Best atmosphere while watching United...

[Compound_Legend]

Coventry in the Cup QF replay was one to be remembered....the pandemonium when Reg scored in the 90th minute to take it to extra time was one,but it will be always memorable to me for the fact I'd gone to the game with an old family friend,Tony,who sadly is no longer with us.

Tony had come from Cork in Ireland in the 50's,met and married his missus in Sheffield,had 4 kids who were all rabid blades,and took United on as his club for life.If you remember,the game was on St Pats Night,and on our way down,he said to me "Trust me,it'll be the Irish Man who'll be the difference tonight".

To watch his face as Ned Kelly saved 3 out of 4 penalties was one of my favourite moments ever at the Lane,and me,our old fella,Tony and his family drunk many pints of the Black Stuff and bottles of Bushmills that night,toasting our victory.Every time I see that clip,I think back to that night with fond memories...

 

[Samantha]

Crystal Palace away the night Paddy got stretchered off and jags went in goal, won 2-1 in the end (Nuddy and chief got the goals if my memory serves) Not many Blades made the trip but the support was relentless.

I think that was April 2003? If so, I'd only got the opportunity to go 'cos I'd got the sack from my job on the Friday hence freeing up my Monday!! I won jackpot on the fruit machine in the pub down the road from Selhurst Park - was quite a good day!

Coventry in the Cup QF replay was one to be remembered....the pandemonium when Reg scored in the 90th minute to take it to extra time was one,but it will be always memorable to me for the fact I'd gone to the game with an old family friend,Tony,who sadly is no longer with us.

Tony had come from Cork in Ireland in the 50's,met and married his missus in Sheffield,had 4 kids who were all rabid blades,and took United on as his club for life.If you remember,the game was on St Pats Night,and on our way down,he said to me "Trust me,it'll be the Irish Man who'll be the difference tonight".

To watch his face as Ned Kelly saved 3 out of 4 penalties was one of my favourite moments ever at the Lane,and me,our old fella,Tony and his family drunk many pints of the Black Stuff and bottles of Bushmills that night,toasting our victory.Every time I see that clip,I think back to that night with fond memories...

What an amazing night that was. I was doing a project on United for part of my schoolwork, and had chosen that match to write a report on the atmosphere.... needless to say I got an A* for it!!

 

[bartman]

Ipswich away play off final 1997. What a night!

Made the ridiculous trip down to Portman Road on the tuesday night and was duly rewarded with my best experience of watching Sheffield United.

There were only about 2000 United fans (I think) who made it down. Everybody had wrote us off after the sheep shaggers had come to the Lane and dranw 1-1. Peter Katchouro (remember him? ;-) ) put us one up early on. They equalised at some point and eventually the game went to extra time.

For the whole game the United fans were brilliant. We completely and uttelry drowned out the home support. Chants of 'Howard Kendalls Red and White Army .... S U F C' went on the whole game.

(My memory is a little vague so forgive me if my turn of events is not exact). In extra time Ipswich went 2-1 up. Then some pillock called Nick Henry got sent off for Utd for stamping on an Italian pillock who played for Ipswich. Andy Walker scored for the Blades and I went mental, knowing we would go through on away goals, only to see it ruled out 10 seconds later.

With the clock ticking that little Scottish diamond Andy Walker popped up at the back stick and put the ball in the net. I remember waiting for a full 2 or 3 seconds, looking at the linesman, looking at the ref, then when I was sure the goal stood I went beserk! The mighty Blades held on and off to Wembely we went. To be honest we scraped through, despite being dominated by a better Ipswich side!?

What a night! The hairs on the back of my neck are staning up writing this!

Have to agree...that night was fantastic(apart from the goal disallowed :thumbdown....other games for me are Bury away in the 4th Division...Edwards last minute equaliser in front of us, and West Brom away when Asaba scored the winner in injury time when Pesch hit the bar from 40 yards when we were down to 10 men.

In the premier league,has to be Newcastle away.

 

[Bladesman]

Great atmosphere today from what I heard.

Seemed like I was listening to us from the Lane.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Best ever was Ipswich away.

First time in my life the Blades had made a final and tears rolled.

 

[Jacko]

I bet this has been mentioned already but ey it's gotta be mine.

