BIFA (an other assorted supporters groups)

[bricktop]

Where are they nowadays and what are they doing.

It always makes me laugh when i see people termed fans spokesman, on the television as are they truly representative of the actual United support.

 

[Grecian2000]

It could be worse. We could have the complete twat John Hemmingham flouncing around on screen claiming he represents us.

 

[ghandi]

Where are they nowadays and what are they doing.

It always makes me laugh when i see people termed fans spokesman, on the television as are they truly representative of the actual United support.

I was paid-up member of BIFA but not heard anything for years, Howard Holmes and Matt Bell are still around but I've no idea whether it still exists. Likewise SUISA since halycon days of Bernard Proctor chairing the AGM and not knowing how to answer any awkward questions. God bless his soul, nice man but completely out of his depth. I think St Kev at the time was the largest shareholder but didn't want bto be the Chairman because he was savvy enough to be aware of the shit storm that was coming at the meeting. Only see Robby Thomas from the SUISA crowd these days.

 

[Linz]

The problem is with any "spokesperson" they are never going to be truly representative of the fans.

You only have to read on here about how opinion is divided over so many matters. The best trusts are set up democratically and involve large numbers of supporters so the general will of the group is representative of the majority.

I certainly haven't voted for a spokesman to represent me.

 

[boo radley]

How many sheffield united fans groups exist and how many forums do we know of?

 

[Bramley]

Anyone game for a Sheffield United Supporter's Trust? I'd get involved*

*DISCLAIMER - "involvement" means chasing any young eligible women and poncing about.

 

[bricktop]

How many sheffield united fans groups exist and how many forums do we know of?

Forums

This one
Barrel of Money
Unitedite (if its still going)
Blades mad

There might be a couple more.


Supporters Group

The supporters club (various branches)
Internet Blades FC

Whenever Andy Nicholson appears on televison i'm curious as to who he represents

 

[Linz]

BIFA statement as of August 2009: http://www.thebladesonline.com/theb...blades-independent-fans-association.html#more

The Blades Independent Fans Association operates at the moment – in so far as a dormant group does operate – as an informal network of supporters and through TheBladesOnline.com website, trying to keep to our initial raison d’etre via ad hoc meetings with officials at the club.

The days of a large BIFA membership and supporter unrest are long behind us, and we all hope it stays that way, but in this post-Mike McDonald era of stability, we enjoy the relationship with the club recently described by me as that of ‘critical friend‘.

We didn’t get involved in many issues which were not part of our remit, but we were consulted extensively over the ticket loyalty scheme, which we think is a great success and has rewarded the supporters who attend the most games home and away, not the cherry-pickers with the biggest wallets.

We also very happily lent our support to events regarding the irregularities at West Sham, an issue now finally resolved!

This website will carry any articles from ‘meet the manager/chairman’ events that we attend or get invited to, and, time permitting, will also contain articles from Flashing Blade fanzine.

We are part of fabric that makes up Blades supporters; we don’t represent all fans, just like none of the other organisations do.

Like Matt Bell in the Green ‘Un and John Osborne on the BBC Radio Sheffield site offer their opinions, I ago was asked some time to provide bits and pieces for, amongst others, The Observer and Yorkshire Post (I only do broad sheets, darling!), which I have done for three or four years now. I am asked to do this because I go to lots of games and my phone’s switched on! Not because I am the Joint-Chair of BIFA; because I am loyal, regular attendee.

Matt and I were original members of BIFA, still discuss issues regarding the club regularly and frequently speak to a broad spectrum of Blades – anyone who wants to make an input can get in touch by adding a comment below.

We are not a knee-jerk organisation that reacts week in, week out to the club’s ups and downs on the pitch. We do not concern ourselves (directly) with the manager, the players or results. Rather, we seek to take a long-term, supportive role with the club and we want nothing but success and stability at the Lane.

So, we would certainly not, for example, have played any part in organising demonstrations or shoe-waving seeking the removal of a manager.

I won’t react to the bizarre and strange comments that have appeared elsewhere about BIFA (some people should get out more!), but I will say that anyone interested in our group of supporters should get in touch. It should be a way for supporters to discuss issues in a reasoned way, but not be mistaken for yet another messageboard or rant line.

Please leave a comment if you require information or want to discuss anything.

Up The Blades!

It does sound like it should be Blades Independent Fan Association.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

It does sound like it should be Blades Independent Fan Association.

