The Sun Shineth Only On The Lane

[Greenwich Blade]

There are not many things more heart-tugging than having to visit your dad in hospital on Christmas Day, but the view from his ward at the Hallamshire provided a fantastic view of Sheffield, with Bramall Lane sitting right in the middle. I took a couple of snaps but then just as I sat down by his bed, I noticed the sun had broken through the clouds and was illuminating our beautiful football ground. It brought a tear to the eye - must be a sign.

Anyone who has met my dad will know exactly where my enthusiasm for the Blades comes from, so it was no surprise that when I told him you could see Bramall Lane from his ward, the first thing he asked was, "Can you see the pitch?" If the answer had been positive, I know for a fact my next job would have been to nip home and get his binoculars in time for tomorrow's game.

Yesterday he was in the Northern General, and the first thing he asked me upon seeing me then was, "Where are we?"

"Seventh."

"Ah, we've slipped a bit then."

This Sheffield United thing - you can never lose it.

 

[FTPE]

Majestic.
Best wishes to your old man as well.

 

[BladeFisher]

There are not many things more heart-tugging than having to visit your dad in hospital on Christmas Day, but the view from his ward at the Hallamshire provided a fantastic view of Sheffield, with Bramall Lane sitting right in the middle. I took a couple of snaps but then just as I sat down by his bed, I noticed the sun had broken through the clouds and was illuminating our beautiful football ground. It brought a tear to the eye - must be a sign.

Anyone who has met my dad will know exactly where my enthusiasm for the Blades comes from, so it was no surprise that when I told him you could see Bramall Lane from his ward, the first thing he asked was, "Can you see the pitch?" If the answer had been positive, I know for a fact my next job would have been to nip home and get his binoculars in time for tomorrow's game.

Yesterday he was in the Northern General, and the first thing he asked me upon seeing me then was, "Where are we?"

"Seventh."

"Ah, we've slipped a bit then."

This Sheffield United thing - you can never lose it.

View attachment 34706

Wish they'd bring the floodlight towers back - even just for show!

 

[wizadry]

That’s a long way up to hitchhike from.

Best wishes pal.

 

[stringjunior]

Best wishes to you and yours pal.

I had a similar visit with @stringsenior this morning in his care home. The first thing he asks is whether I've got the tickets sorted for the match. Yes Dad. The answer is always Yes Dad.

 

[wizadry]

Best wishes to you and yours pal.

I had a similar visit with @stringsenior this morning in his care home. The first thing he asks is whether I've got the tickets sorted for the match. Yes Dad. The answer is always Yes Dad.

Stop making me clean my eyes out ya bastards!

 

[Kenilworth]

Sorry to hear that, Adrian.
Hope he's feeling better soon and tempted to take in a game.

Best wishes for you and the family this Christmas and a happy New Year

 

[Stretch]

Hope your Dad gets better mate, him being ill at this time of year must be particularly tough for all of you.

Here's the the boys putting in a winning performance tomorrow for all Blades. Those who can attend and those who can't.

UTB

 

[Silent Blade]

How did your dad become a Blade?

 

[SK10Blade]

All the best to your Dad, can't be easy.

 

[Blade58]

How did your dad become a Blade?

You don't become a blade SB. You're born a blade...............unless you were born in 1888

PS: All the best to Greenwich's dad. Get well soon

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Yep, the 10th floor of the Hallamshire can give spectacular views of Sheffield at times - photo sent to me by a fellow Blade visiting his mum-in-law last season - we ended up getting promotion. Lets hope Greenwich Blade's leads to the same.

Hope things turns out well GB.

UTB

 

[wizadry]

How did your dad become a Blade?

Is that a trick question?

 

[Greenwich Blade]

How did your dad become a Blade?[/QUOTE

His first visit to Bramall Lane was to watch Yorkshire against the Australians in 1938, but his first football match was when one of his uncles took him to a wartime game, and he was captivated by the whole experience, including the excitement of the train journey in from Hathersage.

Another factor was that his mum went to school with one of the Johnsons in Ecclesfield; as he describes them, "United royalty!" Not just that, but a former Blade lived in Hathersage in a caravan. He'd got an FA Cup medal - can't remember if it was a winning or a losing one, and it wasn't from when he was playing for United - and one day my dad and all his mates trooped down to the caravan to look at this fabled medal.

All things that influence the young brain.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Greenwich Blade, no one posts like you. Fingers crossed we kick Macken butt for you and your old man tomorrow. Be safe, the pair of ya.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

It looks a bit more dramatic in its miniaturised Facebook form:

 

[Silent Blade]

Another factor was that his mum went to school with one of the Johnsons in Ecclesfield; as he describes them, "United royalty!" .

I believe Bert's family knew the Johnsons

 

[JohnStreet]

There are not many things more heart-tugging than having to visit your dad in hospital on Christmas Day, but the view from his ward at the Hallamshire provided a fantastic view of Sheffield, with Bramall Lane sitting right in the middle. I took a couple of snaps but then just as I sat down by his bed, I noticed the sun had broken through the clouds and was illuminating our beautiful football ground. It brought a tear to the eye - must be a sign.