Play off Semi Notts Forest at BDTBL. Nuff said :thumbup:

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Darlington....enough said!

Would have loved to have been at this game, apparently darlington were averaging 1100 that year and when we turned up there was around 11,000 in and loads outside. I have a picture of this on the front cover of a book called Blades tales, it looked awesome.
My best game is when we beat the pigs 1-3 at the sty in 92-93. I was up in their south stand with around 3-4000 other Blades, what a night.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

It's had a passing mention but definitely the one that stands out for me is Arsenal at home in the Premier League. When Paddy went off and Jags went in goal, it seemed inevitable that Arse would get a leveller. The Blades fans were awesome at that point and drove United on to defend with their lives - we inspired the Blades to earn those 3 points. Most people were stood up for the final ten minutes, roaring the team on, singing loud and nervously - it made the hairs stand on the back of my neck then and it still does when I think of it now. The roar when the final whistle went and the jubilation all around was pure, unadulterated joy. It was that feeling that makes football worthwhile, its the feeling we all strive for when we watch the Blades. It doesn't happen often but when it does, its memorable.

 

[Camden Blade]

It's had a passing mention but definitely the one that stands out for me is Arsenal at home in the Premier League. When Paddy went off and Jags went in goal, it seemed inevitable that Arse would get a leveller. The Blades fans were awesome at that point and drove United on to defend with their lives - we inspired the Blades to earn those 3 points. Most people were stood up for the final ten minutes, roaring the team on, singing loud and nervously - it made the hairs stand on the back of my neck then and it still does when I think of it now. The roar when the final whistle went and the jubilation all around was pure, unadulterated joy. It was that feeling that makes football worthwhile, its the feeling we all strive for when we watch the Blades. It doesn't happen often but when it does, its memorable.

I watched that in an Arsenal pub in north London and the atmosphere came across really well. As did the game against Mboro which was on Sky same season and in the the opener against Liverpool the Sky commentator said Bramall Lane was rocking after Hulse scored.
I remember the FA cup game at Arsenal in 1995 i think when we drew 1-1 and Dane Whitehouse scored for us. The atmosphere at that game was also one of the best I've experienced from Blades. We had the corner of the Clock End but also part of the side stand where I was sat with my brother and he agrees it was a great atmosphere. Everyone went mental when we scored. Ian Wright scored first for them at the Clock End and gave it the big un to Blades. Dane equalised at the North Bank End. A press report I read said Sheff Utd fans celebrated like they had won the FA Cup. And we knocked them out in the replay (Carl Veart) altho I wasn't at that. It was the beginning of the end for Bruce Rioch and I think Arsene Wenger was appointed not long after. Incidentally does anyone remember Bruce Rioch playing at the Lane for us? I remember him playing in a game against Bristol Rovers which we won 1-0 or 2-0. I remember it chiefly because I attended with a schoolmate and it was his 'last' game as his family were leaving Sheffield to move to London. I think Rioch was on loan and was a Scotland international so was a high profile player at the time.

 

[Melbourne Blade]

Two for me, the Blackburn QF when we won on penalties.... first time i'd seen the Blades even take penalties never mind the chance to go through to a semi final possibly against the pigs (they played the next night I believe?).

Another favourite, although not a classic was the 2-1 away win to Palace when Kenny went off injured, Brown was sent off and Jags ended up in goal. I think we sang "sheffield united..sheffield united" for 30 minutes straight upto the final whistle. Amazing hair on the back of your kneck stuff.

 

[oldblade]

I watched that in an Arsenal pub in north London and the atmosphere came across really well. As did the game against Mboro which was on Sky same season and in the the opener against Liverpool the Sky commentator said Bramall Lane was rocking after Hulse scored.
I remember the FA cup game at Arsenal in 1995 i think when we drew 1-1 and Dane Whitehouse scored for us. The atmosphere at that game was also one of the best I've experienced from Blades. We had the corner of the Clock End but also part of the side stand where I was sat with my brother and he agrees it was a great atmosphere. Everyone went mental when we scored. Ian Wright scored first for them at the Clock End and gave it the big un to Blades. Dane equalised at the North Bank End. A press report I read said Sheff Utd fans celebrated like they had won the FA Cup. And we knocked them out in the replay (Carl Veart) altho I wasn't at that. It was the beginning of the end for Bruce Rioch and I think Arsene Wenger was appointed not long after. Incidentally does anyone remember Bruce Rioch playing at the Lane for us? I remember him playing in a game against Bristol Rovers which we won 1-0 or 2-0. I remember it chiefly because I attended with a schoolmate and it was his 'last' game as his family were leaving Sheffield to move to London. I think Rioch was on loan and was a Scotland international so was a high profile player at the time.

