Origins of support

[fuerstenberger]

I was in Blighty a few weeks ago. I met up with some of my Sheffield cousins in Wales by way of a reunion. One uncle, now 93, a staunch socialist and a mitwoch fan, explained his reasons for supporting them lot. He said, Mitwoch were always the working class club and United the middle class club. I was the only Blade in 7. To be fair, they were all balanced in their views, none of the 'massive' hyperbole one would expect. Is the old man's rationale, regarding support, correct? I have never heard that before.

 

[JJBlade]

I don't think there's any class amongst Wendy fans if that helps

 

[Sheffsteel]

It's a generalisation so not exactly accurate but

Growing up In the 70's I was also lead to believe SWFC had the working class support from the north of the city and the outskirts where the mining towns were where as United had more support from the South of the city, Fulwood, Totley, Dore, Lodge Moor areas.

I was also lead to believe that if you saw an old man wearing a flat cap he tended to support SW.

Actually a big observation I noticed at the Brentford match was just how many kids were there wearing Blades shirts, large number of girls too. It's good for the future that we have so many youngsters supporting us.

 

[him behind you]

I was in Blighty a few weeks ago. I met up with some of my Sheffield cousins in Wales by way of a reunion. One uncle, now 93, a staunch socialist and a mitwoch fan, explained his reasons for supporting them lot. He said, Mitwoch were always the working class club and United the middle class club. I was the only Blade in 7. To be fair, they were all balanced in their views, none of the 'massive' hyperbole one would expect. Is the old man's rationale, regarding support, correct? I have never heard that before.

Absolute tosh I'm afraid. He's just making something up to try to justify the senseless decision he took all those years ago because he now realises that it was completely illogical and is regretting it. He's just trying to make himself feel better.

 

[Danny_Boy]

I was in Blighty a few weeks ago. I met up with some of my Sheffield cousins in Wales by way of a reunion. One uncle, now 93, a staunch socialist and a mitwoch fan, explained his reasons for supporting them lot. He said, Mitwoch were always the working class club and United the middle class club. I was the only Blade in 7. To be fair, they were all balanced in their views, none of the 'massive' hyperbole one would expect. Is the old man's rationale, regarding support, correct? I have never heard that before.

What on earth is a Mitwoch?

 

[gavtheblade]

What on earth is a Mitwoch?

German.

 

[JJBlade]

Seriously, I don't think there's anything middle class about United's support in general.
The middle classes started to ditch skiing, curling, polo and show jumping when football became the latest trendy place to be seen. As a result of this they chose to follow Arsenal and Chelsea and Man Utd

We haven't achieved enough to get these types on board.

One good thing about being shit I suppose

 

[bornablade]

Quite the opposite. The Blades always represented the working classes of the city. Wednesday were middle class business owners. Mainly butchers who always closed their businesses on a Wednesday in order to participate in recreational activities. They felt it necessary to remove their blue and white striped aprons and replace them with similar coloured striped shirts.

This is well documented in many books.

 

[Sheffsteel]

What on earth is a Mitwoch?

It's German for that day of the week that begins with W

 

[Danny_Boy]

I think labelling either club middle class or working class is a little bit sad really. No doubt there are fans from all social levels that support both clubs and calling either one "the working class" or "the middle class" club is just wrong.

 

[Dnblade]

It's just that we've got class,and they haven't.

 

[Sean Thornton]

It's a generalisation so not exactly accurate but

Growing up In the 70's I was also lead to believe SWFC had the working class support from the north of the city and the outskirts where the mining towns were where as United had more support from the South of the city, Fulwood, Totley, Dore, Lodge Moor areas.

I was also lead to believe that if you saw an old man wearing a flat cap he tended to support SW.

Actually a big observation I noticed at the Brentford match was just how many kids were there wearing Blades shirts, large number of girls too. It's good for the future that we have so many youngsters supporting us.

Once living at both Fulwood and Lodge Moor my experience is exactly the opposite. Full of Pigs.

As for flat caps, look at old old photos if football crowds, everyone wore one.

Can I sell you a baby unicorn?

 

[snootyfenooty]

United are the inner city club and the pigs are in the suburbs. It is therefore contradictory to say that the pigs are the club of the working class.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think labelling either club middle class or working class is a little bit sad really. No doubt there are fans from all social levels that support both clubs and calling either one "the working class" or "the middle class" club is just wrong.

I suppose he's taking about traditional reputation
But let's be straight, traditionally EVERY fan that went to a football match was WORKING CLASS.

I remember the 80's when football was relatively unfashionable.
Every now and then I'd mention that I went to football matches and some people automatically thought I was an hooligan. It felt like I was like saying that I was a member of the Nazi party. Football had a big working class reputation and posh people would turn their nose up at the very thought of football.

So it's quite funny how since Sky marketing have made the football industry so fashionable.
That so many middle class/ posh people now declare their passion towards a football club, sometimes I'm not convinced as it feels like they are just following fashion and playing at it.

 

[Danny_Boy]

I suppose he's taking about traditional reputation
But let's be straight, traditionally EVERY fan that went to a football match was WORKING CLASS.

