I simply can't understand people who say we're 'basically the same'. We're not. We're chalk and cheese.
My lifelong affinity began in 1962. Like most people, I ended up supporting United because that's the club my dad first took me to watch. However, if he'd have been a Wednesdayite and took me to Hillsborough, I'm firmly convinced I would have gravitated to the Blades. It's a state of mind. An 'against all odds' mentality. A feeling of 'nobody's going to tell
me what to do.' I'll try to explain.
Back then Wednesday had been chosen as a ground for the 1966 World Cup. In an act of favouritism and nepotism on a par with West Ham's totally-corrupt gift of the Olympic Stadium, a combination of FIFA money, then-Chairman Eric Taylor being the 60's version of Dave Richards (utterly corrupt) and interest-free loans saw Hillsborough develop into a truly awesome stadium. The North (cantilever) stand was jaw-dropping. The kop, although uncovered, was a vast terrace with electronic scoreboard at the back. The Leppings Lane end was also totally re-built. Like an ancient Aztec city, it was a marvel for its time and, like an ancient Aztec city, large parts of it can still be seen today. Under the rust.
And what did
we have? A 3-sided ground, an old wooden stand and a primitive (but covered) kop. Against that background, I started at King Teds where it seemed
everybody was a Wednesdayite. As time passed, I noticed the odd(!) kid who was a Blade. They were the individuals. The dare-to-be-different brigade. Oh, we were massively outnumbered but that made us all the more determined to be proud of the Blades.
In 1969 (could have been 1970) Santos of Brazil - complete with Pele - played a midweek, daytime friendly against the pigs at Hillsborough. In morning assembly, the headmaster announced that any boy (no girls at King Teds back then) who wanted to go to the match could have the afternoon off school. 'So. Who wants to go to the match?' he asked. 300+ hands shot up. As a joke, he said 'Who
doesn't want to go to the match and have the afternoon off?' One hand went up. Mine.
Fast-forward a few years and I ended up in the Crosspool/Lodge Moor area. Every pub seemed to be packed with Wednesdayites. The Plough, Shiny, Sportsman, Tavern were all packed with the bastards. But slowly, it dawned on me that they may gob off about the pigs, very few actually went to the matches! For the 1993 semi, when I finally made it back a day or two overdue, I was in the Plough. 'You should have watched it in here!' said the usual smug pig 'It was
packed with Wednesdayites!' 'Yes,' said I 'all the Blades were
at the fucking
match!)
Wednesdayites - very much like supporters of the Scottish team - choose to associate with their own. That gives them a blinkered view of their team, a disbelief that the team they watch is actually shite and a lack of perspective. Look at the legendary Shred, with whom I spent many happy hours. Honest, fun-loving, a refusal to take life too seriously and a love of booze - like most Blades (Do you seriously think that the fans of any other team could have dreamt up the words of 'Greasy Chip Butty'? No, it was the product of many hours spent on awaydays and in boozers). Compare Shred with the legendary Tango. Famous for being a massively obese exhibitionist. He belongs in a freak show which probably explains why he goes to Wednesday matches.
Blades are grimly pessimistic but realistic. And why not? To many big-game failures, last-day relegations and downright Tevez-style corruption. Wednesday, on the other hand, are fed a diet of bullshit by Radio Sheffield and The Stir. They really think that they
are the only team in Sheffield.
But they're not. 45 years since they last averaged over 30k in a season. They still go on about a 4-0 game on Boxing Day 36 years ago. They're pathetic. This season, barring a miracle promotion push by the pigs, we'll get more home fans than them. Oh sure, they'll whinge on about ticket prices but what about last season? Without their ridiculous price hike, truth be told and taking off the large away followings brought by visiting teams to Hillsborough, there was barely any difference in home support between us and them.
One final thing. The Blades are a 'cult' team - an indefinable mix that makes us special. Perhaps the nearest other thing to a 'cult' team I can think of is St. Pauli. Crowds and loyalty incredible for our status.
Thank you for listening.
