How others see us - A Guide to Sheffield United

[Sothall_Blade]

Quite an interesting article from a Charlton fan here:-

http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/AwayTravelNews/0,,10267~2451530,00.html

I'm not sure what he's on about with the Milmoor/Away Strip/Cricket bit.
Didn't they stop playing cricket at Bramall Lane in 1975?
Why would the state of the Millmoor pitch affect our match?

Other than that it's fairly accurate I think.

 

[mekkyblade]

Not sure what they have on the roads darn sarth but im pretty sure i can ¨negotiate a zebra crossing¨ with the greatest of ease! Its not rocket science pal!

 

[SwissBlade]

Not very accurate or correct, my comments:

Rotherham & wednesday stuff - Didn't understand this at all. But if he'd done his research, he'd have found out that real man's rugby is played at the lane still... not sure if this produces the bumps though. And if the cricket was still being played at the lane, then i'd assume that the pitch would be better than your average football pitch at that time.

20 Disabled tickets - how many are we required to supply?

Low level view - If they brought decent support they would also be given the top tier with a fantastic view, but they don't bring decent support.

Food - "the food is pretty bog standard stuff as grounds go" - Pies, pasties etc, its not often that you get michelin star food at away ends.

Pubs around the Ground - "the ground is probably the way to go rather than any pub within immediate vicinity of the ground unless you are very quiet indeed, as home fans are not overly tolerant of away fans and certainly do not resemble the kind of social club that we have been spoilt with on occasions over the last couple of years." - Interesting comment, there are a good number of pubs that tollerate away fans. If they turn up in 100's then any fans would expect a "warm reception", but we don't really get much bother from Charlton and I've certainly seen away fans in pubs like the cremorne in the past.

The Howard, which you can see from the station, although it is a bit of a mission to actually get to it - No its not, its straight out about 100 metres from the Station. Sheffield Tap (if its open for such a little club) is obviously new to these guys, but even easier.

Driving - You don't have to take the "ring road" if you plan the route better. i.e. Junction 29, Dronfield Bypass and down onto Abbeydale Road.

Floodlights - Arriving for a Saturday afternoon game, they won't see any floodlights, we no longer have big pylons all floodlights are on top of the stands, so if anything they'll see the ground before the floodlights.

Street parking - Before the bury game I would'nt have agreed, but then again I have only had this one incident, so not sure its as bad as he makes out, we didnt have any riots up our end. I've seen lots and lots of cars parked around the lane with away team stickers in and never seen any damaged. There are a lot of permit only streets around the ground though.

 

[Micalijo]

To be a bit different Swiss I'm gonna agree with you - his opening comments are incomprehensible.

He does say 'immediate' vicinity of the ground re pubs and if you are on a coach and think we'll try a quick one ion Sportsman ro Cricketers then it is perhaps best not to as he says. Not many will be aware of the riches on offer a bit of a walk away - any Charlton fans welcome in most pubs agree.

The bit about driving up M1 to Meadowhall and getting a tram is one of most ridiculous things I have ever seen - to any Charlton fan driving from the south do not do this. To be fair Swiss - hiow many Charlton fans are going to know that CHesterfield, Dronfield and Abbeydale/Chesterfield Road are decent options?

 

[dkc Blade]

The ground hasn't been easily visible from the train since we lost the floodlights

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Not very accurate or correct, my comments:

Rotherham & wednesday stuff - Didn't understand this at all. But if he'd done his research, he'd have found out that real man's rugby is played at the lane still... not sure if this produces the bumps though. And if the cricket was still being played at the lane, then i'd assume that the pitch would be better than your average football pitch at that time.

20 Disabled tickets - how many are we required to supply?

Low level view - If they brought decent support they would also be given the top tier with a fantastic view, but they don't bring decent support.

Food - "the food is pretty bog standard stuff as grounds go" - Pies, pasties etc, its not often that you get michelin star food at away ends.

Pubs around the Ground - "the ground is probably the way to go rather than any pub within immediate vicinity of the ground unless you are very quiet indeed, as home fans are not overly tolerant of away fans and certainly do not resemble the kind of social club that we have been spoilt with on occasions over the last couple of years." - Interesting comment, there are a good number of pubs that tollerate away fans. If they turn up in 100's then any fans would expect a "warm reception", but we don't really get much bother from Charlton and I've certainly seen away fans in pubs like the cremorne in the past.

