to the old pavilion in the 80s,...but in the past they'd gather at the Lane much more frequently than they currently do.

The 1971 promotion squad had a strong bond but I was surprised to learn that at the 1971 promotion reunion 4 years ago that many of the players, especially TC, disliked the Ball Inn training ground

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

The 1971 promotion squad had a strong bond but I was surprised to learn that at the 1971 promotion reunion 4 years ago that many of the players, especially TC, disliked the Ball Inn training ground

Bleak, windy, hard surface and permanently bloody cold, i'd imagine!

 

[LSF]

Bleak, windy, hard surface and permanently bloody cold, i'd imagine!

Greatest place on earth when I was a kid! Spent my formative years playing on there and getting chased off

 

[sitwell]

The 1971 promotion squad had a strong bond but I was surprised to learn that at the 1971 promotion reunion 4 years ago that many of the players, especially TC, disliked the Ball Inn training ground

He probably had to fetch the ball when one of his long balls went askew , the vision of him tunning it down Myrtle road and panting back up is an interesting one

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

He probably had to fetch the ball when one of his long balls went askew , the vision of him tunning it down Myrtle road and panting back up is an interesting one

Wash your f***ing mouth out. TCs long passes never... I repeat NEVER went askew... they were perfect. Always. I say so, so it's true.

 

[Pedro Verde]

I have often thought the same as the OP
How often are the players at BDTBL
I presume with the new Desso pitch the players would be able train at the Lane much more often
I can imagine the Ball Inn ground being an inhospitable place in bad weather

 

[itsinyerblood]

Man City have what are described as incomparable training facilities, only a stone's throw from their ground too. Not every club is fortunate enough to have their resources and available land close to their ground ripe for redevelopment. So I guess we should be grateful we have decent facilities within the city boundary.

 

[Silent Blade]

Bleak, windy, hard surface and permanently bloody cold, i'd imagine!

He probably had to fetch the ball when one of his long balls went askew , the vision of him tunning it down Myrtle road and panting back up is an interesting one

I remember watching a training session there (I remember Gary Jones- on loan from Boton - was there) in February 1975, during a practice match the ball went out of play and towards Myrtle Road (downhill all the way) and Furphy told Woody to fetch it. About 15 minutes later Woody went back to the ground grumbling and throwing his hands in the air saying that he couldnt find the ball

 

[LSF]

I remember watching a training session there (I remember Gary Jones- on loan from Boton - was there) in February 1975, during a practice match the ball went out of play and towards Myrtle Road (downhill all the way) and Furphy told Woody to fetch it. About 15 minutes later Woody went back to the ground grumbling and throwing his hands in the air saying that he couldnt find the ball

Had it been 1965 Silent, we'd have nicked it

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

Maybe have 1 day of training every weekly be the day before a game, so they can become more adapted to the pitch. We can afford to do this now aswell with the new pitch which is meant to last longer before it gets ruined

 

[bornablade]

In the 1960's we used to watch United train. Always went to BDTBL first but more often than not was told that they were training up at Ball Inn. We used to then walk up Myrtle Road. Now wherever you walk in Sheffield you're pretty sure of finding a hill but that Myrtle Road is steep!

Think I once posted this before but Reg Matthewson once stopped and gave us a lift up.

There was a kid at our school whose dad was the groundsman up there. I'm 60 now, can't stand gardening but I thought it sounded a great job all those years ago.

Great OP by the way. Some part of their week should be spent at the Lane and as you rightly point out with this new state of the art pitch it should make it feasible. Managers and coaches should always be looking for that extra % points on performance levels and if being at our ground during the course of the week improves performance then it should be seriously considered.

 

[finlaytheblade]

The 1971 promotion squad had a strong bond but I was surprised to learn that at the 1971 promotion reunion 4 years ago that many of the players, especially TC, disliked the Ball Inn training ground

I've played in a school match at the ball Inn I imagine a lot of men around my age have too.it was a shit hole with no room to swing a cat round and the washing facilities were spartan ime not surprised players of tony curries elk. hated it.shirecliffe is a wind exposed training complex but compared. To ball in it is benign

 

[LSF]

In the 1960's we used to watch United train. Always went to BDTBL first but more often than not was told that they were training up at Ball Inn. We used to then walk up Myrtle Road. Now wherever you walk in Sheffield you're pretty sure of finding a hill but that Myrtle Road is steep!

