Port Vale hrs Blades One Vale Fan Article

[Harrisblade]

Will your boys be throwing bottles and bricks at us after the match this season?

And will it snow?

 

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Thanks guys tremendous replies as always and more than enough for the article. I will piece together the best and it will appear on our site tomorrow or early Friday for those that want to view.

I will reply to specific comments later on today as there are interesting and thought provoking questions asked.

 

[Blade_In_Sydney]

1. Grew up in a Blades household and was told if I wanted to support Wednesday I would have to find a new home, even though neither of my parents are from Sheffield or were originally Blades (excellent parenting!).

2. We're finally escaping this league as the best team in it. Even the most optimistic fan wouldn't have predicted the style in which we have achieved promotion with quality football and loads of goals. Current form is that of champions and these players seem able to take any challenge in their stride. The divisional title awaits.

3. The match winner genuinely could be any outfield player. John Fleck has somehow managed to stand out from a very good group this season, and seems to have found another gear in the last couple of games adding goals to his impressive assists tally. If he is rested, I think this could be the game for Samir Carruthers to put on a show. Billy Sharp is due a goal.

4. Chris Wilder has returned the pride to this club and its supporters. At the beginning of the season the expectation was to mount a more serious challenge for the top six after last season's shambles, but fans were preparing themselves to be patient in allowing him two full seasons to achieve promotion. The speed with which he has turned a bloated, underperforming squad into a hardworking, well-drilled, successful group is quite staggering. In reality he achieved this in just one transfer window, with January's business giving us extra depth and strength that the division couldn't compete against. Wilder's ability to notice, and fix, a problem is far beyond anything I've seen from a United manager in the past, both in the transfer market and during games. He will admit mistakes and give everyone a chance, evidenced by new signing Chris Hussey disappearing from the match day squad after a poor start to the season, and the transfer-listed Kieron Freeman and Paul Coutts knuckling down to become key players. Best of all, he's one of us. He knows what makes the fans tick, so he knows exactly what his players must do to make the most of our loyal support. It's something special to see your club succeed with a fan as manager and a fan as captain.

5. Bramall Lane hosted the first floodlit football match, is the oldest stadium in the world hosting professional football and is only one of two grounds to have hosted international football, test cricket and an FA Cup final.

6. Sorry, I'm not sure I know much/anything about Vale at the moment.

7. Yes I did! We had the ball in the back of the net 8 times, and honestly 8-0 wouldn't have flattered us. Probsbly the most one-sided win I've seen for us, it was an absolute joy.

8. Michael Brown is the obvious answer. One golden season for us, had a habit of kicking people every time he came back.

9. 3-0 Blades, Clarke to continue his scoring run (I can't believe I'm saying that!), one for goal-machine Freeman and Carruthers to break his duck. I'm hoping Bolton also win so we can seal the title on the telly on Monday.

I really thought Bramall Lane was the only football league ground to host a test match (in the UK that is), which is the other? Many thanks.

 

[Bayingblade]

I really thought Bramall Lane was the only football league ground to host a test match (in the UK that is), which is the other? Many thanks.

The only football ground but the Oval has hosted an FA cup final and a test match BiS.

 

[TBW57]

The Racecourse Ground in Derby is Derbyshire CC's home ground. It has never hosted a Test match but the field behind it was the venue for the Cup Final replay between Blackburn Rovers and West Brom in 1886. It was also, not surprisingly, once the site of a racecourse.

 

[Punk Blade]

I really thought Bramall Lane was the only football league ground to host a test match (in the UK that is), which is the other? Many thanks.

The only football ground but the Oval has hosted an FA cup final and a test match BiS.

Yep the Oval is the other ground to have hosted a test match, international football and FA Cup final.

Robbie Earle's Perm I stopped at the BL facts, but I was also going to mention we're a club of firsts - in addition to Sheffield United being the first sporting (cricket) club to use 'United' and BL hosting the first floodlit match, we were also the first match with live radio commentary (at Arsenal) and of course the first team to score in the Premier League. Not enough is then made of us also being the first to score against and beat Man U in the Premier League!

 

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Will your boys be throwing bottles and bricks at us after the match this season?

I flipping hope not but some of the idiots that do attach themselves to our great club do love coming out for games with big away followings so our game and then next week against Bolton could be interesting!

 

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Yep the Oval is the other ground to have hosted a test match, international football and FA Cup final.

Robbie Earle's Perm I stopped at the BL facts, but I was also going to mention we're a club of firsts - in addition to Sheffield United being the first sporting (cricket) club to use 'United' and BL hosting the first floodlit match, we were also the first match with live radio commentary (at Arsenal) and of course the first team to score in the Premier League. Not enough is then made of us also being the first to score against and beat Man U in the Premier League!

Now that is impressive knowledge, I'm all over it!

 

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

And will it snow?

Well its flipping cold up here in dirty Leeds today so I might bring the weather down with me!

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I flipping hope not but some of the idiots that do attach themselves to our great club do love coming out for games with big away followings so our game and then next week against Bolton could be interesting!

The word you were looking for was yes

 

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

Hi Robbie Earle's Perm. Could you answer me a question or two please?
In all my years as a Blades supporter I've never been to Port Vale. Although your fan base is not too big it seems there is a reputation about your fans being quite aggressive and nasty. Not just via what I've heard through supporters forums but through personal word of mouth as well. Do you believe your supporters deserve this reputation and if not then how has it been gained and don't you think your club should be doing more to change it?

To be fair people from Stoke-on-Trent (I'm not, I'm from the Staffordshire Moorlands originally) are salt of the earth people who would do anything for anyone with the caveat that they do love a moan and a few look on the dark side of everything.

That being said there are some absolute first class scumbags that attach themselves to the club who love causing mindless trouble and some equally as stupid people who defend their actions blaming anything they can rather the scumbags themselves, be it the police, the opposing fans, or simple frivolity of the morons throwing bricks!

When I was growing up it seemed to be Stoke who had the issue, however because they are now in the PL I guess they feel they can go under the radar here easier and a lot are of a senior age. I am disappointed with the responses from the Supporters Club who seem to constantly brush it off with a 'its only a small element and it doesn't happen very often attitude' but thats down to them. One idiot is one too many and needs rooting out by the brilliant fans most of us are.

We haven't had too many problems this season and I'm hoping the racism storms and mindless violence is a dim and distant memory.

That being said if any of you fancy I'm happy to 'lob' you a couple of chips from the superb chippy thats quite new in Burslem centre