Do other fans have a soft spot for us?

[Danny_Boy]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses. We are all from Sheffield we are all exactly the same other than we decided to follow differing teams in the City. United and Wednesday both have all of the following: Decent level headed fans, nob heads, Hooligans, loud mouths, morons, fans that are completely bias, fans that are stupidly positive, fans that are unbelievably negative, fans that wear half and half scarves, part timers that only attend big games, characters at the match that shout complete bullshit for no apparent reason, arrogant fans that think having a large fan base makes them better than every other team.

The only real difference I have noticed is I think Wednesday have a larger "floating" fan base. They will go from 17k for a nothing game on a Tuesday night to 34k+ for a big game.

 

[Tyler Durden]

Some like us, some at least respect us, some hate us. And all opinions are equally inconsequential.

We're a self-contained bunch, we aren't the club of the local establishment and media and we don't have friends in high places (i.e Wednesday) and we don't carry ourselves with an air of sycophancy or a desire to be liked (i.e Wednesday). Which is just how I like it.

 

[SteveBlade]

'I prefer them out of the two Sheffield sides' is probably said 60/40 in Wednesdays favour.

 

[I should coco]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses.

But they have 100% of the people in Sheffield whose thighs rub together.

They actually believe the 'MASSIVE' tag, being the complete plebeians that most of them are.

'No difference' my arse!

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

If given the option on who they'd support if they lived in Sheffield.

100% of all LFC / EFC supporters said Sheffield United.

Can't think why.

#96

 

[BushBlade]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses. We are all from Sheffield we are all exactly the same other than we decided to follow differing teams in the City. United and Wednesday both have all of the following: Decent level headed fans, nob heads, Hooligans, loud mouths, morons, fans that are completely bias, fans that are stupidly positive, fans that are unbelievably negative, fans that wear half and half scarves, part timers that only attend big games, characters at the match that shout complete bullshit for no apparent reason, arrogant fans that think having a large fan base makes them better than every other team.

The only real difference I have noticed is I think Wednesday have a larger "floating" fan base. They will go from 17k for a nothing game on a Tuesday night to 34k+ for a big game.

I've lived away now for long enough to feel like a bit of an outsider and tend to agree. It varies a bit generation to generation, when I was a kid we were very much the underdog and the pigs tended to attract the glory seekers more but the days of Thirsty, ShitPen and Pob have long gone and there's no glory in supporting that lot anymore.

 

[BushBlade]

But they have 100% of the people in Sheffield whose thighs rub together.

They actually believe the 'MASSIVE' tag, being the complete plebeians that most of them are.

'No difference' my arse!

No, we've got fat supporters too and barely a day goes by when there isn't a post on here about our attendances.
We haven't got a fat bald twat called Tango though. Which is nice.

 

[bladesmanluke]

I was just wondering from your experiences whether you've found from your friends/acquaintances outside of the rolling hills of South Yorkshire, or during chats pre-match from opposing fans, whether other people have a soft spot for Sheffield United?

I've found this on many occasions, and I've known a fair few people who support big clubs but will always look out for the blade's score.

Not that this makes much difference to us as a club, and you could argue its only because we've been largely a failure over the past 20 years or so, but there is definitely something about Sheffield United that draws people in.

Having a think about some of the possible reasons:

• The whole Tevez affair had many neutrals side with us
• Clubs have a lot of respect that we can still attract 20k supporters after 6 years in league 1
• We have that tongue in cheek pessimism (unlike our neighbours)
• We've had our fair share of cup runs and upsets which is always good for the neutral
• Fans like travelling to our "proper ground" in a city centre close to the train station
• Some fans probably disliked the whole mob culture around the resigning of Ched Evans with certain celebrities shoving their nose in

Then again saying all this I'd rather us be very successful with everyone hating us!

Only after I've dragged them to a game or 2

 

[Stretch]

I have worked around Britain a fair bit over the last 20 years, and although I don't travel as much nowadays I work in a team based all over the country with a wide range of clubs being supported.