Think I once posted this before but Reg Matthewson once stopped and gave us a lift up.

There was a kid at our school whose dad was the groundsman up there. I'm 60 now, can't stand gardening but I thought it sounded a great job all those years ago.

Great OP by the way. Some part of their week should be spent at the Lane and as you rightly point out with this new state of the art pitch it should make it feasible. Managers and coaches should always be looking for that extra % points on performance levels and if being at our ground during the course of the week improves performance then it should be seriously considered.

Horace Vickers was the groundsman from around mid 60's, his sons, Michael & Phillip, both went to Heeley Bank and then Abbeydale Boy's Grammar.

Myrtle Road...... walked up it every day for 5 years, home from school after alighting the 45 bus at Havelock Bridge, fittest kid on our road at that time. Still walk it occasionally for old times sake, nearly kills me today

 

[bornablade]

Horace Vickers was the groundsman from around mid 60's, his sons, Michael & Phillip, both went to Heeley Bank and then Abbeydale Boy's Grammar.

Myrtle Road...... walked up it every day for 5 years, home from school after alighting the 45 bus at Havelock Bridge, fittest kid on our road at that time. Still walk it occasionally for old times sake, nearly kills me today

That's the family. Not 100% sure but think they had a house on the grounds.

To return to the OP, a tenuous endorsement - many of us were not happy about Mcarthy's arrangement from Palace last season and yet he probably spent as much time at BDTBL as the rest of the players.

Now time to play Devils Advocate. Years ago football managers used to make players train mid week without a ball on the basis that by the time Saturday came they'd all be hungry to get hold of the bloody thing!

Wonder if our management team think that the longer the players are away from our stadium the greater the craving to get out there on a Saturday afternoon.

 

[LSF]

That's the family. Not 100% sure but think they had a house on the grounds.

To return to the OP, a tenuous endorsement - many of us were not happy about Mcarthy's arrangement from Palace last season and yet he probably spent as much time at BDTBL as the rest of the players.

Now time to play Devils Advocate. Years ago football managers used to make players train mid week without a ball on the basis that by the time Saturday came they'd all be hungry to get hold of the bloody thing!

Wonder if our management team think that the longer the players are away from our stadium the greater the craving to get out there on a Saturday afternoon.

Yes, they lived above the changing room building in a single storey dwelling built by the club.
As for the subject matter of the op, we are struggling for discussion material to be frank...

 

[Gee]

I have done a fair bit of repair work on the stands in the past and see the team on the pitch at least a couple of times a week training or having games behind closed doors with other teams, the last time I worked there was last year and they had a practice game with Birmingham whilst I was there. I also work at other grounds around Yorkshire and the midlands and they do the same sort of thing. You also tend to see the players most days milling around the grounds after about 2 o clock when they get back from training. It is good having a break and watching the players training whilst having a coffee and a sarni, Neil Warnock used to sit and talk to us a lot, I used to do repair work on his house too after I met him at the lane, so it got me extra work. Always a good thing.

 

[grafikhaus]

Bleak, windy, hard surface and permanently bloody cold, i'd imagine!

Wuss! Try rugby at Castle Dyke in the bleak midwinter.

 

[bornablade]

Remember school games against King Edwards up at Castle Dyke

 

[LSF]

Remember school games against King Edwards up at Castle Dyke

Yeh me too! Always beat em too (at football), it was our needle match

 

[grafikhaus]

Remember school games against King Edwards up at Castle Dyke

I went to King Edwards and, apart from the horizontal sleet (in July), the worst part was having to mingle with the hoi polloi.

 

[Silent Blade]

Wuss! Try rugby at Castle Dyke in the bleak midwinter.

Castle Dyke was Sheffield Deaf Cricket club's home venue for few seasons in the mid 1990s and we liked it there

 

[LSF]

the worst part was having to mingle with the hoi polloi.

That's why we liked beating them and generally giving them grief (and shoe)

 

[Grecian2000]

Castle Dyke was Sheffield Deaf Cricket club's home venue for few seasons in the mid 1990s and we liked it there

I presume it's only me that laughed out loud at the thought of bowler, wicket keeper and slips all appealing for LBW in sign language.

Played cricket many a time up at CD and it was the coldest, most inhospitable place to play every time we turned up. Hated the place for cricket but quite liked it for football when you expect it to be cold and wet and it never let you down.