Help A Journalist Out!

[ScottMcIver]

Hi guys!

My name's Scott McIver and I run a blog about music in football called "Songs Of The Stands".

I'm currently doing a piece about Sheffield United F.C. (and "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", in particular) and would love to get some opinions from true fans.

So if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear what you think about the song, a favourite memory, or anything else you want to share about it.

To give you credit in the article, it would also be fantastic if you could also give me your first name, age and whereabouts you're from. It also proves that I'm not just making names and opinions up!

I understand if you don't want to share that info with me but it would help me out so much!

Thanks in advance,

Scott

 

[Selly]

Hi guys!

My name's Scott McIver and I run a blog about music in football called "Songs Of The Stands".

I'm currently doing a piece about Sheffield United F.C. (and "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", in particular) and would love to get some opinions from true fans.

So if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear what you think about the song, a favourite memory, or anything else you want to share about it.

To give you credit in the article, it would also be fantastic if you could also give me your first name, age and whereabouts you're from. It also proves that I'm not just making names and opinions up!

I understand if you don't want to share that info with me but it would help me out so much!

Thanks in advance,

Scott

Holden McGroin, 18, Birmingham

No-one sings the song with the correct words. Some claim that there is a line about drinking a Gallon of Magnet wheras I know for sure nothing fills up the senses like a Gallon of Maggots...

 

[norfolkblade]

Hi guys!

My name's Scott McIver and I run a blog about music in football called "Songs Of The Stands".

I'm currently doing a piece about Sheffield United F.C. (and "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", in particular) and would love to get some opinions from true fans.

So if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear what you think about the song, a favourite memory, or anything else you want to share about it.

To give you credit in the article, it would also be fantastic if you could also give me your first name, age and whereabouts you're from. It also proves that I'm not just making names and opinions up!

I understand if you don't want to share that info with me but it would help me out so much!

Thanks in advance,

Scott

You'll find nothing in here mate, true blades are at the lane rather than internet forums

 

[2ndtenorblade]

Holden McGroin, 18, Birmingham

No-one sings the song with the correct words. Some claim that there is a line about drinking a Gallon of Magnet wheras I know for sure nothing fills up the senses like a Gallon of Maggots...

The chavs next to me sing a gallon of Magners.

 

[broomhillblade]

Hi guys!

My name's Scott McIver and I run a blog about music in football called "Songs Of The Stands".

I'm currently doing a piece about Sheffield United F.C. (and "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", in particular) and would love to get some opinions from true fans.

So if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear what you think about the song, a favourite memory, or anything else you want to share about it.

To give you credit in the article, it would also be fantastic if you could also give me your first name, age and whereabouts you're from. It also proves that I'm not just making names and opinions up!

I understand if you don't want to share that info with me but it would help me out so much!

Thanks in advance,

Scott

First things first.

Who do you work for - or are you freelance?

I've googled 'Songs of the Stands' and nothing showed up.

Are you actually a journalist or just hoping to be one?

 

[Sothall_Blade]

He's a music journalist and a 3rd year student at Staffordshire University.

http://songsofthestands.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/hello-and-welcome-to-first-post-of.html

It seems a very polite and reasonable request to me. What's to be suspicious about?

Keep going Scott, I look forward to reading your blog about the best football chant ever GCB.

P.s. You might want to correct your spelling of "Bramall Lane".

 

[Highbury_Blade]

You can't do a piece on the greasy chip butty without showing this stirring rendition....

 

[broomhillblade]

He's a music journalist and a 3rd year student at Staffordshire University.

http://songsofthestands.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/hello-and-welcome-to-first-post-of.html

It seems a very polite and reasonable request to me. What's to be suspicious about?

Keep going Scott, I look forward to reading your blog about the best football chant ever GCB.

P.s. You might want to correct your spelling of "Bramall Lane".

Maybe it's a generation thing. I don't know how us old folk managed without Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc....

... oh yes, I remember. We had to think for ourselves.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Maybe it's a generation thing. I don't know how us old folk managed without Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc....

... oh yes, I remember. We had to think for ourselves.

Calm down methuselah. It's called research.

 

[Grecian2000]

We nicked it from Rotherham, apparently, Scotters.

 

[broomhillblade]

Calm down methuselah. It's called research.

I realise that I'm being a bit of a curmudgeon on this one, and if I have offended anyone, then I apologise. However, I would draw a distinction between doing one's own research (which may well involve contacting others for information) and the box-ticking questionnaires that some students send out in the guise of research. In many cases, it's just laziness - getting others to do the donkey-work for you - but maybe in the internet age that's what 'research' is all about.

In Scott's case he's asking for information, which is fair enough. But he's hardly a 'journalist' - yet.

