Nick Wheat (Dronfield)
My Mums' side of the Family (Dad + Brother) were all big Sheff Utd supporters .My Grand-Dad was born and raised on Shoreham Street (kop end of Brammall Lane Ground) opposite the turnstiles and his Dad used to operate them ,allowing young Walter to jump over the turnstiles as a kid.
Walter was a sold as the year so this must have been c1910. My Mums brother John, was a regular until football hooliganism made him elect to no longer attend games. He used to love watching a good punch up (an old fashioned 'scrap) on the terraces but when the police and club stewards spoil sportingly tried to stamp it out it took some of the enjoyment away for him, besides he discovered the glories of the opposite sex and that was that!
He did go back when his youngest son ,Kyle, was in to football in his early teens and took him.
Ross (they were named after two of Clint Eastwood's kids as his wife was a huge fan a huge fan) his eldest ,was never really in to football, electing to play street hockey instead.
My Dad is a wind up merchant and purports to support Sheffield W*dn*sd*y because he knows it winds me up. He loves going to games only so long as it's in an executive box and someone else is paying for lunch!.
So why do I support Derby County being a lifelong resident of North East Derbyshire surrounded by piggin' O's and Blades?
Because my Mum and Dad once owned a Launderette in Derby (as an investment) One of the weirder excuses I think you'll agree.
Anyroad the Launderette was at the back of what became Kwik-Save off Normanton Road. Mum used to go down with her Dad every Wednesday afternoon to cash up ,order detergents, pay staff etc .When school holidays came around ,they had to take young Wheaty down with them, rather than leave him home to play with matches and leave the chip pan on.
To keep the waiting chaps gob shut on the trip home after being bored sh*tless in a back street Derby launderette for a couple of hours, they called in at the Ramtique on The Spot and bought me a photograph of Kevin Hector ,Henry Newton, Charlie George or whoever.
I had no real interest in football, as a TV watcher preferring to play with my lego after Starsky and Hutch rather than watch MoTD.
Things came full circle in 1985 when I was dragged by some mates to watch Sh*ff**ld United v Barnsley and I loved the atmosphere as the Blades won 3-1 ,featuring Colin Morris on the wing (young Lee's Dad)
My spark for watching live footer ignited ,I eagerly looked in the Sunday papers for Derby County's fixture the following Saturday, Rotherham away- in range !! Along I went to a w*nk match in which George Williams scored a last gasp equaliser. The atmosphere singing and being showered with bottles impressed me enough to travel on the train to the next fixture - my first trip to the BBG.
John Gregory was paraded before the pitch as the clubs new signing and I stood on the Normanton Terracing as 7 goals flew by a hapless Lincoln City defence. Absorbed by the wizzardry of Jeff Chandler (whooooo) and the chanting of Ooooh Bobby Davison I was truly hooked and as they say the rest is history!
As a postscript, I took a public school rugby playing chum (not a toff, but he couldn't help where his parents sent him) from my course to a match. The 3rd Division Blades were playing 1st Division Newcastle, the Kop was absolutely heaving. Sheff Utd won 3-1 scoring three quick fire goals .The expression on my mates face was a picture.....
Goal 1 -crowd went mental...question mark over mates head
Goal 2-crowd went more mental......mate jumped up + down a bit
Goal 3 -crowd go ballistic ...lost mate in to the abyss of sweaty dee-dahs as he finally entered in to the spirit of things.
Despite being a South Birmingham/Worcestershire rugger type he still looks out for the Blades results.
So the sum total of my Derby supporting career is to make a neutral a Sh*ff**ld Utd fan!
c2001 Nick Wheat