Remember your first ever visit and NOW

[FatPaul]

Unfortunately, my first visit to a "football ground" was with SteveBlade dad to the sty. Before SteveBlade was a twinkle in his eye.

Luckily my older brother took me to a match in 1994 at the lane against qpr. I don't remember the result, but remember being a blade for life since then.

 

[Blades Glory Owls Down]

Seem to remember my first game being on the Kop as a 5 year old at home to Wimbledon in the 85/86 season. It was a good game to have as I think we smashed them 3/4-0. After that I got the bug and my dad got us both a season ticket which I had until moving to Australia in 2019. With my 2 kids also being subjected to a season ticket up to that point too. My last game was the promotion confirmation game at home to Ipswich. It was a bitter/sweet day as there was the Euphoria of gaining promotion and the unbelievable season that we had (well couple of seasons) but also the knowing that it could well be the last ever time that I walked through the turnstiles to watch my team live or at least for many many years.

it has been really strange watching the games on TV (Still haven't missed a game and its been challenging at times getting up at 3am to watch a game knowing that we were likely not going to turn up. To then have to get ready to go to work for 12 hours) and I do really miss the buzz of matchdays, meeting up in the pub before walking to the ground and meeting up with old friends.

 

[Barney Rubble]

think that would be the game in 68 night game 2 up and lost 2 -3 that was the game that really did for us that season

Yes I was at that match and it was my second game. First time I went to the match with my dad and we stood on the terrace. Main memory of this was of my dad and others shouting abuse at Wednesdayites in John Street stand who had turned up to cheer for Fulham. I remember asking how he knew that they weren't Fulham fans. 'Not with them bloody accents.' he said.
I think he'd seized on the opportunity to start taking me to football as an excuse to go more often himself. My first match had been against Sunderland earlier in 1968 which we again lost, 2-1. I can't remember much of the match, but I went in the Bramall Lane end with a mate from school, with free tickets that the club had given to schools.

 

[ancientblade]

Yes I was at that match and it was my second game. First time I went to the match with my dad and we stood on the terrace. Main memory of this was of my dad and others shouting abuse at Wednesdayites in John Street stand who had turned up to cheer for Fulham. I remember asking how he knew that they weren't Fulham fans. 'Not with them bloody accents.' he said.
I think he'd seized on the opportunity to start taking me to football as an excuse to go more often himself. My first match had been against Sunderland earlier in 1968 which we again lost, 2-1. I can't remember much of the match, but I went in the Bramall Lane end with a mate from school, with free tickets that the club had given to schools.

yes we were coasting that night 2 up and that loss for me cost us more than the chelsea defeat on the last day can remember those free match tickets from school days in the early 60s pink for united light blue for wednesday

 

[Varkanoid]

Watching Sheffield Utd v Leeds reserve match. We could sit anywhere we liked and we sat in the old Directors box in the John St Stand on the comfy padded seats. It was 1975 IIRC I was 6 yrs old. Free to enter. Sat with my Grandad, I counted about 60 people in the whole ground. It echoed when the players shouted. Blade lost 3-1.

I thought when we went we could always sit in those seats. Much later when we got a season ticket bit shocked to find you had to sit on wooden seats

 

[Big Hitter]

Did anyone on here went to Jimmy Hagan’s benefit match in March 1958 ? That was my first match and all I can remember that night is the lights from cigarettes all around the ground !!
Well perhaps not all around as there would only have been three sides !

Yes I went and it was bloody cold as I remember.

 

[Silent Blade]

Seem to remember my first game being on the Kop as a 5 year old at home to Wimbledon in the 85/86 season. It was a good game to have as I think we smashed them 3/4-0. After that I got the bug and my dad got us both a season ticket which I had until moving to Australia in 2019. With my 2 kids also being subjected to a season ticket up to that point too. My last game was the promotion confirmation game at home to Ipswich. It was a bitter/sweet day as there was the Euphoria of gaining promotion and the unbelievable season that we had (well couple of seasons) but also the knowing that it could well be the last ever time that I walked through the turnstiles to watch my team live or at least for many many years.

4-0, first goal was an own goal by Brian Gayle.

Before the game I spotted Jimmy Hagan in the Cherry Street car park. I asked him for an autograph and he happily signed my programme

 

[Torrix1889]

Portsmouth at home, 1980, won 1-0 with a Mike Trusson volley in front of the Kop. I was with my Dad in the old John Street. Other standout from that match was the Pompey keeper rushing out of his area to head the ball clear with his balding head of white blonde hair, Mellor I think was his name........

