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alhooks13

alhooks13

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New poster here. I'm Al, 59, from Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. I've been following the Blades for 20+ years and only recently became aware of this forum.

I adopted the Blades as my English team because of a family connection to Sheffield. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sheffield, so I felt a natural pull toward one of the city's two clubs. Fortunately, I picked the Blades rather than the pigs.

I've attended one United match so far — away at Brighton in November 2023 while I was on holiday in Britain. On that same trip I made a stop at Bramall Lane on my way north, but I've yet to actually see a match at the Lane.

That's about to change. I've got tickets for the upcoming matches against Bolton and Norwich City, so I'm really looking forward to finally experiencing Bramall Lane properly after following United from across the Atlantic for all these years. I'll be sitting in Section FEB4 for both matches, Aisle E, rows S and R.

I'd appreciate any advice for getting the full matchday experience. In particular, where's a good place around the Lane/London Road for a pre-match pint? Any other traditions, places to stop, or things a first-time visitor to a match at Bramall Lane shouldn't miss would be welcome.

Up the Blades!
 



alhooks13 said:
New poster here. I'm Al, 59, from Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. I've been following the Blades for 20+ years and only recently became aware of this forum.

I adopted the Blades as my English team because of a family connection to Sheffield. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sheffield, so I felt a natural pull toward one of the city's two clubs. Fortunately, I picked the Blades rather than the pigs.

I've attended one United match so far — away at Brighton in November 2023 while I was on holiday in Britain. On that same trip I made a stop at Bramall Lane on my way north, but I've yet to actually see a match at the Lane.

That's about to change. I've got tickets for the upcoming matches against Bolton and Norwich City, so I'm really looking forward to finally experiencing Bramall Lane properly after following United from across the Atlantic for all these years. I'll be sitting in Section FEB4 for both matches, Aisle E, rows S and R.

I'd appreciate any advice for getting the full matchday experience. In particular, where's a good place around the Lane/London Road for a pre-match pint? Any other traditions, places to stop, or things a first-time visitor to a match at Bramall Lane shouldn't miss would be welcome.

Up the Blades!
Click to expand...
Make sure to go via the away entrance to get a few swift kidney punches in. Bonus points for children, the elderly, the disabled etc…
 
alhooks13 said:
New poster here. I'm Al, 59, from Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. I've been following the Blades for 20+ years and only recently became aware of this forum.

I adopted the Blades as my English team because of a family connection to Sheffield. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sheffield, so I felt a natural pull toward one of the city's two clubs. Fortunately, I picked the Blades rather than the pigs.

I've attended one United match so far — away at Brighton in November 2023 while I was on holiday in Britain. On that same trip I made a stop at Bramall Lane on my way north, but I've yet to actually see a match at the Lane.

That's about to change. I've got tickets for the upcoming matches against Bolton and Norwich City, so I'm really looking forward to finally experiencing Bramall Lane properly after following United from across the Atlantic for all these years. I'll be sitting in Section FEB4 for both matches, Aisle E, rows S and R.

I'd appreciate any advice for getting the full matchday experience. In particular, where's a good place around the Lane/London Road for a pre-match pint? Any other traditions, places to stop, or things a first-time visitor to a match at Bramall Lane shouldn't miss would be welcome.

Up the Blades!
Click to expand...
Depending on your tastes there's a few places you can try. I'm from the other side of town and don't really know London Road too well so will let others comment on that.

if you're looking for the traditional UK pub/match day experience try the Sheaf or Cricketers (both get quite busy though). There's also the Farm Road Social Club which is like going back in time.

If you like a good quality drink I'd go to either the Beer Engine, which has a great outdoor drinking space and a good selection of drinks, or my favourite is Triple Point which is 5-10 minutes walk from the ground. You can get a half decent smash burger from the kitchen too.

As for places to eat, The Pinch did a great article a few years ago which is worth a read. In my opinion though you have to go to Man Friday's on Shoreham Street for a proper greasy chip butty.

www.thepinch.uk

A-Z of where to eat near Bramall Lane

A guide for home and aways fans for the best 32 places to eat near Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
www.thepinch.uk www.thepinch.uk

When you get here make sure you put a post up, I'm sure someone will be able to chaperone you. Also worth speaking to someone like Nessman930 who made the same trip a few years ago.
 
alhooks13 said:
New poster here. I'm Al, 59, from Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. I've been following the Blades for 20+ years and only recently became aware of this forum.

I adopted the Blades as my English team because of a family connection to Sheffield. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sheffield, so I felt a natural pull toward one of the city's two clubs. Fortunately, I picked the Blades rather than the pigs.

I've attended one United match so far — away at Brighton in November 2023 while I was on holiday in Britain. On that same trip I made a stop at Bramall Lane on my way north, but I've yet to actually see a match at the Lane.

That's about to change. I've got tickets for the upcoming matches against Bolton and Norwich City, so I'm really looking forward to finally experiencing Bramall Lane properly after following United from across the Atlantic for all these years. I'll be sitting in Section FEB4 for both matches, Aisle E, rows S and R.

I'd appreciate any advice for getting the full matchday experience. In particular, where's a good place around the Lane/London Road for a pre-match pint? Any other traditions, places to stop, or things a first-time visitor to a match at Bramall Lane shouldn't miss would be welcome.

Up the Blades!
Click to expand...

Hi, Al. Your first match at Bramall Lane, eh? Sounds like you'll need a bodyguard.