 

[cahill]

"my old man said follow the Blades and don't leave yer meat hook on the way, we'll take Hillsbrough and all that's in it we'll take Hillsbrough in just a minute, with hatchets and hammers carving knives and spanners...." That was a big hit as I remember. Might be good for his thesis.

 

[mattbianco1]

"my old man said follow the Blades and don't leave yer meat hook on the way, we'll take Hillsbrough and all that's in it we'll take Hillsbrough in just a minute, with hatchets and hammers carving knives and spanners...." That was a big hit as I remember. Might be good for his thesis.

They're nowhere near the right words?!?!

Here you go...

My old man said be a wednesday fan, i said fuck off bollocks your a cunt.
We'll take hillsborough and all thats in it, we'll take hillsborough in just one minute
With hatchets and spanners, garden knives and spanners, we are the boys from Bramall Lane.
We go home and away on on a Sat-ur-day where the beer tastes all the same

My old man said be a wednesday fan, i said fuck off bollocks your a cunt.
He said come on we're going to the game, I said FUCK OFF i'm going down the lane.
So i went down to John Street, found myself a good seat, saw the boys go two up at the break.
Then it's off to the bar for a pint of Magnet and a meat pie filled with steak.

 

[ScottMcIver]

I realise that I'm being a bit of a curmudgeon on this one, and if I have offended anyone, then I apologise. However, I would draw a distinction between doing one's own research (which may well involve contacting others for information) and the box-ticking questionnaires that some students send out in the guise of research. In many cases, it's just laziness - getting others to do the donkey-work for you - but maybe in the internet age that's what 'research' is all about.

In Scott's case he's asking for information, which is fair enough. But he's hardly a 'journalist' - yet.

Firstly, thanks to everyone who's replied.

Secondly Broomhill, I don't see why "student" and "journalist" have to be mutually exclusive. Yes, I'm at university but I've also had several articles published in fairly well-known publications and worked voluntarily at several radio stations. I do all this in my spare time and, yes, I do consider myself to be a journalist.

The internet has made research a lot easier. Apart from going up to Sheffield and standing in the town centre or outside the ground, how else would I collect this information?

And, quite frankly, your post has offended me. You know nothing about what I do in my spare time (besides being a student) so I don't really think you have the right to make an assumption.

 

[ScottMcIver]

Apologies for spelling Bramall wrong as well!

 

[Blade Blade]

Firstly, thanks to everyone who's replied.

Secondly Broomhill, I don't see why "student" and "journalist" have to be mutually exclusive. Yes, I'm at university but I've also had several articles published in fairly well-known publications and worked voluntarily at several radio stations. I do all this in my spare time and, yes, I do consider myself to be a journalist.

The internet has made research a lot easier. Apart from going up to Sheffield and standing in the town centre or outside the ground, how else would I collect this information?

And, quite frankly, your post has offended me. You know nothing about what I do in my spare time (besides being a student) so I don't really think you have the right to make an assumption.

Except those of us on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph....442795917832.226705.757052832&type=1&theater

 

[pommpey]

Fear not Scott. Some on here fear strangers.

For me, I first heard of GCB around July/August 1986 from a mate of mine who wasn't a Blades fan, who was in the Navy. He transferred it over, word for word when we were both on HMS Fearless, then rotting away in Pompey Dockyard. It was in it's original, intended and indeed sacred format with 'maggots' instead of 'Magnet', which always seemed to make good sense as I'd trotted along to Thacks just off t'Wicker on many a Saturday (or Waites' on Chesterfield Road) to get me a pint of maggots and half a pint of casters on many a Saturday. What more can fill up your senses, than eight pints of maggots?

Later on as the internet bonded Bladesmen from across the planet, I became attached to Sheffield United Independent Supporters Association (SUISA) and then Blades United View Points (BUVP) where I met briefly a bloke pseudonymed 'Ted Bovis', who was adept at re-lyricing popular tunes in a United stylee. One of these was 'Blades Supreme', based on Robbie Williams's hit 'Love Supreme' and another 'Bramall Lane', a better version of small-time, mop-headed bin-dippers The Beatles' 'Penny Lane'. Much of this found popularity amongst fans across the world wide web and as part of a competition to submit new 'run out music' to in 2004, I engineered a brief guitar solo version of GCB (featuring a naval colleague of mine, Bob Crozier) which was unfortunately unsuccessful but nonetheless iconic.

The song itself is of legend, unique to the Blades, despite neighbours Rotherham claiming it is theirs by discovery. At recent away games it has been sung loud and proud and indeed echoes around opposition stadiums. Home team fans don't really have any reply once the song gets up and is flung at them. All my kids know the lyrics, and so they should now. I have this:

adorning my downstairs toilet wall.

pommpey blade

 

[ScottMcIver]

Except those of us on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph....442795917832.226705.757052832&type=1&theater

Dude... what the hell?

