I was really hurting yesterday, I was really hurting when I got home at 10.30 pm, haunted by the disappointed and upset faces of my children and their cousins, I felt guilt for taking them, for having a role in inflicting that pain on them. Heartbreaking really. That’s what it means to be a Blade. Would I go again? Today, no never. In a weeks’ time probably.
The weirdest thing for me (Sam), is that we got the big moment. We led 2-0 in a play-off final, after turning up and taking the game to the opposition. And then what transpired was the greatest pain of all: getting to sense that feeling before it's ripped away. So tough.
Exactly this. When our second goal went in I turned to the guy sat behind me who had his little lad on his shoulders, and said “is this it? Are we really going to do it??”, then turned round and saw the VAR thing and knew immediately that it was over. But for that moment I knew what it felt like to win a game at Wembley. Having it ripped away was horrible but so unsurprising that it didn’t hurt in the same way as previous ones have.
Exactly this, rather than all the rage-filled reactive blaming of manager and players. It hurts and it was snatched away from us cruelly and in the worst way. But there is a tiny part of me relieved that we won't have VAR ruining our weekends all next season too. Thanks for sharing this 🖤⚔️
We need more of this. This shared experience is what gets us through. Knowing there’s so many people feeling the same way. Eventually we will be able to say we celebrated two goals in a play off final. Thanks for putting into words how this feels.
I’ve been going to Bramall Lane now for 50 years. Yep, I know there’s lots of others that have been doing the same, however I’m female, married to a man who only now goes to the games because I do.
I’ve got three children. Two born out of season, one born in December, my husband still blames our victory over Sheffield Wednesday in early 92.
I’ve been to Darlington, Leicester, Cardiff and a couple of trips to Wembley. I don’t go to many away matches as I don’t have enough points for a lot of the matches and actually as I have a season ticket I don’t really want to push my luck.
I’ve left my children on many occasions with grandparents, aunts and my husband whilst I’ve gone to matches.
Why? Because it’s more than going to matches. It’s a way of life, a heartache, a joy , a frustration and a delight. My life would be so very different if I hadn’t caught the United bug.
Oh and I travel an hour every game as I don’t live in Sheffield .
So to all those hurting today, tomorrow it will feel a little better. And if you have to face the Wednesdayite at work just smile, because deep down they’re just jealous as we are better than them, we have the better ground and the better players.
One day………..
But now I’ve got to go up the M1 for the Paul Heaton concert……
“It's hard to succinctly summarise why being a football fan matters. But I feel compelled to try.”
And wow, you’ve really hit the nail on the head. I always find it difficult to explain things to my non-football-supporting friends, but I think hereafter I might use a few of your wise words. (Copyright J Parry, of course!!).
Said friends’ hobbies and interests, of course, are always much more “serious”, and the most frequent comment is that “football’s all about the money”. We know that it’s so much more, but it’s not always easy to articulate.
I’m really glad you braved the Wembley experience, though; and thanks again for your thoughts.
Lovely, a really good way to try and describe something quite intangible!
You would be hard-pressed to pitch supporting Sheffield United to a neutral, wouldn’t you? Never winning anything, promotions leading to inevitable relegation, inexplicably despised by everyone else, a nagging feeling that the league, the media and referees are part of a conspiracy to keep us down. Yet we love it, and are incapable of stopping caring. It’s possible to stop going, but it would still mean as much.
Probably not a unique set of circumstances, I am convinced that Everton fans feel there is a shady cabal with the sole intention of keeping them in the bottom half of the league whilst Liverpool are pushed to the top. The cabal don’t want them out of the top flight for some reason, just as they are quite happy for us to win promotions, just really don’t want us to win one off games. And fans of many other teams will look enviously at us, with our parachute payments, decent ground and fanbase and wonder what we are complaining about.
Great article Jake. I couldn't reply yesterday as I was soooo down and yes; its a long way home on those coaches!
Will support them ever more come rain or shine but just wish those supporters who were so joyous at 1.0 and 2.0 (and yes I dared to dream) kept up that support and stopped sitting with head in hands and rallied our boys. Never mind Super Bladesmen it was the vocal Blades women who kept up those chants willing them on!
A bit like where us girls sitting in Family stand near the kop! So let's hear it for the Blades Babes and shout for our team👍 Already looking forward to Wrexham away😅
Thats a great piece Jake and just about sums it up, the pain and frustration after the game that started so well, but a few pints in a Wetherspoons in Harrow after the match discussing just what went wrong and a train journey back to Doncaster with a great bunch of lads. What more could we ask for (Apart from a victory at Wembley of course) Keep the faith UTB
Great write up, I'll never get over that pass but in all the other ways, I will. I also have that weird crossover of enjoying that VAR won't be the joy-delayer over every actual 'moment' that happened, whatever happens.
