"Don't fear the big occasion" - great read

[Beans]

Today's article on the Pinch by John Ashdown is a beaut and got me even more excited about tomorrow, strongly recommend giving it a read:

Don't fear the Big Occasion

Or how I learned to stop worrying and make the best of a 5-3 defeat to Hull

thepinch.substack.com

I imagine telling a Manchester City fan on Saturday that "I used to dread coming to Wembley but then we lost 5-3 to Hull so now I feel much better about it" might have them edging away and eyeing the nearest fire exit. And maybe they'd be right to. A record of P7 W0 D0 L7 F3 A12 doesn't seem all that much better after all.

But … half-time against Hull. In some alternative reality there's a South Yorkshire version of Trainspotting with a post-coital Sean Bean sighing: 'I've not felt that good since half-time against Hull.'

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

 

[Jon Bon II]

More cowbell needed.

 

[diode_blade]

Absolutely bang on.

 

[brownblade]

I wrote an article, similarly titled ("How I learned to...") about Blades back in League 1 and a certain C.Evans featured. In those days I imagine it got zero views on the random (now defunct) football website.

Will read this later. Can't wait for the match, even though I'm forced to watch at home... And we'll probably get annihilated. Still excited anyway.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Cracking read. Thank you

UTB

 

[Swannyblade]

Is there any footage of the spontaneous applause after Hull's fifth goal - I was beginning to think I'd imagined or exaggerated it through the haze of day drinking, but I'm sure I remember it being a real lump in the throat, chest-out-proud moment?

 

[brownblade]

Is there any footage of the spontaneous applause after Hull's fifth goal - I was beginning to think I'd imagined or exaggerated it through the haze of day drinking, but I'm sure I remember it being a real lump in the throat, chest-out-proud moment?

Wasn't really noticeable on the ITV highlights. But I've never actually searched YouTube.

I often mention that as one of my favourite moments as a Blade.

 

[Rodley]

Fantastic article that. UTB

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Is there any footage of the spontaneous applause after Hull's fifth goal - I was beginning to think I'd imagined or exaggerated it through the haze of day drinking, but I'm sure I remember it being a real lump in the throat, chest-out-proud moment?

Still not as glorious as when we lost 4-0 at home to Scunthorpe and played like Brazil 82 reincarnated.

 

[Beans]

Is there any footage of the spontaneous applause after Hull's fifth goal - I was beginning to think I'd imagined or exaggerated it through the haze of day drinking, but I'm sure I remember it being a real lump in the throat, chest-out-proud moment?

There's frustratingly little video content from that day, especially given there's quite a lot from the quarter-final. All I've ever seen is a few very short clips from just before kickoff. I guess we were all too stunned to record anything.

 

[NAP]

Today's article on the Pinch by John Ashdown is a beaut and got me even more excited about tomorrow, strongly recommend giving it a read:

Don't fear the Big Occasion

Or how I learned to stop worrying and make the best of a 5-3 defeat to Hull

thepinch.substack.com

Very funny. i feel the same

 

[Creepy]

I wish John Ashdown would go back on the Guardian podcast to ensure that we get more than the 5 seconds per season mention than we do now

 

[Swannyblade]

There's frustratingly little video content from that day, especially given there's quite a lot from the quarter-final. All I've ever seen is a few very short clips from just before kickoff. I guess we were all too stunned to record anything.

I think it was a BT sport game and the less glamorous of the two semis, so I don't think the full game has been shown again or shared by anyone online. Shame really because I could imagine Sky Sports re-showing it as a classic match if it had been one of their games. Pre-dates all the matchday vloggers as well unfortunately.
Oh well, I suppose it will be another moment confined to Blades folklore.

 

[Swannyblade]

Wasn't really noticeable on the ITV highlights. But I've never actually searched YouTube.

I often mention that as one of my favourite moments as a Blade.

I've never been able to find anything. I think I watched the game back when I got home that evening and have vague memories of Rio Ferdinand putting in a special word or two for our fans, but it was the end of a very long day and many drinks had been taken.

 

[diode_blade]

None of the clips I have just looked at show the blades fans, the videos stop right after the 5th goal and only show the Hull fans for a few seconds

 

[Hodgesleftpeg]

I got goosebumps reading that

 

[IOM Blade]

I'm sure I remember one highlights package where the commentator thought we were applauding Hull's goal.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Very funny. i feel the same

Me too. That Hull moment though, something in my eye again.

 

[Northyorksblade]

I'm sure I remember one highlights package where the commentator thought we were applauding Hull's goal.

Ah, now that rings a bell.

 

[NAP]

To break the jinx why don’t we arrange a friendly against f@2king useless under 11 team at Wembley, take 50,000 fans, parade a trophy- you know, just to get this monkey off our backs. Or would we lose 1-0 in the 95th minute

 

[mattbianco1]

I remember needing the toilet just as the players were coming back out for the second half v Hull so legged it down.
Me and this bloke were chuckling away that not only had we scored (twice) at Wembley, we were actually winning !!! Just as a bloke was walking in to the toilet said - "They've scored!"

 

[Dnblade]

That Hull game is the best memory of Wembley isn't it...Half Time was like everyone was on a high,and then that spontaneous applause 2nd half after conceding was unreal.
Hopefully one day we'll walk out of there with a win..probably not tomorrow,but you never know and I'll be there to witness it,just incase we pull off a miracle.

 

[Swannyblade]

I'm sure I remember one highlights package where the commentator thought we were applauding Hull's goal.

Probably all those Hull scarves we had, must have confused him

 

[FMBlade1]

Is there any footage of the spontaneous applause after Hull's fifth goal - I was beginning to think I'd imagined or exaggerated it through the haze of day drinking, but I'm sure I remember it being a real lump in the throat, chest-out-proud moment?

You definitely didn't imagine it:

One of my proudest moments as a Blade

We had fought back to make it 4-3 in the 90th minute against Hull in the FA Cup Semi-Final, then threw everyone forward in a desperate search for a winner deep into injury time. They nicked the ball back and went up the other end and finished us off on the counter attack to win the game. As our...

www.s24su.com

 

[bornablade]

As the teams come out of the tunnel tommorow afternoon we want the Wembley authorities to put up that image of Eddie Colqhoun on the big screen.

We want Earling Haaland to look up and think

'For fuck's sake he's not playing is he?' and then make out to Pep he's damaged his ankle before the game starts.

Even at 78 Eddie would have made sure Haaland knew he was on the pitch.

Just give it everything Blades on the pitch and on the terraces.

 

[Argentinemanager]

Cheers enjoyed that, the hull game cleared out a lot of ghosts, just believe

 

[Steve Mackan]

Today's article on the Pinch by John Ashdown is a beaut and got me even more excited about tomorrow, strongly recommend giving it a read:

Don't fear the Big Occasion

Or how I learned to stop worrying and make the best of a 5-3 defeat to Hull

thepinch.substack.com

Cheers for posting Ben. A pleasure to put this piece out.

For those that enjoyed, John’s previous article is also incredible and incredibly moving: https://thepinch.substack.com/p/going-out-on-a-win

 

[Bell4]

Today's article on the Pinch by John Ashdown is a beaut and got me even more excited about tomorrow, strongly recommend giving it a read:

Don't fear the Big Occasion

Or how I learned to stop worrying and make the best of a 5-3 defeat to Hull

thepinch.substack.com

Thank you so much for posting that

Truly excellent and - well , brilliant

UTB