Maybe it's because I am a Blade but I have normally found most people who follow football speak quite fondly of us. The Ched business (start, middle and finish) made a few conversations 'interesting' particularly as I nailed my colours to the mast from the start in saying that he was innocent, but even then the consensus was that the Club were very unlucky not to get promoted and it is generally acknowledged that we have had some real shitty luck to contend with over the years. I have never sought sympathy over this but it exists.

Just to add that most are also amazed that at least one Sheffield club isn't in the top flight and most would like to see both of us up there.

Lastly, I haven't met a supporter yet who doesn't prefer Bramall Lane over the Sty as an away day. Partly due to the location it has to be said. City centre drinking and a short walk vs a tram ride to the outer suburbs on a full bladder. No contest.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I once read on a Millwall forum that "Sheffield United are like the Millwall of the north". I can see what they meant, and I saw it as a huge compliment to be honest. They've also compared us very favourably to the Pigs on several occasions.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Interestingly I know a few Spurs fans who make a connection between us and them; both having jumped up, arrogant, posturing neighbours.

 

[Deleted member 1486]

there is definitely something about Sheffield United that draws people in

We're an under-achieving club in a shitty league. So probably the second save-game for most FM players.

Not saying that's a good thing!

 

[Houston_Blade]

Not many teams like us, the OP has a touch of the Pigs propaganda view about themselves to it. They think everyone loves them, I'd rather be the team who no one likes than the hard luck story who everyone likes.

 

[Bayingblade]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses. We are all from Sheffield we are all exactly the same other than we decided to follow differing teams in the City. United and Wednesday both have all of the following: Decent level headed fans, nob heads, Hooligans, loud mouths, morons, fans that are completely bias, fans that are stupidly positive, fans that are unbelievably negative, fans that wear half and half scarves, part timers that only attend big games, characters at the match that shout complete bullshit for no apparent reason, arrogant fans that think having a large fan base makes them better than every other team.

The only real difference I have noticed is I think Wednesday have a larger "floating" fan base. They will go from 17k for a nothing game on a Tuesday night to 34k+ for a big game.

You are right in that we share a city with them, Danny Boy. You are right that we both have a varied set of supporters and even they have the odd one with some level of intelligence.

BUT........

When it comes to talking SWFC, to a man they are among the most deluded people you could stumble across. I know and have known loads of them down the years and yes, some of them come across as intelligent, level headed and reasonable people but mention of SWFC removes any semblance of the aforesaid. They actually believe they are a "MASSIVE" club, remember the "big six"? Yet when you confront them with the facts, their eyes glaze over and their brains turn to mush. When you point out they haven't averaged 30k since 1967, they don't believe you. When you state that United have done this twice since then despite having a much lower capacity stadium, they are struck dumb. When you point out their sub 11k average in the mid '70's they enter a state of denial akin to Hitler in his bunker. When you point out that average crowds between the 2 clubs is there or thereabouts within 2k over the course of history to them, they shout you down. Their attitude towards other clubs is one of arrogance, disdain and disrespect, "tinpot" being a favourite description.

Remember Lee Strafford? He claimed a potential 500k fans in the UK and 4 to 5 million across the world! They believed him, they genuinely did!!

And to address your final point regarding "floating" support, you've got to remember that Hillsborough provides facility for one of the largest away followings in the country. The 34k crowds you quote more often than not contain huge away support. Again, when you provide this information to an owl, they look to the skies in disbelief and emit a low humming sound.

The list goes on and on regarding their delusions. Yes, they may look the same as us, work with us, live next door and even be related to us. But to state that there is "absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans" is just not true.

Thankfully!

 

[I should coco]

You are right in that we share a city with them, Danny Boy. You are right that we both have a varied set of supporters and even they have the odd one with some level of intelligence.

BUT........

Sadly the forum software will only allow one 'like'.

If ever a post needed multi-liking, this is the one!

WNWAW

 

[shorehamview]

I don't give a fuck what other fans think of us. Some like us, like Fenerbahce do right now, some don't. I'm not fussed what they think. Why would I be?

 

[I should coco]

Some like us, like Fenerbahce do right now

After the number of flares they chucked on the pitch, I'd hate to see how they behave when they don't like you?