 

[Silent Blade]

Portsmouth at home, 1980, won 1-0 with a Mike Trusson volley in front of the Kop. I was with my Dad in the old John Street. Other standout from that match was the Pompey keeper rushing out of his area to head the ball clear with his balding head of white blonde hair, Mellor I think was his name........

 

[Keith S]

23rd of August 1969. Six years old. Huddersfield at home. Stood on the Bramall Lane end. Right at the start of the Woodward/Currie era. The team that went on to become possibly the best we've ever had. Drew 0-0. Plus ca change!

 

[ancientblade]

23rd of August 1969. Six years old. Huddersfield at home. Stood on the Bramall Lane end. Right at the start of the Woodward/Currie era. The team that went on to become possibly the best we've ever had. Drew 0-0. Plus ca change!

no possibly about it keith

 

[cahill]

Nostalgia threads seem to be the only ones I post on these days. I should get out more

 

[cahill]

My dad said my first match was in 1966 (before the World Cup). My earliest memory of being at Bramall Lane was I was sat in the BLUT and we had just scored in the Lane End, a bald man (probably Bill Punton), ran from the left to congratulate our scorer so that was probably in 1967

Didn’t Bill Punton score the winner against Wendy ? At the kop end

 

[cahill]

I started going in 1948. In those days we still had matches on Christmas Day. The atmosphere was magical to a 9-year old (helped by the aroma of cigars).

I think Blackpool and Blackburn kept that Christmas Day tradition going for a few seasons after everyone else stopped. Usually played at Blackpool I think.´Perhaps the in-house Archivist ( Silent), can tell us ?

 

[ancientblade]

Didn’t Bill Punton score the winner against Wendy ? At the kop end

yeah february 67 smashed it in from 2 yards out i was right behind the goal

 

[ekke287]

My first visit was a 0-1 loss at home to Palace but my long term memory is awful. I’ve been told on here it was either 91 or 93 (I would’ve been 7 or 9) which makes sense as I went with Primary School on a trip, sat on BLUT.

All I remember is the score and that a ball hit the John Street roof and knocked off some tiles that fell in to the crowd below, cutting someone’s head open (I saw them after walking out).

 

[Silent Blade]

Didn’t Bill Punton score the winner against Wendy ? At the kop end

Yes, it is unlikely I went to the Wendy match. My dad wouldnt take me to big games when I was 4/5. I have a memory of our player scoring at the Lane End (I was in the BLUT) and just after we scored, a balding man (probably Punton) ran from the left to congratulate the scorer. Must be a match that had a lower attendance.

 

[Sheffsteel]

1st game

March 1975…. Blades 3 West Ham 2
Think Currie scored 2 and Woodward 1

Memories were
Crowd was 25K but the atmosphere seemed really good on the Kop, much louder than now even when the Kop is sold out.
Think it was the roof sloped down so it kept some of the noise in and of course the atmosphere was much much better when fans were stood up.

Pre match fans I met were talking about Tony Currie as though he was a living God….they gave the impression we had the best player in the league.
There was a kind of arrogance as though Currie could win matches by himself. I suppose it was like us having Messi in the team.

I remember street traders on John Street selling rosettes, which were quite commonly worn.
I also saw the odd rattle, but think they were just starting to go out of fashion back then.

Remember walking back to The Moor to catch the bus with my uncle, traffic was really busy and long queues at the bus stop.
In those days buses/ traffic went up and down The Moor.

This match was on Match of the Day later that evening….and the Currie goal past Mervyn Day was the famous “quality goal by a quality player”

 

[ancientblade]

1st game

March 1975…. Blades 3 West Ham 2
Think Currie scored 2 and Woodward 1

Memories were
Crowd was 25K but the atmosphere seemed really good on the Kop, much louder than now even when the Kop is sold out.
Think it was the roof sloped down so it kept some of the noise in and of course the atmosphere was much much better when fans were stood up.

Pre match fans I met were talking about Tony Currie as though he was a living God….they gave the impression we had the best player in the league.
There was a kind of arrogance as though Currie could win matches by himself. I suppose it was like us having Messi in the team.

I remember street traders on John Street selling rosettes, which were quite commonly worn.
I also saw the odd rattle, but think they were just starting to go out of fashion back then.

Remember walking back to The Moor to catch the bus with my uncle, traffic was really busy and long queues at the bus stop.
In those days buses/ traffic went up and down The Moor.

