Deadbat
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These has been various threads on the bus tour and the parade but did not have time to post my thoughts on it last night. Sorry if it repeats certain stuff but I know a few wanted a bit of a summary so here is my take on the evening.
Obviously, there are videos of the bus tour on United's facebook/you tube sites and the raucous antics including throwing shoes and generally chanting and swearing! The players seemed to love it. Also, seen some good stuff in terms of videos and pictures inside the town hall. I love Wilder's interview on Radio Sheffield. The way he describes victualing the town hall moment if they won the league every time he has his hair cut at Taylor, Taylor and talks of Cole Brothers, Hot Pants, Lynns Pantry etc and how he has to pay for his hair cut and they never give him owt for nowt etc. His interview was so genuine and shows he is a real fan and man of the people really. Seen some off the stuff from around the town hall and of course him falling off the top deck and nearly dropping the photo is brilliant.
My thoughts on it are that is was a lot more celebratory than either of the previous two I have been to. Granted one we had not done anything (triple assault season) in terms of success but I felt that this one was raucous in comparison to the Warnock promotion one. Basically, all the players…or most of them were hammered and maybe the manager and captain the most. It was like two fans on the bus/town hall who were basically doing the same as any of us would. They may have responsibilities and leadership and need to set an example and in many ways that is what they did tonight.
They have worked hard but boy had they both played hard last night and over the course of the last few days. Who could deny them and a few blue (swearing) moments probably endeared them even more to fans as they showed how real they are. Wednesday might get promoted and might have their own town hall parade but they won’t have two blokes like those two who have such an affinity to the club. That is no offence to the manager/skipper of Wednesday but they are not as close/connected as these two. Even Warnock felt a lot more removed than Wilder and it was always Warnock first, United second. Wilder cares about the club more than anything. Even if one day god forbid he was sacked (long time off!) then he would still be a fan, still be drinking cans of lager with his mates (like he was at Palace years ago when we nearly went up etc). Ditto for Sharp. United mean everything to them. They have had success elsewhere but this is the ultimate for them and they have been determined to enjoy it.
Sharp and Wilder made the whole thing for me; they led the chanting, led the introductions and made sure the fans were connected and close to the whole occasion. They are our leaders and clearly loved it. Aside from family stuff they will not have a greater moment. Being on the town hall steps/balcony in their city and being captain/manager of their club was simply incredible. It was their Jess Ennis (parade) moment. As Wilder said they won't ever probably top that (maybe Wilder might in a few years).
We got quite close to the front and me, my wife and my lad met my mate. Sadly we were close enough to the teenage scroats chucking beer over everyone. They did not seem to realise there were lots of families who got to the front and wanted to have a decent view. It was mostly good natured but now and again they were acting like morons and a few fans asked McCabe to have a word. Like he was the Police! McCabe actually was shaking hand and singing and was part of it long before the bus came in terms of the atmosphere. Also saw a few other directors (Baki was there I think in shades)
The Stewarding was pretty poor in the sense that when a few fans had a word with them to stop being such knob heads they basically told them to calm down as other fans were not happy and pointed to the complainers. I know they will get paid sod all but if you are just going to stand and watch then why bother wanting to do such a job. The police just stood back. It just got a bit daft as many of them were clearly under 18 and there were kids as young as 11 or 12 hoisted shoulder high by Dads and throwing lager about. Maybe I am a killjoy and accept the chanting and a bit of jumping about but they were lobbing cans and bottles into crowds. It was pathetic to be honest. Fortunately, when the team arrived they kind of stopped it.
Anyway, rant over.
It was quite busy near the town hall and seemed to get more packed as the time went on. We saw the bus on the screens winding its way from the Lane and it seemed Wilder and Sharp were continually leading the chants. A few such as Lafferty, Basham seemed worse for wear to say the least.
Finally, the bus showed up at the side near the top of Fargate (this is when Wilder nearly fell off) and then each player came off and waited just inside the town hall. Wilder was the last one off and shook hands of all the disabled fans. He was worse for wear but still took time to do this which was great.
