Origins of support

[Woodwardfan]

What about the origins of this Forum?

A real melting pot of personalities, passion, aggression, frustration, resentment, pride and belonging.

Whatever the origins, it's the here and now that matters. This is an excellent football club forum and a potent mixture of real people who all regularly portray their personalities to fellow members who are all on the same side.

If the Forum was a mix of rival 'tribes' then imagine the vitriol and disharmony.

As for 'class' systems bah humbug! Have internet and post, simple. Class is how we conduct ourselves, regardless of backgrounds.

 

[bornablade]

Their current geographical existence has nothing to do with their roots. They didn't move to Hillsborough until 1899 some 22 years after their formation.

They were quite nomadic in their earlier days quite similar to today's Sheffield Eagles.

They took great exception to being welcomed with a serenade of 'Where's your caravan'? each time they took to the pitch.

 

[Snowman]

I was going to post a reasonable explanation and commentary on the OP, but then it occurred to me I wasn't around in the late 19th century and therefore my experience of the class issue vis a vis Blades and Pigs is irrelevant. I would only comment as follows. Until the early part of the 20th century Da Pigs shared Bramall Lane as a ground and also used Sheaf House, Myrtle Road and Olive Grove, all within a stone's throw of Bramall Lane. It therefore seems likely that they drew their support from the same geographical sources. When they moved out to Hillsborough/Owlerton it was described as undeveloped land outside the city boundary and their own website says that the move out of the city was a risk but their supporters stuck with them. Who were these early supporters who endured the early steam train rides to South Barnsley? It can only have been the monied class who could afford such a trip?

 

[Boxer Blade]

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

Did you get your Butler to do it for you as well, or would that be a waste of time ma lord

 

[Sean Thornton]

Did you get your Butler to do it for you as well, or would that be a waste of time ma lord

The one he did for me was on the Tatler website.

 

[Sheffsteel]

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.

I usually went on the Kop but used to go to the odd game on the South stand in the late 70's and remember that there always seemed to be a strong whiff of cigar smoke.

As a kid I associated cigars with being posh. In fact I classed anyone who would rather sit than stand up to watch a match as posh ha ha

 

[BushBlade]

I usually went on the Kop but used to go to the odd game on the South stand in the late 70's and remember that there always seemed to be a strong whiff of cigar smoke.

As a kid I associated cigars with being posh. In fact I classed anyone who would rather sit than stand up to watch a match as posh ha ha

Me too.

 

[oldblade]

I always felt that there was a certain amount of unspoken pressure to support Wednesday. They felt to me like the establishment club, the one you were 'supposed' to support. It felt like United were the poorer and neglected relations, the smaller brother. The fact that our ground used to be a bit of a tip compared to theirs helped perpetuate that perception. But we were the smaller brother that had attitude and was as hard as nails. Certainly hard enough to get one over them pretty regularly.

I suppose we were the Rolling Stones - exciting and 'naughty'. They were Bert Bacharach.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Feel free to relive all those wonderful childhood memories

 

[JJ Sefton]

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.

A high profile local politician (and Wednesdayite) is once supposed to have said that Wednesday were the team for the English natives and United the team for Sheffield's Irish immigrants.

While that might fit my family, I think its one of the dafter explanations I've heard.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I always felt that there was a certain amount of unspoken pressure to support Wednesday. They felt to me like the establishment club, the one you were 'supposed' to support. It felt like United were the poorer and neglected relations, the smaller brother. The fact that our ground used to be a bit of a tip compared to theirs helped perpetuate that perception. But we were the smaller brother that had attitude and was as hard as nails. Certainly hard enough to get one over them pretty regularly.

I suppose we were the Rolling Stones - exciting and 'naughty'. They were Bert Bacharach.

Bacharach had class. More Max Bygraves?

 

[The Crab]

Often said about myself....

I think your Tinder profile needs a bit of tweaking

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

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.

And some years older.

 

[Isar]

I usually went on the Kop but used to go to the odd game on the South stand in the late 70's and remember that there always seemed to be a strong whiff of cigar smoke.

As a kid I associated cigars with being posh. In fact I classed anyone who would rather sit than stand up to watch a match as posh ha ha

Pretty much the same, as a kid at the lane I thought only old men would want to sit down at a game of football.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I usually went on the Kop but used to go to the odd game on the South stand in the late 70's and remember that there always seemed to be a strong whiff of cigar smoke.

