How we used to live

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Walthemstowe
can tell its 1946 or so rebuilding the john street terrace after cleaning up the bomb damage, dont remember those houses in colour in the shoreham street end
 
You two gents may be able to help me here please!

Being a blade and a cricket fan I am big on the history of the Lane especially re cricket. I actually have written a potted history of the lane article I have submitted to Foxy.

One of many things I have read about the lane is that, especially in the early 20th century the cricket crowd had quite a reputation for being quite witty and vocal. It says this section of fans that had this reputation stood on the open terrace in between the pavillion and Bramall lane called the 'grinders stand' and the fans were known as 'grinders'. - what I can't find out is if this part of the ground was still called that after they built the Bramall Lane stand.

I.e. in that photo, was the terracing to the right of the pavillion as you look at it still called the grinders?
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id...ved=0ahUKEwjvo7GmrsrJAhXKPRoKHeYzAK4Q6AEINzAG
 
Remember seeing Yorkshire play Derbyshire at Queens Park Chesterfield. Tony Nicholson enjoying the banter from the crowd as Yorkshire fielded. Giving back as much as he was taking. All in a good hearted way.

I too remember seeing Yorkshire play Derbyshire at Queens Park Chesterfield.

Mind you, it was only last July :-) lovely venue still, worth gping next year to the 20 20, nearest first class cricket to Sheffield now is the Chesterfield festival.
 

Superb picture, Walthy. The 'stand' to the right of the pic. was, of course, replaced by the present Bramall Lane stand in 1967. When that stand was demolished, I remember a game around Christmas in (possibly) 1965 or 66. There was a small knot of away fans at that end, stood among the rubble and timbers that had been demolished. To keep warm, they set fire to a pile of wood. (No petty bans on e-cigs back then :))
 





That terracing in the corner, almost unique in it's day, for cricket.

Great arena for two sports. Record crowds in it's day.

When I was a lad 57000 crowds were regular in the F.A. Cup - temporary seating on the cricket pitch.
 



Superb picture, Walthy. The 'stand' to the right of the pic. was, of course, replaced by the present Bramall Lane stand in 1967. When that stand was demolished, I remember a game around Christmas in (possibly) 1965 or 66. There was a small knot of away fans at that end, stood among the rubble and timbers that had been demolished. To keep warm, they set fire to a pile of wood. (No petty bans on e-cigs back then :))
Demolition started in January 1966. Stand opened for Sunderland game in October 1966
 
Superb picture, Walthy. The 'stand' to the right of the pic. was, of course, replaced by the present Bramall Lane stand in 1967. When that stand was demolished, I remember a game around Christmas in (possibly) 1965 or 66. There was a small knot of away fans at that end, stood among the rubble and timbers that had been demolished. To keep warm, they set fire to a pile of wood. (No petty bans on e-cigs back then :))
Yep, I've mentioned that before. I'm glad someone else remembers it, I thought I'd made it up. I think it was Fulham fans, I'll check.

My guess is Sheffield United v Fulham, 22 January 1966. FA Cup game we won 3-1.
 
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Great photo Walt.

That banking in the corner of the cricket ground used to be packed full of supporters.

That was "Fine leg" or Mid-off" depending which end was bowled from. We always sat at mid-wicket, shallower terracing but more "intimate". Always sunny, always close to the action and the "wagspeak".

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What a fantastic thread and piccies! Can you imagine any other fans' forum where you'd see...

From the kop you could distinctly see the little turret buttress of St John's Church at the corner of South View Road and Sharrow Lane.
?

Pop trivia.

Very upsetting that it has been bulldozed for some prefab Tesco express to sprout up there.

Is this how 'Prefab Sprout' got their name? :D
 
You two gents may be able to help me here please!

Being a blade and a cricket fan I am big on the history of the Lane especially re cricket. I actually have written a potted history of the lane article I have submitted to Foxy.

One of many things I have read about the lane is that, especially in the early 20th century the cricket crowd had quite a reputation for being quite witty and vocal. It says this section of fans that had this reputation stood on the open terrace in between the pavillion and Bramall lane called the 'grinders stand' and the fans were known as 'grinders'. - what I can't find out is if this part of the ground was still called that after they built the Bramall Lane stand.

I.e. in that photo, was the terracing to the right of the pavillion as you look at it still called the grinders?

In my reveries, from the John Street side of the ground I would have looked across the broad expanse of turf (thicker and coarser at this football end) to the solid Victorian pavilion, opened in 1898, its red brick soon dulled to black by Sheffield’s (then) notorious smoke and grime. To the left of the pavilion, from my position, was the squat and rather inadequate score-box from where the concrete terracing with its hard wooden seats stretched round to the Spion Kop end of the football side of the ground (where no seating was provided, even when the ground was full). To my right, on the Bramall Lane side, was the concrete, roofless terracing known as the Grinders’ Stand where, at least in days gone by, men from the nearby cutlery and tool-making workshops would habitually watch the cricket – and pass on their pithy or pungent comments to players and other spectators alike.

The Lane – A Farewell by Irving Rosenwater

No trees, no picnic lunches on the grass;
Just chimneys, row on row on row.
No social graces for a special class,
But honour done alike to friend and foe.

Sounds that no aesthete would salute
Just noises - a loud factory hoot,
And tramcars on their routine clatter
Adding grist to local chatter.

Bombs did not still the game at Bramall Lane:
Just two-day wins brought temporary halt.
Now pungent memories alone remain,
With Bramall Lane we found no fault.

Oh, my Bramall Lane of long ago. :) UTB
 
I remember those old benches. During the football season they used to store them in the concourse between Bramall Lane and Cherry Street. I remember start of the the 1969/70 football season, Yorkshire had just finished playing and we were playing Middlesborough (?) on the Saturday. On the final day of the Yorkshire match we heard they were looking for volunteers to come down the next day to shift all those benches. Me and my mates all went down and during the day we heard from 'a source' that Arthur Rowley had been sacked.

First and only time I've been ITK. But no bloody internet.
Yes we played at home to Middlesbrough the day after we sacked Rowley
 
I've given myself 10 minutes to write a ditty:

Bramall lane just down the hill,
but in our house every day,
work,bus and garden, no need to say,
Never mind other troubles and ills,
That's where our hearts will lay.

Round the dinner table, even watching telly,
talk about the manager, talk about the lads,
talk about the next game, talk about the last,
figure out where we'll be next week,
look at the league table,
never expect more than S2 is able.

We can see the ground from where we live,
No matter where we have to go,It's always in our minds
every minute of every day, even in summer, even in bed,
more important than" you know what", maybe the less said.

United we love you, live for you and the rest,
No matter how bad you are, however many players you sell,
We will be there home and away, because we'll be there to tell.

Nothing is better than S2, cos that's where we're from,
Nothing is better than me and you, it's an affair of the heart,
You've been unfaithful time and again but I forgive you, S2 tart!!

Embarrassing but here goes - 11 minutes - interestingly written with my mind way back 30 years or more and nothing changes

If anybody can add or improve it feel free
 



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