One for the oldies like me (1983/84 season)

[Whether or not]

I recall the Grimsby away game well. Bitterly cold wind coming in from the North Sea. All the pubs closed so my mate went to the chippy instead. He came back looking well pissed off, saying "They've got no fish".
In Grimsby. Could only happen to us Blues. :-)

I remember that Grimsby game. We caught a ridiculously early train from Manchester, direct to Cleethorpes (no idea if that is still possible). There were about 150 blues on board, most of whom ended up in the same pub. Not long after we arrived, a seriously huge mob of Grimsby turned up outside the pub, fortunately for us with a very large police presence in tow, which meant that despite a lot of noise and posturing it didn’t go off. Unusually in those days, given the numbers involved, City meekly accepted the subsequent police escort up to the ground.

 

[Tarzan Pancake]

I was 12 years old and spent the first couple of months of the season in Withington hospital. McNeil sent Paul Power and Ray Ranson to see me due to my mates dad knowing him from his Glasgow youth. My favourite player at the time was Alex Williams because I was a goal keeper. My most vivid memory was the Chelsea home game when they bought down the biggest mob I'd ever seen.

 

[BillCarlisle]

I remember that Grimsby game. We caught a ridiculously early train from Manchester, direct to Cleethorpes (no idea if that is still possible). There were about 150 blues on board, most of whom ended up in the same pub. Not long after we arrived, a seriously huge mob of Grimsby turned up outside the pub, fortunately for us with a very large police presence in tow, which meant that despite a lot of noise and posturing it didn’t go off. Unusually in those days, given the numbers involved, City meekly accepted the subsequent police escort up to the ground.

You did well in finding a pub open ! I recall being herded like cattle by the police after that game and it was then that me & my mates decided we'd had enough of it. From then on, wherever possible we bought seats in the main stand at away grounds. It sounds ridiculous now but in those days it was quite often possible to ring in advance to reserve main stand tickets for collection on the day.
With all the hooliganism going on at the time it had become the norm not to wear club colours so once the people around us realised we weren't looking for trouble it wasnt an issue. Segregation only really applied to the terraces at a lot of grounds and we ended up having some great craic with fans of other clubs, and some great days out. Plus we always got a flier for the journey home. The classic one was Notts County away (in the cup, I think) when the Shortt Brothers were playing for them. We were sat in the main stand saying what a pair of donkeys they both were when a blue rinsed lady in a NC scarf turned around and said "Do you mind ? I'm their Mother !". We apologised straight away, but she then said "Don't worry about it, you're right. They are a pair of donkeys !" :-)

 

[Spurs quarter 69]

Was that the season Derek Parlane got a hat trick as we beat Blackburn 6 0. Working in Blackpool got a lot of stick after the cup defeat. Didn't mind off genuine seasides but was pissed off when rags and dippers took the piss as they usually laughed at Blackpool fans.

 

[Tbilisi]

Was that the season Derek Parlane got a hat trick as we beat Blackburn 6 0. Working in Blackpool got a lot of stick after the cup defeat. Didn't mind off genuine seasides but was pissed off when rags and dippers took the piss as they usually laughed at Blackpool fans.

Rags lost to Bournemouth who were shite back then. Same day as Blackpool.

 

[ESP Blue]

Taking over Selhurst Park, but then a rude awakening (and a few home fans in the City end) on the same day as my 19th birthday at Ninian Park

The reception from the Leeds fans for Alex Williams at Elland Road. Andy Ritchie opening the scoring with a diving header, but Baker and a late Parlane winner silencing the baying mob

Fun and games at Fratton Park.

Late defeat at the Valley and a last minute equalizer for Barnsley at Oakwell.

Keeping quiet at Earls Court after Tolmie's Free Kick.

Thrashed at Newcastle

Small consolation for the 79 FA Cup defeat at Shrewsbury

Crashing our car en route to Cambridge. Missed the game and we've never played there since.

Huge City following at Huddersfield on Boxing Day

Tolmie missing a penalty at Carlisle and Nicky Reid sent off

Queueing outside Ewood Park just as Blacburn took the lead.

George Courtney disallowing two City goals at Grimsby

Aggro in the FA Cup at Blackpool.

Fans turning on the team at Half Time (4-0 down) at Fulham. Same day that Cambridge crashed before the Boat Race.

The ladder at Oldham

Sheffield Wednesday promotion Party at Hillsborough (0-0)

I remember it all vividly, but without googling I'd struggle to recall half of last season.