The players then came up one by one to lift the trophy near the front and each had a cheer as they did do. A few of the younger lads were quite reluctant. As each came up they got their individual chant (if they had one) and clearly loved it. They thrusted Knill forward and then Sharp got Wilder up and then finally Wilder got McCabe up. A few chants ensued as they bounced up and down. They finally went inside and then they had all the stuff inside the town hall.
We moved to the back off the crowds as my 9-year-old who seemed to enjoy being sprayed with beer was struggling to see everything so we went to the back knowing they would be higher up for the later introduction and up on the balcony.
Maybe about three quarters of an hour later (after a series of speeches inside that they did show on the big screen but we could not hear) the players came back out individually. Many were hanging out of the windows anyway; most with a beer in hand.
Gary Sinclair was up there and introduced Wilder and then Sharp first. They seemed to be up there an age lifting the trophy and generally leading the singing. The connection between these two and the fans was incredible really. Both were pissed but both showed how much it meant to them. We may never see such scenes with the manager / captain (and chairman) all huge Blades and effectively one of us. Both at times seemed close to tears.
Sharp then took over the mic and was quite amusing with a few great one liners and seemed to fancy a career in stand up. He then introduced different players - cannot remember the order but recall Darren Ward coming out, Alan Knill coming out and then Sharp introducing Matt Prestridge but his description was of 'what is his job title, fitness or conditioning, anyway he does a great job!'.
Then the players. Cannot remember the exact order but….
Out came Simon Moore to the 'Moore, Moore, Moore...we've got Simon, we've got Simon!' chant. He was wearing sunglasses and looked like Freddie Flintoff post Ashes win when he was struggling. He loved it though arms aloft with sunnies still on as the chants went on below!
George Long knows he may not have a future here probably but he is a Blade and a Sheffield lad and he started the chant of his own name; ‘George Long’ he bellowed to the crowds below. The crowd continued it on. He looked well gone too.
Sharp introduced a few more before giving the mic back to Sinclair as Sharp was clearly losing his voice.
Recall Matt Done, McNulty and Scougall coming up. Even Chris Hussey came up. Big Leon got a great ovation and seemed to smile for once! Chapman, Hanson, Jay O’Shea, James Wilson and even the young players like Reed and Brooks came out to lift the trophy in front of the crowds below.
We had the unbeaten Jake Wright come up, EEL, Jack O'Connell who got a great reception (shame he did not have the mayoress hat on at this point!) but the loud chant went up with players behind joining in.
Basham came up introduced as Basham-bauer by Sinclair. He looked destroyed and seemed to struggle to even walk; you could see all the players close up on the big screen and clearly he may have hit it the hardest over the past few days!
Duffy came out and he seemed one of the more sober ones of the bunch to be honest.
Carruthers got the ‘Piss where he wants! chant and at this stage all PC concerns were out of the window. Early on Wilder and Sharp were not swearing and shushing the swear bits out on chants but by the end they did not seem to care!
Lavery came out to the usual chant and wore a jesters hat and joined in his own song.
We then had Coutts and Fleck come out together both had an almost full bottle of corona but both downed it egged on by Sharp and the crowds below. Both got their own chants sang to them and clearly were also well oiled at this point.
Then Freeman and Lafferty. Lafferty had apparently proclaimed he would drink 100 pints/bottles before Vegas and seemed to be doing a good job. Even Freeman who seems quiet normally was well kettled and ended up on the balcony stood up by the end as some of you may have seen with the tweet with red and white images; ‘We’ll do what we want.’ He got the ‘White Cafu’ chants a few times.
Once all the players and management team were up there, Wilder and Sharp both took turns with the mic and various chants ensued. Wilder threw champagne over Gary Sinclair at one point. The players/fans began with recent ones and player chants and various promotion ones. The mood was really joyous and the fans below loved it. It seemed to go on longer than the last two we had but a lot of fans stayed. Wilder and Sharp then started to talk again and mentioned our rivals a few times. They asked the players to start a few more chants. Sharp asked Bash to lead the Greasy Chip Butty song and he sang the first bit but then looked too drunk to even sing! The players were all chanting up and down.