If we had managed to keep Rioch for the rest of that season we may well have escaped relegation.

 

[Escafeld]

I was at that match as well, stood behind the goal. I seem to remember a Jeff King goal for some reason.

Mind you, all the away games that season were pretty memorable. I think we were the highest attendance for every team in the division that season, in fact our average home one of 15,000+ is still the record for the bottom division. Halifax sticks out, if only for a wall collapsing onto me after Tony Kenworthy scored the equalising penalty.

The 81/82 season was my first 'full season' supporting the Blades. Went to just about every home game & a handful of away games. Crewe away stands out. Utd took the ground over & had what seemed like all four sides. Jeff King scored a last minute winner.

Our average that year was just under 15k at 14892, which I do believe has not been bettered since. Not so sure though, might be wrong on that. Unfortunately it is not the highest 4th division average. It is the 6th best since the 4th division was formed for the 58/59 season.

19089 Palace 60/61
17907 BHA 64/65
16939 Coventry 58/59
15840 Portsmouth 79/80
15630 Palace 59/60

However our season in the 4th division saw us as the 22nd best supported English team that season. This is a record for a 4th div club in terms of comparative average attendances across all divisions in a season.

 

[oldblade]

The 81/82 season was my first 'full season' supporting the Blades. Went to just about every home game & a handful of away games. Crewe away stands out. Utd took the ground over & had what seemed like all four sides. Jeff King scored a last minute winner.

Our average that year was just under 15k at 14892. Unfortunately it is not the highest 4th division average. It is the 6th best since the 4th division was formed for the 58/59 season.

19089 Palace 60/61
17907 BHA 64/65
16939 Coventry 58/59
15840 Portsmouth 79/80
15630 Palace 59/60

However our season in the 4th division saw us as the 22nd best supported English team that season. This is a record for a 4th div club in terms of comparative average attendances across all divisions in a season.

In the 1980s, football attendances in general hit an all time low, so our average of nearly 15,000 was very creditable.

I remember in one evening kick off we got over 24,000 against Bradford City which was a higher attendance than Liverpool got at Anfield against Birmingham on either the same night or the night after. Liverpool were top of the top division at that time.

 

[happyhippy]

In the 1980s, football attendances in general hit an all time low, so our average of nearly 15,000 was very creditable.

I remember in one evening kick off we got over 24,000 against Bradford City which was a higher attendance than Liverpool got at Anfield against Birmingham on either the same night or the night after. Liverpool were top of the top division at that time.

A couple of weeks before that Bradford match we had more for a Tuesday night match v Wigan (22,336) than were at Highbury for a League Cup match against us earlier in the season (22,301).

Granted one match was a Tuesday in October, and the other was a Tuesday in March, but nevertheless ......

 

[oldblade]

A couple of weeks before that Bradford match we had more for a Tuesday night match v Wigan (22,336) than were at Highbury for a League Cup match against us earlier in the season (22,301).

Granted one match was a Tuesday in October, and the other was a Tuesday in March, but nevertheless ......

That season we got more at home against Wigan, Bradford, Rochdale and Peterborough, than we did at home against Arsenal in the 1-0 league cup victory.

 

[frechyblade]

For me it has to be the 3-2 victory against Sunderland in 1978 when i stood on the Kop for the first time with my mates. We got into the ground early and there were hundreds or more Sunderland fans already in singing and chanting. The Kop was nearly empty but as time wore on it got more and more packed and the rival chants went back and forth. By kick off time there was chanting and surges and the rear of the Kop was packed out. A good game too. I remember hearing the 'Harry Haslam, Danny Begara...' song for the first time. And 'take my hand...' was another popular one back then sung with real passion and the 'We all hate Leeds and Leeds and Leeds...'

