The Stir......open letter

[Champagneblade]

He bangs on about our average historic attendance as well, so there's every chance the Cov fan is Pork in a blanket.

Also omits to recognise in the number of years they have been in the top flight that this proves we are not clubs of similar sizes at all.

With probably 3k+ away attendances vs less than 1k, United are much bigger.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Their home gates swing between 8,500 to 9,500, so about in tune with the following I'd expect of a club who now seem destined for survival in the football league. I don't wish them ill, I just wish they'd stop attempting to compare themselves with SUFC. There's no comparison, their ground is far too large for the numbers who attend regularly, yet they seem to think it's enough to bang on about themselves as a 'sleeping giant'. They're headed for Div 2, if not this season, then definitely next. It should be interesting to see the type of interested parties who might consider a takeover under those circumstances. Good luck Coventry, you're going to need it in spades!

 

[DiggerBlade]

"Despite your fans actions"

Fucking amazing innit, their fans blow whistles all through the match, throw things on the pitch and get the game stopped but it's our fans in the wrong.

Nailed it right there.

 

[Ricky]

Do you think for one second that Coventry's local paper would publish our version of events?

No. Of course they fucking wouldn't. That's not even a serious question is it?

And we have a case that is infinitely stronger than theirs, which Linz sums up in post #21. Coventry's reaction has been a complete and utter embarrassment. Ignorant, illogical and blown way out of proportion, yet it's them who our local paper side with.

The Star are a disgrace, their sustained bias is unacceptable. If United are a strong, self respecting football club they'll ban them from covering us. I also feel we could do more as fans - they've had too much of an easy ride which I don't think they'd get in other places - but I also understand the approach of ignoring them and treating them with the contempt they deserve.

 

[Clarkey87]

Would love to see the club ban them from all press conferences, ban their journalists from the press box to report on the game, ban them from all SUFC property (inc academy and other developments we have) and then any libellous articles, the club should pursue them through the courts....each and every time.

Wonder if the club would pick up on the fans discontent with that paper and do the above? Would be good.

 

[silverfox]

I'm so ashamed they call it the Sheffield Star.....not in my name!

If you work there feel ashamed!

 

[Yewsman]

I am afraid that I do not agree with the rather hysterical response on here to the Star publishing the letter. What's happened to freedom of speech? Rather than rant we shoud be replying in a measured way through the Star to the latter. So here's my reply to Mr Brown....

Dear Mr Brown

As a football supporter I feel very sorry for you and your club's predicament and I am sure that most of our fans would feel the same. I was not at the match but watched it on TV. You must realise that most football supporters have a sense of humour and I have been to many matches where opposition fans sing chants which "take the mickey" out of the opposition fans without being malicious and I am sure this was the case here despite the totally unacceptable and frankly very selfish behaviour of your fans.
We as a club have had to endure 6 seasons in League one despite having attendances which week in/week out exceed those of many Championship clubs and even some Premier League Clubs. Fortunately we have a Chairman and owner who is a life long fan who has bankrolled us for many years although our club is living proof that money alone does not buy success. We are desperate to get out of this Division. Whilst I would defend you and your fellow supporters' right to protest against your owners, I would have more sympathy if you did it in a way which was not detrimental to the future of other clubs. Your fans did their best on Thursday night to disrupt the match by throwing balloons, tennis balls and (I am told by someone who was there) golf balls on the pitch at the players, blew whistles constantly and invaded the pitch against all regulations. There are many ways to protest but these ways are not acceptable and show a total disrespect for other clubs and in this case specifically Sheffield United. How can you expect the opposing team to play properly in these conditions? Had your fans conducted an orderly protest I am sure you would have received a sympathetic reception from our fans. Perhaps you could even have contacted the fans via this site or other channels before the match and agreed some form of support from the Blades fans?
I hope that your fans achieve what they want and that your club can move on and survive. If you play like you did last night then I think you will, but please do not criticise our fans nor repeat what you did on Thursday as you will certainly get no support from the fans of Sheffield United or any other club.
Yours sincerely

 

[nopigfansintown]

I am afraid that I do not agree with the rather hysterical response on here to the Star publishing the letter. What's happened to freedom of speech? Rather than rant we shoud be replying in a measured way through the Star to the latter. So here's my reply to Mr Brown....

