Helen the bell ringer

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Always remember one game at Coventry's Highfield Road.
She was sat in Cov's main stand ringing her bell and the next minute the West Midlands finest bunch of bent coppers are surrounding her demanding to confiscate her bell to loads of abuse from City fans in the away end.....
The police confiscate her bell and a few minutes later Helen produces a mini bell and rings it.... the away end roars approvingly and instantly chant
"Helen is a big fat football hooligan"

 

[AshtonBlue1980]

Yep some great stories here - I remember an early trip with her maybe 81 - as we approached the ground she said - e have some good fri here at ipswich so no bad language and no hand signals!
If you were on your own she would always let two friends sit together and move another line fan next to you ! Then she would chide you for not talking - you are both city fans plenty in common- get talking!
At Portsmouth away maybe 88 / 89 I got totally lost coming out of the ground and by the time I got my bearings the coach had gone- in a complete panic on my own in Pompey with no money or way of getting back . Luckily for me I saw a police van and they radioed ahead and met the coach know I was on my way - I ran so hard to get on it and Helen was so concerned when I got there and so sorry that the police had told them to to move as she was worried about me ?
Heart of gold and and a real legend

 

[oldius]

My first games at Maine Road were in the mid 70s - I was born in 68. As a little 'un, the sights, sounds and smells are what intoxicates you with a love of your club and my memories remain vivid: a sea of blue swirling through the Claremont Road entries; the smell of hot dogs and chips in the air from the stalls on the 'car park', and unique characters like Pete and Helen, people you had never seen the like of in your life. To this day, I remember squinting across the pitch, passing Gary Owen, Asa Hartford, and Dennis Tueart, just to find out where the bell was; they were great times.

 

[ricardo]

Remember newcastle 69 in the fa cup hundreds of coaches parked at the cattle market Helen led the way to the ground ringing the bell with a lad holding up George Heslop shirt on a huge pole great turn out from the blues that day

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

I always remember she would be sat inside the entrance at the MRI selling flowers and raising money for the "eye hospital"

Used to go on her A coach and she always made sure us young lads got back to Manchester and were never left behind.

 

[mexico1970]

For many of us she was one of the first things we remember of watching matches at maine rd.

Get the lass a statue FFS.

 

[horlock_was_super]

My mate won the name card away to Notts County in 81. Last name on it too .... guess who?
Fookin hilarious when she made him go to the front of the coach to collect his winnings after announcing his name and the winning square at the top of her voice! Tight git kept the money too.

 

[trevorriley]

first game late 70s, smell of smoke and beer, airhorn build up for "CITY", then hear helen ring her bell.

then if the city game was one of the chosen two games to have tv cameras and be on grannda tv with gerald sinstadt, first thing you would hear on tv we helens bell...

 

[i went to rotherham]

Found this, it looks like the club have the bell. I have the same Scarf Helen is wearing in the article. Must be 50 years old now.

City DNA: #1 'Helen the Bell'

Launching our new series with perhaps our most famous supporter...

www.mancity.com

Helens Grandson has the bell, he is a member of our supporters club in Ramsbottom and brings it to every meeting.

 

[blingy]

Love it. Used to sit next to her as a kid and always got close to Joe over the wall.

Although very young she, and he, were influencers in my life, even now. It was all about loyalty and togetherness.

She took my younger Brother (Rip) With her home and away through the 80s/ 90s. Access all areas the lucky sod whilst I stood in the Kippax.
We used to play football on the school field next to her house and lost many a ball in her garden. She used to grab us during the holidays when she had had enough of us hitting her wall and walk us down Maine Rd for a impromptu tour of the stadium and Platt lane , she just walked us into everywhere including Swales office with him sat there and the changing rooms whilst the players was in the big communal bath after training.
One time she took us Platt lane We was stood next to the goal and I got proper kOd by a Nicky Read or Ray Ransom shot past the post , came too with the squad around me and Paul Power slapping my face ,,, happy days and couldn’t have asked for a better childhood