Sheffield United vs Burnley

UTB 39
on behind the scenes. The reality is
that most times, the staff are the last to
know, and I suppose it’s because it is
far too easy in casual conversation to
compromise things. My ex-missus once
said that she didn’t like going out for a
beer where we lived because everyone
knew who I was and what I did and, if
they nailed me in a pub, that was it for
the rest of the day and she may as well
have not been around.
“TALKING OF CONTROVERSIAL,
I WOULD HAVE PERSONALLY
HAD THE KIT WITH BLUE SHORTS
AND SOCKS, WHICH IS WHAT WE
PLAYED IN RIGHT UP TO JUST
BEFORE WWI, BUT I THINK THAT
MAY HAVE BEEN A STEP TOO FAR!”
The classic question is always, “Have
you seen the new kit? What’s it like?”
After a number of years, I would beckon
and, in a hushed voice say, “Do you really
want to know?”
After letting the inquisitor nod and show
the same level of interest the answer
was always “It’s red, white and black!”
– I mean, we are never going play in
anything else as a home kit, are we?
In that way you haven’t lied, have
you? The reaction you get, however, is
sometimes unprintable!
I do get the interest - all want their
club to look the best it possibly can
when they hit the grass on the first day
of the season, but it will always polarise
opinion. I remember the Adidas debut in
the shape of the 125 kit that was actually
technically a year late, but that wasn’t
by choice of the staff. I had been a big
supporter of the idea of playing in a shirt
and badge as near to the first one as was
reasonably possible without just turning
out in a plain white offering as the first
▲ This season’s home shirt with the traditional popular features
United players would have done back
in 1889.
All was geared to go, but the CEO at
the time didn’t act and the deadline was
missed. An irate chair was adamant that
it was going to happen, so we got it a bit
late. Talking of controversial, I would have
personally had the kit with blue shorts
and socks, which is what we played in
right up to just before WWI, but I think that
may have been a step too far!
Anyway, I hope that the current kit is
going down well. I must admit that, for
someone who isn’t overly excited on the
appearance of a new look, I quite like it
and it stands out nicely.
Wonder what next season’s will
be like?
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs BURNLEY