The Howard, which you can see from the station, although it is a bit of a mission to actually get to it - No its not, its straight out about 100 metres from the Station. Sheffield Tap (if its open for such a little club) is obviously new to these guys, but even easier.

Driving - You don't have to take the "ring road" if you plan the route better. i.e. Junction 29, Dronfield Bypass and down onto Abbeydale Road.

Floodlights - Arriving for a Saturday afternoon game, they won't see any floodlights, we no longer have big pylons all floodlights are on top of the stands, so if anything they'll see the ground before the floodlights.

Street parking - Before the bury game I would'nt have agreed, but then again I have only had this one incident, so not sure its as bad as he makes out, we didnt have any riots up our end. I've seen lots and lots of cars parked around the lane with away team stickers in and never seen any damaged. There are a lot of permit only streets around the ground though.

Yes, I agree with what you say but you obviously have far more inside knowledge than him.
I don't think you can say that the key points he makes are inaccurate.
They will have a low-level view, the food will be bog-standard, it's not easy to park near the ground and the pubs within the immediate vicinity of the ground are best for "home fans only" (most have signs up stating so). I wouldn't fancy getting off the away coach and setting off towards London Road!

 

[SwissBlade]

To be a bit different Swiss I'm gonna agree with you - his opening comments are incomprehensible.

He does say 'immediate' vicinity of the ground re pubs and if you are on a coach and think we'll try a quick one ion Sportsman ro Cricketers then it is perhaps best not to as he says. Not many will be aware of the riches on offer a bit of a walk away - any Charlton fans welcome in most pubs agree.

The bit about driving up M1 to Meadowhall and getting a tram is one of most ridiculous things I have ever seen - to any Charlton fan driving from the south do not do this. To be fair Swiss - hiow many Charlton fans are going to know that CHesterfield, Dronfield and Abbeydale/Chesterfield Road are decent options?

Bout time you saw some sense Mic!

Yeah fair point about the cricketers and Sportsman.

As for getting to the ground by car - its something called looking at a map. He's already pointed out that Jct 33 and heading towards bakewell is coming back on yourself, so he must've looked at a map to find this out. Perhaps he should've thought, "hang on I wonder if there is an easier way of doing this, afterall, the lane is South of the city centre, he's coming from the south and jct 33 is NE of the city and takes a long way around. All he has to do is plug in S24su via Chesterfield & Dronfield and it'll do enough to divert his sat nav to bring him down Chesterfield Road (the perfect road on a sat afternoon)

I know that this route is preferred by many as I come down the Dronny bypass when I drive (or our lass drives me in) and there are always away fans with Scarves, stickers or personal number plates coming this way

 

[Tuns]

Not very accurate or correct, my comments:

If they turn up in 100's then any fans would expect a "warm reception", but we don't really get much bother from Charlton and I've certainly seen away fans in pubs like the cremorne in the past.

.

One of the more bizarre outbreaks of crowd trouble I've seen was against Charlton at the Lane. Think a night match in the 80s?

A handful of their fans arrived really late and took their seats in H block during the game probably more in confusion than with thoughts of fisticuffs. H Block was not in one of its more lively spells at the time and from what I recall it was a low key match.

However within seconds of their arrival a sole Blade ran across the seats to launch a one man kamikaze assault and took them on single-handedly.

 

[Micalijo]

One of the more bizarre outbreaks of crowd trouble I've seen was against Charlton at the Lane. Think a night match in the 80s?

A handful of their fans arrived really late and took their seats in H block during the game probably more in confusion than with thoughts of fisticuffs. H Block was not in one of its more lively spells at the time and from what I recall it was a low key match.

However within seconds of their arrival a sole Blade ran across the seats to launch a one man kamikaze assault and took them on single-handedly.

That's very interesting Tunsy but how much did you pay to get in?

---------- Post added at 03:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------

Bout time you saw some sense Mic!

Yeah fair point about the cricketers and Sportsman.

As for getting to the ground by car - its something called looking at a map. He's already pointed out that Jct 33 and heading towards bakewell is coming back on yourself, so he must've looked at a map to find this out. Perhaps he should've thought, "hang on I wonder if there is an easier way of doing this, afterall, the lane is South of the city centre, he's coming from the south and jct 33 is NE of the city and takes a long way around. All he has to do is plug in S24su via Chesterfield & Dronfield and it'll do enough to divert his sat nav to bring him down Chesterfield Road (the perfect road on a sat afternoon)

I know that this route is preferred by many as I come down the Dronny bypass when I drive (or our lass drives me in) and there are always away fans with Scarves, stickers or personal number plates coming this way

Perfect road on sat afternoon if you want to be stuck 30 mins in a jam in Woodseats? Or has it improved recently?