I remember earlier as well Wilder and Sharp singing one song and passing the microphone between words like a Michael/Ridgley combo. It was a bit cliché but they certainly were not shy and the crowd loved it.
Both started more old school chants; such as ‘We love United!’ or simply ‘United’ ‘Wings of a sparrow…’ From Wadsley Bridge etc….’ and ‘Never be mastered’. ‘Woodward and Currie.’ The other players seemed to not know these as much! Thought I heard Wilder say something about ‘…doing them bastards twice next season’ and also Sharp then started to show his dislike for our city rivals with a few chants/choice words. All etiquette seemed long gone. It was odd to see your captain and manager jumping up and down shouting and swearing over the whole city below but it was great! Both cemented their place as Blades legend even more hated by those across town but that just makes them even more special to United fans. Wilder said ‘You’re not going yet!’ and carried on the singing. Slowly the players moved off the balcony but I think Sharp and Wilder would still be there now if they could be.
It was a great night. I was sceptical about these sort of things but clearly it meant so much to two people but all the squad and management team etc were relishing it. Think many on the bus or on the town hall could not believe the numbers especially as they had the celebrations at the Chesterfield game and around London Road/Eccy Road etc post game and after all the scenes at MK. Wilder kept talking about how special the club was and how the fans made it.
Overall despite small moan about some knob heads in the crowd…for the most part it was a really good evening. Credit to the council for putting it on. They did not have to (although had set a precedent with Wednesday at this level before). The United players milked it for every moment. A few it might be the last time we see of them but most now will have one final blast in Las Vegas, then maybe a holiday with family but in a few weeks, will have to work off all this beer and be ready to go. We need to maintain superb level of fitness we have shown and take that up a level where teams will be even more fitter and athletic. However, I do not begrudge them the last week or so. They have deserved it.
Right, a few days off from me but at the weekend I will start posting my season review and school report. Will come in stages and be all uploaded within the next 7 days all being well.
Obviously, there are videos of the bus tour on United's facebook/you tube sites and the raucous antics including throwing shoes and generally chanting and swearing! The players seemed to love it. Also, seen some good stuff in terms of videos and pictures inside the town hall. I love Wilder's interview on Radio Sheffield. The way he describes victualing the town hall moment if they won the league every time he has his hair cut at Taylor, Taylor and talks of Cole Brothers, Hot Pants, Lynns Pantry etc and how he has to pay for his hair cut and they never give him owt for nowt etc. His interview was so genuine and shows he is a real fan and man of the people really. Seen some off the stuff from around the town hall and of course him falling off the top deck and nearly dropping the photo is brilliant.
My thoughts on it are that is was a lot more celebratory than either of the previous two I have been to. Granted one we had not done anything (triple assault season) in terms of success but I felt that this one was raucous in comparison to the Warnock promotion one. Basically, all the players…or most of them were hammered and maybe the manager and captain the most. It was like two fans on the bus/town hall who were basically doing the same as any of us would. They may have responsibilities and leadership and need to set an example and in many ways that is what they did tonight.
They have worked hard but boy had they both played hard last night and over the course of the last few days. Who could deny them and a few blue (swearing) moments probably endeared them even more to fans as they showed how real they are. Wednesday might get promoted and might have their own town hall parade but they won’t have two blokes like those two who have such an affinity to the club. That is no offence to the manager/skipper of Wednesday but they are not as close/connected as these two. Even Warnock felt a lot more removed than Wilder and it was always Warnock first, United second. Wilder cares about the club more than anything. Even if one day god forbid he was sacked (long time off!) then he would still be a fan, still be drinking cans of lager with his mates (like he was at Palace years ago when we nearly went up etc). Ditto for Sharp. United mean everything to them. They have had success elsewhere but this is the ultimate for them and they have been determined to enjoy it.
