70's awaydays

[urmston]

My best two awaydays in the 70s were at Leeds in the FA Cup in Jan 78 and at Old Trafford in the league in April 1974.

I'm glad watching football was exciting in that way in those days, and glad that it isn't now I'm an middle aged codger like most people who can afford to watch the Premier League.

 

[Gray]

Went to an away game at Newcastle, on the way back leaving the city we passed a bus stop full of Bar Codes, we gesticulated at them they reciprocated then started throwing bricks at the coach.

The older City fans and the feint hearted dived under the seats as the windows smashed whilst those of us who knew no better hurled the bricks back at the Geordies.

We eventually picked up speed and got out of reach, but bloody hell we were all frozen stiff on the way home with the gale howling around the coach from the non-existant windows.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

don't know where you got that from as I was in the lowfields side with the rest of the city fans and we was let out of the same time,

City fans were definitely in part of the Lowfields Paddock (and we were above them in the seats). But we also had the South Stand that day as well. That was where the majority of the City fans were as that was all standing and that was the part of the ground which I recall being kept closed. I may be mistaken but I had plenty of time to get out of Lowfields and round the back of the South Stand without seeing any City fans come out.

 

[blue7071]

I remember going to wolves 74-75 season at the end of the game the cops counted us out the South Bank in 50s. You then had to go back to the station through a subway where surprise surprise the wolves subway army was. Of course we got attacked and a lad got a kick in the mouth next to me. His tooth shot out and hit me in the face. I picked it up before running with him. Then I gave it him back. No idea why I did that.

The same season I went to Luton. The last game of the season. The police made you take the laces out your docs when you went in. You had to leave them in a big pile. Try getting your laces back at the end !

 

[cashmereundies]

City fans were definitely in part of the Lowfields Paddock (and we were above them in the seats). But we also had the South Stand that day as well. That was where the majority of the City fans were as that was all standing and that was the part of the ground which I recall being kept closed. I may be mistaken but I had plenty of time to get out of Lowfields and round the back of the South Stand without seeing any City fans come out.

I was in the Lowfield, remember Daffy and his mates come running out of the north end after taking on some of the Leeds fans but My favourite was 74 and Laws back heel at the swamp.

 

[doctor whites]

Coventry early seventies was a strange one the odd lot lined us up before going in and anyone wearing boots had to remove the laces

 

[canyerdogputoutafire]

My best two awaydays in the 70s were at Leeds in the FA Cup in Jan 78 and at Old Trafford in the league in April 1974.

I'm glad watching football was exciting in that way in those days, and glad that it isn't now I'm an middle aged codger like most people who can afford to watch the Premier League.

I have been attacked twice at football matches, the two named above!!

 

[cyberblue]

I Got nicked Leads away in the cup before the game started ,there were some big holding cells where first of all it was just City fans ,but when the Leads fans kicked off they but they put some of them in our cell as well ,the coppers must have had a sick sense of humour ,also when they took us to Leeds police station they plasti cuffed City & Leeds fans together funny fuckers

 

[Criminally Insane]

Back around 1974/5 traveled to most away,s by football special which used to cater for about 800 heads and remember quite a few where number,s were not there like west ham away about 100 and some of them were going christmas shopping,Birmingham away about 300 hundred Leeds about the same although been there other seasons and we took thousands,Everton and Liverpool both trains full and think there were two at Liverpool and Luton in 75 was jammed to the rafters

 

[hateutd]

Don't forget that Maine Road was also too scary for away fans .... :)

 

[cyberblue]

Back around 1974/5 traveled to most away,s by football special which used to cater for about 800 heads and remember quite a few where number,s were not there like west ham away about 100 and some of them were going christmas shopping,Birmingham away about 300 hundred Leeds about the same although been there other seasons and we took thousands,Everton and Liverpool both trains full and think there were two at Liverpool and Luton in 75 was jammed to the rafters

I Was in the Navy at that time you are right some grounds we tooks thousands some hardly any went to Sunderland 1976 no blues there hardly Ipswich & Norwich were hammered though Birmingham & Wolves not many W B A & leicster always took loads ,when ever i went to Leads we always had thousands there

 

[blue_paul]

We're away followings bigger in the 70's or 80's?
I presume we took a lot more to Northern grounds for obvious reasons?
Apart from the nearby clubs, who would take the biggest numbers to City?

 

[flb]

Never knew that, gone up even higher in my estimation ! Anyhow, Leeds in the 70s FA Cup I think, kicking off with the Leeds fans, said to my older brother who was slightly concerned, "No problem, the police have this under control" only to watch one be dragged off his horse, mayhem !! Leeds fans were complete nutters, saying that so were their players, check out Hayley's dad at 1 min in.