It was like DirtyLeeds at home in the 80s but without Jimmy Saville's cuddliness.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Pigs went running to the Hammer's forums after the Tevez.
Pigs then became for a short while, but still believe they are loved by the Glasgow Bluenoses.
They seem to seek approval from anywhere and everywhere, funnily enough they've not met
any 'love' in Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Have we ever craved a bond with any club/supporters to the detriment of our neighbours?

Psychologically, that chip on the shoulder will soon be large enough to be visible from the Moon.

 

[JJ Sefton]

I've lived away now for long enough to feel like a bit of an outsider and tend to agree. It varies a bit generation to generation, when I was a kid we were very much the underdog and the pigs tended to attract the glory seekers more but the days of Thirsty, ShitPen and Pob have long gone and there's no glory in supporting that lot anymore.

When I was a kid and I told people I was from Sheffield they'd ask "Wednesday fan?" That changed from 2002 onwards, and for a few years people would say "United fan?"

I'd add that while we have gone down the shitter in recent years and people no longer ask "United fan?", neither do they ask "Wednesday fan?" Sheffield football has just dropped off their radar. The grunters have been on the up the last few seasons but it hasn't made an impression on anyone, unlike when Warnock was dragging us up.

 

[Sheffsteel]

The only real difference I have noticed is I think Wednesday have a larger "floating" fan base. They will go from 17k for a nothing game on a Tuesday night to 34k+ for a big game.

But it's the gobby floating supporters that are the worse kind.
Only turn up when there's success and are more deluded and
give it the "we're massive and going to win the league etc".

There is a difference though.
Wednesday fans are more insecure than us.
Many realise they are losing their stature as a big club so they continuously repeat the mantra to anyone prepared to listen about their size.

Big clubs don't really go on about getting 25,000 average attendances.
We got over 25K 3 years running a few years back in the Championship but it was normal and no big deal
Now I hear Wednesday fans so proud to get a gate of 26K and they love telling everyone how they took 4K to Fulham etc (rounded up of course) and how they sell out every away match (when they don't). The old favourite is everything is rounded up and exagerrated. So a crowd of 28K becomes 30k. Taking 3,100 to an away match means they took 4K. The away team brought a minibus full means they brought 500 fans etc etc.

I knew a Liverpool fan and he said he always found it weird how Wednesday fans go on about ticket sales and how they got a 25K crowd but mentioned that it would have been higher but the away team only brought "a bus load".

Said in Liverpool no one is interested in crowds and support. It's on the pitch that counts.

 

[dave the drummer]

I was just wondering from your experiences whether you've found from your friends/acquaintances outside of the rolling hills of South Yorkshire, or during chats pre-match from opposing fans, whether other people have a soft spot for Sheffield United?

I've found this on many occasions, and I've known a fair few people who support big clubs but will always look out for the blade's score.

Not that this makes much difference to us as a club, and you could argue its only because we've been largely a failure over the past 20 years or so, but there is definitely something about Sheffield United that draws people in.

Having a think about some of the possible reasons:

• The whole Tevez affair had many neutrals side with us
• Clubs have a lot of respect that we can still attract 20k supporters after 6 years in league 1
• We have that tongue in cheek pessimism (unlike our neighbours)
• We've had our fair share of cup runs and upsets which is always good for the neutral
• Fans like travelling to our "proper ground" in a city centre close to the train station
• Some fans probably disliked the whole mob culture around the resigning of Ched Evans with certain celebrities shoving their nose in

Then again saying all this I'd rather us be very successful with everyone hating us!

I agree entirely with you and for all the reasons you have stated.

 

[alcoblade]

Wendy "middle class and suburban"? Who's told you that? Their ground is a shithole, Hillsborough as a suburb is about as enticing as Aleppo and their fans swallow every bit of North Korean-like propaganda that comes out of the club without question which points to a level of intelligence akin to an Amoeba.

You were right when you said "tossers" though.

He also missed the fact that they are in Barnsley

 

[Roygbiv]

Pretty sure we came 2nd in a poll on the most hated club a few years back. I think we are generally disliked which in a competive sport is a good thing. Being liked is for those who have never upset anyone due to being insignificant

 

[Hamburg Blade]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses.

