I visited the streets opposite Sheffield United's Bramall Lane stadium and heard how much the area has changed

But what is it like to live in the shadow of one of the world’s oldest stadiums, with a capacity of more than 32,000.

We spoke to residents living in the streets around Bramall Lane to find out what it’s like having Sheffield United as a neighbour, and the best and worst things about the neighbourhood.

One person had lived there all his life, while another had been there for just six months, but they all described the club as a largely good neighbour even if living across the road does have its drawbacks.

Bramall Lane is home to three popular longstanding pubs - the Cricketers Arms, The Railway Hotel, and the Sheaf House.

There are lots of new businesses towards the bottom of the street, including the popular Panenka Bar & Grill in New Era Square, the unique crazy golf venue Golf Fang, and Red Brick Market, housing some of the city’s best independent makers and retailers.

The homes surrounding the ground are largely terraced ones, with students and families among those living there.

‘I’ve seen a lot of changes’

Masood Sadiq grew up in the area and his mother still lives there.

He is a big Sheffield United fan and remembers the days during the early 70s when Bramall Lane also hosted cricket matches, with stands on only three sides, and a pavilion at the Cherry Street end.

“I remember going to matches when the likes of Alan Woodward and Tony Currie were playing in the 70s,” he told The Star.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes round here, especially on London Road. There used to be fishmongers, furniture stores, tailors and bakeries there, but now it’s nearly exclusively fast food outlets and restaurants.

“Parking on matchdays can be difficult. We’ve got permits now but when you have family visiting you have to warn them if it’s a match day, and they either have to park further away or plan to get here after the game.

“Hooliganism used to be a big problem back in the 70s and 80s but football’s changed a lot with it being more accessible on TV.

“The area is a bit more rundown now than it used to be. There’s been an increase in the student population and you have more HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) so you get a lot of overflowing bins, which attracts mice and rats.

“The rats are getting more brazen and they’re coming out in the day now and taking food from the bins.

“The area’s still OK but there’s a lot more traffic now than when I was growing up, and there’s more rubbish, though thankfully we have some volunteers who come round litter-picking.”

‘I still love living here’

Another resident, who asked to be referred to only as Taz, told how he still lives in the same house as he did when he was born in 1968.

He is a Sheffield United season ticket holder but loves the area not just for its proximity to the club’s Bramall Lane home.

“It’s close to town, close to family, and London Road is excellent for takeaways and restaurants, so you don’t have to go far,” he said.

“It’s a vibrant area and a safe area too. It’s friendly, and there are a lot of people who have lived here for a long time and who I’ve known since children. There’s a real sense of community.

“Parking used to be a problem but now we have permits which makes it a lot easier.

“There have been quite a lot of changes. There was a big factory which is now apartments, there’s more student accommodation, and there’s a lot more traffic, but I still love living here.”

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Safia Ashcroft, who is studying social care at Sheffield Hallam University, has only lived in the area for around six months, but she described it as a ‘good location’.

She’s not a Sheffield United fan but her boyfriend is and she said he was ‘very excited’ when she found the house.

The one drawback, she said, was how busy it gets on matchdays, which means it takes a bit longer to get to work.

‘Pluses and minuses’

Zahid Saleem has lived on the same street since 1982 and is a big Sheffield United fan, who is also a shareholder in the club.

“There are pluses and minuses about living so close,” he said.

“Parking is always an issue, as is traffic, as they close certain roads on matchdays. If you have to go somewhere, it’s chock-a-block.

“We have residents parking permits now but that doesn’t mean anything because people are still parking on the little grass areas around the ground.

“Sheffield United is good for the nearby economy. There are lots of eating places on London Road and the surrounding area, and Chinatown (New Era Square) has become quite busy.”

Zahid told how he and other fans experience a lot of racism at the ground, something he says has become worse in the last five or six years. He feels not enough is being done to address the situation and bring those responsible to justice.

He says he and his family had found a home they were going to move to in the Sharrow area but ended up staying put as they have everything they need on their doorstep.

“The post office is here, you’ve got the doctor’s, the dentist, the mosque, the takeaway restaurants,” he says.

“The walk into town is only about 10 minutes, and you have the bus routes for the children to get to school. Even if there’s something you need at midnight, it’s only ever about two minutes away.

“We know most of the people who live round here, though it’s not quite like it used to be. When we were kids, people were born here, got married here, had their own children here and lived in the same house with their parents.

“A lot of people have moved on and you don’t see as many older people as you used to see.”

For all the noise and congestion that matchdays bring, and despite, or in some cases because of, the many changes in the area since the 60s and 70s, it’s clear that most people love living here, though it does help if you’re a Sheffield United fan.