Blades "Ultras"

[Linz]

have you never stood up in a seating area then linz

Of course, but I don't have a mercenary attitude towards it. If the stewards let us stand, then stand. But if someone behind wants to sit down, do you:

a) Call them a "cunt" and make derogatory forum posts saying this type of fan should never come to the Lane because they can't call themselves a supporter?

or

b) Apologise and politely sit down?

It isn't their motives that people are calling into question... it's the way they seem to be going about it.

 

[SheepdipBlade]

It isn't their motives that people are calling into question... it's the way they seem to be going about it.

Think I'd question their motives Linz. I've worked with enough rough arsed scrotes over the years and I'd doubt that this lots sole aim is to support our team and have a good time. From what I've seen it's fairly typical of the "look at me - aren't I hard" mentality - - and done in a way that belittles others along the way.

We've all been teenagers - most of us have stepped out of line along the way - but we weren't all twats like some of these. :thumbdown:

 

[Linz]

Think I'd question their motives Linz. I've worked with enough rough arsed scrotes over the years and I'd doubt that this lots sole aim is to support our team and have a good time.

I think it's a bit harsh to say they all want to cause trouble... but frankly, if they can't win over their fellow supporters with what they are trying to do, they're going to have difficulty winning over the club and I should imagine they will make themselves somewhat of a target for trouble causers amongst the opposition.

Not worth it to get a few songs started. Especially when one of the songs in question likens one of your own players to a rapist.

 

[breeny]

If I sit there and encourage by clapping and shouting, "well done quinny " etc, am I a crap supporter because I'm not singing constantly? If I sat in some places of the Kop I would probably be told that I am. Thankfully it's a good crowd where we sit.

 

[Crookes Blade]

Don't know about Ultra but there are two goons who sit 2 rows in front of me one, one big fat kid (fat head as we call him) and one who thinks he is thin and a bit trendy (Beckhamesque gothic tattoo on the forearm etc) but hes fat. Make me cringe, turning round shouting at people behind them to 'sing up - you miserable bastards", tries starting a fight with anyone who tell them to sit down/shut up etc. Tellng other people they aren't Blades despite the fact that these goons usually leave early (including the Derby at the lane last year with Beattie's late brace to snatch a draw)

Every season hope they will have decided not to renew.

Can't say I hear that much racism on the kop (not to say it doesn't exist or never has done) and there are a good few black supporters and groups of young Chinese students on there regularly. I think SUFC do foster a relatively inclusive atmosphere and this is one of the positive sides to the much maligned modern game.

 

[Stafford Blade]

why don't the club give them that crappy little corner between the kop and john st? they can all stand up and call each other c*nts from there. the rest of us can watch the match.

 

[RaWW]

I think the attitude to what the majority of these fans are trying to do has been spoilt by a minority of dickheads. I fully agree with that. Thing is you get them everywhere, you have to try to ignore them.

Yes I am fully against racism and thugs, that's got nothing to do with football. I'm sure if you ask Linz or Foxy, they know me personally and I can be a dickhead at times, but I'm no racist or thug.

I was stood right behind of a few young lads on Saturday and one of them was black, he was having as good of a time as the white lads he was with, he nor I heard any racist comments and this was 4/5 rows from the back of gangway D.

This is though the attitude that a lot of fans get when all they want is to try generate a good atmosphere of singing and chanting.

They want to be sat at the back so they won't obstruct peoples views who want to sit down, the lads who I've talked to are more than happy with any fans who wants to sit, it's just frustration of the lack of atmosphere which you can't deny has been lacking.

Someone spoke about the away fans in the prem. Yes that was a good year, but the last 2 years have been very poor, at Wembley it was absolutely shocking.

 

[jose_d_blade]

Of course, but I don't have a mercenary attitude towards it. If the stewards let us stand, then stand. But if someone behind wants to sit down, do you:

a) Call them a "cunt" and make derogatory forum posts saying this type of fan should never come to the Lane because they can't call themselves a supporter?

or

b) Apologise and politely sit down?

It isn't their motives that people are calling into question... it's the way they seem to be going about it.

point taken and i would take offence to this too.
i just dont like to tar every one with the same brush.

 

[Linz]

They want to be sat at the back so they won't obstruct peoples views who want to sit down, the lads who I've talked to are more than happy with any fans who wants to sit, it's just frustration of the lack of atmosphere which you can't deny has been lacking.

I quite agree... like I've said throughout the thread. But they aren't going to encourage people to go along with their idea while some of the more excitable ones seem to be doing their best to isolate themselves from the rest of the fans.

There's nothing better than the whole away end singing at an away match... but it takes fans being United to do it... in more ways than one.