 

[Bladesway]

The lad comes and politely asks a few questions. Typical Sheffield mentality of not wanting anyone else to prosper. Welcome to the South Yorkshire hospitality Scott, its lovely.

If he says he's a journo then he's a journo. It's not something I would own up to right now

 

[raul]

What's not commonly known Scott, is that fact that the song was actually plagarised from a Radio Hallam jingle for a local builders merchant, written by no less than John Denver's son, then working his way round Yurrup on a journey of self discovery. It actually went like this

For paint , bricks and fences
you'd best not use Magnet
their products may look fine
but they're not strong enough
try Laver's in Sheffield
for tar, woodchip and putty
near Sheffield United
you'll use us again
na- na-na-na-naaah-nahhh etc

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Except those of us on Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.ph....442795917832.226705.757052832&type=1&theater

Lord help us. There's a stranger in town and he likes to wear silly hats.
Broomers, prepare the "Wicker Man"!

 

[broomhillblade]

Firstly, thanks to everyone who's replied.

Secondly Broomhill, I don't see why "student" and "journalist" have to be mutually exclusive. Yes, I'm at university but I've also had several articles published in fairly well-known publications and worked voluntarily at several radio stations. I do all this in my spare time and, yes, I do consider myself to be a journalist.

The internet has made research a lot easier. Apart from going up to Sheffield and standing in the town centre or outside the ground, how else would I collect this information?

And, quite frankly, your post has offended me. You know nothing about what I do in my spare time (besides being a student) so I don't really think you have the right to make an assumption.

My apologies Scott.

I am a cynic by nature. When I responded to your original post I was not at my best. A couple of events outside my control had left me several hundred pounds worse off, a long standing friend had just died, and I've got the mother and father of all colds/flu.

Apart from that I'm fine. And if you hadn't read other threads I don't believe in Global Warming. I've had plenty of flak over that, but I think people are waking up to the truth at last.

I have written a couple of books, edited several others, edited four different magazines over 20 years, and had articles published in national newspapers and magazines. But I don't consider myself a 'proper' journalist since I never had any formal training, nor worked full-time for a newspaper or news agency.

I don't take much interest in blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc., but good luck with your project.


PS. I'VE JUST SEEN YOUR FACEBOOK PICTURE. I TAKE IT ALL BACK!!!!

 

[Darren]

Hi guys!

My name's Scott McIver and I run a blog about music in football called "Songs Of The Stands".

I'm currently doing a piece about Sheffield United F.C. (and "The Greasy Chip Butty Song", in particular) and would love to get some opinions from true fans.

So if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to hear what you think about the song, a favourite memory, or anything else you want to share about it.

To give you credit in the article, it would also be fantastic if you could also give me your first name, age and whereabouts you're from. It also proves that I'm not just making names and opinions up!

I understand if you don't want to share that info with me but it would help me out so much!

Thanks in advance,

Scott

There's some old article in Flashing Blade where someone says that the GCB song was made up in the summer of 1981 and first heard at the Group Cup match at Grimbsy on 18th August 1981.

I don't know how accurate that is...

 

[Selly]

Dude... what the hell?

Which is why one should never put ones real name on this type of forum....

Having said that, if you had tried this thread on Football365's forum, someone posting your Facebook profile pic would have been the least of your worries...

 

[FleaPitBlade]

 

[Guesty]

We nicked it from Rotherham, apparently, Scotters.

My Dad tells me the first time he heard it, it was sung by the Rotherham Blades. The words were "Like a Night out in Rotherham" but the rest was the same (and they sang 'Magnet'). I don't know if this has anything to do with the theory that Rotherham fans came up with it.

 

[Grecian2000]

I've no idea Guesters, I'm only quoting one of our younger posters who made this claim some time ago when the "singing section" debate was in full swing and someone criticised said section for nicking some shit song and the reponse was that our most famous song was nicked anyway.

I don't think we've heard from him in quite a while!

 

[bricktop]

The Ultra's. wonder what happened to those, at least it got rid of the resident knobhead near us, A-tash

 

[vorpal blade]

Yes I thought it was the 'night out in Rothram' version sung on the John Street that I first heard in the 1980s I think its a better version too.
One song we used to sing, later misinterpreted by Man. Utd was 'Littlejohn, Littlejohn running down the wing' to the tune of 'Robin Hood' they didn't seem to realise that when they substituted 'Ryan Giggs' for 'Littlejohn' the joke didn't work anymore. Fair play to whoever came up with that one Blade or not....

 

[TakeTheHighRoad]

What's definately true is the only way it gets going properly is when the first line is played over the tannoy so everyone's in sync.

Away from home it takes a dedicated voice at just the right time, but at Wembley it generally doesn't work (although we're usually losing a play off final at that point)