They would have filled a stadium twice this size had more of the high-rolling clubs Premier League clubs within these shores only had the vision to see that these European Championships would be something to savour.
Many weren’t that interested. Pitches to relay. Money-spinning concerts to stage. But Sheffield wasn’t complaining. The skies here were slate grey when England’s squad arrived, but hundreds gathered to applaud them into the stadium from a vantage point 100 yards away.
This place knows a bit about history – the words ‘Sheffield United 1889’ are inscribed on the main stadium clock – but they could hardly believe they were being presented with another.