 

[RaWW]

I quite agree... like I've said throughout the thread. But they aren't going to encourage people to go along with their idea while some of the more excitable ones seem to be doing their best to isolate themselves from the rest of the fans.

There's nothing better than the whole away end singing at an away match... but it takes fans being United to do it... in more ways than one.

I agree with you Linz. But all I was trying to get across was the fact that not all of the people are of the type that was suggested. And whereas some of those fans are out of order doing what they do, it doesn't help with the attitude of other fans towards others they have already pre-judged to be like minded idiots.

You final point is the key though, the fans do need to be United in more ways than one. Fighting between your own fans is bang out of order, as seen at many places, especially at Wembley. Just try not to label every fan a racist thug just cos they want to have a good time and generate some atmosphere.

 

[Sheffield-Bl4de]

SV is right, infact, back a few years ago, I don't know about today, but there was such a thing as the BBBC, known for the ethnic casuals. No prizes for guessing what the extra B stands for. I personally know someone who was part of this in his youth, I wont mention names for obvious reasons. He still knows many many faces that still go down the lane, and are just as nutty as ever.

 

[Santos]

You speak as you find, but to be honest, I've generally found the younger fans (16 - 25) not to be the problem, one or two may say the odd thing which is a bit too far or may have drunk a bit more than they can handle and get carried away with youthful giddyness/exuberance and If I was 60+ I may find them more annoying, but for me it's the 35 - 45 year old bracket who have the potential to really spoil it. Absolutely blind drunk, acting like arrogant pig faced cretins who have absolutely zero regard for anyone else in the ground other than themselves and their 'boys', and if you dare challenge them you're lucky to get away with a volley of abuse. I found Wembley to be a perfect example of this and I think even if we'd won it would have been tarnished by these kind of experiences.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I've found the same. The younger lads rarely cause any serious problems.

My seat is at the back of the Kop, next to Gangway E, so the group of lads in question are immediately to my left. I heard nothing amiss on Saturday, and haven't done (aside from the very occasional comment out of line) for a long time.

The basic point is right - the atmosphere from Blades fans could be a great deal better.

People have different ways of enjoying football, and the key is to prevent them getting one another's way. It's not terribly difficult, it just need a bit of basic organisation. You define certain areas of the ground as 'singing' sections, with suitable warnings that the atmosphere can be a little more raucus than other areas. It doesn't need to be a whole stand - just (e.g.) the back 20 rows of the Kop would be fine.

Similarly (and more importantly) at away games, sell the tickets as 'singing' and 'family' (or whatever - I'm sure someone can come up with better names) with the tickets at the back being the former, and the ones at the front being the latter.

That way everyone can enjoy the game the way they want to, without annoying others.

Mind you - if the lads at the back of the Kop carry on trying to get Wednesday songs going, they'll struggle to gain much support, even from me...

 

[rachyblade]

You are near me then WorkingtonBlade

 

[RaWW]

I've found the same. The younger lads rarely cause any serious problems.

My seat is at the back of the Kop, next to Gangway E, so the group of lads in question are immediately to my left. I heard nothing amiss on Saturday, and haven't done (aside from the very occasional comment out of line) for a long time.

The basic point is right - the atmosphere from Blades fans could be a great deal better.

People have different ways of enjoying football, and the key is to prevent them getting one another's way. It's not terribly difficult, it just need a bit of basic organisation. You define certain areas of the ground as 'singing' sections, with suitable warnings that the atmosphere can be a little more raucus than other areas. It doesn't need to be a whole stand - just (e.g.) the back 20 rows of the Kop would be fine.

Similarly (and more importantly) at away games, sell the tickets as 'singing' and 'family' (or whatever - I'm sure someone can come up with better names) with the tickets at the back being the former, and the ones at the front being the latter.

That way everyone can enjoy the game the way they want to, without annoying others.

Mind you - if the lads at the back of the Kop carry on trying to get Wednesday songs going, they'll struggle to gain much support, even from me...

Pretty much sums it up perfectly.

I've thought of the seperation of tickets but it seems from some inquisitive questions to SUFC that they aren't interested at all.

Singing songs about Wednesday all the time annoys me too, the fans seem to cheer more when they are loosing or have 'fooked it up again' than they do cheering on their own team.

 

[rachyblade]

Pretty much sums it up perfectly.

I've thought of the seperation of tickets but it seems from some inquisitive questions to SUFC that they aren't interested at all.

Singing songs about Wednesday all the time annoys me too, the fans seem to cheer more when they are loosing or have 'fooked it up again' than they do cheering on their own team.

It was actually a wednesday song which they had edited to try and make it ours, which didnt really work.

