What's in a name

[peakexpat]

Can't see why mods would want to touch this what so ever unless idiots choose to derail it, a very tactful and well though out post BPB.

 

Interesting to hear the upside down owl theory where you believe the "p*g" term derived from and can see where you are coming from with it. The term pig however has been used as a derogatory term towards man for a very long time, in fact way before either of our football teams were even born. It did make a significant come back during the punk era (early seventies) which ties up with hearing it back in the seventies.

 

The pig one is the most interesting, where the bl*nts and f*wls terms came from are pretty self explanatory but I wonder if BPB's theory is correct or whether anyone else knows anything?

[mjw47]

Having originally been taken to the Lane by my father to see Jimmy Hagen play you can guess I'm not exactly in the first flush of youth.

 

I've been a season ticket/card holder for 42 years and to be honest this name calling gets on my nerves.

 

However, I know for a fact that the original use of the p*g name was by us aimed at them and that's not something to be particularly proud of in my opinion.

 

It started innocently enough and can be dated precisely to when Wednesday changed their badge as previous posters have said.

 

When it came out the comment made by more than one Blade was ' Owl? Looks more like an ***** pig.'

 

Prior to that time I had never heard the expression used.

 

As for the bacon idea, pure nonsense, do Newcastle use the word about Sunderland? Do Portsmouth use it for Southampton? Port Vale for Stoke? Torquay for Exeter?

 

Having said that I don't like it, every Monday night for years I meet three mates for a drink.

All three support 'the dark side' ( couldn't resist ) but they're good lads, and none of them is delusional, which is amazing really given the usual MO of that lot, sorry doing it again.

 

Thing is, we all have mates who either have the class, style and general je ne sais quoi to support the Blades, or who have the misfortune to come from disfunctional backgrounds and, through no fault of their own lead a sad and sorry existence.

 

At the end of the day we're all sons and daughters of the finest city in this country.

 

This started off as an intended rallying cry for Sheffield unity ( you know, United together ), but for some strange reason I have a niggling feeling that I may not have pulled it off.

[peakexpat]

Great post mjw47 and great thread all round, it's posts like these when you wish the forum had a like button.

 

This thread has got me thinking now about the term pig and where it came from in Sheffield Football. Do we presume now that if we are talking about the Hagan days that the term pig was used in the 50's? If so this pre-dates the punk theory and probably adds more truth to the Upside down owl or change of badge and Owl looking like a pig theory.

 

This explains why they call us p*gs then but why did we come tocall them pigs? Just a like for like insult?

 

---------- Post added 01-05-2014 at 22:30 ----------

 

Having just discussed this with a veteran owl who I know he thinks it derives from the location of Hillsborough, as we all know it is said to be on the grounds or at least the north side of the ground is said to be on the old penistone pig farm according to the ordinance survey map.

 

Actually I have just found a post from this very forum made by a member called alchresearch dated 2004.

 

This is an extract from a document from the Sheffield Local History Society, which can be viewed at Sheffield's Central Library.

 

"The Wednesday football club was formed on 4th September 1867. The football club first played its games at the Olive Grove Sports Ground in Heeley before moving to a new stadium in the Owlerton district of Sheffield.

The first Ordnance Survey maps (1850's) mark a building close to where the stadium now stands as 'Swine Cottage'. They also show another farm on Penistone Road, south of where the North Stand is situated, which was also believed to be a large piggery. Pork farming is thought to have been practised in the area since the early 1800's, and did not cease until around 1900 when the city's rapid expansion put an end to livestock production in the area. At its height the "Owlerton Piggery," as it was known, provided work for some 50 employees.

Initial discussions about a nickname began soon after the Wednesday arrived at Owlerton. In reference to their new home, most club officials were in favour of "The Owls." However, another suggestion was also popular. In view of the area's strong tradition of pork farming, a popular grass-roots alternative was "The Pigs."

Although the name "Owls" prevailed, many working class supporters continued to refer to their team as "t'pigs." A popular song of the time "They may be t'Owls to some, (but they'll always be pigs to me)" was performed in music halls across South Yorkshire. As late as the 1920's, fans used to welcome their team onto the field with the characteristic grunting sound we still associate with the club. This peculiarity was once referred to by BBC commentator Edward Milburn, who famously described Hillsborough as a "sea of grunts" moments after The Wednesday won the First Division title in 1932.

[Ridgewalk]

Now you mention it I don't believe I've ever had anyone wearing a Wednesday shirt in my house.

