SHEFFIELD DERBY IN EUROPES MOST!!!!!
Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:43 pm
Memorable atmospheres!!!!!!
By Les Payne
Sez Les
HOW others see us…
To rabid Blades and Owls fans, the Sheffield derby is the big one. Understandable.
But how fierce is the rivalry, how passionate the crowd, when compared with others then?
Well, one of the country's top football writers paid the Steel City derby (as everybody outside Sheffield likes to call it) a massive compliment this week, elevating it "right up there".
The Daily Telegraph's finest, Henry Winter, was previewing the Manchester derby in the Carling Cup semi-final this week.
He said some of the most memorable atmospheres have a dark edge and and (obviously not sticking strictly to derby matches) noted fixtures such as the Old Firm clash, England v Argentina, Liverpool v Manchester United... and the fourth one he bracketed with them was the Sheffield derby.
He said such fixtures make great box-office drama partly because of the feverish background.
Henry speaks from recent experience too. He was at the Blades-Owls clash at Bramall Lane back in September.
Like other neutrals, he noted at the time the atmosphere that Friday night, the feeling and the passion rolling down from the stands.
Henry covers top games across Britain and in Europe in the Champions League.
Clearly, Blades v Owls impacted on him and it is a massive compliment to the fans of this football city.
I loved that night too. I'm looking forward to being at the return at Hillsborough in April.
A sunny (hopefully) Sunday lunchtime might not carry quite the edge of a night game under lights. But I suspect the noise won't actually be any less. There could so easily be a bit extra riding on it as it's only three games from the end of the season... Wednesday could damage United's promotion's hopes whilst United could have a say in Wednesday's relegation scrap (if they're still in it by then!).
Bring it on – crank up the noise, the rivalry and revel in it.
By Les Payne
Sez Les
HOW others see us…
To rabid Blades and Owls fans, the Sheffield derby is the big one. Understandable.
But how fierce is the rivalry, how passionate the crowd, when compared with others then?
Well, one of the country's top football writers paid the Steel City derby (as everybody outside Sheffield likes to call it) a massive compliment this week, elevating it "right up there".
The Daily Telegraph's finest, Henry Winter, was previewing the Manchester derby in the Carling Cup semi-final this week.
He said some of the most memorable atmospheres have a dark edge and and (obviously not sticking strictly to derby matches) noted fixtures such as the Old Firm clash, England v Argentina, Liverpool v Manchester United... and the fourth one he bracketed with them was the Sheffield derby.
He said such fixtures make great box-office drama partly because of the feverish background.
Henry speaks from recent experience too. He was at the Blades-Owls clash at Bramall Lane back in September.
Like other neutrals, he noted at the time the atmosphere that Friday night, the feeling and the passion rolling down from the stands.
Henry covers top games across Britain and in Europe in the Champions League.
Clearly, Blades v Owls impacted on him and it is a massive compliment to the fans of this football city.
I loved that night too. I'm looking forward to being at the return at Hillsborough in April.
A sunny (hopefully) Sunday lunchtime might not carry quite the edge of a night game under lights. But I suspect the noise won't actually be any less. There could so easily be a bit extra riding on it as it's only three games from the end of the season... Wednesday could damage United's promotion's hopes whilst United could have a say in Wednesday's relegation scrap (if they're still in it by then!).
Bring it on – crank up the noise, the rivalry and revel in it.
Re: SHEFFIELD DERBY IN EUROPES MOST!!!!!
Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:07 pm
Been to one -very disappointed - like a creche.
Re: SHEFFIELD DERBY IN EUROPES MOST!!!!!
Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:08 pm
Blazing Saddles wrote:Been to one -very disappointed - like a creche.
Re: SHEFFIELD DERBY IN EUROPES MOST!!!!!
Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:41 pm
Cant beat a derby night game Sam
good write up for Sheffield
good write up for Sheffield