RIP Shred

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Like many others on here I didn't know Shred personally, but have chatted briefly with him at the odd away game, and on occasion at a bus stop when my parents used to live in Intake. He was everything that it is to be a Blade, and my heart goes out to his family and those that knew him well.

RIP Shred, the ultimate Blade.
 
As with many others, never spoke to him but saw him all over the place when we started going to all the games in the 1980s. There are some great Shred stories in the Blades Tales books.
 
At every game he always seemed to be chatting to someone different and always seemed to make time to talk to people. Didn't know him, but sat next to him at the Withdean a few years ago and actually felt in awe. Rare that nowadays and I guess it's the respect that even those who didn't know him had, as the man you saw at every game you went to, who gave anyone his time and was humble despite his legendary status. I will raise a glass of Southern ale at Crawley tomorrow for a man I didn't know but who everybody knew.

R.I.P.
 
Whatever the final tribute will be I'm sure it'll be ok with him. RIP defining Blade.
 
Whenever there's been an argument about who's the biggest Blade I've always had a chuckle. Everyone knows it's been Shred. Big big loss to us all. RIP Shred.
 
What about 'retiring' his seat on the kop?

Overpaid players retire their numbers on their shirts, so why not do a fans gesture for a top fan?

Retiring the seat would be a permanent show of respect by the club and the fans and a source of memories for those who knew him more than me.

Just an idea.
 
Been on a few of his coaches to memorable games - usually when someone else organised my seat. He didn't know me from Adam, but would always talk to me, and everyone else, stranger and close associate alike as if they'd all been travelling with him every day for years. He's made friends everywhere and has been unintentionally one of the best ambassadors Sheffield United and their supporters could ever wish for. There's no tribute big enough that the club or we as fans and friends could make, but I hope we try.
 
I must admit, I'm no fan of vicarious grief at football matches - too many people who were just passing through our great club. People who are honoured by having a stand named after them and reward the club with threats. I also hate all the 'celebs' who, as soon as they die suddenly attain sainthood status.

Shred is different. A giant among football fans and if any fan epitomises our great club, it's Mr. Spencer. As with everybody, the stories of this legend would fill a book. Some may not appear too interesting, but all of them can be filed under 'You had to be there'.

My own fave? In the late 70s the Blades played in London. It was the done thing then for British Rail to run 2-day trips with a night at St. Pancras (nothing like it is now, it was a run-down, soot covered dump.) As ever, the Blades 'just happened' to congregate in Soho on the Saturday night. :)

We were all in some underground bar of ill-repute and enough booze had been sunk to make people standing on a table and doing an individual 'turn' seem perfectly normal. This drew quite a crowd of tourists, cameras etc. It was Shred's turn and a hush descended. Which of the immortal Blades songs would he treat us to? 'Light of my life'? 'If I had the wings of a sparrow'?, 'My old man said be a Wednesday fan?' He cleared his throat and launched into...

'Down at the station
early in the morning.
See the little engines
all in a row.
Up jumps the driver,
up jumps the fireman.
Chuff chuff,
Whoo, whoo
off we go!'

Cue fans literally rolling on the floor, laughing. I'm sure there's some Japanese tourists who thought this was our National Anthem!
 
Most Blades I know have a favourite story and more often than not Shred and his coaches feature in them. RIP
 



RIP Shred. the truest Blade.

It would be nice if the club could rename Bramall Lane, just for one game, have an official renaming ceremony, to Shred's House, Shred Terrace, Bramall Shred, Shred Lane or similar. So that for all-time in history recorded in every book & on every website the Blades played a home game at their ground that carries Shred's name.
 
As said earlier, didn't know him personally but have spoken to him about all things Blades-related on a number of occasions. Not ashamed to admit I was close to tears when Football Heaven tonight closed with Annie's Song. Once again, RIP Shred, here's hoping the lads do it for you tomorrow, and for the rest of the season.
 
If you didn't hear it, listen back to tonights Football Heaven. Almost every call was about him and, as mentioned, they ended the show by playing Annies Song.
 
CrookesBlade52 said:
They just played Annies Song on radio Sheffield and I'm filling up.
Didn't know him but I've seen him at matches. RIP Shred. :(
Click to expand...

I was in tears at that one
Theres a lot of people that know Shred by sight and a lot that dont really know the man luckily Ive known him for over 40 years
and had the pleasure of his company at many games as have a lot of Blades a nicer man you could not meet
 
I had the pleasure of travelling to away matches on his coaches when I was just a young whippersnapper.

Even at a young age I admired the fact he had the decency to say hello to everyone who shouted to him in and around the grounds despite the fact he can't have known who half of them were.

The footballing world is now definitely a poorer place without him.
 
WhiteHawk said:
If you didn't hear it, listen back to tonights Football Heaven. Almost every call was about him and, as mentioned, they ended the show by playing Annies Song.
Click to expand...

Could anyone provide a link to this.

Cheers
 
I only knew Shred to say hi to..You didn't have to know him though to realise and appreciate what a special bloke he was..Just been listening to Football Heaven, which for tonight, at least, was the Shred tribute show. And that for a bloke who wasn't well known because he was loud, or attention seeking or whatever. Just because he was Shred....Plenty of calls for tributes and everyone will have their own idea of what's most fitting. Nice to read the piece on the club website today, and they'll no doubt be doing more, in consultation with Shred's family... Personally, as a fan's tribute, for a fan, I liked the suggestion made on Football Heaven of changing the line "like a good pinch of snuff" to "like a coach trip with Shred"...a quite befitting legacy.
RIP Shred, the world, and most certainly the Blades world will be a poorer place without you
 
Canterbury Blade said:
What about 'retiring' his seat on the kop?

Overpaid players retire their numbers on their shirts, so why not do a fans gesture for a top fan?

Retiring the seat would be a permanent show of respect by the club and the fans and a source of memories for those who knew him more than me.

Just an idea.
Click to expand...

Great idea, Canterbury. I hope you don't mind but I copied and pasted your post onto Jim Phipps' Facebook page - credited to you of course.
 
I read this news at lunchtime fresh out of a management training seminar. I drafted a couple of little RIP snippets but thought twice about posting anything. I didn't know Shred. My only ever interaction with the man was pissed up, pat on the back 'Alright Shred!' away at Southampton years ago but as I drove home from collecting my takeaway tonight, I don't mind saying I whelled up when Annie's Song come on. Why? For a man I didn't know? It just felt a bit like grief theft.

One of my favourite bits about this club we all follow is the folklore and fables told by the elder statesmen. I could, and have, sat for hours and hours listening to tales told by wrinkling old men in smokey pubs. one name and one man is always enshrined in them. It's the brotherhood and camaraderie that bonds us that makes following a football club so more than just supporting a team and Shred was there, right in the centre of that for a whole generation. It's probably a sign of the times and changing face of football fandom but I'm not sure there will ever be anybody quite like him again.

So here's to Shred. A little snippet of what I love about SUFC has shuffled off and I'm not sure it'll ever be replaced. God bless you, you stranger.
 



Canterbury Blade said:
What about 'retiring' his seat on the kop?

Overpaid players retire their numbers on their shirts, so why not do a fans gesture for a top fan?

Retiring the seat would be a permanent show of respect by the club and the fans and a source of memories for those who knew him more than me.

Just an idea.
Click to expand...

As an extension of this, use his seat as a prize to allocate for "services rendered" type awards on ad-hoc and only occasional basis. It could be an earned privilege to be allowed take his seat for a game.
 
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