Anyone who has met my dad will know exactly where my enthusiasm for the Blades comes from, so it was no surprise that when I told him you could see Bramall Lane from his ward, the first thing he asked was, "Can you see the pitch?" If the answer had been positive, I know for a fact my next job would have been to nip home and get his binoculars in time for tomorrow's game.

Yesterday he was in the Northern General, and the first thing he asked me upon seeing me then was, "Where are we?"

"Seventh."

"Ah, we've slipped a bit then."

This Sheffield United thing - you can never lose it.

View attachment 34706

Love that. Merry Christmas

 

[Isar]

It looks a bit more dramatic in its miniaturised Facebook form:

View attachment 34708

I wish and your family a merry Xmas Thanks for the words and images.

 

[Bert]

I believe Bert's family knew the Johnsons

Indeed they did.
Great grandmother was was ill in bed when they brought the FA Cup back to Sheffield in 1925 so they took the cup to her house to show her.
The Johnsons were a very well know Ecclesfield family.

 

[GodricBlade]

There are not many things more heart-tugging than having to visit your dad in hospital on Christmas Day, but the view from his ward at the Hallamshire provided a fantastic view of Sheffield, with Bramall Lane sitting right in the middle. I took a couple of snaps but then just as I sat down by his bed, I noticed the sun had broken through the clouds and was illuminating our beautiful football ground. It brought a tear to the eye - must be a sign.

Anyone who has met my dad will know exactly where my enthusiasm for the Blades comes from, so it was no surprise that when I told him you could see Bramall Lane from his ward, the first thing he asked was, "Can you see the pitch?" If the answer had been positive, I know for a fact my next job would have been to nip home and get his binoculars in time for tomorrow's game.

Yesterday he was in the Northern General, and the first thing he asked me upon seeing me then was, "Where are we?"

"Seventh."

"Ah, we've slipped a bit then."

This Sheffield United thing - you can never lose it.

View attachment 34706

Best wishes to you and yours pal.

I had a similar visit with @stringsenior this morning in his care home. The first thing he asks is whether I've got the tickets sorted for the match. Yes Dad. The answer is always Yes Dad.

You guys! Messages like these warm hearts & bring tears to glass eyes.

Very best wishes to you & your Dad’s.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Indeed they did.
Great grandmother was was ill in bed when they brought the FA Cup back to Sheffield in 1925 so they took the cup to her house to show her.
The Johnsons were a very well know Ecclesfield family.

Was Johnson Lane named after the Johnson family?

Another S35 Blades connection was that Jack Pickering was born and bred in High Green and there are still a few of his descendants in the area.

 

[Bladepicker]

All the best Greenwich Blade to you and your old man. What a wonderful post and picture.

 

[Bert]

Was Johnson Lane named after the Johnson family?

Another S35 Blades connection was that Jack Pickering was born and bred in High Green and there are still a few of his descendants in the area.

Bert doubts that Johnson Lane was named after them, it predates their fame.
Ecclesfield had a very strong football 130 years ago, heights they never reached again apart from the year when Bert starred in Ecclesfield Town Junior School's Cup winning exploits some years later.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Bert doubts that Johnson Lane was named after them, it predates their fame.
Ecclesfield had a very strong football 130 years ago, heights they never reached again apart from the year when Bert starred in Ecclesfield Town Junior School's Cup winning exploits some years later.

It probably does actually as it leads up to where the old steelworks were. It was Lee Steel Wire when I was younger, when I was at school I did my work experience there, and I was there that fateful day when we sold Brian Deane to Leeds

Has Bert visited Ecclesfield school recently?

 

[Bert]

It probably does actually as it leads up to where the old steelworks were. It was Lee Steel Wire when I was younger, when I was at school I did my work experience there, and I was there that fateful day when we sold Brian Deane to Leeds

Has Bert visited Ecclesfield school recently?

The last time Bert was there was probably 20 years ago. It's has changed substantially in the last few years.

 

[Deleted member 875]

The last time Bert was there was probably 20 years ago. It's has changed substantially in the last few years.

The only things that remain from my time are Old School, Lady Mabel Hall and a couple of the old boys and girls gyms. The Hunshelf and the old Science blocks are long since gone, although to be fair when I went there it had turned in to a bit of a dump.

There are a couple of Facebook groups that might be of interest to Bert about Ecclesfield School and the local area with memories and pictures of years past.

 

[Bert]

There are a couple of Facebook groups that might be of interest to Bert about Ecclesfield School and the local area with memories and pictures of years past

Ecclesfield Facebook groups? Probably full of people talking about doing paper rounds up Braken Hill.

 

[Deleted member 875]

Ecclesfield Facebook groups? Probably full of people talking about doing paper rounds up Braken Hill.

Those people that did the Bracken Hill paper round had proper paper rounds.

 

[Eyeball]

Those people that did the Bracken Hill paper round had proper paper rounds.

Especially on Sunday!!!