This match was on Match of the Day later that evening….and the Currie goal past Mervyn Day was the famous “quality goal by a quality player”

missed that one due to being at a wedding west ham on the kop but came unstuck apparently

 

[ancientblade]

Yes, it is unlikely I went to the Wendy match. My dad wouldnt take me to big games when I was 4/5. I have a memory of our player scoring at the Lane End (I was in the BLUT) and just after we scored, a balding man (probably Punton) ran from the left to congratulate the scorer. Must be a match that had a lower attendance.

oh silent your nowt but a kid

 

[cahill]

1st game

March 1975…. Blades 3 West Ham 2
Think Currie scored 2 and Woodward 1

Memories were
Crowd was 25K but the atmosphere seemed really good on the Kop, much louder than now even when the Kop is sold out.
Think it was the roof sloped down so it kept some of the noise in and of course the atmosphere was much much better when fans were stood up.

Pre match fans I met were talking about Tony Currie as though he was a living God….they gave the impression we had the best player in the league.
There was a kind of arrogance as though Currie could win matches by himself. I suppose it was like us having Messi in the team.

I remember street traders on John Street selling rosettes, which were quite commonly worn.
I also saw the odd rattle, but think they were just starting to go out of fashion back then.

Remember walking back to The Moor to catch the bus with my uncle, traffic was really busy and long queues at the bus stop.
In those days buses/ traffic went up and down The Moor.

This match was on Match of the Day later that evening….and the Currie goal past Mervyn Day was the famous “quality goal by a quality player”

Still the best , most memorable at least, United match I’ve been to. The Kop atmosphere may have been added to by a quite large contingent of WHam fans at the back. Trouble all through the match.

 

[Gerritforud]

My dad took me to my first Blades game, 16 March 1982 we beat Northampton 7-3!
Fell in love with the Lane.... was a rude awakening soon after that, I thought 10 goals per game was the norm...

 

[broomhillblade]

My first game was in October 1948. Can't remember who we played.
In those days we had a brass band playing before kick-off and at half time.
There was no tannoy system. Team changes were chalked on to a blackboard and carried round in front of the spectators by a ball boy.
Players didn't warm up as they do now. They would emerge just a few minutes before kick off and have a brief kick-about.
There were no substitutes.
Players did not do elaborate goal celebrations. A brief handshake from team mates was the norm. No hugging!
Players didn't have any advertising, or their names, on their shirts.
There was no "away kit". If there was a clash of colours they usually wore white shirts.
There were no yellow or red cards. However a player could have his name taken by the ref, or in extreme circumstances, sent off.
Managers did not sit in a dug out. They usually watched from the stand.
Spectators were not segregated. They were generally well-behaved. If younger ones misbehaved they would probably be put in their place by adults.
Because of the three-sided ground, spectators could walk to the opposite end. I used to start off behind the goal at the Bramall Lane end, and move to the kop for the second half.
There were no floodlights so in the depths of winter kick-off could be around 2 pm, or even earlier.
The half time break was around 10 minutes only.
Charity collections were quite common. People would walk round the edge of the pitch with a big blanket and spectators would be urged to throw coins into it. For kids standing near the fence it was not unusual to be hit by a coin on the back of the head. Health and safety...?
The grass would soon wear away. By November, most of the Bramall Lane pitch was bare, sometimes with a top dressing of sand.
There was no undersoil heating.
The toilets were foul!
There was no TV and no local radio. We relied on local papers, expecially the Green 'Un. If they were playing away, we'd listen to 'Sports Report' at 5 pm on the Light Programme to hear the scores. However, the reserve team usually played at the same time as the first team, and the scores would be posted in front of the Cricket Pavilion, so reserve matches were quite well-attended.

... there's so much more I could say, but that's probably enough for now.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

25th August 1973, Sheff Utd 0-2 Burnley. A home defeat as my first match, against a newly promoted side I’d never heard of, should have spelt the end of my association with SUFC, right at the beginning..But no! This 8 year old was made of sterner stuff.

 

[Eyeball]

25th August 1973, Sheff Utd 0-2 Burnley. A home defeat as my first match, against a newly promoted side I’d never heard of, should have spelt the end of my association with SUFC, right at the beginning..But no! This 8 year old was made of sterner stuff.

Martyn Dobson masterclass

 

[Silent Blade]

25th August 1973, Sheff Utd 0-2 Burnley. A home defeat as my first match, against a newly promoted side I’d never heard of, should have spelt the end of my association with SUFC, right at the beginning..But no! This 8 year old was made of sterner stuff.

My dad took his workmate's son to use my season ticket (I couldnt use it because I was at boarding school) to sit in the front row of the BLUT. I was told a few years ago that the lad now lives in the Derby area. Was it you?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Martyn

My dad took his workmate's son to use my season ticket (I couldnt use it because I was at boarding school) to sit in the front row of the BLUT. I was told a few years ago that the lad now lives in the Derby area. Was it you?

No