How do you identify?

[Crafty Blade]

It gets on our tits when we get calld Sheffield, and when Man Utd just get called United. We’re United too (and the original at that), so we’d never call them just United.

But a few of us have been calling both Bristol teams just Bristol over the last few weeks, and are referring to Man City as just City.

I bet a Bristol City fan wouldn't call Man City just City, as they’re City too.

Anyway, just an observation. Its all relative and not too important.

If someone asks me who i support, I say “I’m a Blade”. As a fan base thats the term we tend to idenify as. Na na na na he's a Blade and all that.

I think most supporters of other clubs would say “I'm a X fan”. Of course someone could say “I’m a Gunner” or something, but I dont think that kind of identity is that common. Wednesday fans dont tend to say “I’m an Owl” for example.

Does identifying as being a Blade first and foremost show more of a belonging? Is it about an attitude or mindset? Is it something special? Or does it not really mean anything? I dunno.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

This lockdown has a lot to answer for.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'd say I'm a Sheff United fan, or I'm a Blade. But equally, I'm well within my rights to just say I'm a United fan, as we were the original and therefore best.

Everyone else should state their city first, to differentiate themselves from the original United. The rest are imitations, after all.

 

[Nine Inch Nalis]

There's definitely something a bit more tribal about it.

When I'm a conversation with someone for example, if they're talking about somebody else, they refer to the fact that that persons a 'Blade' even if it has no direct relevance to the subject. It happens all the time, and I like it. Or If you ever get referred to as a "top Blade" or some variation, it's like winning a jackpot.
What it all means, it's hard to say, but does it have meaning? It certainly does.

 

[sitwell]

Bev says Im a Bladeite

 

[DaleHillBlade]

I identify as a masochist

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

 

[Tarqs]

A non gender pansexual fairy.

 

[bornablade]

The nickname 'Blade' has become stronger in the past few (probably more than a few) years.

Growing up it was always 'are you a Unitedite or Wednesdayite?'

I 'm proud of the term 'being a Blade'. It has strong links to our industrial heritage and it has positive connotations of being sharp. It's a real Sheffield term

It has also allowed journalists to trot out the same headlines over the years .....

'Blades are too Sharp'. 'Blades have that cutting edge'. etc etc.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

The nickname 'Blade' has become stronger in the past few (probably more than a few) years.

Growing up it was always 'are you a Unitedite or Wednesdayite?'

I 'm proud of the term 'being a Blade'. It has strong links to our industrial heritage and it has positive connotations of being sharp. It's a real Sheffield term

It has also allowed journalists to trot out the same headlines over the years .....

'Blades are too Sharp'. 'Blades have that cutting edge'. etc etc.

"Blunted Blades" seems to get trotted out more than most lol

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

It gets on our tits when we get called Sheffield, and when Man Utd just get called United. We’re United too (and the original at that), so we’d never call them just United.

But a few of us have been calling both Bristol teams just Bristol over the last few weeks, and are referring to Man City as just City.

I bet a Bristol City fan wouldn't call Man City just City, as they’re City too.

Anyway, just an observation. Its all relative and not too important.

If someone asks me who i support, I say “I’m a Blade”. As a fan base thats the term we tend to idenify as. Na na na na he's a Blade and all that.

I think most supporters of other clubs would say “I'm a X fan”. Of course someone could say “I’m a Gunner” or something, but I dont think that kind of identity is that common. Wednesday fans dont tend to say “I’m an Owl” for example.

Does identifying as being a Blade first and foremost show more of a belonging? Is it about an attitude or mindset? Is it something special? Or does it not really mean anything? I dunno.

I know I'm not in the majority here but I do like us being referred to as Sheffield, as I consider us THE Sheffield club on so many different levels.

As for the United bit, yeah that rankles, not just with Man U being referred to as United either, West Yorkshire press seems to like to refer to Leeds as United, ditto the north east press with Newcastle. Logically Leeds and Newcastle don't need to be referred to as United

 

[Snowflake]

A non gender pansexual fairy.

Are they at the bottom of your garden ?

 

[BladeByChoice]

I’m a Blade, love being called a Blade, love being introduced to someone new as ‘he’s a Blade’, gives me a sense of belonging and a warm squidgy feeling inside, it also nails my colours to the mast from the off.