As a kid I associated cigars with being posh. In fact I classed anyone who would rather sit than stand up to watch a match as posh ha ha

I smoke cigars, stood up and would do now if they let us. A few on here have met me, so they'd confirm I'm a bit of a posh chuff.

 

[Jermyn]

It's often said that being the city centre club, with associations to the universities, and having students living close by, the posh uni kids that stay in Sheffield after graduation tend to follow the Blades

 

[raimond]

Don't know about class, but always interesting to know why any of us became Blades rather than the other lot.

In my case, it's coz when I was born, I wasn't a complete and utter c**t.

 

[Worksop II]

Can I sell you a baby unicorn?

Dont need one .... Ive seen an Openreach Van this week

 

[Sheffsteel]

Don't know about class, but always interesting to know why any of us became Blades rather than the other lot.

In my case, it's coz when I was born, I wasn't a complete and utter c**t.

For me I had freedom of choice.

It was 1975 and one uncle took my to Hillsboro and the other uncle took me to BL.

United had Tony Currie and Woodward playing in front of 25K.

Wednesday had David Sunley and Mick Prendergast playing in front of 13K, but the atmosphere seemed more like 5K when they didn't have a roof on the Kop.

Most kids at school supported United and I preferred red and white to blue and white. At the time a very easy decision really.

 

[Rodley]

I always felt that there was a certain amount of unspoken pressure to support Wednesday. They felt to me like the establishment club, the one you were 'supposed' to support. It felt like United were the poorer and neglected relations, the smaller brother. The fact that our ground used to be a bit of a tip compared to theirs helped perpetuate that perception. But we were the smaller brother that had attitude and was as hard as nails. Certainly hard enough to get one over them pretty regularly.

I suppose we were the Rolling Stones - exciting and 'naughty'. They were Bert Bacharach.

Nailed it.

SUFC always had a bit more swagger, a bit edge to it and a bit more subversive. Wendy were the establishment team.

 

[Rodley]

What on earth is a Mitwoch?

It's German for Pig, Grunter or foul Snort Beast. Not sure which though.

 

[oldblade]

Bacharach had class. More Max Bygraves?

In my humble opinion most of his songs were just plain boring.

 

[Bert]

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.

A total fabrication.

 

[Tezza1889]

It's convenient that the class system has three levels, and avoids acknowledging the poverty stricken, the upper class and the super rich wouldn't wanna think that these people exist while they pay £600 for a bottle...

If you HAVE to work for money to pay bills and debts, you're working class, dead easy isn't it.. Branson is upper class now but also "works" however he won't be loading cans of Pepsi onto a trailer anytime soon, the definition of work needs thinking about, jetting off to Antigua for a few photos isn't work..

The depth of your pockets doesn't dictate who you support, it's who you chose..

 

[Fulwood Blade]

disagree mostly with OP - class doesn't come in to it.

The pigs were always seen as the more affluent in what they spent and have been the "richer" of the two clubs.

That hasn't changed to this day IMO that is.

UTB

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

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.

People like Jeremy Clarkson from Donny, and Seb Coe from Sheffield, who both "support" Chelsea.

 

[snootyfenooty]

In general terms United's power base is Park, Heeley, Manor, Arbourthorne, Gleadless, Woodseats and for some reason out on a limb SE Sheffield. Similarly the pigs power base is the reservation made up of t'Cross, Shirecliffe, Shiregreen, Southey, Ecclesfield and all the way up to Stocksbridge. These are all what you would call working class districts of Sheffield and working class people make up the bulk of support of both Sheffield clubs. End of this argument. Sure there are fans of both in the more salubrious parts of town but lets not kid ourselves the majority of these residents care more about the health of the trees than they do about the health of the football clubs.

 

[Sean Thornton]

People like Jeremy Clarkson from Donny, and Seb Coe from Sheffield, who both "support" Chelsea.

Coe was born in London though.

 

[stringjunior]

Coe was born in London though.

And should go in the twats thread

 

[Kenilworth]

Imagine my dismay at opening this thread only to find that it has absolutely nothing to do those over the shoulder boulder holders containing some of the best bits or an interesting and informative series on the origins of strappage de jock pour l'homme.