 

[Guesty]

I'm fairly certain I heard some racist abuse aimed at Ellington in the first half on Saturday, the first I've heard in a long time. Hopefully that's the last we'll hear of it this season and beyond.

 

[beightonblade]

Heard the daft two hats at Blackpool wi the drum ?

we've got Tom f*c*ing Hark blurting out the stereo system, 50zillion watts of light power when the Blades score at BDTBL and it aint a patch on how it used to be.......... mind yer nowt is.

Gi mi the 3 sided BDTBL, TC and Co any time.


Nowt wrong wi these 'ultra's' wanting to get sum atmosphere back at BDTBL but i fear they are pissing in the wind....... they shud have picked a better name though 'ultra's' portrays the wrong image.

 

[cooperblade]

The basic point is right - the atmosphere from Blades fans could be a great deal better.

Completely agree. The atmosphere seems to have declined until it's no longer worthy of the word. I think the temporary closure of G&H and the dispersal of those who sat there was the major problem for home matches. Not sure what's happened away from home - it just seems to be more santised than ever before.

I'll be wanting to start taking my kids to matches in the next few years so I'm not looking for a return to the 80s. I'd just like football to regain that slight edge that it used to have and for a bit more passion and humour to return.

Having said that, it's great where I sit - South Stand, Gangway F, near the front - so perhaps I should stop moaning

 

[bricktop]

The thing is though how do you keep the passion and atmosphere at the Lane if people are going to lambast the kids who try to get it going?

On the whole i think the kids might be a little misguided and buy in to the whole Football Factory culture a little bit too much from time to time, but as long as they are doing the right things to get the atmosphere going then are more than welcome to go to the Lane. By that i mean if they want to sing, get new songs going and try and make the Lane an intimidating place for the opposition then thats fine, but as long as it doesn't involve racism or bullying of their own supporters then that is fine.

People choose to watch their football differently and in different ways from the people who go to the Lane with sandwiches, a flash and lovingly tend for their programmes to the the lads who go with their mates and who have a day of drinking with their mates all centred around the football.

I enjoy going to the Lane with my mates and having a few beers beforehand, a beer at half-time and then usually go and have a few more after. Thats my choice but bear in mind even though i fit the demographic of the lad in his 30's who goes and has a few beers all day, i tend not to cause others offence and harm by doing it and its something i enjoy doing

 

[Blades-7]

I do wish we had better a atmosphere away from home, because our away support is shocking. Fans sit down and don't sing and for a club like United we should be doing that sort of stuff, just look at every team that comes to the lane like Wednesday, Barnsley, Donny, Forest, Derby and fans such as Newcastle, Man Utd and City, Liverpool, they all travel in their thousands, stand up and sing all match. Why can't we just do that? Sitting down and not signing is for soft clubs like Wigan and Reading. Not United.

 

[puppet]

You speak as you find, but to be honest, I've generally found the younger fans (16 - 25) not to be the problem, one or two may say the odd thing which is a bit too far or may have drunk a bit more than they can handle and get carried away with youthful giddyness/exuberance and If I was 60+ I may find them more annoying, but for me it's the 35 - 45 year old bracket who have the potential to really spoil it. Absolutely blind drunk, acting like arrogant pig faced cretins who have absolutely zero regard for anyone else in the ground other than themselves and their 'boys', and if you dare challenge them you're lucky to get away with a volley of abuse. I found Wembley to be a perfect example of this and I think even if we'd won it would have been tarnished by these kind of experiences.

bang on!
wembley was horrendous for me. i'd only just come out of hospital, drove myself there having decided to go at the last minute only to be surrounded by drunken idiots, most of whom didnt know the players (getting the kyles mixed up slurring abusively about them), some absolute tit in front of me who had very black hair and 'hair-paint' in red and white stripes which comically made looked more claret and blue standing up and singing every five minutes, with his back to the actual play berating people for not doing likewise... and the crowning turd in the waterpipe the kyle-esque slobs a few seats along a personal-hygeine phobic guy who really shouldve had to pay for an extra seat and his son, who looked about 12, chain smoking for 90 minutes... £100 day out, money well spent.

 

[GC88]

I am one this group, one of the reasons I have joined this forum is because of this thread.

I was disappointed with perception people have of us and think it is possibly the connotations of the name "ultras" rather than dislike of us as united fans and what we are trying to achieve.

I don't know where the name came from or who posted and isn't official but given the negative stories of the Italian Ultras etc. i can see why people are against it - but if you look beyond this you will what we are trying to achieve.

All we trying to do is create a good vocal and hopefully visual backing for the players in particular at away games. We're not racist, teenage chavs or football factory wannabes - we just want support united as loud as possible, together.

