Rufus Smalls
Active Member
I’ve always supported 2 teams.
The Blades and ….. whoever the Pigs are playing.
The Blades and ….. whoever the Pigs are playing.
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That’s exactly my point. It didn’t feel like I was cheating on Boro, watching and supporting United. If I were to stray now (not going to happen), I think I would feel dirty.Grew up in Rainham, Kent and my parents were Gills ST holders. As a young teen I sold programmes there and got in free, but was never really a fan. First went to a Blades game away at Bradford in the cup 1990 and was immediately hooked. Don't know what it is about the Blades, they just get to you.
This is exactly my football supporting philosophy. I’ve got friends and relatives who can’t understand why you’d support anyone outside the big six. They don’t know what they’re missing. You’re spot on. They’re glory hunting plastics with no sense of loyalty or tradition.My theory is you follow;
1. Where you live or lived; or
2. Who your Dad/Mum followed
So Middle aged Blade and his wife are fine IMO.
Most Man Utd, Liverpool are plastic fans and pothunters.
I live in Leicestershire, born in Sheffield, and my lad (born in Leicestershire) have ST at BDTBL, so I fit my own criteria nicely
I lived in Solihull for 30 years and my lad still lives there.This is exactly my football supporting philosophy. I’ve got friends and relatives who can’t understand why you’d support anyone outside the big six. They don’t know what they’re missing. You’re spot on. They’re glory hunting plastics with no sense of loyalty or tradition.
Similarly to south stand I’ve not lived in Sheffield since 1987 the majority of which time has been in Solihull. My son was born in 1994 and has been brought up an avid and yes, a willing Blade. No brainwashing needed. We’re both ardent season ticket holders and try to get to as many away games as possible.
In our spare time we watch Solihull Moors as our second team. It’s good fun. But….nothing compares to the strange allure of the red and white wizards.
Out of interest, why don't your kids go any more? Have they changed allegiance or just got fed up with the general tripe served up?During this period of ‘mid-season break’, I got thinking of watching football as a kid and now.
I was brought up in Teeside and I followed Boro, watching them on a Saturday at Ayresome Park. Those were the days of Graeme Souness, Tony Mowbray, Gary Pallister through to Bryan Robson, Juninho and Ravanelli.
In the late nineties, I moved to Sheffield with my wife, had kids and have been here ever since. We thankfully came to live in the right red) side of Sheffield and the kids started to support United.
We went to games with them and became hooked, through the trials of promotion to the Premier League to the downward spiral to League 1 and back up again.
Our kids no longer go, but the lovely Mrs Middle Aged Blade and I relish our season ticket.
It seems that I have spent half my life here and now consider myself a Blade.
I always keep one eye on how Boro are doing. New Year’s Day will be a strange one, for many reasons other than what I’ve already said. I’m sure there will be another thread about that!
Has anyone else been on a similar journey?
Well I never you dark horseI was brought up in the Harrogate area at the time when Leeds were coming good in the early 60s so it was only natural to follow Leeds. When I moved to Sheffield Uni in 1971 I was on the same corridor as a United fan and I went to Bramall Lane on many occasions when I couldn't get to Leeds games. The only time I was hit by anything was when the Leeds (increasingly yobbish) fans took over the back of the kop in an early 70s game. Fortunately it was only a can which was empty by the time it hit me!
I continued watching Leeds until December 79 when I moved away to live in Orkney. I had been getting increasingly fed up of the hostile atmosphere at Elland Road (between home fans) and when I came back to South Yorkshire in 1986 and went to the first game of the season. the hostility was even worse and I never set foot inside the place again until the early 2000s when we beat them 4-0. It was pretty hostile after that match as well and I remember walking through a gauntlet of hooligans on the way up to Beeston.
From 1986, I gradually started to watch United games and have had a season ticket since the mid 90s. I still go to games with the friend who introduced me to Bramall Lane in the first place!
They just drifted away from football. My son started playing cricket and rugby and enjoys them more. Thinks footballers are overpaid wusses, who fall over too easily. Can’t argue with that really!Out of interest, why don't your kids go any more? Have they changed allegiance or just got fed up with the general tripe served up?
I know how you feelThey just drifted away from football. My son started playing cricket and rugby and enjoys them more. Thinks footballers are overpaid wusses, who fall over too easily. Can’t argue with that really!
My daughter still asks on match day “Did we win?”, although now more interested in how her false nails and eyelashes look
Call him Wonky?A very well known Blade was a Man City fan as a young un. I believe they moved over to Sheffield in the 80’s, and he became a mad, mad Blade.
i have 2 daughters and i have done my level best to make sure neither of them are interested in football! To be fair my youngest has been a couple of times when she was younger but i really don't want either going through the wasted money, time and heartache i have suffered.I know how you feel
My lads the same
11 years in Maidenhead and the 9 hrs I spent with my son travelling to BDTBL and back every other Saturday as he grew up have created an unbreakable bond between the three of usLiving down south these days, with young kids, I can see how it would happen. Thankfully though, this isn't a hotbed of football down here so the kids won't be asking to go to any local matches. The only risk is that schoolmates try to persuade them to support Chelsea or Liverpool, and as I won't let that happen, I'll be forcing the kids to support United, even though it means we won't make it to as many matches as I'd like.
