City v Ipswich 1981 FA Cup Semi

[colinthewindowcleaner]

Got there I remember just before kick off, don’t remember too much but as Paul Power scored we flew down the terracing!
Did I have a white lab-coat ( fashion at one point ) or am I confused ?

 

[bluegaz13]

Fortunate too as their game was also remembered for the crush in the Leppings Lane end that should have prevented any further Semi Finals being held at that ground. Very fortunate to not prove fatal for some and could have been us at that ground.

I stayed in Birmingham that night with some relatives ....and remembered watching MOTD with Spurs and Wolves in a Conservative Club playing snooker but probably not listening to the commentary ...... today is the first I’ve heard about the crush.....talk about not learning their lessons !

 

[chaddblue]

Fortunate too as their game was also remembered for the crush in the Leppings Lane end that should have prevented any further Semi Finals being held at that ground. Very fortunate to not prove fatal for some and could have been us at that ground.

We played Sheff Wed away one year probably mid 80’s. It was uncomfortably crowded on that leppings lane terrace and just felt badly wrong

 

[mscenterh750]

I was 7 and don’t remember a fucking thing about it, but I remember on cup final day, I broke my fucking ankle.

 

[Bill the Blue]

I was 17 years old..

You needed a voucher from a match book to buy a ticket, I didn't have a match ticket book as I couldn't afford one back then..

I paid on the gate..

My mate had one so I took his voucher to work and photocopied it.

It was a lime green or yellow colour (from memory) and work had the exact A4 paper colour. They also had a John bull type number press which was the same font as the original numbers on the authentic matchbook voucher..

I made my own voucher, made up a 4 figure number, not too far away from the original voucher as I thought they may be different colours for different batches of numbers and I'd only get one shot at it..

I cut the A4 sheet to the exact voucher size and I can even remember rounding off the 4 corners with a pair of scissors..

I showed it to my mate and asked him to pick the original one out of the two I had in my hand, he picked the copy out as the original.. result..!

I folded and screwed up the copy several times and the following day went to the ticket office at Maine Road and presented it with my money..

I was expecting to be told to bugger off but I got a ticket..

I'd been to every match during the cup run and was chuffed although feeling guilty that I got a ticket for the semi..

(I'm not a bad person but I know I did wrong m'lud)

Tense game where we were put under the cosh by a great Ipswich team..

I was standing right behind Paul's shot and knew it was in before it hit the back of the net..

Absolute bedlem ensued..

Brilliant day, never to be forgotten..!

Went to both games in the final too..

Memories that never leave you..!

 

[Mike N]

Was right up at the top of the Holt End, next to the Ipswich fans. I'll always remember how decent they were outside afterwards, wishing us all the best for the final.

 

[OffertonBlue]

We played Sheff Wed away one year probably mid 80’s. It was uncomfortably crowded on that leppings lane terrace and just felt badly wrong

I too remember being in the Leppings Lane end watching us in the mid 80's. I remember it because the two centre pens were crammed full and you couldn't move. Both me and my brother asked a copper at the front of the stand can he open a gate and let us into the next pen because of the crush. We weren't weak and feeble as we were both in our mid 20's and fit, but the crush was getting unbearable and you simply couldn't watch the game. We had to force our elbows out in front of our chests to give us chance to breath. The coppers response was "Shut it or you're out". I hope he remembered saying that a few years later when the inevitable happened.

 

[christened at st marks]

Was there somewhere under the cameras

 

[citymad]

Mum saved up her persil tokens to buy me and her train tickets to get up there. Unfortunately not in the Holte End so couldn't participate in the mayhem that followed Powers free kick but still a magical day all round.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I too remember being in the Leppings Lane end watching us in the mid 80's. I remember it because the two centre pens were crammed full and you couldn't move. Both me and my brother asked a copper at the front of the stand can he open a gate and let us into the next pen because of the crush. We weren't weak and feeble as we were both in our mid 20's and fit, but the crush was getting unbearable and you simply couldn't watch the game. We had to force our elbows out in front of our chests to give us chance to breath. The coppers response was "Shut it or you're out". I hope he remembered saying that a few years later when the inevitable happened.

Its no wonder Hillsborough (the ground itself) didnt have a safety certificate at the time of the disaster..
A fact often over-looked....and with recollections like this ,its not hard to understand why.