 

[Linz]

All we trying to do is create a good vocal and hopefully visual backing for the players in particular at away games. We're not racist, teenage chavs or football factory wannabes - we just want support united as loud as possible, together.

Now you sound like a sensible lad and I am sure your intentions are honourable. But don't be naïve enough to try and talk for everyone involved in it.

I've read the threads on Bladesmad and there's a certain amount of "if you're not with us, you're against us" bravado going off. For your sake, I do hope it is keyboard warriorism, because if not, it is going to attract trouble. If not from the opposition and stewards, then definitely from the club and your own fans.

Everyone who is involved in the "ultras" and posts on Bladesmad is giving people an image of what the group is about, and there has been a fair bit of abuse lodged at those who won't join in, from behind the safety net an anonymous messageboard can give you.

If you want to see why you aren't being welcomed with open arms, have a look who is talking about your cheerleading squad and then have a look at how they talk to other posters... can you see my point? Hardly the fluffy society is it?

You need some seriously positive PR and you need to tell everyone involved in it that they are no longer just talking for themselves, they are speaking as "ultras" and anything they say can reflect badly on you all.

 

[GC88]

I can only speak for myself - but the main aim is simply to vocally support united together.

With regard to the topic/s on bladesmad - people were being wound up by fans from other clubs and from other united fans, one of whom apologised after. I think most people will see the word "ultra" and either fear we're going back to the 80's or take the "" out of us, leading to people getting annoyed and posting comments that are a little over the top because they haven't seen our goal - i don't know your rules on here for posting links but if youre on facebook "Sheffield United - The Voice at Away games" is the name of the group.

Someone has contacted the club regarding away matches and although they cannot allocate an area to us they seemed to have no problem with a group of people all buying tickets at the same time together.

Another reason for being together and wanting to form a "group" is that if a number of fans are passionate about vocally supporting united but are spread over a stand - it is less likely to create an atmosphere and they will evetually stop singing as they are by themselves.

If you put all these people together who want to vocally support it will allow these people to support united how they wish. The ones who have a problem with these people and think they are getting too loud and prefer to just sit and watch the game to do so without interruption.

The name is pretty much irrelevant - it what we are trying to do that is important.

 

[Foxy]

One of the things that I noticed today too, was the comments along the lines of... "We'll meet up, go to the back and hopefully there is room. If not hopefully whoever is there will move not too far away and join in... or hopefully there will be loads more empty space for them to move to".

Now, I'm all for creating an atmosphere and to do this, sitting together does make some sense... But how about thinking a bit more about the other people currently outside the group? Why should they just move over?

As Linz has just said, the perception comes from the PR of it all, it'll fall flat on its arse if the respect, consideration and involvement of others isn't done carefully.

That's not tarring every single member of the group with the same brush, i'm sure there are plenty who have the right intentions and considerations... But all it takes is a couple that don't.

It's very important to stay away from the possibility of over inflated self importance too, because that will be a major downer on the majority of blades fans.

 

[yuley82]

All young wanna be's and there are alot out there what ever club you support, think there the bee's knee's and everybody's affraid of them, some people may be but i tell you something alot of these young teenagers or children (as they act) are quite as mice on there own and when put on there toes will either run or piss there selves FACT... Not just in football but in life in general!!

 

[Linz]

One of the things that I noticed today too, was the comments along the lines of... "We'll meet up, go to the back and hopefully there is room. If not hopefully whoever is there will move not too far away and join in... or hopefully there will be loads more empty space for them to move to".

Yeah, I noticed that too.

Everyone should move for the ultras because they are ultras and can sit where they want.

Hmmmm Can you see that going down well?

It isn't just the name that's turning people off, it's the attitude.

EDIT: But then again, what do I know? I'm just a girl who should stay away from football anyway, because it's my fault United don't sing

 

[GC88]

With only 800 tickets sold so far for Reading it will be about 2 seats each anyway at Reading.

Also i'm not a big fan of the ideas youve mentioned telling people to move - which is why we are trying to sort out buying tickets together but, with such a low number of fans going to Reading, even if there are say 20-25 of us trying this out it will only be about 3% of the united fans there.

We're honestly not wannabe's or anything like that, which is another problem we have. This perception were a group of 16 year olds but most of us are older and just trying to create an atmosphere and a new idea by getting together to vocally support united away.

If any of you want to join in i'm happy to provide contacts etc. or just take a look at the facebook group.

 

[Foxy]

If any of you want to join in i'm happy to provide contacts etc. or just take a look at the facebook group.

Think i'll just carry on as is at the moment ta

Getting a sore throat and standing up if possible wherever I am.

Perhaps not the best one for one of your first organised meets however, if the Reading stewards are on their usual form! Might be a little difficult.

That said though, they weren't all that bad last time around.