 

[axel smeets]

The disabled comments confused me. Do United supply less disabled tickets than other clubs that give a 3000 away allocation? If the guy is disabled and feels so then fair enough, he should complain through the usual channels but otherwise its got me.

 

[SwissBlade]

That's very interesting Tunsy but how much did you pay to get in?

---------- Post added at 03:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:17 PM ----------



Perfect road on sat afternoon if you want to be stuck 30 mins in a jam in Woodseats? Or has it improved recently?

No Chesterfield road should be avoided at all times. But its still a better option than going the long way round and then getting stuck in traffic

 

[Micalijo]

No Chesterfield road should be avoided at all times. But its still a better option than going the long way round and then getting stuck in traffic

Is it though? Whilst your stuck at the odd queue on Chezzie by-pass and a big queue in Woodseats I'm doing 70 on motorway and 60 on Parkway until a little queue at bottom which moves nicely imo and flows well past station - OK I then have to get parked but is it that much quicker at say 1.30pm on a Sat to decide to go J29 to BDTBL? To be fair I'd say yes, just!

 

[Tuns]

A right at the first roundabout off the bypass and up to Norton Water tower then down Blackstock or Hemsworth Rd and work way through or possibly go via Bocking Lane.

No need to go through Woodseats.

 

[SwissBlade]

Is it though? Whilst your stuck at the odd queue on Chezzie by-pass and a big queue in Woodseats I'm doing 70 on motorway and 60 on Parkway until a little queue at bottom which moves nicely imo and flows well past station - OK I then have to get parked but is it that much quicker at say 1.30pm on a Sat to decide to go J29 to BDTBL? To be fair I'd say yes, just!

Very sad, but out of curiosity, I actually just route planned this from "Charlton" to S24su and Google maps directs you off at J29 181 miles and 3 hrs 20

To go Jct 33 its 3hrs 27 and 191 miles

Not much in it really

 

[raul]

Quick point on the Sheffield Tap too - no colours, isn't that right Rodders?

 

[Ollessendro]

Pretty dull reading tbh. Managed to get through it with a mixture of confusion, boredom and then agitation hitting me at different points.

Don't agree with the general gist though. Most away fans really enjoy visits to Bramall Lane. Top ground (especially at this level), close to train station and easily accessible, decent pubs and ale and I think we are welcoming. Sure if he just looked at the Cricketers then he might think we are not welcoming. However a quick 5 minute walk to London Road and they'd be fine. Also some decent pubs on the way to the ground that are welcoming. This irked me somewhat. Every time I make the trip up I see away fans drinking in the boozers I am in and Sheffielders are always welcoming. There's the usual mix of banter and frienliness, but I have not seen much hostility.

 

[super_pig]

if you are wearing colours you should be fine.. them's rules

 

[Darren]

One of the more bizarre outbreaks of crowd trouble I've seen was against Charlton at the Lane. Think a night match in the 80s?

A handful of their fans arrived really late and took their seats in H block during the game probably more in confusion than with thoughts of fisticuffs. H Block was not in one of its more lively spells at the time and from what I recall it was a low key match.

However within seconds of their arrival a sole Blade ran across the seats to launch a one man kamikaze assault and took them on single-handedly.

I suspect that was the 1-1 draw on Tuesday 1st October 1985, McNaught getting our goal and Edwards failing to get a winner late on when put through 1 on 1 but hitting his shot into the keeper.

---------- Post added at 09:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

Quite an interesting article from a Charlton fan here:-

http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/AwayTravelNews/0,,10267~2451530,00.html

I'm not sure what he's on about with the Milmoor/Away Strip/Cricket bit.
Didn't they stop playing cricket at Bramall Lane in 1975?
Why would the state of the Millmoor pitch affect our match?

Other than that it's fairly accurate I think.

The Millmoor pitch thing was on 14th March 1981. The Rotherham match was due to be televised on YTV the following day but was called off. The YTV cameras did a quick swicth to the Lane to televise our game instead. I don't think the problem was that Charlton had not brought their away kit (they must have done as both teams play in red) but that their kit had a sponsors name on which wasn't allowed on TV back then (how things change!), so they had to borrow Wednesday's away kit.

We won 3-2 with goals from Garner, Hatton and Givens. It was Givens' debut and he played really well, setting up the two goals he didn't score. We all know how that turned out.