At risk of derailing the original thread - which has been brilliant by the way, thanks for sharing those memories - those early-80s games left a big impression on those of us who witnessed them, culminating in that night at Turf Moor in '84. Ever since then, "We only hate Sheff United" has always resonated more with me than any other chant aimed at an opponent (although Wednesday fans are currently doing their best to dislodge it!). Seem to recall feeling "robbed" on so many occasions there during our regular meetings in those days but at least I was always fortunate enough to be part of a decent away following. And the home games were something else - the September 1981 game with the small wooden board as segregation in the Kempton. Only 7k there but what an atmosphere. And then October 1983 and that 4-1 in front of a much bigger crowd, with Blunts fans chucking seats out of the best stand. But I digress... Back to the original thread and even during those 80s encounters, people often referred back to the Battle of Bramall Lane. In fact, even now, one bloke in our village who was there mentions it every time we play them away. I seem to remember one of the Sheff U boards carried a similar thread last year and on reading it, it would appear that only one team was doing the kicking that night
That's pretty accurate Slush. This match came far to soon after the Stoke cup game and I don't recall any organised travel en-masse of City fans, (the type that would kick back) and we had a few in 70/71. It was a free for all to get there and get there when you can, stand where you could and so on. Sheff Utd away was a formidable game for City fans in the early 70's and I think there are plenty on here who were given the run around there and at home for that matter. They travelled to Hull in there thousands, the Battle of Bramall Lane apart, we were lucky to take a full bus. I was at there place in the early 80's when the tide ebbed in our favour for a change but to be honest when hooliganism what at it's height we didn't fare very well at either of the Sheffield grounds.
Anyone who lived through the 70's and 80's would have enjoyed that Wembley thrashing of the blades just that little bit more. Only thing that devalued it was that we were supposed to win being a much better side. Heard tales of city fans around 1980 being in the "away end" at bramall lane in a small kop and slowly everyone disappeared as the sheff u fans infiltrated and scared "us" off walking about with their brollies with sharpened metal points.
Yes. Although it was Boothferry Road not North Road. Rainy Friday night in September and a long walk back to the coaches parked past Fiveways down Picky Rd south. What better way to relieve the tedium than put in a few house windows on the way?
That Sunday at Wembley was one of the best days of my life . Yes City got to the FA cup final but we beat Sheffield Utd . It was sweet revenge for the crap we took from them going back to the mid 70 's .
Still bitter. No. Though Banks pulled the ball from behind the line as well. We wuz robbed by the Stoke bastards.
We did great against them- no complaints. The media bias however was something I didn't think could exist in this country for a Cup Final. Plucky underdog deservedly gets their day in the sun after 110 years? Not a bit of it. Arsenal's nightmare 9 year long trophy drought is finally over, masterminded by 'Arsene'. How their passionate loyal fans have suffered but stood by them. Get ****ed you ****ed-up media ****s.
I came out with a huge smile on my face. We could have won but in the end the players they could bring on to change the game were the difference.