Last time I went to Birmingham.
Wagged skosh that Tuesday afternoon. Never told my Mum and Dad. Got the football special train to New Street and walked up to St Andrews in a crazy big Blades convoy escorted by West Midlands finest. Got inside and stood on the terrace with 8 plus k other Blades. Loads of violence and at one point got stuck with my neck trapped against the crossbar of a barrier.
0-0 final score with TC missing a good chance to score.
The return walk to the Bullring was mental as Brum fans picked off Blades on loads of street corners. Got back to New Street to see loads of Brum fans surrounding the down escalator to the platform the footy special departed from. The option was go for it or stay in Birmingham. I walked toward the escalator then ran like mad and got through a barrage of kicks and punches. Fell down the escalator and stumbled onto the train just as the doors were closing. Collapsed into a seat on a table for 4 and was given a can of Skol by a complete stranger and made to feel safe.
14 years old.
Lets get the result we need this time. Not the 0-0 that got us nowhere all those years ago.