Your most influential decade as a Blade

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GreasyChipBeattie

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This afternoon, I picked up an Ebay purchase just down the road from my first 'proper' girlfriend's house.
I got back into the car to hear 'Night Fever' playing on the radio and I was instantly whisked back in time to those heady teenage years when falling in love was more to do with feeling a pair of .... for the first time, than any meaningful kind of relationship, though I didn't realise at the time just how much I was getting it wrong .
(the relational side that is, not the physical....actually it was probably both!)

Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing, but no more appropriate than when it comes to looking back at the times that youthful vigour and a hormonal imbalance lead this particular then 15-year old to look back now at how utterly stooopid I was in originally pursuing, and latterly failing to hold on to the girl who I thought would be my life partner....even at the tender age of 15.
I still think about the 'what if's' but tend not to dwell as long nowadays, partly because I continually need to starve the demon that would see me live my life as one of regret, but mostly because I love my wife dearly and feel guilty about even contemplating 'what might have been'

Anyway, next song up was this:



That's when I was majorly catapulted into what this post is really about.
Thoughts of plain red and white stripes, black shorts, and white socks, the smell of pipe baccy and bovril had me firmly ensconced in the most influential decade of my Blades love affair.

One of my earliest memories was of Trevor Hockey on the floor whacking one in with his hand (Bramall Lane end I think?) but this is the team that got me hooked:

ShefieldUtd1974_600x480.jpg


These were the days when I could scarcely contain my excitement if I happened to open a pack of collectable cards and somewhere between the likes of Mick Mills of Ipswich Town, Alex Stepney of Man Utd and a flat piece of pink (or was it white?) bubble gum there was a Sheffield United player....even if it was only Colin Franks!

Away days were scary, exciting, thrilling and, results-wise mostly disappointing, which meant the journey back on the SUT coach was usually a lot quieter on the way home than on the way there. That was until we made it back into the centre of town, and the usual chorus of, "Sheff United's back in town again" would perk up the spirits for the last leg of the journey home. Happy days :-)

So, whether it was feeling on top of the world after getting one of these beauties for Christmas 1974:

s-l300.jpg


Or feeling my world had fallen apart waking up one Sunday morning to this:

CbK5B4AWAAAUEre.jpg


The 70's were by far the most influential for me.

As I finished the decade, a bolshy, know-it-all 18 year-old, it was time to think seriously about my career, but one that would have to fit around my by-now insatiable love for the Blades, even if not around my love for the one that got away.
 

that team eh?? reight team.. even the kit is a masterpiece

AAAND.. ..the one that started so much misery for us all :D ..the bastards! :D

all i remember from the 70's was skateboards and punk.. i've blocked out the snorkel parkas and school..
loved the comment about Colin Franks :D i always seemed to get Jackson the palace keeper. must have had him ten times :) edit: and terry fucking paine. whoever he was..

and this..

 
Mid 90s when I first could get served in the standard,a pint or five of eggy ward's and a season ticket bought by my parents.
It quickly esculated my drinking days at the age of 16,and it became the norm to be in the pump for 11 on match days for a proper pint of stones.
Then down to fannys for 1 o'clock and a swift un in the standard at2.45!!
Happy days.
 
This afternoon, I picked up an Ebay purchase just down the road from my first 'proper' girlfriend's house.
I got back into the car to hear 'Night Fever' playing on the radio and I was instantly whisked back in time to those heady teenage years when falling in love was more to do with feeling a pair of .... for the first time, than any meaningful kind of relationship, though I didn't realise at the time just how much I was getting it wrong .
(the relational side that is, not the physical....actually it was probably both!)

Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing, but no more appropriate than when it comes to looking back at the times that youthful vigour and a hormonal imbalance lead this particular then 15-year old to look back now at how utterly stooopid I was in originally pursuing, and latterly failing to hold on to the girl who I thought would be my life partner....even at the tender age of 15.
I still think about the 'what if's' but tend not to dwell as long nowadays, partly because I continually need to starve the demon that would see me live my life as one of regret, but mostly because I love my wife dearly and feel guilty about even contemplating 'what might have been'

Anyway, next song up was this:



That's when I was majorly catapulted into what this post is really about.
Thoughts of plain red and white stripes, black shorts, and white socks, the smell of pipe baccy and bovril had me firmly ensconced in the most influential decade of my Blades love affair.

