How do you ‘Ga(u)ge’ an opinion from 184 miles away

ClaretandHugh’s very own Allen Cummings gives the very strange comments on the London Stadium from a certain Kevin Gage the benefit of some blistering sarcasm – do not fail to read on

Dear Mr Gage

As a mediocre journeyman footballer, who has graced less than iconic football grounds from Plough Lane to Priestfield, Spotland to Sincil Bank, we are indebted to you, through your column in the Sheffield Star, giving us the benefit of your opinion on the London Stadium.

Clearly you believe it doesn’t matter that you didn’t actually travel to the capital last Saturday in support of your beloved Sheffield United. But despite that felt qualified to give us your view of our new home from a distance of 184 miles back in Sheffield.

By your own admission your comments were based on tweets on social media – and your own limited view of the game via your mobile phone, which bizarrely was perched on your mantlepiece. (Intended to simulate a view from the back row of the LS.

Obviously you haven’t visited the like of Old Trafford, Anfield and St. James with similar views. You really should get out more.) Not quite the tools of the tradition sports journalists!

It’s clear you have done some research on the subject. Yes, it was built with tax payers money. But thanks to West Ham it’s not become the white elephant it was destined to be after the 2012 Olympics. ‘Soulless’ is yesterday’s byword.

If only you had bothered to make the journey south to see for yourself you would have experienced the true noise and atmosphere during the game – ironically amply contributed to by your own travelling fans. No doubt fuelled by the Tevez factor – which is probably at the root of all this anyway.

It’s ironic that a local hero such as yourself has conveniently forgotten how ‘soulless’ it must have been at your own Bramall Lane when it was for so long shared with Yorkshire County Cricket Club – and had a cricket square straddling one of the touchlines. A football ground with just three sides, as Bramall Lane was up to 1972, must have provided a very ‘unique’ atmosphere.

You didn’t visit the London Stadium last Saturday by choice – it’s probably a choice you wont need to make again. When the bubble bursts, the only ‘awayday’ choices you’ll be faced with are those with a Championship name tag.