70's awaydays

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.

How the fuck we didn't get a penalty for McQueen's trip on Barnes I'll never know. I remember when the trouble kicked off Gary Owen coming over to the Lowfields side and telling the City fans not to get involved. It did look a bit grim for a while then the police horses came charging in and all the City fans were cheering.
 
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.
Yeah cup replay v wba snowed like buggery couldn't get up the hill it was that slippy first time orange ball was used and wba fullback peter marinello kept trying to set city up he was a big blue lol
 
How the fuck we didn't get a penalty for McQueen's trip on Barnes I'll never know. I remember when the trouble kicked off Gary Owen coming over to the Lowfields side and telling the City fans not to get involved. It did look a bit grim for a while then the police horses came charging in and all the City fans were cheering.
Was in the seats for that one, took my dad RIP) was horrible at the end cos they let us out before the City fans who were stood up, was happy to get away alive
 
Also does anyone remember an away match at Leeds when we won 2 0 pretty sure it would have been 1970's, one of the best away performances I have witnessed by City
 
How the fuck we didn't get a penalty for McQueen's trip on Barnes I'll never know. I remember when the trouble kicked off Gary Owen coming over to the Lowfields side and telling the City fans not to get involved. It did look a bit grim for a while then the police horses came charging in and all the City fans were cheering.
How i got past the dog track and back to the coach without being attacked that day I'll never know, it was bedlam that day.
 
Thanks for the stories. Seems like the 70's were a brutal time to go away. Was talking yo my dad about this and he said Maine Road used to get pretty lively during night matches. Running battles with us away fans and the police. He said most away fans hated coming to us as in the middle of a council estate and that we knew all the roads and dead ends fans could corner the away fans and City knew all the escape routes to get away from the police!
 
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 !

That game at Luton was crazy! Sunny day and I stood in the 'big' open Kenilworth Road stand where it was mixed so remember it going off in places. Rodney had a strop for being subbed and took his shirt off and marched with the band at half-time and then sat outside the dug-out with some kids if I remember correctly? Afterwards a big pitch invasion and plenty of charging back and forth with Luton, City and the Police.....outside was mad too. I stood there with my Dad (bless him) while all the fun was going on in the ground and on the streets and round the Arndale car park.....Happy days!!!
 
Also does anyone remember an away match at Leeds when we won 2 0 pretty sure it would have been 1970's, one of the best away performances I have witnessed by City

I was definitely there as I went to our best Leeds games in that era but can't remember the slightest thing about it right now. I remember a draw around that time, think Oakes & maybe Donachie bizarrely scored. Oakes' was a trademark piledriver.
 
The 70's were a fun time to follow City away as there were football specials,cheap travel and it was not hard getting in.You could decide on the day to go and just jump a train,queue up at the turnstiles,pay your money and get in.There was none of this sold out all seater/tickets bollocks except for big games.

Trouble happened at nearly every game,indeed the talk when travelling away was what sort of firm they had and what was the plan when we got to the station.For a while there wasn't always police escorts and no real segregation inside the grounds.There was a staunch home end,usually behind one goal and the away fans usually went into the opposite end.A lot of times fans were mixed so it kicked off in pockets of the grounds a lot.There was no CCTV so if you got up to naughties and didn't get nicked on the day chances are you got away with it.It was almost lawlessness on a huge scale at times and a real buzz,football was where you could shrug off all the laws and constraints of home and work/school and go mental for a few hours.
 
I am sure Cantello was a City fan and was rumoured to be as hard as nails at the time.
 
Also does anyone remember an away match at Leeds when we won 2 0 pretty sure it would have been 1970's, one of the best away performances I have witnessed by City
It was xmas 76 Kidd scored both goals,I was sat in the top bit behind the goals with my mate and his dad,we played Liverpool at home couple of days later 1-1 on a icy pitch it was just before we had the under soil heating put in.We finished 2nd to Liverpool that season 76/77.
 
I was definitely there as I went to our best Leeds games in that era but can't remember the slightest thing about it right now. I remember a draw around that time, think Oakes & maybe Donachie bizarrely scored. Oakes' was a trademark piledriver.
Yes spot on mate March 75 2-2,74/75 season we also got drawn away at Newcastle in the F A Cup but the tie was played at Maine Rd due to St James park being banned from cup games due to previous trouble,we still got beat tho 0-2.
 
In the 70s I witnessed some scary shit at West Ham, Birmingham, Leeds and Chelsea among other places. Fortunately I either didn't get caught up in it or managed to duck out of it.
 

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