If thats all from memory, hats off to you. All a blur to me. I do remember the Fulham game, towards the end of the match I was at the top of the terrace turning my back on our game while watching a kids game in the park.
Better quality !.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Grimsby at home 1st October was my first game at Maine Road and was also four generations of my family went to a game together.

I went to see Siouxsie & The Banshees the night before at the Royal Albert Hall. Hitched the whole way down there. Slept (kind of) on a bench at Paddington Station for the night, caught a bus to Cricklewood, the beginning of the M1 at 6am, hitched two rides to Rugby and jumped on the Leicester / Rugby branch bus to Maine Road still wearing my mohair string jumper and pointed black suede boots and tight jeans.

Highlight of the season was the 6-0 Blackburn home game, a 3 night trip to Torquay for the League Cup game, being kept in at Stamford Bridge for an hour after Tolmie's free kick, telling the coach driver that he was heading for Cambridge City's ground in the centre of Cambridge rather than United's Abbey Ground and being told I was wrong and then the silence from the driver upon reaching the ground with the sign welcoming folks to Cambridge City FC. We had relatives in Cambridge and went twice a year so knew the town centre well

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

If thats all from memory, hats off to you. All a blur to me. I do remember the Fulham game, towards the end of the match I was at the top of the terrace turning my back on our game while watching a kids game in the park.
Better quality !.

At half time City fans demanded to be let out at 4 down. They then left Craven Cottage and took over the kids game, invading the pitch and having a kick about as worried parents rescued their kids from the melee.
The police rounded up the City fans and much to their protestations, were thrown back IN to Craven Cottage!

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

If thats all from memory, hats off to you. All a blur to me. I do remember the Fulham game, towards the end of the match I was at the top of the terrace turning my back on our game while watching a kids game in the park.
Better quality !.

Yes mate.

All from memory and I've since been corrected on a couple of things. for example Tbilisi informs me that the game at Leeds Road was actually played on the day after Boxing Day (another memory is Geoff Lomax scoring from a sliced cross that drifted over the keeper)

Also, Middlesbrough scoring straight from the kick off at Maine Road and Huddersfield winning a penalty after about 30 seconds in the return fixture (3-2 defeat)

Plus the Chelsea Friday night game was utter carnage, albeit Chelsea have conveniently forgotten that City still boasted the higher average attendance.

 

[fathellensbellend]

Taking over Selhurst Park, but then a rude awakening (and a few home fans in the City end) on the same day as my 19th birthday at Ninian Park

The reception from the Leeds fans for Alex Williams at Elland Road. Andy Ritchie opening the scoring with a diving header, but Baker and a late Parlane winner silencing the baying mob

Fun and games at Fratton Park.

Late defeat at the Valley and a last minute equalizer for Barnsley at Oakwell.

Keeping quiet at Earls Court after Tolmie's Free Kick.

Thrashed at Newcastle

Small consolation for the 79 FA Cup defeat at Shrewsbury

Crashing our car en route to Cambridge. Missed the game and we've never played there since.

Huge City following at Huddersfield on Boxing Day

Tolmie missing a penalty at Carlisle and Nicky Reid sent off

Queueing outside Ewood Park just as Blacburn took the lead.

George Courtney disallowing two City goals at Grimsby

Aggro in the FA Cup at Blackpool.

Fans turning on the team at Half Time (4-0 down) at Fulham. Same day that Cambridge crashed before the Boat Race.

The ladder at Oldham

Sheffield Wednesday promotion Party at Hillsborough (0-0)

I remember it all vividly, but without googling I'd struggle to recall half of last season.

Fantastic post, remember doing Cambridge, Mick mcarthy’s debut, George Courtney’s corruption at Grimsby, and boat race day at Fulham

 

[Blueboy73]

My first ever City game was that season, Shrewsbury at home February or March 1984.
Steve Ogrizovic was in goal for them.
Won 1 nil with a late Nicky Reid goal, awful game though.

 

[Norman kneejerk]

At half time City fans demanded to be let out at 4 down. They then left Craven Cottage and took over the kids game, invading the pitch and having a kick about as worried parents rescued their kids from the melee.
The police rounded up the City fans and much to their protestations, were thrown back IN to Craven Cottage!

Was at Fulham that day think it was boat race day and one of the boats sank !
Also remember doing Huddersfield away.Had forgotten it was Boxing Day but do remember a good following and good atmosphere, bit like Oldham without the sting in the tail. Think it was Mick Mccarthy s debut or close and local favourite Geoff Lomax might ha e played. Several pints in the Fletchers in Denton on route home.

