Denis Law and the Backheel - the Facts & Evidence

[Spurs quarter 69]

Was at the OT Derby in 73, scoreboard segregated but we only had half the scoreboard. We seemed to be cowed by their reputation at OT at the time and few blues seemed to want to go. By the late 70s the realisation had dawmed that if you hit them back they shit out fast enough. Cockley reds in particular changed from something to be feared to something to be laughed at. Dagenham Dan the red stereotype, we take every ticket we can get now not that it's many,and thankfully neither them or us risk our lives going out west.

 

[Blue and still suffering]

Gary I can confirm that the scoreboard end that day was segregated, there were small gates at the top of each pen, as cashmereundies states. All the pens in the scoreboard were ours, but they had got in early, all the gates were open for City fans, but instead they invaded it.

After City put seats in the North Stand,(one season of standing) there was no segregation in the Kippax, 1973, when we played the rags there was only a rope, again I was there to see, and again carnage, the following season 1974 the Kippax had segregation, that one season 1973 I saw the worst violence on the Kippax.

Would agree with all the comments about there being segregation in the scoreboard, however I am not sure that applied to the rest of the ground plus the fact there were no fences made it easier for fans to access the area from other parts of the ground. Think it was as a result of the two pitch invasions that lead to the Safety at Sports Ground Act in 1975 and the introduction of fences both around the pitch and to enforce segregation.
Great article Gary, can still remember the atmosphere being very hostile.

 

[jim tolmies perm]

I was a 16 year old in the scoreboard end that day and it wasn't good, it was all ticket so no rags should have been in our end, but they were already in when we got in, so the silk scarf disappeared down my pants, they came on the pitch before the game just to get into the scoreboard end, and there was a constant stream coming from both sides of the ground, By the start of the game there were two small groups of City fans on either side of the stand, less than 1000 in each so a total of 2000 approx. Everyone kept quiet so not to attract attention, when Denis scored we didn't cheer we looked at one another and quickly left keeping heads down, once we got on the match bus back to town it was full of Blues and the celebrations started, a crazy day not to be forgotten.

Yep I was there as a 12 yr old and your description pretty much matches my recollections. Sporadic scraps breaking out around us , some bloody. Snuck out at the end after the invasion straight on the 71 home relieved and happy!

 

[cashmereundies]

Gary I can confirm that the scoreboard end that day was segregated, there were small gates at the top of each pen, as cashmereundies states. All the pens in the scoreboard were ours, but they had got in early, all the gates were open for City fans, but instead they invaded it.

After City put seats in the North Stand,(one season of standing) there was no segregation in the Kippax, 1973, when we played the rags there was only a rope, again I was there to see, and again carnage, the following season 1974 the Kippax had segregation, that one season 1973 I saw the worst violence on the Kippax.

Found this

 

[percypawpaw]

Found this

If you look at the film showing the goal, you can see the segregation, it was shoulder height, what you cannot see were the gates at the back but as i said, it was full of rags. We had been forced out, and all Blues had to keep there heads down, we certainly did.

 

[percypawpaw]

If you look at the film showing the goal, you can see the segregation, it was shoulder height, what you cannot see were the gates at the back but as i said, it was full of rags. We had been forced out, and all Blues had to keep there heads down, we certainly did.

Just watched the full highlights again and you can see the carnage towards and at the end of the game, it was grim.

 

[Casey69]

I was there with my brother and his mate John ! the rags fans stormed where we were standing and a lot of the city fans ran , we stood still and they went past us as we weren’t wearing scarves, we then calmly followed them out.our kid was ecstatic as he had followed city home and away for years and could not believe that united were going down.
The following season when they were coming back up he said to me “ I don’t want see those twats back up again “ in a strange way he got his wish … sadly he died aged 25 of an embolism, April 26th 1975 I was 21 and I wish the poor fucker had lived to see what we are seeing now he would have been proud, I’ve got two daughters and a grandson who are big city fans so his legacy lives on through me and them ! Now 73 and still a season ticket holder CTID and beyond!

 

[Sid C]

I was there with my brother and his mate John ! the rags fans stormed where we were standing and a lot of the city fans ran , we stood still and they went past us as we weren’t wearing scarves, we then calmly followed them out.our kid was ecstatic as he had followed city home and away for years and could not believe that united were going down.
The following season when they were coming back up he said to me “ I don’t want see those twats back up again “ in a strange way he got his wish … sadly he died aged 25 of an embolism, April 26th 1975 I was 21 and I wish the poor fucker had lived to see what we are seeing now he would have been proud, I’ve got two daughters and a grandson who are big city fans so his legacy lives on through me and them ! Now 73 and still a season ticket holder CTID and beyond!

I was there as well and my memory is slightly different, I didn’t find the invasions a problem it was Warwick Rd after that was an issue.

Having said that what a great post which transcends all that bullshit.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I was there as well and my memory is slightly different, I didn’t find the invasions a problem it was Warwick Rd after that was an issue.

Having said that what a great post which transcends all that bullshit.

My memory was also that most of the trouble happened after the match on Warwick Road. The atmosphere in the stadium was strange. Even when they came on the pitch it was like watching a slow motion film. It was very toxic outside. I wasn't wearing any colours and don't remember seeing any blue scarves at all.

 

[Spurs quarter 69]

It's strange so few blues turned out that day. At the FA cup tie in 1970 which we lost 3 0 by all accounts United came to the scoreboard end looking for trouble and were smacked senseless . Chased down Chester Rd back to town. Heard this from many sources. Any blues even older than me remember that day.