The South Yorkshire Police Operations Complex in Sheffield is on the corner of Europa Link and… wait for it… Letsby Avenue.
If you can’t work out why this is simply brilliant, I’m not sure that you’re reading the right blog.
Letsby Avenue has been there since 1998, but I never knew.
Mind. Blown.
Finally. It’s taken far too long quite a while, it’s been fraught and it’s been wholly unpleasant. But finally, Sheffield United have come to a decision regarding Ched Evans:
Following the statement dated 11th November and after ongoing and extensive deliberation, Sheffield United Football Club has decided to retract the opportunity for its former player, Ched Evans, to use the Club’s facilities for training purposes, as was previously intended.
And, I suppose that means (although it doesn’t actually say so) that he won’t be playing for us again either. And as Paul Heaton pointed out last week, that’s probably a good thing:
I firmly believe that Ched Evans has the right to rebuild his career in football but rebuilding a career should not involve walking straight out of prison and into the shirt of the club he so badly let down.
I believe he needs to move away and move on…
United remain defiant in their statement though:
As noted in previous statements from the Club, the legal system of this country provides for both the punishment and the rehabilitation of every person who has been found guilty of a crime. Sheffield United will not be used to promote the view that professional footballers should be treated differently, as has been the want of certain sections of the media and various commentators. In addition, we remain disappointed at some of the inaccurate reporting, misinformed views and commentary, as well as the actions of a minority of individuals on social media. Professional footballers must be treated as equals before the law.
And yep, I agree with all of that.
But the fact is that this was always going to be a no-win situation for the club. While there obviously isn’t going to be the widespread, media-driven condemnation of this decision as there was with the original training thing was announced, there are a large number of “true” Blades fans who don’t agree with it. They see it as the Board “bottling” it – the local term for running scared or giving way under pressure. They cite (correctly too, I think) the fact that the vast majority of negative comment came from individuals who had and have nothing to do with Sheffield United. Whether that makes those people’s opinions less valid (I think it probably shouldn’t) or less influential (I think it probably should) is still up for discussion.
And supporting that opinion that they buckled to social media pressure, the Board seem to admit that they are nursing a bloodied nose and bruised ego:
During this whole period, we have been served a timely reminder of what we have been throughout our history: Sheffield United is a Family and Community Club that, even in times of adversity, will remain strong and grow from its experiences.
How these “true” fans will choose to react to this decision also remains to be seen, but it seems that as far as Sheffield United go:
The Club will not be making any further comment on this issue.
…it’s case closed.
Paul Heaton is the latest (first?) big name to disassociate himself with Sheffield United over the Ched Evans affair, and his statement hits home best for me right now.
It is with great regret that I announce my resignation as patron of Sheffield United Community Foundation.
I firmly believe that Ched Evans has the right to rebuild his career in football but rebuilding a career should not involve walking straight out of prison and into the shirt of the club he so badly let down. I believe he needs to move away and move on, and the club itself needs to lift its reputation out of the gutter.
He’s the fourth Blades patron to part company with the club, the others being TV personality Charlie Webster, 1960s pop star Dave Berry and school food and health adviser Lindsay Graham.
Oh, and Jessica Ennis wants her name taken off our away end. I think we’ll survive.
But Heaton is the first one to say anything meaningful about his decision.
United need to make a choice now. If they’re going to re-employ Evans, they must do so; if not, they need to end his training agreement with them and move on – quickly. Dragging their feet on this is dragging the club down – it makes the Board look weak and indecisive, and Heaton is right about the damage to the club’s reputation – it’s happening already, so something needs to be done.
But I like his reasoning on Evans not coming back to United. He did let the club down and while I still believe that he is fully within his rights to ply his trade again, maybe that’s the reason that it shouldn’t be at Bramall Lane.
I can’t believe it. I pop across to the UK for a couple of weeks and the Pet Shop Boys decide to make an appearance in SA.
“Cheers guys.” “Thanks for that.”
The “Pioneers of synth-pop and global music icons” are over here in December headlining the Sónar Cape Town and Johannesburg festivals (15th & 16th December and 12th December) before doing a standalone concert in Durban on the 19th.
I’m not here for any of them. Gutted. I think it would have been an absolute must.
On the plus side, Kasabian and the Inspiral Carpets are on while we’re over in the UK, so that might ease some of the pain.
No – not that United (obvs):
This United:
Forget all your fancy big name, big money international signings – it’s getting job done on the pitch that matters, not your massive weekly wage and your lucrative boot sponsorship deals. We got the job done, you didn’t.
And while we left it late, I’ve done a quick check and both those Michael Higdon goals count, so we’re through to the last eight (where we’ll probably get murdered by some big name, big money international signings, but that’s beside the point).
Louis – if you want to get in touch with our boss and find out how to win cup ties away in Milton Keynes, go through the switchboard at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane: 0871 995 1899.