Come from away
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2006
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This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada so it seemed a good time to write. Since being a recovered Blades fan (I was out of touch with the club for a long time before finding this forum) all my knowledge of Warnock, Blackwell and McCade was through the media. After reading the detailed report Linz and Foxy provided of McCabe's Town Hall meeting I decided to email him and say thanks for being so candid and open. Though I had heard of some stories I was surprised to recieve an invite to join him for a beer on his next trip to Toronto. Unfortunately that is about a three day drive for me so regretfully I declined. I then got an offer for a tour of the Lane on my next visit to Sheffield and a request to stay in touch.
My wife and I were going to visit my daughter in Ireland and, as we are both fans, we chose to take in the Sheffield Derby. We also made an event of it by staying at the Copthorne Hotel for the night. McCabe arranged for a Canadian friend of his, Ian Cameron, to meet us at the hotel. They had been neighbours before McCabe became Chairman and drove round the country together on Saturdays following the Blades - sound familiar. Well, as we were chatting with Ian, who wanders over but Kevin McCabe. He says hello, kisses my wife (smart fellow) and offers a personal tour of the Lane before the game. So, off to the Legends 'bar' where we chat with Len Badger and Tony Currie and then off round the Lane. We drop in the dressing room where Kevin Blackwell is going over some film of the defence, and then walk down the steps to the field, where I get to reach up and touch the Blades badge on the roof just before hitting the field. We meet the press and chat about developments at the Lane, past-present and future. Finally back to the hotel where Kevin, knowing we were coming back for the Ipswich game, invites us to return to the Director's Reception for dinner and a seat in the Director's Box at 6.00pm before the Ipswich game. McCabe would be back in the States then on business but Ian offered to act as host.
Throughout this tour Kevin was chatting about the club and the team. He was clearly proud of what they had been able to achieve, had great hopes for the future and was dissappointed that more success had not been forthcoming. But what impressed me most was how he interacted with all the people we met. He treated everybody with respect in a very open friendly manner. What you see is what you get. Yes, a very smart businessman but also a very genuine human being. Money and success change us all but he has maintained his common sense and his humanity.
Tuesday night before the Ipswich game, I'll skip over Swansea, we meet up with Ian and head for the Director's Reception for dinner. Well, who do we meet but Sandra McCabe who is there to host the Ipswich Director's and a few others (including me and Christine). It is a lovely dinner and Sandra is a warm and gracious host. We have some great dinner conversation with Ian who then escorts us to our seats in the Box. Getting the team sheet before the game and finding out about our new signing (Dacies) before the crowd was also kind of neat. After the game as we think of heading home, Sandra McCabe grabs Christine and me and invites us into the Board Room for a drink. All in all a great evening.
Like you I am just a fan, I have no money to invest in the club - just a few tickets. Yet here the McCabes treat me and Christine with the same respect and consideration as their other guests. They take time to listen and chat. Kevin made the point that this club belonged to the community and that building and supporting that relationship was central to the clubs existence. Based on such a brief meeting I do not claim to "know" the McCabes, but I do respect them and all that they are trying to do for the club both on and off the field. He knows that when the team loose or a singing does not go through he (and Blackwell) will get the blame. Being in the Director's Box, I found that although a quiet bunch they are no different from any other group of fans. "Rubbish", "What a waste of money", "Way to stick it to them Morgs."
It is obvious I am impressed. In the past I have been in their position (McCabe/Blackwell) at a very much lower level in the game and so appreciate what they face. Most of all I am thankful that our club is in the hands of someone like Mr. McCabe. Until meeting him I do not think I appreciated how fortunate our club is to have him as Chair. Thank-you Mr. McCabe.
N.B. all the words and quotes are my memories, I didn't have a tape-recorder.
But I do have some great memories and I doubt there are few clubs where this would have been possible.
My wife and I were going to visit my daughter in Ireland and, as we are both fans, we chose to take in the Sheffield Derby. We also made an event of it by staying at the Copthorne Hotel for the night. McCabe arranged for a Canadian friend of his, Ian Cameron, to meet us at the hotel. They had been neighbours before McCabe became Chairman and drove round the country together on Saturdays following the Blades - sound familiar. Well, as we were chatting with Ian, who wanders over but Kevin McCabe. He says hello, kisses my wife (smart fellow) and offers a personal tour of the Lane before the game. So, off to the Legends 'bar' where we chat with Len Badger and Tony Currie and then off round the Lane. We drop in the dressing room where Kevin Blackwell is going over some film of the defence, and then walk down the steps to the field, where I get to reach up and touch the Blades badge on the roof just before hitting the field. We meet the press and chat about developments at the Lane, past-present and future. Finally back to the hotel where Kevin, knowing we were coming back for the Ipswich game, invites us to return to the Director's Reception for dinner and a seat in the Director's Box at 6.00pm before the Ipswich game. McCabe would be back in the States then on business but Ian offered to act as host.
Throughout this tour Kevin was chatting about the club and the team. He was clearly proud of what they had been able to achieve, had great hopes for the future and was dissappointed that more success had not been forthcoming. But what impressed me most was how he interacted with all the people we met. He treated everybody with respect in a very open friendly manner. What you see is what you get. Yes, a very smart businessman but also a very genuine human being. Money and success change us all but he has maintained his common sense and his humanity.
Tuesday night before the Ipswich game, I'll skip over Swansea, we meet up with Ian and head for the Director's Reception for dinner. Well, who do we meet but Sandra McCabe who is there to host the Ipswich Director's and a few others (including me and Christine). It is a lovely dinner and Sandra is a warm and gracious host. We have some great dinner conversation with Ian who then escorts us to our seats in the Box. Getting the team sheet before the game and finding out about our new signing (Dacies) before the crowd was also kind of neat. After the game as we think of heading home, Sandra McCabe grabs Christine and me and invites us into the Board Room for a drink. All in all a great evening.
Like you I am just a fan, I have no money to invest in the club - just a few tickets. Yet here the McCabes treat me and Christine with the same respect and consideration as their other guests. They take time to listen and chat. Kevin made the point that this club belonged to the community and that building and supporting that relationship was central to the clubs existence. Based on such a brief meeting I do not claim to "know" the McCabes, but I do respect them and all that they are trying to do for the club both on and off the field. He knows that when the team loose or a singing does not go through he (and Blackwell) will get the blame. Being in the Director's Box, I found that although a quiet bunch they are no different from any other group of fans. "Rubbish", "What a waste of money", "Way to stick it to them Morgs."
It is obvious I am impressed. In the past I have been in their position (McCabe/Blackwell) at a very much lower level in the game and so appreciate what they face. Most of all I am thankful that our club is in the hands of someone like Mr. McCabe. Until meeting him I do not think I appreciated how fortunate our club is to have him as Chair. Thank-you Mr. McCabe.
N.B. all the words and quotes are my memories, I didn't have a tape-recorder.
But I do have some great memories and I doubt there are few clubs where this would have been possible.