I didn't even realise thebladesonline.com was still going. I wrote some minor stuff for the website 2002/03, but drifted away from it - you're the first person I can remember even mentioning it for about 5 years!

 

[Micalijo]

Hopefully, the mass supporter unrest will re-surface on saturday in a huge Blackwell Out chant at around 3.35 as we struggle to muster any meaningful attack.

Wishful thinking I know but you should always hope for the best.

 

[bottletree]

We are not a knee-jerk organisation that reacts week in, week out to the club’s ups and downs on the pitch.

I wish most Blades (me included) would take on this sentiment more often.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I was one of the founder members of BIFA along with Howard Holmes, Matt Bell, Richard Batho, Kev Titterton, Ray Kinsey, Tim Surr, Jon Stittle & a handful of others. I remember sitting in a pub in Walkley putting the membership cards & car stickers into envelopes - we couldn't believe the huge numbers of people who were joining!! I was Treasurer, which was a hell of a task, not very nice walking down Shoreham Street after a game with several hundred quid from sales of fanzines, baseball caps, badges, new joiners etc etc. At that time we were the biggest independent fans' organisation in the country, and other clubs' fans, including ManUre, used to contact us for advice. I remain proud of what it was & what it achieved.

Amongst the first to join were Kevin McCabe & Simon McCabe. And Trigger from on here.......

 

[JohnDenver]

I was one of the founder members of BIFA along with Howard Holmes, Matt Bell, Richard Batho, Kev Titterton, Ray Kinsey, Tim Surr, Jon Stittle & a handful of others. I remember sitting in a pub in Walkley putting the membership cards & car stickers into envelopes - we couldn't believe the huge numbers of people who were joining!! I was Treasurer, which was a hell of a task, not very nice walking down Shoreham Street after a game with several hundred quid from sales of fanzines, baseball caps, badges, new joiners etc etc. At that time we were the biggest independent fans' organisation in the country, and other clubs' fans, including ManUre, used to contact us for advice. I remain proud of what it was & what it achieved.

Amongst the first to join were Kevin McCabe & Simon McCabe. And Trigger from on here.......

I was a member as well - had my BIFA sticker in my window at Uni.

People forget just what a mess the club was in back then.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Too true!! The latter days of Brealey were desperate. Far worse than today. I remember Bassett having to use his own money to fund the signing of Brian Gayle. Bad times, but a much better atmosphere amongst the fans back then, greater unity.

 

[Foxy]

I was one of the founder members of BIFA along with Howard Holmes, Matt Bell, Richard Batho, Kev Titterton, Ray Kinsey, Tim Surr, Jon Stittle & a handful of others...

I think Richard is stalking me this week, I've seen him out and about every day but one and was sat behind him a Preston.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I think Richard is stalking me this week, I've seen him out and about every day but one and was sat behind him a Preston.

I had a couple of beers with him in the Crem last Saturday.

If he's stalking you, you'll certainly know about it!!!! Hardly going to be able to blend into the shadows!

 

[Compound_Legend]

I was one of the founder members of BIFA along with Howard Holmes, Matt Bell, Richard Batho, Kev Titterton, Ray Kinsey, Tim Surr, Jon Stittle & a handful of others. I remember sitting in a pub in Walkley putting the membership cards & car stickers into envelopes - we couldn't believe the huge numbers of people who were joining!! I was Treasurer, which was a hell of a task, not very nice walking down Shoreham Street after a game with several hundred quid from sales of fanzines, baseball caps, badges, new joiners etc etc. At that time we were the biggest independent fans' organisation in the country, and other clubs' fans, including ManUre, used to contact us for advice. I remain proud of what it was & what it achieved.

Amongst the first to join were Kevin McCabe & Simon McCabe. And Trigger from on here.......

Ah,sharing the coffee outside the AGM with the gentlemen of the press after Brealey locked them out....climbing up St Mary's Church tower to ring in the new...walking with the coffin through the middle of town...the red card protest that made every back page of every Sunday paper...the plaque in Norfolk Row that acknowledged the birthplace of our club...and the meetings in the room above the Railway..I've even still got my "nightmare on John Street" stickers somewhere!

I remember it well - as I was on that very steering committee as well,along with another Totley-ite,Paul Blomfield..

 

[Nick Jansky]

Ah,sharing the coffee outside the AGM with the gentlemen of the press after Brealey locked them out....climbing up St Mary's Church tower to ring in the new...walking with the coffin through the middle of town...the red card protest that made every back page of every Sunday paper...the plaque in Norfolk Row that acknowledged the birthplace of our club...and the meetings in the room above the Railway..I've even still got my "nightmare on John Street" stickers somewhere!