One of my earliest memories was of Trevor Hockey on the floor whacking one in with his hand (Bramall Lane end I think?) but this is the team that got me hooked:

ShefieldUtd1974_600x480.jpg


These were the days when I could scarcely contain my excitement if I happened to open a pack of collectable cards and somewhere between the likes of Mick Mills of Ipswich Town, Alex Stepney of Man Utd and a flat piece of pink (or was it white?) bubble gum there was a Sheffield United player....even if it was only Colin Franks!

Away days were scary, exciting, thrilling and, results-wise mostly disappointing, which meant the journey back on the SUT coach was usually a lot quieter on the way home than on the way there. That was until we made it back into the centre of town, and the usual chorus of, "Sheff United's back in town again" would perk up the spirits for the last leg of the journey home. Happy days :)

So, whether it was feeling on top of the world after getting one of these beauties for Christmas 1974:

s-l300.jpg


Or feeling my world had fallen apart waking up one Sunday morning to this:

CbK5B4AWAAAUEre.jpg


The 70's were by far the most influential for me.

As I finished the decade, a bolshy, know-it-all 18 year-old, it was time to think seriously about my career, but one that would have to fit around my by-now insatiable love for the Blades, even if not around my love for the one that got away.

I think you need to choose another radio station mate!
 
Early 80s for me. Pestered my Dad who didn't think I was old enough until 81.

Edwards and Morris, matches under floodlights, the smell of Bovril, and seeing us win most weeks but with no expectation of ever being anything other than a big lower league club.

Rest is history.
 
1990's.

5 years old in '90, 15 by the turn of the millenium.

Those formative years told me a lot about devotion and loyalty in times of adversity and stagnation. That life is a tough slog, your dreams rarely come true and that sometimes the only thing you can fall back on is your love for the cause.
 
1990's.

Moved to England, met the current Lady HB and fell in love.

It's a love that has never stopped growing, even as the years pass and familiarity grows, there's always the unexpected. Admittedly, it's not always been as good as I had hoped for, and there have been a few years of doldrums truth be told. But more recently the fire had burst forth again and my heart races with anticipation and excitement. Such is my love affair with the Blades that started in February 1992.
 
1990's.

Moved to England, met the current Lady HB and fell in love.

It's a love that has never stopped growing, even as the years pass and familiarity grows, there's always the unexpected. Admittedly, it's not always been as good as I had hoped for, and there have been a few years of doldrums truth be told. But more recently the fire had burst forth again and my heart races with anticipation and excitement. Such is my love affair with the Blades that started in February 1992.

For a while there I thought you were talking about Mrs HB! I was quite looking forward to finding out what the 'unexpected' was all about!! ;)
 
that team eh?? reight team.. even the kit is a masterpiece

AAAND.. ..the one that started so much misery for us all :D ..the bastards! :D

I sometimes wonder how different our lives might have been were it not for that early high, followed by such miserable lows!!
Or even if I'd never discovered the Mighty Blades at all......

Great song choice btw!
 
70’s for me. Promotion with an exciting team playing flowing football in front of large crowds. Being top of the first division and believing we could beat anyone. Also, beating Everton in the F.A.Cup when they were champions and leeds in the League Cup when we were supposed to be cannon fodder.
Then it all went tits up after that night at St Andrews and it’s been pretty average at best ever since by comparison, apart from the odd season of quality.
I suppose that’s why it's so special being a Blade. Love and loyalty for the club.
 
80s for me. We were absolute fucking shite throughout my teenage years, and all fellow blades felt like they were the only thing keeping any identity at the club. Though the pigs were far superior on the pitch, all the Blades fans in our area ensured the pubs were dominated by us.

That, and shagging lots of birds, made it the decade.