Sharp and Wilder made the whole thing for me; they led the chanting, led the introductions and made sure the fans were connected and close to the whole occasion. They are our leaders and clearly loved it. Aside from family stuff they will not have a greater moment. Being on the town hall steps/balcony in their city and being captain/manager of their club was simply incredible. It was their Jess Ennis (parade) moment. As Wilder said they won't ever probably top that (maybe Wilder might in a few years).
We got quite close to the front and me, my wife and my lad met my mate. Sadly we were close enough to the teenage scroats chucking beer over everyone. They did not seem to realise there were lots of families who got to the front and wanted to have a decent view. It was mostly good natured but now and again they were acting like morons and a few fans asked McCabe to have a word. Like he was the Police! McCabe actually was shaking hand and singing and was part of it long before the bus came in terms of the atmosphere. Also saw a few other directors (Baki was there I think in shades)
The Stewarding was pretty poor in the sense that when a few fans had a word with them to stop being such knob heads they basically told them to calm down as other fans were not happy and pointed to the complainers. I know they will get paid sod all but if you are just going to stand and watch then why bother wanting to do such a job. The police just stood back. It just got a bit daft as many of them were clearly under 18 and there were kids as young as 11 or 12 hoisted shoulder high by Dads and throwing lager about. Maybe I am a killjoy and accept the chanting and a bit of jumping about but they were lobbing cans and bottles into crowds. It was pathetic to be honest. Fortunately, when the team arrived they kind of stopped it.
Anyway, rant over.
It was quite busy near the town hall and seemed to get more packed as the time went on. We saw the bus on the screens winding its way from the Lane and it seemed Wilder and Sharp were continually leading the chants. A few such as Lafferty, Basham seemed worse for wear to say the least.
Finally, the bus showed up at the side near the top of Fargate (this is when Wilder nearly fell off) and then each player came off and waited just inside the town hall. Wilder was the last one off and shook hands of all the disabled fans. He was worse for wear but still took time to do this which was great.
The players then came up one by one to lift the trophy near the front and each had a cheer as they did do. A few of the younger lads were quite reluctant. As each came up they got their individual chant (if they had one) and clearly loved it. They thrusted Knill forward and then Sharp got Wilder up and then finally Wilder got McCabe up. A few chants ensued as they bounced up and down. They finally went inside and then they had all the stuff inside the town hall.
We moved to the back off the crowds as my 9-year-old who seemed to enjoy being sprayed with beer was struggling to see everything so we went to the back knowing they would be higher up for the later introduction and up on the balcony.
Maybe about three quarters of an hour later (after a series of speeches inside that they did show on the big screen but we could not hear) the players came back out individually. Many were hanging out of the windows anyway; most with a beer in hand.
Gary Sinclair was up there and introduced Wilder and then Sharp first. They seemed to be up there an age lifting the trophy and generally leading the singing. The connection between these two and the fans was incredible really. Both were pissed but both showed how much it meant to them. We may never see such scenes with the manager / captain (and chairman) all huge Blades and effectively one of us. Both at times seemed close to tears.
Sharp then took over the mic and was quite amusing with a few great one liners and seemed to fancy a career in stand up. He then introduced different players - cannot remember the order but recall Darren Ward coming out, Alan Knill coming out and then Sharp introducing Matt Prestridge but his description was of 'what is his job title, fitness or conditioning, anyway he does a great job!'.
Then the players. Cannot remember the exact order but….
Out came Simon Moore to the 'Moore, Moore, Moore...we've got Simon, we've got Simon!' chant. He was wearing sunglasses and looked like Freddie Flintoff post Ashes win when he was struggling. He loved it though arms aloft with sunnies still on as the chants went on below!
George Long knows he may not have a future here probably but he is a Blade and a Sheffield lad and he started the chant of his own name; ‘George Long’ he bellowed to the crowds below. The crowd continued it on. He looked well gone too.
Sharp introduced a few more before giving the mic back to Sinclair as Sharp was clearly losing his voice.
