Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
So – third away trip of the season. Thankfully a really uneventful trip down the A38 through that newly named place in Derbyshire called “Frank Lampard”. Wonder if it will catch on !
A quick google on Friday afternoon pointed us to a pub called The Vine – it was relatively near to the ground, looked like a fair bit of parking round about and it was also a curry house – now that could be a bonus I thought. When we arrived about an hour and a half before the game, was surprised by how full the surrounding roads were of cars. West Brom fans must always get their really early, so in the end had to park and pay the mandatory 5 quid . It’s quite industrialised round the ground and it seemed like bucket loads of places take advantage of making a few quid on the side – doubt the chancellor of the exchequer gets to see any of it!!
And so to the Vine pub. Now I bet most have heard of Dr Who and the Tardis – this pub was the epitomised the Tardis – small entrance a couple of “snug” rooms off either side and a small bar. Bijou was the name of the day.........except a CCTV in the bar showed a bigger room, which turned into another bigger room and then a huge outside covered seated and standing area. In the middle of it all were a load of chefs cooking kebabs etc on a BBQ. All in all I reckon 400-500 people all eating, drinking, talking etc in a really friendly atmosphere. Mainly baggy fans but sprinkled with a few Blades. Had a beer, met some fellow Blades and the nipper came back with a tray of kebabs – seriously, it looked too good to keep walking past the BBQ to the bar and ignoring them. Really good nosh.
If we have to go again – just get yourself to The Vine before hand – absolutely brilliant – and NO hint of any trouble as bouncers are patrolling.
The walk to the ground was OK – under the M5 – walked along what appeared to be the Birmingham to Wolverhampton Tram train tracks that has a stop for the West Brom game. We popped out very near to the away end. The away end is split into home and away fans – and it was interesting that BOTH home and away fans were “patted” down before going in. This is what you get at grounds that have a sensible home/away fan arrangement. Only a narrow line of stewards between both sets of fans – SYP/SAG? Fucking take note you set of plonkers.
First time to the Hawthornes – it’s a slightly strange set up – hemmed in by a few roads and industrial units, their original main stand to our left is incredibly small, but the rest looked decent enough and modern. Well policed, well stewarded – lets hope our NEXT away game matches up to the organisation, although I very much doubt it somehow. It was quite obvious once again that West Brom had Premier league organisation and our lot back in Sheffield are really going to have to up their game.
So to the game – both sets of fans (being so close) were bouncing songs off one another at the start – which STOPPED immediately we got an overload down the right (Crainie) and an excellent header from the ever blossoming(?) Dowell. For me we played some nice stuff in midfield – the defence was immaculate, even considering Crainie and Stevens substituting for the usual incumbents.
We were so well organised that it brings a smile to me as to how this management team, fronted by CW, has completely given the while club a near lease of life. I’d go so far as to say that OUR football club has been transformed, and for me we came of age last night (in this new CW era) and stepped away from our past failings.
Anyway – back to the game – West Brom constantly probed and for sure they are a very good footballing side – they try and play the game the right way, but then, so do we. West Broms fans to our left had by now gone very very quiet – noisy to start with but our early goal had reminded them of their frailties of playing at home recently. Makes you wonder whether the pressure is actually getting to them. HT came and probably about equal.
Second half - Oh dear – Stearman for Egan – what a blow that was! In the end, no need to worry, the defence – the complete makeshift defence by now were just magnificent. Sure it was backs against the wall but we just went about our business, we let West Brom run out of steam (3 games in 8 days) and had a better time in the last 15 minutes. The clock ran down, and I’m not sure about others, but in tight games I have a theory – first, get to 60 minutes – then get through the next 10 – it’s surprising how many goals appear to happen with a sixty in it, and then at 20 minutes left – the clock is on the climb down to full time. Five minutes injury time? Where did that come from? No danger in the end as our game management kicked in and a considerable amount of time was spent at our end of the pitch.
WE CAME OF AGE – that’s what I took out of the game – fantastic performance from what some would say was a squad team, CW and the management team did it again. Backs against the wall? For sure, but we passed another test – well done to all.
For me, and I know it’s a subjective to opinion – Stevens was magnificent – he’s stepped into the LCB role as though he’s a regular. JOC, You have competition!
The team in general – an absolute joy to go and watch and support and sing for. As for you the fans who went – we/you were magnificent from start to finish.
It’s still ONLY one game at a time – our S6 neighbours will be shitting themselves – no matter what gets written on porktalk this week after their "proper" win of 3-1 other than their 0-0 games. We’re bang in form, appear to be phased by absolutely no one now. We have two "massive" away games with the S6 lot and Weeds to come - anyone else thinking "oh, joy of joys"?
Finally – as for the “boing boing” – apparently they started bouncing in 1992 and they do it after scoring goals to this day, they call it a “boing” – well you weren’t fucking bouncing or boing last night – ring any bells Blades?