Dear Mr Brown

As a football supporter I feel very sorry for you and your club's predicament and I am sure that most of our fans would feel the same. I was not at the match but watched it on TV. You must realise that most football supporters have a sense of humour and I have been to many matches where opposition fans sing chants which "take the mickey" out of the opposition fans without being malicious and I am sure this was the case here despite the totally unacceptable and frankly very selfish behaviour of your fans.
We as a club have had to endure 6 seasons in League one despite having attendances which week in/week out exceed those of many Championship clubs and even some Premier League Clubs. Fortunately we have a Chairman and owner who is a life long fan who has bankrolled us for many years although our club is living proof that money alone does not buy success. We are desperate to get out of this Division. Whilst I would defend you and your fellow supporters' right to protest against your owners, I would have more sympathy if you did it in a way which was not detrimental to the future of other clubs. Your fans did their best on Thursday night to disrupt the match by throwing balloons, tennis balls and (I am told by someone who was there) golf balls on the pitch at the players, blew whistles constantly and invaded the pitch against all regulations. There are many ways to protest but these ways are not acceptable and show a total disrespect for other clubs and in this case specifically Sheffield United. How can you expect the opposing team to play properly in these conditions? Had your fans conducted an orderly protest I am sure you would have received a sympathetic reception from our fans. Perhaps you could even have contacted the fans via this site or other channels before the match and agreed some form of support from the Blades fans?
I hope that your fans achieve what they want and that your club can move on and survive. If you play like you did last night then I think you will, but please do not criticise our fans nor repeat what you did on Thursday as you will certainly get no support from the fans of Sheffield United or any other club.
Yours sincerely

It's not "hysterical" to point out clear and consistent bias. If you don't think the original article, in this instance, could have contained a counterpoint from a blades fan then your wrong. That would've been "freedom of speech" too! Your letter should be superfluous, as the Star should have already covered your view by this point.

 

[blade67]

Nice of our local rag to provide a "balanced view" on last night......anyone care to do a right to reply?

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...-supporters-who-mocked-their-plight-1-8293711

We are obviously the most horrible and nasty team in the country, let's sign Ched and put the icing on the "we're Sheffield United, we'll do what we want" cake....

what a load of shit in that article

 

[blade.i.am]

So, we're the nasty club in Sheffield? Come and have a go if you think you're sarcastic enough

 

[finlaytheblade]

I am afraid that I do not agree with the rather hysterical response on here to the Star publishing the letter. What's happened to freedom of speech? Rather than rant we shoud be replying in a measured way through the Star to the latter. So here's my reply to Mr Brown....

Dear Mr Brown

As a football supporter I feel very sorry for you and your club's predicament and I am sure that most of our fans would feel the same. I was not at the match but watched it on TV. You must realise that most football supporters have a sense of humour and I have been to many matches where opposition fans sing chants which "take the mickey" out of the opposition fans without being malicious and I am sure this was the case here despite the totally unacceptable and frankly very selfish behaviour of your fans.
We as a club have had to endure 6 seasons in League one despite having attendances which week in/week out exceed those of many Championship clubs and even some Premier League Clubs. Fortunately we have a Chairman and owner who is a life long fan who has bankrolled us for many years although our club is living proof that money alone does not buy success. We are desperate to get out of this Division. Whilst I would defend you and your fellow supporters' right to protest against your owners, I would have more sympathy if you did it in a way which was not detrimental to the future of other clubs. Your fans did their best on Thursday night to disrupt the match by throwing balloons, tennis balls and (I am told by someone who was there) golf balls on the pitch at the players, blew whistles constantly and invaded the pitch against all regulations. There are many ways to protest but these ways are not acceptable and show a total disrespect for other clubs and in this case specifically Sheffield United. How can you expect the opposing team to play properly in these conditions? Had your fans conducted an orderly protest I am sure you would have received a sympathetic reception from our fans. Perhaps you could even have contacted the fans via this site or other channels before the match and agreed some form of support from the Blades fans?
I hope that your fans achieve what they want and that your club can move on and survive. If you play like you did last night then I think you will, but please do not criticise our fans nor repeat what you did on Thursday as you will certainly get no support from the fans of Sheffield United or any other club.
Yours sincerely

Think you have covered the ground well there Yewsman maybe Shields will pass it on if he reads it,we do have compassion for there plight but cannot support there method of protest.

 

[Berlin Blade]

Fuck them. Print media is dead anyway. I read that on a blog somewhere...