When all is said and done, we can look back many years on and realise despite some of the faults, and how it all ended - Neil Warnock was a success for this Football club. We talk about the 2005/06 promotion being Neil's major success, and it was, but I really feel that 2002/03 season was the one that actually gained us a new generation of fans, well at least for myself as someone who came from a fairly neutral Footballing background.
I hope people don't mind me relaying a story of how that famous 2002/03 season, spearheaded by Neil Warnock was the one that really connected me with this Football club. I was about 11 years old. I'd had no real interest in Football until the 2002 World Cup, and we'd just had that and I remember going to school to watch the England games early doors before the 02/03 season.
My grandad on my mum's side was a Blade, but I didn't have much Footballing influence, and we didn't go to any games. My late father was actually an armchair Newcastle supporter (grandad was from there), and he tried his best to get me to follow them instead of the Blades. One night in October 2002, 11 years old and I'd go with my dad for a car ride, I remember us driving to Meadowhall to pick my older brother up from a late shift at work. We had BBC Radio Sheffield on in the car to listen to Football Heaven.... and it was the infamous League Cup game vs Leeds. 0-1 down to a Steve Yates own goal, into injury time.... then Paul Walker's infamous commentary in that extraordinary extra time period. That commentary still sends shivers down my neck if I hear it. Something clicked for me.
.....From there on in, I was absolutely hooked on the Blades. Followed all the games for the rest of that 2002/03 season on Radio Sheffield, as nobody would take me to games, and we couldn't afford it due to dad not working and mum being on a low wage. I didn't get to my first match until my 14th birthday (2004/05 season) - when I just decided one afternoon vs Ipswich Town at home, to go myself with a friend and spend my birthday money. We lost 0-2 that day - it was the infamous game where you see the clips of Warnock swearing at the ref, telling Joe Royle the ref was his team's best player, asking Paul Shaw to run up and down the line to harass the linesman. I still remember that game quite well, we absolutely battered them that day (After losing 1-5 at their place) and we did everything but score. I enjoyed it, the old Bramall Lane before the redevelopments had some character. I went for the rest of that season, regularly getting a season ticket after then, to this day.
I think I'd have found my way to following the Blades eventually, as I always had a slight interest and I never liked our neighbours, but the 2002/03 season was and will always be so special for me and I'm sure many other fans. The promotion of 05/06 was great, beating Arsenal with Jags in goal in the Prem was memorable, but 02/03 just meant more to me in a different sort of way.
For all the above, I personally hope Warnock enjoys his retirement and I'll always thank him and the players of that 02/03 season, which helped connect me with this wonderful club.
it was like a lightweight hitting an heavyweight on the jaw 