...........and so to the Monday, 4th March – will THIS day also be written into Blades folklore?
UTB
A quick google on Friday afternoon pointed us to a pub called The Vine – it was relatively near to the ground, looked like a fair bit of parking round about and it was also a curry house – now that could be a bonus I thought. When we arrived about an hour and a half before the game, was surprised by how full the surrounding roads were of cars. West Brom fans must always get their really early, so in the end had to park and pay the mandatory 5 quid . It’s quite industrialised round the ground and it seemed like bucket loads of places take advantage of making a few quid on the side – doubt the chancellor of the exchequer gets to see any of it!!
And so to the Vine pub. Now I bet most have heard of Dr Who and the Tardis – this pub was the epitomised the Tardis – small entrance a couple of “snug” rooms off either side and a small bar. Bijou was the name of the day.........except a CCTV in the bar showed a bigger room, which turned into another bigger room and then a huge outside covered seated and standing area. In the middle of it all were a load of chefs cooking kebabs etc on a BBQ. All in all I reckon 400-500 people all eating, drinking, talking etc in a really friendly atmosphere. Mainly baggy fans but sprinkled with a few Blades. Had a beer, met some fellow Blades and the nipper came back with a tray of kebabs – seriously, it looked too good to keep walking past the BBQ to the bar and ignoring them. Really good nosh.
If we have to go again – just get yourself to The Vine before hand – absolutely brilliant – and NO hint of any trouble as bouncers are patrolling.
The walk to the ground was OK – under the M5 – walked along what appeared to be the Birmingham to Wolverhampton Tram train tracks that has a stop for the West Brom game. We popped out very near to the away end. The away end is split into home and away fans – and it was interesting that BOTH home and away fans were “patted” down before going in. This is what you get at grounds that have a sensible home/away fan arrangement. Only a narrow line of stewards between both sets of fans – SYP/SAG? Fucking take note you set of plonkers.
First time to the Hawthornes – it’s a slightly strange set up – hemmed in by a few roads and industrial units, their original main stand to our left is incredibly small, but the rest looked decent enough and modern. Well policed, well stewarded – lets hope our NEXT away game matches up to the organisation, although I very much doubt it somehow. It was quite obvious once again that West Brom had Premier league organisation and our lot back in Sheffield are really going to have to up their game.
So to the game – both sets of fans (being so close) were bouncing songs off one another at the start – which STOPPED immediately we got an overload down the right (Crainie) and an excellent header from the ever blossoming(?) Dowell. For me we played some nice stuff in midfield – the defence was immaculate, even considering Crainie and Stevens substituting for the usual incumbents.
We were so well organised that it brings a smile to me as to how this management team, fronted by CW, has completely given the while club a near lease of life. I’d go so far as to say that OUR football club has been transformed, and for me we came of age last night (in this new CW era) and stepped away from our past failings.
Anyway – back to the game – West Brom constantly probed and for sure they are a very good footballing side – they try and play the game the right way, but then, so do we. West Broms fans to our left had by now gone very very quiet – noisy to start with but our early goal had reminded them of their frailties of playing at home recently. Makes you wonder whether the pressure is actually getting to them. HT came and probably about equal.
Second half - Oh dear – Stearman for Egan – what a blow that was! In the end, no need to worry, the defence – the complete makeshift defence by now were just magnificent. Sure it was backs against the wall but we just went about our business, we let West Brom run out of steam (3 games in 8 days) and had a better time in the last 15 minutes. The clock ran down, and I’m not sure about others, but in tight games I have a theory – first, get to 60 minutes – then get through the next 10 – it’s surprising how many goals appear to happen with a sixty in it, and then at 20 minutes left – the clock is on the climb down to full time. Five minutes injury time? Where did that come from? No danger in the end as our game management kicked in and a considerable amount of time was spent at our end of the pitch.
WE CAME OF AGE – that’s what I took out of the game – fantastic performance from what some would say was a squad team, CW and the management team did it again. Backs against the wall? For sure, but we passed another test – well done to all.
For me, and I know it’s a subjective to opinion – Stevens was magnificent – he’s stepped into the LCB role as though he’s a regular. JOC, You have competition!
The team in general – an absolute joy to go and watch and support and sing for. As for you the fans who went – we/you were magnificent from start to finish.
It’s still ONLY one game at a time – our S6 neighbours will be shitting themselves – no matter what gets written on porktalk this week after their "proper" win of 3-1 other than their 0-0 games. We’re bang in form, appear to be phased by absolutely no one now. We have two "massive" away games with the S6 lot and Weeds to come - anyone else thinking "oh, joy of joys"?
Finally – as for the “boing boing” – apparently they started bouncing in 1992 and they do it after scoring goals to this day, they call it a “boing” – well you weren’t fucking bouncing or boing last night – ring any bells Blades?
...........and so to the Monday, 4th March – will THIS day also be written into Blades folklore?
UTB