If I'll be your bodyguard, can you be my long lost pal? 🙂
 
The Cremorne on London Road is a good traditional boozer. Try any of the Abbeydale brews they have on tap.
There’s a shawarma place across the road, which is good (Middle Eastern)
Others may recommend other food options.
 
If the sun is out for the Norwich game, The Albion on London Road has a big beer garden.

For the Bolton game, you're better in Cremorne, Golden Lion or Clubhouse.

Bit further walk is Fannies (which is actually called the Lord Nelson). Gets jammed though so tough for getting served.

Food wise. Loads of burger or kebab joints on London Road.
 
Other things you may need to know.
Fanny means summat else, in Sheffield.
If someone asks you to light their fag, don’t set a person on fire.

Also
You must only use UK English spelling on here, by the way. None of your center or organization bollocks.

Oh, shit. I might get a ban after that.
 
The Beer Engine is good for decent ales and food. Gets busy, so plan to go early to get a table.

The Railway on the corner at the junction of Bramall Lane and Cherry Street is small but a very traditional Blades pub. Has been for decades. Does decent beer.
 



Kenilworth said:
Other things you may need to know.
Fanny means summat else, in Sheffield.
If someone asks you to light their fag, don’t set a person on fire.

Also
You must only use UK English spelling on here, by the way. None of your center or organization bollocks.

Oh, shit. I might get a ban after that.
Click to expand...
I'm good on understanding fanny and fag. Can't promise that I won't slip and use US English spelling but I'll try not to.
 
You could have chosen City or Chelsea!!

But anyway I am going to the Bolton game too, if you would like a pre-match guided tour around the area drop me a message.
 
alhooks13 said:
New poster here. I'm Al, 59, from Smithfield, North Carolina, USA. I've been following the Blades for 20+ years and only recently became aware of this forum.

I adopted the Blades as my English team because of a family connection to Sheffield. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was Sheffield, so I felt a natural pull toward one of the city's two clubs. Fortunately, I picked the Blades rather than the pigs.

I've attended one United match so far — away at Brighton in November 2023 while I was on holiday in Britain. On that same trip I made a stop at Bramall Lane on my way north, but I've yet to actually see a match at the Lane.

That's about to change. I've got tickets for the upcoming matches against Bolton and Norwich City, so I'm really looking forward to finally experiencing Bramall Lane properly after following United from across the Atlantic for all these years. I'll be sitting in Section FEB4 for both matches, Aisle E, rows S and R.

I'd appreciate any advice for getting the full matchday experience. In particular, where's a good place around the Lane/London Road for a pre-match pint? Any other traditions, places to stop, or things a first-time visitor to a match at Bramall Lane shouldn't miss would be welcome.

Up the Blades!
Click to expand...

You did well to get a ticket for Norwich they only went on general sale today!
 
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Welcome alhooks13
Enjoy your experience at the Lane

Btw, don’t suppose you know any billionaires over your neck of the woods that may wish to chuck a few a bob into the club?

Every little helps 😁
 
Blade In Flame said:
Don't think it's a real person. It says it's AI.
Click to expand...
ChatGPT says it's probably real based on other unrelated posts on a different forum from that username based in NC. Also he could have bought a Norwich ticket on Monday with a regular membership. ChatGPT says he probably used AI to polish the first post.

alhooks13 if you are real sorry for doubting you. A few years ago we had a poster called Yank on here who claimed to be a US-based Blade, and posted regularly and seemingly genuinely for a while before telling us a horrific story about a car crash. I forgot if he claimed that he was involved, but I think he said his brother died. Later it turned out he was also claiming to be a Derby fan and a Villa fan, and was posting on their forums giving similar versions of the alleged tragic events.
 
If it's just the football matchday experience you want that's one thing. If you want to take in the football, music and steel history that's another. You're probably better off taking a day out to do that.

As it is, In the vicinity of the Lane you have the Portland works (a goal kick from the John Street Stand) where stainless steel was invented and a few famous Sheffield bands practiced on their way up. The Sheaf House pub (site of ex pig ground) is a five minutes walk from the Bramall Lane end if you're in the area

You should check out the Crucible theatre which is the home of the World Snooker Championship every April/May and also the former site of the Adelphi Hotel where United were formed. There's a blue plaque to that effect if you look carefully. There's much more really early football history if you have a day or two albeit much of it is just the ex sites which are now something else entirely.

There's pubs and eateries on Barkers pool and a new pub called the Fargate near the town hall all few minutes from the Crucible if you do go for a wonder up there.. The Wetherspoons pubs (Benjamin Huntsman, Water works) are full of Blades on matchday as it's cheap.

You can't go wrong for booze in Sheff. I'll probably be in the Grapes on Trippet Lane. The Arctic Monkeys did their first gig in there.
 
Worth a trip up to Sheffield FC or Hallam FC, the oldest football club in the world and the oldest football ground in the world - both amateur / semi-professional clubs. If you contact the clubs I’m sure someone would let you have a potter around on Saturday morning or on the Sunday. Hallam probably a better trip as the ground is a more accessible area (Ranmoor is a nice suburb of the city as well) - Sheffield FC are outside the city technically over in Dronfield.
 
Last edited:



Dkc said:
Is that something they sell in the US? No such thing as a Blades+ membership here
Click to expand...
There's a Membership Plus, for £70.
But to buy tickets you still need loyalty points.

Also, calling it The Lane and asking about pre-match pints on London Road is not what Bert thinks a Yank first timer would say.
 
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