Scariest away day following City

[xgorton]

Recall something like that happening 1999-2000 so don't know if that's the one? We lost !!!

Think that was the season.

 

[ballinio]

Think that was the season.

They slammed the shutters down on a kid who had hot drinks in his hand then the stewards started giving it the big un, City fans completely snapped and beat the shit out of em , they sent in the bill & they got battered as well , horseback lot came in next , it was bedlam , never seen City fans so angry . I was working in Barnsley that week , they told me all the toilets were wrecked & 12 old bill in hospital.

 

[OffertonBlue]

I went to most of the aways late 70's and throughout the 80's, mainly with my two brothers. I think I can speak for most Blues who went then, nearly every away posed serious risks to one's health! Both scouse clubs were always difficult aways, especially Stanley Park and the locals with Stanleys. Leeds was always difficult walking to and from the ground, even waiting to get out of the ground meant looking skywards to dodge the inevitable rain of bricks being thrown our way. You always had to be careful going to Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham in the capital, but Millwall always the worst. Luton and Middlesbro were not for the faint hearted, as were Forest (seen plenty jump/pushed into the Trent off the bridge), Birmingham and latterly Stoke. I wasn't a fighter, just a survivor like the majority, but I was regularly grateful for Blues who would stand their ground (Guvnors, Cool Cats, Mayne Line Crew, etc) who drew attention from the headcases of the other team so we could manage to slip away and get into our cars, onto our coaches or get onto our trains relatively unscathed! The swamp was always tasty and the Spurs FA Cup Final of 81 (the replay especially) was particularly unpleasant.

But the scariest was the Full Members Cup Final weekend, because this went on for a full weekend rather than just one day. The derby game on the Saturday had skirmishes before the game, during the game (we were sat in K stand with a few of their finest smacking anyone who they thought were Blue), then after more skirmishes (especially on and near Warwick Road) trying to get back to the car. We drove straight from that game down the M6 to Wembley, giving V signs, stick, etc to all the cockney reds in their cars travelling back down south. What we didn't anticipate was this posse of cars, each full of angry reds following us into every service station on the way down south! You reap what you sow we learned that journey! Wembley the following day was particularly nasty, especially as we felt outnumbered by Chelsea, and especially on the car parks around Wembley. We had encounters with numerous Chelsea fans, particularly their NF following, before and after the game (during the game we watched the odd skirmish but weren't involved in any). I'm not glorifying it all. It was different times and just my experience of it. For what its worth I'm glad the game has cleaned up its act and the old bill are on top of it all, largely due to cctv and heavy sentencing. I'd much rather have a pint with opposition fans nowadays (apart from the rags obviously, and latterly livarpool).

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

They slammed the shutters down on a kid who had hot drinks in his hand then the stewards started giving it the big un, City fans completely snapped and beat the shit out of em , they sent in the bill & they got battered as well , horseback lot came in next , it was bedlam , never seen City fans so angry . I was working in Barnsley that week , they told me all the toilets were wrecked & 12 old bill in hospital.

I remember that well mate! didn’t see the actual incident you said, just remember the total fuckin riot that followed!! we went off big time & it lasted a fair while as well!!

 

[Silva Citizen]

Recall something like that happening 1999-2000 so don't know if that's the one? We lost !!!

I’m going back into the eighties.

 

[JULES]

I’m going back into the eighties.

the eighties... luxury ! the seventies, now that was tough!

 

[Wilmslow Road]

For me the London games in the 70s and 80s.
Simply because of the Tube.
If you could get direct to to Euston after the game it's wasn't that bad although there was always another bunch of Cockneys coming or going through or just turning up there to have a go. But you could normally get through this as you would have grouped up.
However if you had to change stations it was a different matter.
Cockneys knew the tube backwards and could move around and ambush you at a Station you wouldn't expect it.
If you were at Chelsea for example you would jump on first Tube and then end up getting ambushed at Kensington or the like while changing trains. Always had to have your wits about you

 

[Mike N]

Nobody fancied Maine Road. I know rags who came to City for the buzz. Just saying.

I’ve lost count of the number of fans from different clubs who have said they had very dodgy nights at Maine Road.

