I am Bristol born and bred but I'm a Blade! I don't drink cider and do not enjoy the music from the Wurzels!! my story starts even further afield down in Newquay when I was on a family vacation back in 1994, I was 8 years old. The hotel was owned by Wednesday fans however on the second week their friends came down from Sheffield who were Blades.
My brother and I were having a kick-about in the car park when they arrived in their red, Blades sticker covered car. It must have been love as the daughter called Penny came up to me that evening and asked 'do you support a football team, I saw you playing football earlier', I was at that time on the books at Bristol Rovers but said I didn't support them as they were rubbish!
From that day on I became a Blade which was a disappointment for my dad as he is a massive Bristol City fan and season ticket holder. To be fair to Penny she kept in touch for many years sending me many newspaper cuttings and programmes and other pieces of memorabilia, unfortunately we lost touched so if anyone knows a girl Penny Broomhead tell her thanks!!
I remember my first game was a 2-1 defeat at Bristol City on January 21st 1995, I thought I had picked the wrong team with my dad smiling all the way home. Being a Goalkeeper my hero growing up was Alan Kelly, but if I can remember he slipped in the pre-match warm up and was on crutches, Simon Tracey played in goal that day but I do remember having my picture taken with Alan after the game...legend!
To be fair to my Dad he did take me to a few games to see my beloved Blades, a couple of trips to Swindon and a defeat at WBA. I remember year in and year out people looking at me strangely when i turned p to football training wearing my Blades Goalkeeper shirts, I certainly stood out in those green and orange flourescent numbers!!
It wasn't until I started working and could afford to drive to come and watch the Blades in which my first home game was at Home to Everton in the Premier League, 1-1 was the final score in which both my brother and I were happy with, with him being an Everton fan.
I have never regretted being a Blades fan and love the trip week in and week out, M5,M42 and the M1 is an absolute doddle now. I cant commit to every game as the expense plays a part but every home game feels like an away trip for me so I always have the buzz for it.
The one thing I have tried to learn is the local history, passions and rivalries local Blades fans have, certainly being on here helps but that is also why I am not as vocal as I sometimes would like to be as I do get to at least 20 games a year but I'm sure some of you have heard my opinion of things on here.
I have met some wonderful people in the stands, some who I meet up with nearly every week, great to share our thoughts on our football team.
I remember only this season at the Preston away game one Blade tapped my mate on the shoulder and asked 'where are you from?' Glenn said 'Telford' another said 'Crewe' another said 'Birmingham' and I responded with 'Bristol', nationwide support but as someone also responded with 'we're all BLADES!!!!
