What it means to us all

[WORKSOPBLADE]

I'm 23.

I saved up and bought my first season ticket aged 15.

I've only ever seen us get worse.

This season has been the gallon of fresh drinking water at the end of six days of wandering, lost in the desert with an injured leg, with no life around you in a barren wilderness.

Fuck this league.

Hell of a route you take to the games !!

 

[Maidenhead]

I've been going since early 71 and I haven't felt so positive about the club for more than 40 of those 46 years.

We don't have debt - even better than 70's - we have a great manager who could be with us for 15 years - even better than 70's - we have owners who could afford to put real money in - even better than 70's

If we can grow this team into the Prem over the next 2-3 years with this manager it could be 71-74 only better.

The Magic is Back
.

Greetings my twin Blade.

 

[The Crab]

In terms of being a Blade, redemption is at hand. Whatever else we have going on in our lives, when the Blades win, things just feel a little bit better.

To those who are making this happen, whoever they are, thank you.

 

[AlienWoodward]

I can honestly say without any doubt at 9:45pm tonight or whatever time the match finishes. If by any chance Fleetwood have lost and we have won,100% I will burst into tears. If not tonight then at the beamback on Saturday.
I'll cry with relief,with pride,and for the fans who we have had taken from us along the way,who this would have meant so much to.
For the first time in many years I feel with Wilder and McCabe we are in very safe hands.It really feels great to be a Blade again.

 

[AlienWoodward]

I'm 23.

I saved up and bought my first season ticket aged 15.

I've only ever seen us get worse.

This season has been the gallon of fresh drinking water at the end of six days of wandering, lost in the desert with an injured leg, with no life around you in a barren wilderness.

Fuck this league.

So the last bloody eight years are all down to you !! ;-)

 

[Balham]

33 years old, one promotion (2006, hadn't started attending games in 1990), 3 relegations, two of which were shrouded in scandal. 4 play off finals, 6 cup semis and a Premier Inn special.

There aren't sufficient superlatives to describe the feeling you get when you finally see your team achieve something after years of being nearly men.

Me too, right down to the age. Started following in 1994, haven't looked back. I also didn't realise what it would mean to be a Blade in Owl country (Fulwood) when I made my choice...

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Just putting points and finishing positions to one side for the moment , aren't Lane Nights Under the Lights a significant factor in your love affair with the Blades ?
All the way back to Cardiff City in 1971 when I was 12.
And in more recent times , the reason why the Triple Assault in 02/03 is more memorable than the Promotion Season of 05/06.
Of course , that could be the dementia , but I tend to think it's the Cup runs & the Play-Off Semi (H) , not because the were more important than getting to the Prem - they weren't - but because there's no feeling like glory under the lights.
And that's when you've got to remember that the thing to cherish is those little periods of glory.
The ones you think of when you look at Lincoln City in the Cup this year.
I've had 7 promotions in my 49 years of following the Blades. One every 7 years on average.
No supporter of another Club can tell me that they've got more (in one season) out of their allegiance than what I've had in those seasons of feel-good achievement.
I've also had the terrible heartbreaking disappointments. But they just serve to heighten the enjoyment of success , especially when you know that you're amongst the most loyal & knowledgable fans.
And when I say knowledgeable , I mean we know life in all 4 divisions.
Leave long-term building to the men in suits.
Would I trade that Triple Assault season (despite the ultimate tragedy) for one extra season struggling in the Prem ? Never.
Would I trade a lifetime of ups and downs with my Blades for a continuous 50 year period in the Prem , fretting that I would never be in the top six , or never in Europe , or finishing 15th instead of 14th ? Never.
So back to tonight under the lights.
Just enjoy.
It could be another 7 years ! But somehow , I think Messrs Wilder & Knill won't be waiting that long.

This resonates with me. Successful seasons are the ultimate aims in football but even if the season isn’t a success, those nights can be oh so special. The first one of “those nights” I remember was against tonight’s opponents in 1998 on what I now know as “Alan Kelly day”. Absolutely incredible atmosphere that night. Holdsworth’s goal, Kelly’s heroics, Dublin’s tears. Kelly carried aloft after the shootout to chants of “Ireland’s number 1”. One of my favorite games. Then there was the triple assault season and the dramatic late comeback against the dirties. Jagielka’s screamer and Ndlovu to win it. Then, when we thought those nights couldn’t be topped, this happens…..

 

[1danewhitehouse]

We've had one promotion and 2 relegations in 11 years which is ridiculous.

Partly why I won't ever understand those who have the attitude of "It's embarrassing if we win the League 1 title so wouldn't want any kind of parade'.

It's like we've had an abundance of things to celebrate!

1 promotion and 3 relegations in nearly 27 years (since Leicester away). How depressing is that? And how much better does it make this season?

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Feel comfortable posting this now. Surely we cannot miss out !!

My two lads are 18 and 14 and both first went on the kop with me aged just under 3 each.

Our last promotion was obviously to the prem. My eldest just about remembers.
But my youngest obviously doesn't due to age.

He said to me the other day. Dad I've never known us getting promoted; only relegation, play off and semi defeats.

Made me realise he's never yet experienced one successful outcome at a season end !

Both will be with me at all the remaining games so will not miss out if/when promotion/title is clinched. I'm absolutely chuffed like we all are how things have turned round. But for my lads to feel and witness it makes all the dark times seem worthwhile.

Times to really enjoy fellow Blades.

My kids are a similar age to yours - but bugger them! I want to see us win summat for my sake first and foremost. I've been watching nearly half a century and seen us win bugger all!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I can honestly say without any doubt at 9:45pm tonight or whatever time the match finishes. If by any chance Fleetwood have lost and we have won,100% I will burst into tears. If not tonight then at the beamback on Saturday.
I'll cry with relief,with pride,and for the fans who we have had taken from us along the way,who this would have meant so much to.
For the first time in many years I feel with Wilder and McCabe we are in very safe hands.It really feels great to be a Blade again.

I can understand the emotional feelings - and I just hope we can get confirmation tonight because it's going to be crap if the match when it is confirmed is in a three quarters empty stadium watching some big tellys!

 

[PeteBlade]

My kids are a similar age to yours - but bugger them! I want to see us win summat for my sake first and foremost. I've been watching nearly half a century and seen us win bugger all!

Please don't let him bugger your kids.

 

[Ricky]

Without wishing to bore anyone, I agreed to it a while ago. A friend is a Chelski season ticket holder and I've joined him and his son before when the Blades haven't been playing. He's got me a free ticket, booked us all a restaurant and is driving me from my home there and back.

I worked out the permutations (i.e. I figured Bolton would beat Chesterfield) and United would clinch promotion at one of the games I'm going to (seriously every other ba*tard game!!!).

I can't let my friend down as he's gone out of his way to be a great mate. He didn't know United where even playing, he didn't know our game would get moved due to the Checkatrade trophy and so really our collective beef should be with that hideous competition. I'll be at Stamford Bridge...listening to BladesPlayer.

Not really the 'football Gods' though is it.

It's 100% your choice.

I'd think your great mate would understand you wanting to see your team get promotion...

 

[JimW1889]

As a younger blade I've never seen us go up when we were playing (watched Cardiff away on the telly good Friday for Championship season then remember Leeds losing that weekend to promote us), and I've got tickets for every remaining game but Northampton so I'm really hoping its tonight.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Please don't let him bugger your kids.

Isn't it a rite of passage in Chesterfield? A bit like the film Stand by me" but with more bruises?

 

[Bladesince59]

Same with my son. Relegation and big game losses. Like you, really looking forward to the next few games.

I am 67 and I don't remember that many good times