 

[1961_vintage]

Also remember doing Huddersfield away.Had forgotten it was Boxing Day but do remember a good following and good atmosphere, bit like Oldham without the sting in the tail. Think it was Mick Mccarthy s debut or close and local favourite Geoff Lomax might ha e played.

Was in the home end for that one. Sometimes it's the best way to see just how incredible our away support was back then (and still is today).

 

[69FACUPfinal]

Was that the season Derek Parlane got a hat trick as we beat Blackburn 6 0. Working in Blackpool got a lot of stick after the cup defeat. Didn't mind off genuine seasides but was pissed off when rags and dippers took the piss as they usually laughed at Blackpool fans.

Mate I was just about to post about that game iirc was 17 September, a balmy early autumn afternoon.

If I tell you, as I have posted on Bm before, that relegation hit me like a ton of bricks,I genuinely feel it was the first time I had experienced what I now know to be grief in my life, I was early 20s.

That summer was miserable especially as Rags won FA Cup.

That match against Blackburn was the perfect tonic, I had my season ticket in Platt Lane that year, and to see Degsys hattrick and the other goals go in, I actually started to feel better.

We went to a wedding reception that evening and I had the best time I'd had in months during summer '83.

Shame the rest of the season didn't quite pan out, but made the Charlton 5-1 win in May 85 all the sweeter - by which time I'd gone up in the world to a North Stand season ticket after a promotion at work!!

Feels like yesterday that 6-0!!

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Was at Fulham that day think it was boat race day and one of the boats sank !
Also remember doing Huddersfield away.Had forgotten it was Boxing Day but do remember a good following and good atmosphere, bit like Oldham without the sting in the tail. Think it was Mick Mccarthy s debut or close and local favourite Geoff Lomax might ha e played. Several pints in the Fletchers in Denton on route home.

Mick McCarthy's debut was early December away at Cambridge

 

[Norman kneejerk]

Mick McCarthy's debut was early December away at Cambridge

Ah right maybe first time I'd seen him as I was working away then.

 

[xgorton]

Mick McCarthy's debut was early December away at Cambridge

Was at the game 0-0,remember having a drink next to this ground and a bloke said to me you better get a move on you will miss KO I was at Cambridge City not Utd.

 

[Mifred]

I recall the Grimsby away game well. Bitterly cold wind coming in from the North Sea. All the pubs closed so my mate went to the chippy instead. He came back looking well pissed off, saying "They've got no fish".
In Grimsby. Could only happen to us Blues. :-)

Clethorpes for the fish

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Was at the game 0-0,remember having a drink next to this ground and a bloke said to me you better get a move on you will miss KO I was at Cambridge City not Utd.

My dad had cousins in Cambridge and in the late 70's we went once a year - they lived right opposite Histon's ground who then were a Sunday league side. Anyway, I got to know the city centre well as we always went there and I knew that Cambridge City's ground was in the town centre. I never knew where United's ground was but was told (when I asked) it was on the outskirts of the opposite side of the city to Histon!
When on the coach to the game I could see the driver heading for the city centre and someone shouting "there's the lights" and me saying "That's City's ground not the Abbey". I felt like Eddie from Early Doors trying to tell the driver which way to go!
The driver wasn't having it and headed for the lights. We were greeted by the 'Welcome to Cambridge City" sign and the driver went quiet.....
We only just made it on time for kick off. Recall parking on some waste land a good walk from the Abbey and having to leg it across the wet field to the stadium.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

I recall the Grimsby away game well. Bitterly cold wind coming in from the North Sea. All the pubs closed so my mate went to the chippy instead. He came back looking well pissed off, saying "They've got no fish".
In Grimsby. Could only happen to us Blues. :-)

Two mates of mine went to Newcastle (lost 5-0) on the Special. I went on a coach. The Geordies had a welcoming party at the station and my two mates jumped down onto the track and scrambled up the next platform to escape a hiding and were promptly arrested and received a 50 quid fine for trespassing on railway lines. The judge dismissing their claim of doing so to avoid a good hiding!
So the three of us are on the Special to Grimsby and the train pulls in to the nearest point on the line to Blundell Park, We all climb down and off onto the side of the line as the police ask us to stand back while the train pulls forward. Everyone is off and the train pulls forward and when clear, the police instruct us all to cross the line and head for the ground. Everyone crosses except me and my two mates. A policeman sees us standing there and demands we cross the line. 'We just got a 50 quid fine for trespassing on railway lines. We are not crossing." The cop comes over, tries to bollock us for not crossing and we stand our ground. Another one comes over and informs us that we'll be missing the game unless we cross the line here and right now...... under protestation (and of course pissing ourselves laughing) we cross the line.