I was really hurting yesterday, I was really hurting when I got home at 10.30 pm, haunted by the disappointed and upset faces of my children and their cousins, I felt guilt for taking them, for having a role in inflicting that pain on them. Heartbreaking really. That’s what it means to be a Blade. Would I go again? Today, no never. In a weeks’ time probably.
The weirdest thing for me (Sam), is that we got the big moment. We led 2-0 in a play-off final, after turning up and taking the game to the opposition. And then what transpired was the greatest pain of all: getting to sense that feeling before it's ripped away. So tough.
Exactly this. When our second goal went in I turned to the guy sat behind me who had his little lad on his shoulders, and said “is this it? Are we really going to do it??”, then turned round and saw the VAR thing and knew immediately that it was over. But for that moment I knew what it felt like to win a game at Wembley. Having it ripped away was horrible but so unsurprising that it didn’t hurt in the same way as previous ones have.
I think that’s why it hurts so much.
Beautiful summation of life as a Bladesman
Exactly this, rather than all the rage-filled reactive blaming of manager and players. It hurts and it was snatched away from us cruelly and in the worst way. But there is a tiny part of me relieved that we won't have VAR ruining our weekends all next season too. Thanks for sharing this 🖤⚔️
We need more of this. This shared experience is what gets us through. Knowing there’s so many people feeling the same way. Eventually we will be able to say we celebrated two goals in a play off final. Thanks for putting into words how this feels.
This, just this.
I’ve been going to Bramall Lane now for 50 years. Yep, I know there’s lots of others that have been doing the same, however I’m female, married to a man who only now goes to the games because I do.
I’ve got three children. Two born out of season, one born in December, my husband still blames our victory over Sheffield Wednesday in early 92.
I’ve been to Darlington, Leicester, Cardiff and a couple of trips to Wembley. I don’t go to many away matches as I don’t have enough points for a lot of the matches and actually as I have a season ticket I don’t really want to push my luck.
I’ve left my children on many occasions with grandparents, aunts and my husband whilst I’ve gone to matches.
Why? Because it’s more than going to matches. It’s a way of life, a heartache, a joy , a frustration and a delight. My life would be so very different if I hadn’t caught the United bug.
Oh and I travel an hour every game as I don’t live in Sheffield .
So to all those hurting today, tomorrow it will feel a little better. And if you have to face the Wednesdayite at work just smile, because deep down they’re just jealous as we are better than them, we have the better ground and the better players.
One day………..
But now I’ve got to go up the M1 for the Paul Heaton concert……
Keep the faith and UTB.
Thanks for this, Jake
“It's hard to succinctly summarise why being a football fan matters. But I feel compelled to try.”
And wow, you’ve really hit the nail on the head. I always find it difficult to explain things to my non-football-supporting friends, but I think hereafter I might use a few of your wise words. (Copyright J Parry, of course!!).
Said friends’ hobbies and interests, of course, are always much more “serious”, and the most frequent comment is that “football’s all about the money”. We know that it’s so much more, but it’s not always easy to articulate.
I’m really glad you braved the Wembley experience, though; and thanks again for your thoughts.
Sue.
Lovely, a really good way to try and describe something quite intangible!
You would be hard-pressed to pitch supporting Sheffield United to a neutral, wouldn’t you? Never winning anything, promotions leading to inevitable relegation, inexplicably despised by everyone else, a nagging feeling that the league, the media and referees are part of a conspiracy to keep us down. Yet we love it, and are incapable of stopping caring. It’s possible to stop going, but it would still mean as much.
Probably not a unique set of circumstances, I am convinced that Everton fans feel there is a shady cabal with the sole intention of keeping them in the bottom half of the league whilst Liverpool are pushed to the top. The cabal don’t want them out of the top flight for some reason, just as they are quite happy for us to win promotions, just really don’t want us to win one off games. And fans of many other teams will look enviously at us, with our parachute payments, decent ground and fanbase and wonder what we are complaining about.
Great article Jake. I couldn't reply yesterday as I was soooo down and yes; its a long way home on those coaches!
Will support them ever more come rain or shine but just wish those supporters who were so joyous at 1.0 and 2.0 (and yes I dared to dream) kept up that support and stopped sitting with head in hands and rallied our boys. Never mind Super Bladesmen it was the vocal Blades women who kept up those chants willing them on!
A bit like where us girls sitting in Family stand near the kop! So let's hear it for the Blades Babes and shout for our team👍 Already looking forward to Wrexham away😅
Thats a great piece Jake and just about sums it up, the pain and frustration after the game that started so well, but a few pints in a Wetherspoons in Harrow after the match discussing just what went wrong and a train journey back to Doncaster with a great bunch of lads. What more could we ask for (Apart from a victory at Wembley of course) Keep the faith UTB
Great write up, I'll never get over that pass but in all the other ways, I will. I also have that weird crossover of enjoying that VAR won't be the joy-delayer over every actual 'moment' that happened, whatever happens.