[top4718]

Great post mjw47 and great thread all round, it's posts like these when you wish the forum had a like button.

 

This thread has got me thinking now about the term pig and where it came from in Sheffield Football. Do we presume now that if we are talking about the Hagan days that the term pig was used in the 50's? If so this pre-dates the punk theory and probably adds more truth to the Upside down owl or change of badge and Owl looking like a pig theory.

 

This explains why they call us p*gs then but why did we come tocall them pigs? Just a like for like insult?

 

---------- Post added 01-05-2014 at 22:30 ----------

 

Having just discussed this with a veteran owl who I know he thinks it derives from the location of Hillsborough, as we all know it is said to be on the grounds or at least the north side of the ground is said to be on the old penistone pig farm according to the ordinance survey map.

 

Actually I have just found a post from this very forum made by a member called alchresearch dated 2004.

 

This is an extract from a document from the Sheffield Local History Society, which can be viewed at Sheffield's Central Library.

 

"The Wednesday football club was formed on 4th September 1867. The football club first played its games at the Olive Grove Sports Ground in Heeley before moving to a new stadium in the Owlerton district of Sheffield.

The first Ordnance Survey maps (1850's) mark a building close to where the stadium now stands as 'Swine Cottage'. They also show another farm on Penistone Road, south of where the North Stand is situated, which was also believed to be a large piggery. Pork farming is thought to have been practised in the area since the early 1800's, and did not cease until around 1900 when the city's rapid expansion put an end to livestock production in the area. At its height the "Owlerton Piggery," as it was known, provided work for some 50 employees.

Initial discussions about a nickname began soon after the Wednesday arrived at Owlerton. In reference to their new home, most club officials were in favour of "The Owls." However, another suggestion was also popular. In view of the area's strong tradition of pork farming, a popular grass-roots alternative was "The Pigs."

Although the name "Owls" prevailed, many working class supporters continued to refer to their team as "t'pigs." A popular song of the time "They may be t'Owls to some, (but they'll always be pigs to me)" was performed in music halls across South Yorkshire. As late as the 1920's, fans used to welcome their team onto the field with the characteristic grunting sound we still associate with the club. This peculiarity was once referred to by BBC commentator Edward Milburn, who famously described Hillsborough as a "sea of grunts" moments after The Wednesday won the First Division title in 1932.

 

The above is total and utter made up nonsense by an idiot, the area where the ground is was once marshland.

 

Red and white stripes = streaky bacon = pigs, been around since the early 70's.

 

No need to debate any further.

[Gazza58]

The above is total and utter made up nonsense by an idiot, the area where the ground is was once marshland.

 

Red and white stripes = streaky bacon = pigs, been around since the early 70's.

 

No need to debate any further.

 

Yep that's what ive always believed.The pig farm rumour is just a made up story:)

[top4718]

Yep that's what ive always believed.The pig farm rumour is just a made up story:)

 

It is mate, its a pathetic attempt to build a nonsense story to mask the real truth.

 

Red and white - bacon.

[cuttsie]

The above is total and utter made up nonsense by an idiot, the area where the ground is was once marshland.

 

Red and white stripes = streaky bacon = pigs, been around since the early 70's.

 

No need to debate any further.

The expert also omitted to mention the Owls first played at Bramall Lane and that they are the third oldest Professional football club in the World!.

 

As per usual the J.C.L's try to ignore the history of Toga, Togga usually because of their lack of it after they moved into our old ground.

[mjw47]

The above is total and utter made up nonsense by an idiot, the area where the ground is was once marshland.

 

Red and white stripes = streaky bacon = pigs, been around since the early 70's.

 

No need to debate any further.

 

Absolute and total nonsense, how old are you?

 

I'm 67 and have been a Blade all my life and never heard the pig expression til Wednesday changed their badge.

 

The bacon thing is total crap and no one used the expression in the 70s.

 

A number of my mates are Wednesday fans, if what you say is true don't you think I'd have heard it back then?

 

Grow up and accept the truth.

 

As I said in my earlier post I don't like the term anyway, it's nowt to be proud of but it's a Blade insult originally.

 

You want to argue? Then explain why no other club that has a red and white striped rival uses the expression.

[top4718]

RED AND WHITE STRIPES = BACON.

 

I don't care how old you are you've no idea what your talking about.

 

If you read the previous thread the b**** half of the city are trying to push the pig farm theory, now its the badge all of a sudden, decide which made up story your gonna go with will you.

 

No other club uses it as it's too long been associated with the Lane and other clubs are clever enough not to copy.