Then the wife, then the kids......:( :)
 

Mid 90s when I first could get served in the standard,a pint or five of eggy ward's and a season ticket bought by my parents.
It quickly esculated my drinking days at the age of 16,and it became the norm to be in the pump for 11 on match days for a proper pint of stones.
Then down to fannys for 1 o'clock and a swift un in the standard at2.45!!
Happy days.


Pump was a Tetleys pub.
 
Mid 90s when I first could get served in the standard,a pint or five of eggy ward's and a season ticket bought by my parents.
It quickly esculated my drinking days at the age of 16,and it became the norm to be in the pump for 11 on match days for a proper pint of stones.
Then down to fannys for 1 o'clock and a swift un in the standard at2.45!!
Happy days.

I used to go in the Standard at lunch time as a 16-year old on a Wednesday with the other lads from bakery course at Granville college. Chip Butty, brown sauce (I'm a tomato sauce man nowadays) couple of pints and learn f**k all in the afternoon!!
 
This afternoon, I picked up an Ebay purchase just down the road from my first 'proper' girlfriend's house.
I got back into the car to hear 'Night Fever' playing on the radio and I was instantly whisked back in time to those heady teenage years when falling in love was more to do with feeling a pair of .... for the first time, than any meaningful kind of relationship, though I didn't realise at the time just how much I was getting it wrong .
(the relational side that is, not the physical....actually it was probably both!)

Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing, but no more appropriate than when it comes to looking back at the times that youthful vigour and a hormonal imbalance lead this particular then 15-year old to look back now at how utterly stooopid I was in originally pursuing, and latterly failing to hold on to the girl who I thought would be my life partner....even at the tender age of 15.
I still think about the 'what if's' but tend not to dwell as long nowadays, partly because I continually need to starve the demon that would see me live my life as one of regret, but mostly because I love my wife dearly and feel guilty about even contemplating 'what might have been'

Anyway, next song up was this:



That's when I was majorly catapulted into what this post is really about.
Thoughts of plain red and white stripes, black shorts, and white socks, the smell of pipe baccy and bovril had me firmly ensconced in the most influential decade of my Blades love affair.

One of my earliest memories was of Trevor Hockey on the floor whacking one in with his hand (Bramall Lane end I think?) but this is the team that got me hooked:

ShefieldUtd1974_600x480.jpg


These were the days when I could scarcely contain my excitement if I happened to open a pack of collectable cards and somewhere between the likes of Mick Mills of Ipswich Town, Alex Stepney of Man Utd and a flat piece of pink (or was it white?) bubble gum there was a Sheffield United player....even if it was only Colin Franks!

Away days were scary, exciting, thrilling and, results-wise mostly disappointing, which meant the journey back on the SUT coach was usually a lot quieter on the way home than on the way there. That was until we made it back into the centre of town, and the usual chorus of, "Sheff United's back in town again" would perk up the spirits for the last leg of the journey home. Happy days :)

So, whether it was feeling on top of the world after getting one of these beauties for Christmas 1974:

s-l300.jpg


Or feeling my world had fallen apart waking up one Sunday morning to this:

CbK5B4AWAAAUEre.jpg


The 70's were by far the most influential for me.

As I finished the decade, a bolshy, know-it-all 18 year-old, it was time to think seriously about my career, but one that would have to fit around my by-now insatiable love for the Blades, even if not around my love for the one that got away.


Great post GCB and yes , of the 8 decades in which I've been watching the Blades , the 70's was the one for me .

The main reason being the team itself - a combination of players of outstanding ability ( Currie , Badger, Salmons , Woodward etc. ) mixed with others who were not quite at their level but extremely effective ( Colquhoun , Flynn , Hockey , Hemsley etc ) and a sprinkling of others who would run through a brick wall to pull on a Blades shirt .

Couple that with 4 good mates going to watch all the home games and most of the away ones ,with several pints both before and after the game , and you have the almost perfect scenario any footie fan could reasonably expect to experience .
 
