SheepdipBlade
Active Member
I think that's absolutely right.There are fans of many clubs who should be looking to consolidate in the PL who feel this way. I'm not suggesting they're in the majority but I've had many conversations over quite a few years now, usually before and after games, with opposition fans of clubs like those you mention who aren't passionate about playing in the top flight any longer.
We recently had a few drinks with Leeds fans we got chatting to on a day out in Hebden Bridge who felt the same.
I'm not saying it's binary but I think it's people who attend games regularly who feel like this as opposed to those who watch more on tv.
It's like football is becoming "gentrified" - it's all about money, success, image and fame - it's about brand and sales figures and about watching your favourite club play another plastic club in a sports bar while drinking over-priced lager.
It's not about the history, heritage, community and local ties the game was built on - it's not about meeting your mates in the Golden Lion before kick off, that pride when the lads run out, screaming yourself raw backing them, and holding back the tears when we get relegated (okay - less the last one this time around).
Most Blades are just like the true fans of other clubs. Pay the ticket money, drink the beer, stand in the rain, wear the colours, cheer the lads - the club is in our blood - but we're yesterday's people.
The game has moved on and we're no more important than window dressing to those who make the big decisions. The world has turned and both our club and ourselves have been left behind. That's not to say we have to accept it happily - in fact we should be mightily pissed off that the EPL have sacrificed our club and us - and all the history and heritage and decades of emotions not just at BDTBL but over a hundred other clubs - just so they can promote the EPL brand and rake in the coins.
Increasingly I'm at a place where I'm still a Blade, but I hate the game.
And even the first match of the cricket season was rained off without a ball being bowled.