I remember it well - as I was on that very steering committee as well,along with another Totley-ite,Paul Blomfield..

Yes, we did a sponsored walk to Barnsley away to pay for that plaque. We cheated though - set off from High Green! So technically we walked from Sheffield to Barnsley.

I've still got all the back pages from the Sunday papers, copies of the Red Card, Green Card, leaflets & everything else we ever did. They were good days!

I guess we know each other, then?

 

[ghandi]

Ah,sharing the coffee outside the AGM with the gentlemen of the press after Brealey locked them out....climbing up St Mary's Church tower to ring in the new...walking with the coffin through the middle of town...the red card protest that made every back page of every Sunday paper...the plaque in Norfolk Row that acknowledged the birthplace of our club...and the meetings in the room above the Railway..I've even still got my "nightmare on John Street" stickers somewhere!

I remember it well - as I was on that very steering committee as well,along with another Totley-ite,Paul Blomfield..

And don't forget the meeting in Memorial Hall where Kaz proposed the solution of getting rid of Brealey by torching his house.

 

[ghandi]

And don't forget the meeting in Memorial Hall where Kaz proposed the solution of getting rid of Brealey by torching his house.

Also after the delivery of Brealey out Christmas cards led to Tony Pritchett's famous headline "Those BIFA boys have gone too far this time"

 

[Silent Blade]

I think Richard is stalking me this week, I've seen him out and about every day but one and was sat behind him a Preston.

He sits a few seats away from me and once I had to calm him down when Cotterill was substituted (Colin Morris was his hero and he likes tricky right wingers) in the Ipswich game!

 

[Nick Jansky]

Also after the delivery of Brealey out Christmas cards led to Tony Pritchett's famous headline "Those BIFA boys have gone too far this time"

I was one of the group that delivered them. Could write a book about that day, so funny!!!!

Pritchett was not happy - the card depicted Brealey as Santa with a Pritchett puppet sat on his knee!!!

 

[happyhippy]

I distinctly remember handing over my membership fee to Howard in the car park during one of the various demonstrations which were held at the time. Howard can usually be found in the Sportsman on matchdays, by the way.

There was a lot of anger at the time, but it was a different anger. More direct, and less born of frustration.

 

[happyhippy]

Also after the delivery of Brealey out Christmas cards led to Tony Pritchett's famous headline "Those BIFA boys have gone too far this time"

I forgot about the Christ(TM)mas cards! That was funny!

 

[Vancouver]

Hopefully, the mass supporter unrest will re-surface on saturday in a huge Blackwell Out chant at around 3.35 as we struggle to muster any meaningful attack.

Wishful thinking I know but you should always hope for the best.

Most supporters would be hoping that at 3:35 we're two goals up and playing well. You just hope that things are going badly so you can continue your dull campaign. This is why a fan's group can't work well as long as we have people who wish the club is doing badly.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Howard can usually be found in the Sportsman on matchdays, by the way.

Howard & I will be in the Tunnel Bar tomorrow if any of the old BIFA brigade want to catch up on the old days.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Amongst the first to join were Kevin McCabe & Simon McCabe. And Trigger from on here.......

Wow, I had no idea I'd been in such exalted company and I didn't get involved in any of the protests, just a meeting or two above the Railway, puppet was there too.

If I recall, my BIFA membership number was 007, which vreifly gave me delusions of grandeur.

Despite the grimness of some of the football later, we're miles further forward these days, which is probably why I can't get too worked up about our current on the field problems.

 

[Trigger Blade]

I had a couple of beers with him in the Crem last Saturday.

If he's stalking you, you'll certainly know about it!!!! Hardly going to be able to blend into the shadows!

Richard and I shared a seat away at Coventry this season. It wasn't intended that way, I'd paid for all of mine and he sat on his and half of mine as well I'm sure he wouldn't mind me saying that, I did ask for a 50% refund at the time.

 

[Silent Blade]

Despite the grimness of some of the football later, we're miles further forward these days, which is probably why I can't get too worked up about our current on the field problems.

Fully agree with you, Trig

 

[Lepps]

Are there any SUISA members around, perhaps posting on this site?
Names to mind, first only, Martin, Peter. Met them a couple of times. One meeting in the Robin Hood hotel Sheffield in the early to mid nineties. Senior moment limits the recall :-D