I don't really agree with you about there being no difference, but as to wearing rose tinted glasses, isn't that the perogative of supporting a club? Any club? How long would any of us last if we didn't see SUFC "differently" to other people?

 

[1danewhitehouse]

There is absolutely no difference between United and Wednesday fans, I know this may be an unpopular opinion but anyone who thinks differently on either side is wearing rose tinted glasses. We are all from Sheffield we are all exactly the same other than we decided to follow differing teams in the City. United and Wednesday both have all of the following: Decent level headed fans, nob heads, Hooligans, loud mouths, morons, fans that are completely bias, fans that are stupidly positive, fans that are unbelievably negative, fans that wear half and half scarves, part timers that only attend big games, characters at the match that shout complete bullshit for no apparent reason, arrogant fans that think having a large fan base makes them better than every other team.

The only real difference I have noticed is I think Wednesday have a larger "floating" fan base. They will go from 17k for a nothing game on a Tuesday night to 34k+ for a big game.

I’d say there’s one more difference. I think the way the sets of fans (generally- of course it doesn’t apply to all) view their respective clubs is different and I think it comes from the noises that pour out of the club and the experiences the clubs have given their fans.


I reckon a higher percentage of blades have come to expect the proverbial kick in the bollocks more than owls. Last day relegations, playoff final defeats, Deane and Fjortoft sales, Segers and Spurs match fixing, West Ham getting away with cheating, owners that have fed us lie after lie before screwing us over, wrongful imprisonment of star players etc. all the while being told we are “unlucky” and “hey, when a premier league team comes knocking….”. On the other hand, many pig fans have seen them win a trophy, survive more relegation battles than not, win the only playoff they’d been in (til last May), come back from an impossible position to pip us to promotion, be on the brink of financial ruin and come out smelling of roses etc. all the while being told by the club mouth pieces that they are massive club who belong amongst the elite of Europe and that they are the most intelligent fans in the country.


Of course there are those who will look beyond all of those things and there will be negative, self-deprecating pig fans whilst there will also be arrogant, uber-positive blades but I reckon those experiences coupled with the respective clubs’ propaganda will have had a significant effect on how a large number of the fans of each club perceive their respective clubs.


Overall, I’m not too fussed what other fans think. I imagine plenty have a pretty poor view of us given the way the media painted us over the West Ham debacle and the way we put our foot in it with the handling of the Ched Evans situation. Doesn’t particularly concern me. I’d rather they hated us for being successful though like Man United for example.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Pretty sure we came 2nd in a poll on the most hated club a few years back.

I remember that.

Conducted by The Star in and around the S6 area of our warm city.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I once read on a Millwall forum that "Sheffield United are like the Millwall of the north". I can see what they meant, and I saw it as a huge compliment to be honest. They've also compared us very favourably to the Pigs on several occasions.

I've found one of their quotes actually:

"I lived up there and they are a decent, passionate bunch and have been totally sold short by their board. They’ve sold and sold good players and replaced them with crap.

Their dynamic with Wednesday also reminded me of ours with Palace. One the working class, partisan club that could laugh at itself…the other the suburban, up their own arse bunch of sanctimonious cunts."

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Spoken to quite a few Spanish football fans on my travels in Southern Spain, and (somewhat bizarrely,I must admit) most of them knew of Sheffield United, but not the other lot from S6.

 

[robbiez666]

Just about everyone I know from Rotherham supports Wednesday (thankfully )

People (from outside the city) I know tend to prefer us over Wednesday (probably Rotherham related) but I've found more outright hatred against us than them.

 

[Deleted member 875]

To be honest I don't really care much for what other clubs supporters think of us, either be it positively or negatively. What i care about is that we do well, and that we maintain the large and passionate following that we already have.

Working in the East Midlands i have definitely noticed a trend with the clubs. Forest generally absolutely despise us, there seems to be a bit of mutual respect between the Blades and Notts Co, and Derby don't really seem bothered about us either way, although a lot of Derby fans did take a bit of interest in us when Clough and his cronies were around.