Second it has to be Darlo away. It was a carnival day out from start to finish. Our 'coach' was a requisitioned SYPTE single decker bus that rattled and bumped it's way up to Darlo and back.

Post 2000 it's Forest play off at home followed by Pigs 3-1 victory at home.

Some other notable ones: Peterboro away in Div 4 night match and Leeds away when Edwards scored a header for us at their end in a 1-1 draw. And the Man U and Blackburn cup ties at the Lane in 93 i think.

Agree about the Peterborough game, though my memory had us winning!! lol Remember a guy stood on a wall above one of the gangways conducting "Sheffield United, Sheffield United, Sheffield United......." for what seemed an age!

UTB

 

[Ollessendro]

Coventry in the Cup QF replay was one to be remembered....the pandemonium when Reg scored in the 90th minute to take it to extra time was one,but it will be always memorable to me for the fact I'd gone to the game with an old family friend,Tony,who sadly is no longer with us.

Tony had come from Cork in Ireland in the 50's,met and married his missus in Sheffield,had 4 kids who were all rabid blades,and took United on as his club for life.If you remember,the game was on St Pats Night,and on our way down,he said to me "Trust me,it'll be the Irish Man who'll be the difference tonight".

To watch his face as Ned Kelly saved 3 out of 4 penalties was one of my favourite moments ever at the Lane,and me,our old fella,Tony and his family drunk many pints of the Black Stuff and bottles of Bushmills that night,toasting our victory.Every time I see that clip,I think back to that night with fond memories...

That was a fantastic night!

The first game at Highfield Road was a cracker as well. We should have nicked it in the last minute, but Katchouro was just too slow. Graeme Stuart smacked the ball into open space and Ogrizovich went over to lump it back up field. Kat came from nowehre and blocked the kick and was left with the open goal at his mercy. He dallyed for too long and allowed himself to be tackled by Fat Oggy. Gutting.

I remember at the final whistle 5000 or so Blades raising the roof with 'will you come to Bramall Lane???'

 

[super_pig]

best atmosphere ever was away at grimsby when we got relegated to div 4.. alex sabella threw his shirt into the crowd (used to have a shred somewhere).. but the best bit was singing you'll never walk alone right through from about the tenth minute to the end and right through to half time..
this copper told us he'd never seen anything like it in 30 years.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

best atmosphere ever was away at grimsby when we got relegated to div 4.. alex sabella threw his shirt into the crowd (used to have a shred somewhere).. but the best bit was singing you'll never walk alone right through from about the tenth minute to the end and right through to half time..
this copper told us he'd never seen anything like it in 30 years.

Is that the one where we wouldn't go home until the team had come back out, and Cooperman gave his epic speech? I stayed until the bitter end, then came out of the ground to realise the train had gone, and I had to bum a lift on one of the coaches..!

 

[super_pig]

actually i think it was 79/80 come to think of it.. the year we finished midtable.. (did grimsby win the league or something?).. relegation was the year after (really.. i ought to remember that didn't i?.. heh.. don givens and all that)
heh.. everyone missed the train.. i remember running down the platform after the football special and managed to jump on thanks to some other blades hanging out of the door.. like something out of a cowboy film.. loads of people missed it and had to bum lifts.. heh.. also one funny thing was that someone had parked a car right next to the turnstile (it was an invalid car too.. :-/) the only way in was to climb over the car.. so there was this queue that went right over the car from boot to bonnet.. i'll never forget that..

 

[Silent Blade]

Beating Leeds in the League Cup in Sept. 1970.

They were as good as anything in the country (although rightly despised by everyone) and we were just embarking on the best ever season. TC saw them off with a shot from the edge of the area and I went from about 3 steps from the back of the kop to near where it split in two. First time I'd been right at the back of the kop for a "cup shock" and it was an awesome noise.

Remember that brilliant night very well. We had many chances that night starting from a shot from John Tudor hitting the woodwork at the kop end in the 1st minute. Don Revie admitted after the match that we were the better side and that the result wasnt a fluke. There was an interesting article in the Green Un by Peter Howard on the following Saturday about how TC exploited the space left by Terry Cooper (L**ds LB who was one of the England stars in the 1970 World Cup) and scoring his solo goal. Alan Woodward was our player that Revie feared the most so he instructed Terry Cooper to mark Woody tightly throughout the game and told him to forget about overlapping (which was one of his greatest strengths- similiar to Ashley Cole) whenever L**ds have the ball on the left. Late in the 2nd half Woody was positioning himself on the far right which dragged Cooper away and it left a big gap on the inside right so when TC received the ball on the halfwayline he spotted the "gap" and ran towards the space for about 20 yards before unleashing a powerful ground shot past Gary Sprake at the Lane end. Great goal and a great night!

