beightonblade
On yer bike !
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All reight then further to the GCB poll how abart this un ?
The original pigs
The original pigs
The original pigs !
- Thread starter beightonblade
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GRUMPY BLADE
Well-Known Member
That be JJ?
LouTheBlade
Active Member
Wednesday fans have to let this drop and accept that it is our name for them, not the other way around. There is historical evdience on ordinance survey maps from the 1850's that Hillsborough Stadium was once the site of a pig farm. That is where the name comes from, their ground used to be a 'Piggery' before the stadium was built and there was another one just up from that site on Penistone Road. That is why they are referred to as the pigs, as it is where the name originally came from.
No argument I'm afraid, they are the pigs! I found this information online a couple of years ago. I'm sure if you search it, you will find it as well.
The reason they call us the same is due to lack of originality and brain cells.
No argument I'm afraid, they are the pigs! I found this information online a couple of years ago. I'm sure if you search it, you will find it as well.
The reason they call us the same is due to lack of originality and brain cells.
GRUMPY BLADE
Well-Known Member
In-breeding
JJ Sefton
Live, Laugh, Love
This is a map of Sheffield from 1855...
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/mapsheet.aspx?sheetid=9619&compid=55145
Im trying to locate modern day Swillsborough on it to verify the pig farm story. If anyone else feels like helping...
LouTheBlade
Active Member
That map is a good find Walthamstow but the lines and text are too small to pick anything out. I think I can see Barkers Pool but thats it! Wont let me zoom any more. Ive seen a map similar to it before and it was clearly marked between what are now Leppings Lane and Halifax/Penistone Road. Keep looking though!
I don't know if people are being serious about the piggery story, but it's complete bollocks. It derives from one of those e-mails that was doing the round a few years back that alleged that there were documents in Sheffield Central Library that showed that Hillsborough was originally a piggery. Apart from the fact that there is actually no such evidence, the story is inherently imporobable in any event. Supporters of the 2 clubs only started calling each other "pigs" in the late 70's/early 80's and I think its stretching credibility a bit to suggest that United fans started doing that because of diligent research in the library by United fans.
SwissBlade
Well-Known Member
Sorry Darren, I can confirm that its true. I asked a bloke that knows a bloke who said that a piggery is a place where pigs are kept. I then asked another bloke If Hillsborough sounds like Swillsborough and he said "yes I think so". Therefore I can confirm that the pig story is true - Fact
SheepdipBlade
Active Member
The red and white "streaky bacon" thing started in the 70s - but I've always believed (and will always believe) that they were the Co-op side that played cricket on early closing day, before converting to football - and that their first manager (or chairman?) was the Co-op's slaughterman - hence Pigs since 1889!! 
When I was kid (pre 70s) I remember them calling us "scum" at School Lane Primary!!
When I was kid (pre 70s) I remember them calling us "scum" at School Lane Primary!!
broomhillblade
On the move
Having been watching the Blades since 1948 I can confirm that the term 'pigs' was never used between the fans from that time until I went to live abroad in 1966. When I returned to these shores in 1984 that I found that 'pigs' was in general use from both sides. In fact the first time I experienced it was when I worked for a company that was full of Wednesdayites and, having mentioned that I was a Blade, I was greeted with "So you support t'pigs then?".
My father was born in 1901 and watched the Blades all his life. He never used the word 'pigs' either.
Personally I find the whole thing rather childish.
broomhillblade
On the move
Sorry Linz, but you are way off the mark here.
1. In the 19th century Wednesdays were when all apprentices had a half day off. Many of them worked in the cutlery industry or as silversmiths etc. – nothing specifically to do with butchers. The apprentices probably played sports on that half day.
2. There was a Wednesday Cricket Club, dating from 1825
3. Sheffield Wednesday Cricket and Football Club was formed (on a Wednesday) at a meeting at the Adelphi Hotel on 4.9.1867
4. Wednesday's original kit was blue and white hoops - so no connection with butchers' striped aprons there either.
Much of this information is contained in the book "Football In Sheffield' by Percy M.Young (1962).
JJ Sefton
Live, Laugh, Love
I seem to remember obese pig fan turned politician Woy Hattersley telling a story about a Wednesdayite he knew as a boy who refused to eat bacon because the red and white stripes reminded him of United. When I asked my dad about this he said "Aye, every Wednesdayite in Sheffield claimed to be mates with him".
I think it's childish as well.
Here's my stab at a possible theory. By the late 70's, the police were commonly known as "pigs". I recall tales from wannabe hooligans in my youth that went something along the lines of "we 'ad United/Wednesday ont run and would ave given em a good kicking if, they ant id behind pigs". From allegations from hooligans on both sides that the other side were cowardly and had to be protected by the "pigs", it would be a short step to argue that they "were t'same as pigs" and hence give them that name. From the hooligan fraternity, the name then filtered through to other supporters.
I have no evidence for that theory, but it seems arguable.
JJ Sefton
Live, Laugh, Love
On a note related to another thread, how about a set of United lyrics for this song...
[video=google;-3661750842052732836]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3661750842052732836#[/video]
Piggies by The Beatles
[video=google;-3661750842052732836]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3661750842052732836#[/video]
Piggies by The Beatles
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I bow down to your superior knowledge
Everything I was told came from a Wednesday fan themselves as they were researching it for a school project so there must be some mention of it somewhere?
broomhillblade
On the move
Just to add a few more facts to muddy the waters, Sheffield Wednesday didn't move to the Hillsborough site until 1899.
They began in 1867 playing on a pitch close to Bramall Lane which later became the site for the Highfields Library.
In 1869 they moved to Myrtle Road, Heeley.