Recall Matt Done, McNulty and Scougall coming up. Even Chris Hussey came up. Big Leon got a great ovation and seemed to smile for once! Chapman, Hanson, Jay O’Shea, James Wilson and even the young players like Reed and Brooks came out to lift the trophy in front of the crowds below.
We had the unbeaten Jake Wright come up, EEL, Jack O'Connell who got a great reception (shame he did not have the mayoress hat on at this point!) but the loud chant went up with players behind joining in.
Basham came up introduced as Basham-bauer by Sinclair. He looked destroyed and seemed to struggle to even walk; you could see all the players close up on the big screen and clearly he may have hit it the hardest over the past few days!
Duffy came out and he seemed one of the more sober ones of the bunch to be honest.
Carruthers got the ‘Piss where he wants! chant and at this stage all PC concerns were out of the window. Early on Wilder and Sharp were not swearing and shushing the swear bits out on chants but by the end they did not seem to care!
Lavery came out to the usual chant and wore a jesters hat and joined in his own song.
We then had Coutts and Fleck come out together both had an almost full bottle of corona but both downed it egged on by Sharp and the crowds below. Both got their own chants sang to them and clearly were also well oiled at this point.
Then Freeman and Lafferty. Lafferty had apparently proclaimed he would drink 100 pints/bottles before Vegas and seemed to be doing a good job. Even Freeman who seems quiet normally was well kettled and ended up on the balcony stood up by the end as some of you may have seen with the tweet with red and white images; ‘We’ll do what we want.’ He got the ‘White Cafu’ chants a few times.
Once all the players and management team were up there, Wilder and Sharp both took turns with the mic and various chants ensued. Wilder threw champagne over Gary Sinclair at one point. The players/fans began with recent ones and player chants and various promotion ones. The mood was really joyous and the fans below loved it. It seemed to go on longer than the last two we had but a lot of fans stayed. Wilder and Sharp then started to talk again and mentioned our rivals a few times. They asked the players to start a few more chants. Sharp asked Bash to lead the Greasy Chip Butty song and he sang the first bit but then looked too drunk to even sing! The players were all chanting up and down.
I remember earlier as well Wilder and Sharp singing one song and passing the microphone between words like a Michael/Ridgley combo. It was a bit cliché but they certainly were not shy and the crowd loved it.
Both started more old school chants; such as ‘We love United!’ or simply ‘United’ ‘Wings of a sparrow…’ From Wadsley Bridge etc….’ and ‘Never be mastered’. ‘Woodward and Currie.’ The other players seemed to not know these as much! Thought I heard Wilder say something about ‘…doing them bastards twice next season’ and also Sharp then started to show his dislike for our city rivals with a few chants/choice words. All etiquette seemed long gone. It was odd to see your captain and manager jumping up and down shouting and swearing over the whole city below but it was great! Both cemented their place as Blades legend even more hated by those across town but that just makes them even more special to United fans. Wilder said ‘You’re not going yet!’ and carried on the singing. Slowly the players moved off the balcony but I think Sharp and Wilder would still be there now if they could be.
It was a great night. I was sceptical about these sort of things but clearly it meant so much to two people but all the squad and management team etc were relishing it. Think many on the bus or on the town hall could not believe the numbers especially as they had the celebrations at the Chesterfield game and around London Road/Eccy Road etc post game and after all the scenes at MK. Wilder kept talking about how special the club was and how the fans made it.
Overall despite small moan about some knob heads in the crowd…for the most part it was a really good evening. Credit to the council for putting it on. They did not have to (although had set a precedent with Wednesday at this level before). The United players milked it for every moment. A few it might be the last time we see of them but most now will have one final blast in Las Vegas, then maybe a holiday with family but in a few weeks, will have to work off all this beer and be ready to go. We need to maintain superb level of fitness we have shown and take that up a level where teams will be even more fitter and athletic. However, I do not begrudge them the last week or so. They have deserved it.
Right, a few days off from me but at the weekend I will start posting my season review and school report. Will come in stages and be all uploaded within the next 7 days all being well.
