h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi GreyDesk

...Sorry about the "moderately-venerable", and also for failure to capitalise the "D". Must try harder.

I'm intrigued as to how you got the Blades allegiance. In my own case (apparently yours too?) I originally came here through work. Newcomers have to choose a team, of course. There's no sitting on fences here.

For me, it was that I'd only ever seen one Sheffield team play great football. That was the United side of the early 70s, Currie and Woodward et al. By complete coincidence, I'd watched them destroy Arsenal 5-0 at the Lane early in the 1974 season (4 up in 20 mins). I became a fan that rainy Tuesday night. Five years later, I found myself in a job here and the choice was a formality.

Given the 1966 birth reference, you probably didn't have such a straightforward decision...

Why'd you leave? You obviously love the place too. I never expected to put down roots here. I grew up 40 miles away (not even in Yorkshire), and in teenage years the only reason for coming over was the Silver Blades ice-rink. But within two years of arriving, I just felt like I'd found my natural home.

Loved the Blades songs. I can't truthfully say I've heard them all performed, though I've joined in with some. I manage about ten games a year, tops. Curiously enough, the only "must-see" fixtures are the Watford meetings (the guy who was my Best Man comes from your home town). The Sheffield derbies are not such a big deal - too much fear of losing - though I did see the Boxing-Day Massacre mentioned in song. Unforgettable.

Uh-oh. The Weddell's getting heated about bedtime again, so I'll use that as an excuse for a lack of inspired conversation. See you around, anyway.

P.

I moved to Sheffield as a student at the University, and liked it so much I stayed for the next 11 years. Apparently this is quite common for Sheffield as it has the highest level of "outsider" students staying on after graduation in the country.

I know what it is about the city that so attracted me to it. Its the building materials, all that lovely stone. It makes the city feel somehow elemental as if it has risen straight from the ground that it stands upon. Manchester by comparison say, looks like a litter bin with all that red brick that comes from nowhere near there. Oh and the hills are pretty cool, as my Mum used to say, "every room comes with a view".

The Blades fascination arises from my identification with the city. (It could so easily have been the Owls ) Being brought up in Somerset I never played or had any interest in football, its rugby and cricket country you see. In fact I can't recall my school even having a football team, and no one ever discussed football as a fan. So I guess I was a virgin when I arived in Sheffield, where of course it is impossible NOT to have an opinion on football!

I don't get to that many games nowadays. I only go to the away games in London and the south east, oh and the derby back in January of course - that has to be worth the trip Currently I'm rather excited about the Division 2 situation with both Brighton and Reading in the promotion positions. That would be 2 more games a year I could go and see, one of which is within reasonable walking distance

So, there you have it. Me and Sheffield United

Hi GreyDesk
Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I doubt you really could have been tempted by Wednesday, though. Let's see, must have been above 1985? Nawww...
Building materials? Trouble with being a student in Sheffield is you maybe get a bit of a "West Side" outlook. Those stone-built Victorian places are lovely, though, you're right.
There's an architectural treasure off Pinstone Street at the moment too, the "new" Town Hall, half-demolished. Just cut in two, rooms on all floors open to the elements, hydraulic woodpecker thingies pecking it to dust inch by inch, twisted rebar everywhere. They should leave it like that. Half the Wedding Cake, too. Surreal.
Don't think I'd count on Reading as your ticket home, somehow. I heard somewhere that they'll go bankrupt even if they do get promoted.
Personally I'm wondering whether Scunny just might be destined to be stuffing the Owls in Div 2 next season. Or Barnsley, maybe. Now there is a truly sad outfit.
P.

Hi GreyDesk
Brave New Handle alright.
Bit difficult to justify Ugly George's behaviour though, doncha think?
A groin for an eye, I suppose...
P.

Yeah I've been getting plenty of abuse from fellow footie fans here abouts about *that* game.
But I stand by one statement, Georges definitely played the ball before he played the tibias

Deep shame and despair.
My Watford mate came up for the game.
I didn't go.
Reason : the Weddell needs a new bathroom. This gets worse, doesn't it?
Even so, it was all going so well. The one-man geriatric strike-force puts Blades ahead, then...
...controversial penalty...Jagielka off...fall apart and ship 2 goals in 2 mins...rally in second half...do everything but score.
At least the boy (who dropped round after) didn't gloat too much. And the Pigs lost.
Blades look more capable of a run at promotion than for years this time. But must get goals, which means getting Asaba/Pesch fit (and must resist selling Brown/Tonge)
Warnock'll be a joy to read in the Star come Monday. Voice of moderation and uncomplaining stoicism as usual, I think not.
Yours from Steel City
Pin

Ooops! Sorry totally missed this. I don't hang around much on my page watching for new developments you see

Yes I think the Blades have a reasonable chance of a playoffs place this season. We will have to wait and see what toll the winter games take on the players, and how unpleasant the financial situation is vis selling Brown and Tonge. I know it's difficult to tell from a distance, but the feeling I get is that neither player is chomping at the bit to leave, nor is the club in such financial straits that a sale is necessary.

My real worry is inconsistency. We lose to the Pigs, yet draw against Pompey (Ok away/home advantages and all that jazz) but I'd like to see some more consistent results. The problem being that we score few goals, so the odd goal here or there changes the whole result of the game.

And finally some sad news. I couldn't get a ticket for the forthcoming Brighton game this Saturday. Aparently the whole lot went on the morning they were put up for sale, and I didn't get in touch until the afternoon. A terrible situation to be in, here is an away game almost within walking distance, and I'm not going