In 1887 they moved again to Olive Grove which they occupied until the end of the 1898/99 season.
Even if the Hillsborough/Owlerton site did have a piggery on it (which is doubtful) it is unlikely that they would have adopted the name 'pigs' 32 years after the club was formed. Presumably the name 'Owls' came from the Owlerton location. I believe they actually called themselves the 'Blades' for a few years in their early days.
When Wednesday took over the 10-acre Hillsborough site they encouraged rubbish to be dumped at both ends of the pitch to make the mounds behind the goals. So it is true to say that the kop was founded on a heap of rubbish. A stand from Olive Grove (capacity 2,000) was dismantled and moved to Hillsborough and another stand (capacity 3,000) was built. Dressing rooms of generous proportions were built and there was also a 'fine refreshment room, a ladies' tea room and a bicycle room'.
They began in 1867 playing on a pitch close to Bramall Lane which later became the site for the Highfields Library.
In 1869 they moved to Myrtle Road, Heeley.
In 1887 they moved again to Olive Grove which they occupied until the end of the 1898/99 season.
Even if the Hillsborough/Owlerton site did have a piggery on it (which is doubtful) it is unlikely that they would have adopted the name 'pigs' 32 years after the club was formed. Presumably the name 'Owls' came from the Owlerton location. I believe they actually called themselves the 'Blades' for a few years in their early days.
When Wednesday took over the 10-acre Hillsborough site they encouraged rubbish to be dumped at both ends of the pitch to make the mounds behind the goals. So it is true to say that the kop was founded on a heap of rubbish. A stand from Olive Grove (capacity 2,000) was dismantled and moved to Hillsborough and another stand (capacity 3,000) was built. Dressing rooms of generous proportions were built and there was also a 'fine refreshment room, a ladies' tea room and a bicycle room'.
Torrix1889
A reight Bobby Dazzler
I know 100% FACT why its Wednesday who are the Pigs;
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It's because they are a bunch of fat, stinking snout faced bastards who like nothing better than wallowing in their own shit all day.......................
Now that IS a FACT boys and girls...
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It's because they are a bunch of fat, stinking snout faced bastards who like nothing better than wallowing in their own shit all day.......................
Now that IS a FACT boys and girls...
Indeed. The ironic point is that, for the first 32 years of their existence Wednesday played in the same area as United. Maybe the whole Highfield/Olive Grove area was a pig farming area which is why both teams are called "pigs"
JJ Sefton
Live, Laugh, Love
Indeed. The ironic point is that, for the first 32 years of their existence Wednesday played in the same area as United. Maybe the whole Highfield/Olive Grove area was a pig farming area which is why both teams are called "pigs"
I read that in the early days both teams were called 'Blades' and that they were sometimes called either 'Laneites' or 'Groveites'.
bladesman1889
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Their fans used to grunt to welcome the team onto the pitch, or so I heard.
roger mortis
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Broomhillblade is spot on the way i see it and ive writen this before on other forums even had it in the sheffield Star (we all know how weds biased they are)
The calling each other pigs started in the 1970s anyone around 45 years old or older will remember growing up with pinky and perky on TV
they never got associated with either football team as they would if they were on the go now.
also the beatles song piggies posted above at the time 68ish never associated with either team.
Simple fact is in the 70s weds changed their badge on their shirts from an old fashioned owl to one similar to the one they have today and someone commented that it did'nt look like an owl it looked more like a pigs snout.
simple as that really also the song "no pigs fans in town....." reference to Jack Charlton who was manager in the late 70s
then weds started retaliating when called pigs by saying stuff like "no your pigs your ground is like a pig sty" as it was in those days compared to therse (how things change) and the shirts/bacon thing clutching at straws nothing else.
apparently the red in our shirts is a tribute to the buffer girls who used to wear bright red head scarfs ;0) just found that out today at kelham island
The calling each other pigs started in the 1970s anyone around 45 years old or older will remember growing up with pinky and perky on TV
they never got associated with either football team as they would if they were on the go now.
also the beatles song piggies posted above at the time 68ish never associated with either team.
Simple fact is in the 70s weds changed their badge on their shirts from an old fashioned owl to one similar to the one they have today and someone commented that it did'nt look like an owl it looked more like a pigs snout.
simple as that really also the song "no pigs fans in town....." reference to Jack Charlton who was manager in the late 70s
then weds started retaliating when called pigs by saying stuff like "no your pigs your ground is like a pig sty" as it was in those days compared to therse (how things change) and the shirts/bacon thing clutching at straws nothing else.
apparently the red in our shirts is a tribute to the buffer girls who used to wear bright red head scarfs ;0) just found that out today at kelham island
GRUMPY BLADE
Well-Known Member
Got to confess that my first encounter with the tag was being called a pig by a pig fan in the 70's and telling him he was a daft twat cus I wasn't in the coppers it was my mate.
ken shabby
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Roger mortis has it spot on, it was the pigs badge change from owl to simplified pig, it did look like a pig the new badge & Blades were quick to tell `em!!!!. I recall a mates older brother walking round with a super t-shirt him & his mates had done taking the mickey out the pigs new `70s style badge, complete with cartoon pig which was a super close cartoon of the wednesday snouting owl.
it was pigs from then on (around `75??) & the streaky bacon rubbish was just that, rubbish. They were the pigs first & foremost & pigs they remain
it was pigs from then on (around `75??) & the streaky bacon rubbish was just that, rubbish. They were the pigs first & foremost & pigs they remain
broomhillblade
On the move
On the subject of streaky bacon, my dad told me (around 1950) that a die-hard Blade would not eat bacon after a Blades defeat, since it would put him off his food. It's quite possible that he heard that joke when he was a lad.
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