This afternoon, I picked up an Ebay purchase just down the road from my first 'proper' girlfriend's house.
I got back into the car to hear 'Night Fever' playing on the radio and I was instantly whisked back in time to those heady teenage years when falling in love was more to do with feeling a pair of .... for the first time, than any meaningful kind of relationship, though I didn't realise at the time just how much I was getting it wrong .
(the relational side that is, not the physical....actually it was probably both!)

Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing, but no more appropriate than when it comes to looking back at the times that youthful vigour and a hormonal imbalance lead this particular then 15-year old to look back now at how utterly stooopid I was in originally pursuing, and latterly failing to hold on to the girl who I thought would be my life partner....even at the tender age of 15.
I still think about the 'what if's' but tend not to dwell as long nowadays, partly because I continually need to starve the demon that would see me live my life as one of regret, but mostly because I love my wife dearly and feel guilty about even contemplating 'what might have been'

Anyway, next song up was this:



That's when I was majorly catapulted into what this post is really about.
Thoughts of plain red and white stripes, black shorts, and white socks, the smell of pipe baccy and bovril had me firmly ensconced in the most influential decade of my Blades love affair.

One of my earliest memories was of Trevor Hockey on the floor whacking one in with his hand (Bramall Lane end I think?) but this is the team that got me hooked:

ShefieldUtd1974_600x480.jpg


These were the days when I could scarcely contain my excitement if I happened to open a pack of collectable cards and somewhere between the likes of Mick Mills of Ipswich Town, Alex Stepney of Man Utd and a flat piece of pink (or was it white?) bubble gum there was a Sheffield United player....even if it was only Colin Franks!

Away days were scary, exciting, thrilling and, results-wise mostly disappointing, which meant the journey back on the SUT coach was usually a lot quieter on the way home than on the way there. That was until we made it back into the centre of town, and the usual chorus of, "Sheff United's back in town again" would perk up the spirits for the last leg of the journey home. Happy days :)

So, whether it was feeling on top of the world after getting one of these beauties for Christmas 1974:

s-l300.jpg


Or feeling my world had fallen apart waking up one Sunday morning to this:

CbK5B4AWAAAUEre.jpg


The 70's were by far the most influential for me.

As I finished the decade, a bolshy, know-it-all 18 year-old, it was time to think seriously about my career, but one that would have to fit around my by-now insatiable love for the Blades, even if not around my love for the one that got away.

Bloody hell GCB I was rooering me eyes out at that. I could hear the music from Simon Bates's theme from 'our tune' in me head while I was reading it. (That will be lost on anyone younger than mid 50's).

So just for you play this and read it and weep.



Oh, and for the record......

image.jpeg
 
70’s for me. Promotion with an exciting team playing flowing football in front of large crowds. Being top of the first division and believing we could beat anyone. Also, beating Everton in the F.A.Cup when they were champions and leeds in the League Cup when we were supposed to be cannon fodder.
Then it all went tits up after that night at St Andrews and it’s been pretty average at best ever since by comparison, apart from the odd season of quality.
I suppose that’s why it's so special being a Blade. Love and loyalty for the club.
I remember going to Goodison Park to see us beat Everton in the FA Cup third round. They were the Champions, and we were in the top two of Division 2. That wasn`t in the seventies though, it was 1961.
 
Good thread, this.

I've been watching the Blades for 56 years and - like life - you've got to take the good with the bad. United first broke my heart when they got relegated on the last day of the season in 1968. I sat on the kop steps, cried and thought that nothing could ever disappoint me as much. But then I discovered women...

Many ups (and many more downs), United - like music - have been not just been the soundtrack of my youth, but the soundtrack of my life. Don't misunderstand me, I've travelled extensively and crammed in several lifetimes but there's just something about football. And United. Can anything possibly match that last day of the season at Leicester? Well, I still well up when I think of the celebrations after we beat Chesterfield to get promotion a couple of years ago.

United still retain the ability to amaze and delight me. I was talking to a guy just this lunchtime who told me that Proove restaurant in Broomhill took their pizza oven down to BDTBL last Tuesday to cook pizzas for (among others) the Milan players, and the Milan team said they were 'the best pizzas they'd ever tasted'. There's a certain class about United that will never be matched by the pigs.

Here's to the next 20 years...
 

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