As for the Sheffield thing, I couldn’t rally give a toss, if Sheffield United are playing Manchester United and the commentator/pundit says ‘blah blah blah Sheffield, who else do you think he’s talking about.

 

[SteveBlade]

United fan, Blades fan, Sheffield United fan, Sheffyernited fan.

Whatever really, who gives a fuck?

 

[Gavlar]

It annoys me that man yoo get called United as if they are the only one. Even kean Bryan said it in his interview!
The Bristol thing annoys me as well and the Sheffield thing too. In short it all annoys me as I’m a grumpy bastard.

 

[Crafty Blade]

I know I'm not in the majority here but I do like us being referred to as Sheffield, as I consider us THE Sheffield club on so many different levels.

As for the United bit, yeah that rankles, not just with Man U being referred to as United either, West Yorkshire press seems to like to refer to Leeds as United, ditto the north east press with Newcastle. Logically Leeds and Newcastle don't need to be referred to as United

Agreed, us getting called Sheffield implies there is no other team in the city, and I think its more insulting to Wednesday than us.

I find Man United getting just called United much more annoying.

Incidentally Man City aren't the oldest team to be called City.

 

[Trafford]

Thought this thread was prompted by a BBC report on Eddie Izaard yesterday, in which ‘he’ was referred to as ‘she’ throughout. It was clarified at the end of the report that Eddie is gender fluid and asks to be referred to as she when she is running. Not sure how that works when you’re filling forms in etc, with your sex changing on a daily basis!

 

[Karaoke Blade]

I'm a 'Unitedite'. Always have been always will be.
On the odd occasion someone asks "which United?" it gives me an excuse to tell 'em who the original United are, about how football was invented in Sheffield, etc. etc. by which time they've usually walked off.

 

[Nade]

I'd say Wednesday fans don't go by 'Owl' that much because 'Wednesday' itself is probably more distinctive and well known.

It's a weird name when you think about it

 

[COME BACK CHED]

Oh it is Weird all right .

 

[Houston_Blade]

Blade or United fan. You don’t hear much ‘ite’ nowadays. Apart from when talking about pigs when I use shite quite a lot.

Man United have always been known as ‘United’ to the wider footballing world. Like Man City are known as ‘City’.

 

[Nine Inch Nalis]

Wrong thread, shit.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

It doesn't bother me that much unless I'm reading articles about Sheffield United v Manchester Utd, and the author uses United to refer to them.

 

[Stevo]

Gender neutral for me

 

[Micky Narker]

Beerschot feeder club supporter

 

[PokerBlade]

I’m a Blade, love being called a Blade, love being introduced to someone new as ‘he’s a Blade’, gives me a sense of belonging and a warm squidgy feeling inside, it also nails my colours to the mast from the off.

As for the Sheffield thing, I couldn’t rally give a toss, if Sheffield United are playing Manchester United and the commentator/pundit says ‘blah blah blah Sheffield, who else do you think he’s talking about.

Normally I don't care about being called just Sheffield. Means people are forgetting all about the other team in this city and that's a good thing, and everybody talks about Newcastle or West Ham without the United so it's not like we're being singled out. It did bother me a lot the other day when the commentators kept referring to "United" and only ever meaning Manchester. I get that Man U have been in the spotlight a little bit more than us in recent times but when we're right there on the pitch with them maybe show a little acknowledgement.

 

[JJBlade]

I personally don't give a shit
The club should have changed it's name to just "United" many years ago and dropped the "Sheffield" from it's name altogether. Especially as Sheffield's City Leaders were smarmy bitter pigs who hated us and did their best to promote the other shower over us, ruin the city and do us harm in the process.

Then what would the commentators say "Here we are at Old Trafford for this game between United and errr United"

 

[Rob86]

It’s a belonging to a mindset that is special and means everything, that’s how I see it

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Identify as a Blade.

Don’t mind being called Sheffield unless they call other team United, I like when they say Sheffield as if it needs no further explanation which Sheffield club it is. Is there another?

 

[1066blade]

I'm a blade lover for over 60 years now. When I first moved darn sarf (1973) and people questioned where I was from, it usually moved on to football and invariably, do you support Sheffield Wednesday. This was until just a few years ago, now when it happens (although much less frequently) it's, oh, are you a Blade? Which is very nice.