 

[Stockholm syndrom]

I was there and whilst it was good in a kind of way it couldn't beat the night when we went down the road and Dane Whitehouse and Bobby Davidson put the pigs to the sword What a night! I had travelled 220 miles to be at the game and just got into Leppings Lane when DW scored the opener Fantastic

Have to agree Fiery, there have been many a good nights for atmosphere down the lane but, that night was something special. Pissing it down, night match, flares, flags and goals galore! It was electric in the lower tier leppings lane that night!!

Going to school the next day was one of the best days of my school lfe!! 3-1 2-0 written on every blackboard in school !!

 

[bricktop]

Yeah, i enjoyed school the day after both wins.

I went to Ecclesfield school that is in a Wendesday heartland the Blades were roughly outnumbered 10 to 1 in those days as Wednesday were in their heydey.

I remember getting off the bus outside Ecclesfield School, walking up the main drive by the old grass tennis courts where we used to play football during breaks, and proudly wearing my Blades shirts before seeing half of my classmates stood at the top of the drive and then legging it back down the drive and entering school again just before registration started and giving them loads back!

 

[FURPHY]

The Sunday lunchtime game at the Lane when we beat the Pigs 2-0 was a memorable one for me. We went into the game as massive underdogs and for a week previously I was seriously patronised by the grunters at my workplace but a combination of two of their defenders colliding and allowing Dane to tap home at the Kop end and then Deane scoring past "slippery-hands" Woods to make it 2-0 confirmed the result and left me ready for the snorters at work next day. Finally the Kop singing "Always look on the bright side of life" at the final whistle as the pig fans left the ground. Magic.
For the return match I parked the car and walked from Walkley Lane getting wet and then getting wetter during the game but also more and more happy. Thank you Bobby Davidson (and "slippery-hands".

 

[cahill]

United v Wednesday 1970, 3-2, John Tudor scored winner

United 5 v 1 Cardiff 1971, promotion decider, 40,000 gate

Burnley 0 v 2 Hull 1980s loads of Blades at the game and we were promoted

United 1 v 0 Arsenal 2007 Christian Nade winner

 

[Unstone Blade]

United v Wednesday 1970, 3-2, John Tudor scored winner

United 5 v 1 Cardiff 1971, promotion decider, 40,000 gate

Burnley 0 v 2 Hull 1980s loads of Blades at the game and we were promoted

United 1 v 0 Arsenal 2007 Christian Nade winner

The Arrsenal win was awesome..

Will always cherish singing "You'll never beat Jagielka" to the sad gooners

 

[super_pig]

yeah leeds that reminds me.. did anyone go to that leeds game in around 1974 when we drew 1-1
leeds scored early and proceeded to time waste through the entire match.. they must have gone through every trick in the book..they had some special easter fireworks or something and they must have been on a timer cos they went off toward the end.. steve cammack came on as sub and hit a 40 yard shot through the gloom for the equaliser.. :thumbup:
i was sat in the leeds section on john street cos my mate got free tickets.. we were the only blades there and even though i was about 8 years old got some right stick.. when we scored we jumped up and down.. much to my suprise there was this huge geezer sat behind us .. he was a blade as well and i swear he was so excited he was waving me around over his head like a rag doll..
at the end of the season leeds lost the championship by a point.. snigger.

 

[Silent Blade]

yeah leeds that reminds me.. did anyone go to that leeds game in around 1974 when we drew 1-1
leeds scored early and proceeded to time waste through the entire match.. they must have gone through every trick in the book..they had some special easter fireworks or something and they must have been on a timer cos they went off toward the end.. steve cammack came on as sub and hit a 40 yard shot through the gloom for the equaliser.. :thumbup:
i was sat in the leeds section on john street cos my mate got free tickets.. we were the only blades there and even though i was about 8 years old got some right stick.. when we scored we jumped up and down.. much to my suprise there was this huge geezer sat behind us .. he was a blade as well and i swear he was so excited he was waving me around over his head like a rag doll..
at the end of the season leeds lost the championship by a point.. snigger.