Some away following that, fucking criminal how City slumped for 25 years since the 77-78 season.

How any cunts of rival fans dare call us as a club fucking infuriates me.

Always have been a big club and right now we are going back in time to fucking show people the truth about the size of our support both historically and now.

 

[lancs blue]

I Was in the Navy at that time you are right some grounds we tooks thousands some hardly any went to Sunderland 1976 no blues there hardly Ipswich & Norwich were hammered though Birmingham & Wolves not many W B A & leicster always took loads ,when ever i went to Leads we always had thousands there

In the pre-segregation years judging by the number of coaches at games we'd sometimes have hundreds of fans at the dodgier places like Birmingham and West Ham but dotted about in twos and threes and keeping quiet for obvious reasons. Looking back it's odd that we took so many to WBA and Villa but not to their rivals Wolves and Birmingham, I think the number we took was based as much on reputation as the reality, I'm sure WBA and Villa had their share of nutters like most clubs at the time.

We're away followings bigger in the 70's or 80's?
I presume we took a lot more to Northern grounds for obvious reasons?
Apart from the nearby clubs, who would take the biggest numbers to City?

By the end of the 70s/early 80s most grounds had segregation so that encouraged more fans to go to places like West Ham, Chelsea, etc. but on the other hand it also allowed the home club to put a limit on numbers and more games became all-ticket so it probably evened out overall.

If you're excluding rags and dippers then Leeds usually brought the biggest away following to Maine Rd, those games between the two sides in the 70s must have been among the most violent in English football even allowing for the amount of violence generally in those days.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

1980 but including it....anyone at Boro,City 0-2 up then Boro equalised last minute through Bosco Jankovic RIP,about 50 - 100 City fans in the away end.....absolute carnage outside,worse than anything seen before.

worse than leeds??
must have been bad.
but outnumbered badly i suppose..anyone else at this game and can remember it?

 

[sktooblue]

Yep, was at the boro game. Remember being escorted through a shopping precinct & City taking the piss cos they were all still wearing flares. On the way out we got to a park & they came at us from all sides, so we had to stand cos there was nowhere to run!! Never seen so many skinheads in my life!!

 

[lancs blue]

worse than leeds??
must have been bad.
but outnumbered badly i suppose..anyone else at this game and can remember it?

I think it's the one where Power missed a sitter to put us 3-0 up so yes I was there but I travelled up on my own for that and took the "safer" option of getting a seat in Boro's main stand. I sort of gave myself away by screaming at Power when he missed that chance but as it was mostly old blokes nearby I got out unscathed at the end.

 

[dennistueartismyhero]

My first away was Everton with my dad about 1979 ish. We were in their main stand and to be honest I can't remember it much. The second was the Derby when Reeves scored with a header, I think from a corner. My dad left me at the railings at the front and stood what seemed like miles away. The place went mental when it went in and I was shitting it as was crushed to fuck at the bottom.

First away on my own was Oldham 84. 2-0 win in the days of Tolmie and Parlane. We went by train from Victoria and walked to the ground with a group of lads who were on the train who bricked the pub putting two windows through.

that Oldham game was my first on my own too, also got the train from Victoria, I think that day cemented my addiction with awaydays, had some of the funniest times ever on aways, culminating in this weeks adventures in Spain

 

[Neville Kneville]

We're away followings bigger in the 70's or 80's?
I presume we took a lot more to Northern grounds for obvious reasons?
Apart from the nearby clubs, who would take the biggest numbers to City?

There weren't the same restrictions. So for instance, West Brom, had a full standing end available for away fans. I went there when we were fighting Liverpool for the title & there was an absolute army of City fans. Most of the time, for League fixtures, you just turned up & paid in at the gate, so some grounds which had enough space inside, the away following could be absolutely enormous. I went to quite a lot of aways back then (incuding the Leeds & rags games mentioned) & most of the games I was at, the City following was incredible.

As regards Maine Rd, it would usually depend on circumstances, ie if a team was doing well, or had a relegation decider. Some of the turnouts from 'local' teams weren't always that great either apart from the rags. And so many of the rags fans were 'not from round here'. Incredible percentage. Often the ones who would attack kids (ie me) on the way home.

Stoke & Newcastle used to bring a few sometimes. Sunderland brought loads when facing relegation. On the other hand, some of the turnouts by Everton were pathetic.

 

[doctor whites]

that Oldham game was my first on my own too, also got the train from Victoria, I think that day cemented my addiction with awaydays, had some of the funniest times ever on aways, culminating in this weeks adventures in Spain

Yeah that was the day Mick the monge ripped my seat out and kindly lobbed it on the pitch knob