I remember the 80's when football was relatively unfashionable.
Every now and then I'd mention that I went to football matches and some people automatically thought I was an hooligan.
Football had a big working class reputation and posh people would turn their nose up at the very thought.

So it's quite funny how since Sky marketing have made the football industry so fashionable.
That so many middle class/ posh people now declare their passion towards a football club.

I think it depends on how you define the classes. I've always classed myself as working class, definitely not posh, like football and beer etc. But I did the BBC "which class are you test" yesterday and it said I was established middle class.

God knows, test below for anyone interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973

 

[Sean Thornton]

I think it depends on how you define the classes. I've always classed myself as working class, definitely not posh, like football and beer etc. But I did the BBC "which class are you test" yesterday and it said I was established middle class.

God knows, test below for anyone interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973

My butler took it and it said he was middle class too. The silly ignorant oaf believes it.

 

[fuerstenberger]

To be honest, he is old, talked a lot of bollocks for a lot of the time we were together and he smelled of wee. I suppose that describes most fans of them.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think it depends on how you define the classes. I've always classed myself as working class, definitely not posh, like football and beer etc. But I did the BBC "which class are you test" yesterday and it said I was established middle class.

God knows, test below for anyone interested:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973

Working class is the new middle class

Because we now have a new category called the "under class", to them anyone who works and doesn't claim benefits is obviously posh/ middle class.

Agree the boundaries are all merged making it very difficult to generalise.

 

[fuerstenberger]

To be honest, he is old, talked a lot of bollocks for a lot of the time we were together and he smelled of wee. I suppose that describes most fans of them.

Shit, I should have asked the other members of my family if they were on here before I wrote that.

 

[Working Class Hero]

Both sets have always been pretty much the same as far as I've ever seen. A broad range but mostly working class people, as you'd expect from football fans anywhere outside the prem, but particularly in a working class city.

The only clear divide is the north/south one (and the intelligence levels obviously).

 

[Danny_Boy]

Working class is the new middle class

Because we now have a new category called the "under class", to them anyone who works and doesn't claim benefits is obviously posh/ middle class.

Agree the boundaries are all merged making it very difficult to generalise.

Regarding your last sentence. that is probably not a bad thing. I agree with your post though, if you work and own your own home these days you'd be classed as middle class.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Working class is the new middle class

Because we now have a new category called the "under class", to them anyone who works and doesn't claim benefits is obviously posh/ middle class.

Agree the boundaries are all merged making it very difficult to generalise.

The mitwochs is a nice name for the other lot. I doubt whether there has ever been much of a social class difference between the 2 clubs. Bramall Lane is nearer the city centre, but also nearer the posher suburbs. And in defence of middle-class football fans, we have not all arrived recently. My grandad and dad were middle-class and Blades, as are my kids and grandkids. We even go on the Kop (nice to mix with the common people occasionally ).

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I was in Blighty a few weeks ago. I met up with some of my Sheffield cousins in Wales by way of a reunion. One uncle, now 93, a staunch socialist and a mitwoch fan, explained his reasons for supporting them lot. He said, Mitwoch were always the working class club and United the middle class club. I was the only Blade in 7. To be fair, they were all balanced in their views, none of the 'massive' hyperbole one would expect. Is the old man's rationale, regarding support, correct? I have never heard that before.

Full of admiration for you spending time talking with the socially isolated. And with your elderly uncle as well.

 

[Jon Bon II]

I started following The Blades as they were the best feyters. The mighty fist knows no distinction of the classes - just the difference between red and blue.

 

[Sean Thornton]

The mitwochs is a nice name for the other lot. I doubt whether there has ever been much of a social class difference between the 2 clubs. Bramall Lane is nearer the city centre, but also nearer the posher suburbs. And in defence of middle-class football fans, we have not all arrived recently. My grandad and dad were middle-class and Blades, as are my kids and grandkids. We even go on the Kop (nice to mix with the common people occasionally ).

Don't you worry about catching nits?

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Don't you worry about catching nits?

Not many of those around me have hair.

 

[Dnblade]

Don't you worry about catching nits?

That's why they all wore caps.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

he is old, talked a lot of bollocks for a lot of the time we were together and he smelled of wee.

Often said about myself....

 

[BushBlade]

I suppose he's taking about traditional reputation
But let's be straight, traditionally EVERY fan that went to a football match was WORKING CLASS.

I remember the 80's when football was relatively unfashionable.
Every now and then I'd mention that I went to football matches and some people automatically thought I was an hooligan. It felt like I was like saying that I was a member of the Nazi party. Football had a big working class reputation and posh people would turn their nose up at the very thought of football.

So it's quite funny how since Sky marketing have made the football industry so fashionable.
That so many middle class/ posh people now declare their passion towards a football club, sometimes I'm not convinced as it feels like they are just following fashion and playing at it.

That's not true. Not even in the eighties. There's always been middle class supporters at the Lane, sat in the new stand and the old John Street and driving home in their decent motors after. I bet plenty on here in the 40-60 age group grew up in the suburbs, in houses their parents owned.

 

[Basing Blade]

There is not a middle class football team on this earth. Its not exactly Ascot is it?
Not even Arsenal.

Go to a Bath or Harlequins Rugby game and you will see middle class.

It always makes me laugh to think of any football team as being middle class.