 

[nw42]

For me the London games in the 70s and 80s.
Simply because of the Tube.
If you could get direct to to Euston after the game it's wasn't that bad although there was always another bunch of Cockneys coming or going through or just turning up there to have a go. But you could normally get through this as you would have grouped up.
However if you had to change stations it was a different matter.
Cockneys knew the tube backwards and could move around and ambush you at a Station you wouldn't expect it.
If you were at Chelsea for example you would jump on first Tube and then end up getting ambushed at Kensington or the like while changing trains. Always had to have your wits about you

Great point about the tube, I'd forgotten how dodgy that could be, your post brought it all back, virtually every time the train slowed into a station you were on your wits, for me West Ham seemed the most prevalent at turning up unannounced.

There's been some great memories revived in this thread, love the tales of getting the specials, they were hardly ever problem days because of the numbers landing all at once, then again I do remember there being 39 of us on one special to Sunderland, late 70's, all the pubs on the mile or so walk to the ground tipped out when our escort came by, fortunately they just laughed at us and gave us a pass. It was a bit bleak on that open end that day.

 

[nw42]

I’ve lost count of the number of fans from different clubs who have said they had very dodgy nights at Maine Road.

Too right, it must have been quite a prospect coming to Maine Rd, the schlep involved from town if you came on the train, or the coach park at Hough End meant there were so many opportunities to get ambushed.

 

[DRINKLEVEDRY]

As I read this thread and the guys sharing their stories my mind wanders to the faces I see in my block every game and I try to visualise who could be who because there are some right barm cakes in my block so hands up all those who are 2nd tier south stand behind the goals lol.:-)

 

[nw42]

As I read this thread and the guys sharing their stories my mind wanders to the faces I see in my block every game and I try to visualise who could be who because there are some right barm cakes in my block so hands up all those who are 2nd tier south stand behind the goals lol.:-)

Fraid not mate, I'm still on the Kippax, in front of the tunnel next to the away fans, or below them if the segregation was reduced and the gate was open.

 

[ballinio]

Too right, it must have been quite a prospect coming to Maine Rd, the schlep involved from town if you came on the train, or the coach park at Hough End meant there were so many opportunities to get ambushed.

Virtually impossible to get away from unscathed

 

[SPIDERBOY]

Virtually impossible to get away from unscathed

I have a few old boy Everton fans who come to my works,ALL of them say Maine Road was the worst away day of the season.

 

[lancs blue]

I do remember there being 39 of us on one special to Sunderland, late 70's, all the pubs on the mile or so walk to the ground tipped out when our escort came by, fortunately they just laughed at us and gave us a pass. It was a bit bleak on that open end that day.

Ha ha I was on that one, dropped us off at Seaburn station IIRC. At least on the way back we could stretch out and have a kip!

About 10 years later when we won 4-2 at Roker in a midweek match I drove up and after the match had my tailgate window put through as I was driving over that bridge, ended up parked in the yard at Sunderland cop-shop waiting for Auto-Windscreens to turn up and fit a replacement.

 

[Fordyboy46]

I have a few old boy Everton fans who come to my works,ALL of them say Maine Road was the worst away day of the season.

Although Nicholls would disagree, must be one of a few authors who didn't rate City for some reason.

 

[Manc Born & Bred]

For me the London games in the 70s and 80s.
Simply because of the Tube.
If you could get direct to to Euston after the game it's wasn't that bad although there was always another bunch of Cockneys coming or going through or just turning up there to have a go. But you could normally get through this as you would have grouped up.
However if you had to change stations it was a different matter.
Cockneys knew the tube backwards and could move around and ambush you at a Station you wouldn't expect it.
If you were at Chelsea for example you would jump on first Tube and then end up getting ambushed at Kensington or the like while changing trains. Always had to have your wits about you

Remember coming back from Palace mid 80's I think, kicked off after the game near the Sainsbury I think on the hill down to the station. Got to Victoria and saw large gang of West Ham ICF although thankfully one of them was a guy I had met the summer before on holiday. Told me they were waiting for Millwall and politely said that although it lovely to see me again I should hurry up back to Euston! Never seen him since but I was thankful for the advice

 

[paulchapo]

I have a few old boy Everton fans who come to my works,ALL of them say Maine Road was the worst away day of the season.

A lot of the grounds were similar back then as football grounds were built in the middle of the community so usually lots of old terrace houses with alleyways around them. Everton and Liverpool were as bad.

 

[DTKOAG]

What was the true story about London Bridge & Millwall late 90's ?

 

[Maccblue]

What was the true story about London Bridge & Millwall late 90's ?

87?