I have a mate from Leeds that used to follow Leeds United, but is now a dyed in the wool Blade.I was brought up in the Harrogate area at the time when Leeds were coming good in the early 60s so it was only natural to follow Leeds. When I moved to Sheffield Uni in 1971 I was on the same corridor as a United fan and I went to Bramall Lane on many occasions when I couldn't get to Leeds games. The only time I was hit by anything was when the Leeds (increasingly yobbish) fans took over the back of the kop in an early 70s game. Fortunately it was only a can which was empty by the time it hit me!
I continued watching Leeds until December 79 when I moved away to live in Orkney. I had been getting increasingly fed up of the hostile atmosphere at Elland Road (between home fans) and when I came back to South Yorkshire in 1986 and went to the first game of the season. the hostility was even worse and I never set foot inside the place again until the early 2000s when we beat them 4-0. It was pretty hostile after that match as well and I remember walking through a gauntlet of hooligans on the way up to Beeston.
From 1986, I gradually started to watch United games and have had a season ticket since the mid 90s. I still go to games with the friend who introduced me to Bramall Lane in the first place!
And Sheffield Utd u23s.I’ve always supported 2 teams.
The Blades and ….. whoever the Pigs are playing.
Passing the blades baton onto your kid, watching them run with it and then sharing the pride and the passion together is one of life‘s little gems.I moved darn sarf in 1974. I've supported the Blades since 1958. I have 4 sons all born in Hastings. One supports Spurs, one Liverpool, one Chelsea and one (the youngest) is a blade. I never forced it on him, I took them all to the lane every time I visited Sheffield (about 2 or 3 times a year) only the young 'un took up the chalice. They say you should never have a favourite child, and I don't. It's just that every time the Blades win, we have a moment of joy together, that the other three will just never understand, or enjoy, and I feel sorry for them because of that.
UTB
I love a heart warming family tale at Christmas.they were my dads team, and even at that tender age I knew he was a cunt.
I could have written this. Lived in Cave since 99 when Dull City were still at Boothferry Park. Not a City Shirt to be seen, they were all Leeds Fans.I moved to Hull or fairly close in 1987. In all honesty I would like to be able to support them as a sort of 2nd team, but I cant. They have become my Wednesday, I sympathise when they loose and congratulate when they win to friends but secretly nothing gives me more pleasure when they get hammered. It certainly didn't help when they were in the Premier and we were in div 2, suddenly the wife who's from Hull became a massive Tigers fan, she's never been to a game in her life. So no, could never switch allegiance.
Could always switch (ditch) the wifeI moved to Hull or fairly close in 1987. In all honesty I would like to be able to support them as a sort of 2nd team, but I cant. They have become my Wednesday, I sympathise when they loose and congratulate when they win to friends but secretly nothing gives me more pleasure when they get hammered. It certainly didn't help when they were in the Premier and we were in div 2, suddenly the wife who's from Hull became a massive Tigers fan, she's never been to a game in her life. So no, could never switch allegiance.
Interesting story and I can relate to an extent. I was born in Sheffield but dad was transferred from the Royal General to the Memorial in Darlington in '75 when I was two, so between '79 & '85 we had season tickets at Ayresome Park, as they were the nearest club to where we lived - Northallerton.During this period of ‘mid-season break’, I got thinking of watching football as a kid and now.
I was brought up in Teeside and I followed Boro, watching them on a Saturday at Ayresome Park. Those were the days of Graeme Souness, Tony Mowbray, Gary Pallister through to Bryan Robson, Juninho and Ravanelli.
In the late nineties, I moved to Sheffield with my wife, had kids and have been here ever since. We thankfully came to live in the right red) side of Sheffield and the kids started to support United.
We went to games with them and became hooked, through the trials of promotion to the Premier League to the downward spiral to League 1 and back up again.
Our kids no longer go, but the lovely Mrs Middle Aged Blade and I relish our season ticket.
It seems that I have spent half my life here and now consider myself a Blade.
I always keep one eye on how Boro are doing. New Year’s Day will be a strange one, for many reasons other than what I’ve already said. I’m sure there will be another thread about that!
Has anyone else been on a similar journey?
Spurs , Liverpool & Chelsea eh ?I moved darn sarf in 1974. I've supported the Blades since 1958. I have 4 sons all born in Hastings. One supports Spurs, one Liverpool, one Chelsea and one (the youngest) is a blade. I never forced it on him, I took them all to the lane every time I visited Sheffield (about 2 or 3 times a year) only the young 'un took up the chalice. They say you should never have a favourite child, and I don't. It's just that every time the Blades win, we have a moment of joy together, that the other three will just never understand, or enjoy, and I feel sorry for them because of that.
UTB
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