I was particularly looking forward to the Blades match as my best mate happens to be one of them.  I've only recently been able to go to matches regularly because of living on the isle of man, so I've been forced to watch my beloved West Ham on the telly about once every decade or so...  Now I'm living back in the UK, so it's obviously much easier.  This away match promised to be the gem of the season in my opinion as I believe the Blades to be a quality side - well qualified to take the 1st Div. crown.  Away matches are always more exciting because you have to compete with the home side's fans, and a victory is all the more sweeter when taking in someone else's garden, so to speak.

Getting there was easy enough, I went by train from Chester.  Sheffield is a fairly big station, so trains are frequent.  It's also pretty centralised in the city.  I was given a lift by another friend of mine who lives in Sheffield (bit of a cheat really) so getting there wasn't that hard for me :)  The ground, as most city-based grounds, is pretty noticeable above the terraced houses and such, so finding it wasn't difficult.  Just keep walking towards it and you're fine.

The ground from the outside looks pretty grim to be honest - but, as a  fan of football stadia full-stop, it was still exciting to be up close. The plain 60s style concrete facades WERE pretty ugly, and the new(ish) KOP end looks strangely out of place.  We walked round the whole ground and made our way to a pub near the KOP end.  I forget what the pub was called, but it appeared to be a home support pub.  There were many many red and white stripes inside to my claret and blue - I thought I was getting stitched up.  I was a little nervous about the glances coming my way, but they were harmless.  Everyone in the pub seemed happy to talk football to me. I don't think many 'home support' pubs anywhere mind opposition fans inside as long as they aren't looking for trouble.  This isn't the 80s anymore.  In fact, I'm sure many of the blades there though it quite funny that I was in there all on my own.  There was a lot of songs being sung, and I even got a chorus of laughter as a broke into a  chorus of "bubbles" right after their "greasy chip butty" - it was all harmless fun.

The game was indeed, very very good.  Some excellent play on both counts, although there was a dodgy goal form the blades.  The home crowd were on form, singing and making lots of noise.  However, our crowd wasn't bad either.  We were singing like it was the cup final or something.  I was stood up the whole time and remember being impressed at how our away fans seem to be a lot more up for it than the home crowds back at the Boleyn. Even though Bramall Lane is a smallish ground, the noise when they score is quite something.