The above match was on Easter Tuesday 1975. L**ds had won the championship in the previous season. Revie then left to manage England. L**ds had a very poor start to the season under Clough before sacking him. They finished well below us (we finished 6th). Cammack scored from a shot from inside the box at the Kop end after the fireworks had set off prematurately probably stunning the L**ds players more than our players!

 

[Linz]

Just had to find this thread out as I came across a Youtube video the other day that for the life of me I can't find again now.

Arsenal v. Blades in the Cup at Highbury, February 2005.

The game had everything. Knee high challenges on Monty, the wrong man getting a red card for a girly slap, a disallowed Blades goal and a last minute penalty. Blades fans were all in good voice as, like us, most of them were absolutely sozzled.

We'd got on the 5am train from Sheffield and by 6am, the cans were opened. Breakfast in Covent Garden was followed by yet more beer. The game was a brief interlude of sobriety which ended in getting bearhugged by loadsa random blokes as Andy Gray scored.

Then it was back to the pub where an old boy from Sheffield was buying us drinks. Then we made our way back to Covent Garden, talking to loadsa Arsenal fans on the train who were telling us they'd have Neil Warnock over Arsene Wenger as manager any day. We went into a pub and thanks to the (subtle) orange United shirts we were wearing, a stag party of Spurs fans adopted us as their heroes of the evening for upsetting the Gooners. After three hours in the pub and seeing it turn dark outside, we decided we ought to really go home.

Back to the train station where we bumped into the very same stag party who were still our very bestest friends in the world. Fond goodbyes were said, again. Don't think I've ever had so many kisses at a game. The train was full of Leicester fans who'd won at Charlton (I think) but they were bloody miserable. Dane Whitehouse gave us a wave as he wandered through our carriage. We'd accosted him earlier in the pub after the game. Sang rude songs at the British Transport Police and rolled back into Sheffield 16 hours after we'd set off, tired and emotional.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Just had to find this thread out as I came across a Youtube video the other day that for the life of me I can't find again now.

Arsenal v. Blades in the Cup at Highbury, February 2005.

The game had everything. Knee high challenges on Monty, the wrong man getting a red card for a girly slap, a disallowed Blades goal and a last minute penalty. Blades fans were all in good voice as, like us, most of them were absolutely sozzled.

We'd got on the 5am train from Sheffield and by 6am, the cans were opened. Breakfast in Covent Garden was followed by yet more beer. The game was a brief interlude of sobriety which ended in getting bearhugged by loadsa random blokes as Andy Gray scored.

Then it was back to the pub where an old boy from Sheffield was buying us drinks. Then we made our way back to Covent Garden, talking to loadsa Arsenal fans on the train who were telling us they'd have Neil Warnock over Arsene Wenger as manager any day. We went into a pub and thanks to the (subtle) orange United shirts we were wearing, a stag party of Spurs fans adopted us as their heroes of the evening for upsetting the Gooners. After three hours in the pub and seeing it turn dark outside, we decided we ought to really go home.

Back to the train station where we bumped into the very same stag party who were still our very bestest friends in the world. Fond goodbyes were said, again. Don't think I've ever had so many kisses at a game. The train was full of Leicester fans who'd won at Charlton (I think) but they were bloody miserable. Dane Whitehouse gave us a wave as he wandered through our carriage. We'd accosted him earlier in the pub after the game. Sang rude songs at the British Transport Police and rolled back into Sheffield 16 hours after we'd set off, tired and emotional.

That game was brilliant. I was there, second row from the back with bluddy scaffolding above our heads. It was me and my older brother. We went barmy when Andy Gray scored!

The chanting of "cheerio, cheerio, cheerio" at Dennis Bergkamp was quite enjoyable as well. I think it will be the only time ever that Danny Cullip wonders how he managed to have a perfectly good goal disallowed and was let off for kicking Fabregas in the head - IN THE SAME GAME!!!!!

Also, what was with the flat balconies and washing lines hung out INSIDE THE STADIUM just before you exit. They did the right thing moving across the road!