Helen the bell ringer

[Blue Streak]

I'm glad she is being remembered as fondly as she is on here, also glad to see those who don't really remember her being curious enough to want to know more?

I can close my eyes and recall many a cold afternoon at Maine Road when the crowd went quiet and then through the gloom came that bell ringing.

Wonderful & happy thoughts.

 

[bladdered]

Lovely lady. Remember her from the Finglands coaches. She would always help out anyone who was short of a few bob to get through the turnstyles.

 

[kiran111]

I used to sit 6 rows behind her, we were platt lane row 7 behind the goal. This was ages ago now tho.

 

[Phil.mcfc]

Sounds like a legend to me.
Im way to young to even remember her,
But from your storys she sounds one of a kind.
R.I.P Helen

 

[chrisi]

Little known fact, but Helen was actually Ric's grandmother.

funny guy

is that actually true??

 

[biffa]

I remember on one occasion the Kippax singing "Helen, Helen ring yer bell, Helen ring yer bell" there was no response. The chant went up again "Helen..." but still no response. The Kippax soon realised she wasn't there (she was actually ill and was missing a game for the first time in years) the Kippax starting singing...
"Part time supporter"
A bit harsh, but still makes me smile.
I remember as well as big Joe Corrigan going up to her before every match, some of the opposition goalies did too. Bruce Grobelar being one - he was a star with her.

 

[NPBlue]

She also used to always be on "coach 1" when travelling to away games in the late 70's/early 80's, she ruled with an iron fist on that coach, I used to dread being allocated coach one.

An early game of the 72-73 season was against Derby at the Baseball Ground, and I went with my mum and dad by coach. Helen was sitting at the front and she was a real star. She was one of those seemingly daunting women who really just wanted to know everything was OK, like a mother hen, really.

After the game, the coach driver wanted to leave, but Helen knew a couple of lads were missing, so she put her foot down and made the coach driver stay put until they turned up. When they eventually arrived, she was most concerned about their welfare. This was in the days of mindless violence when trouble could strike anytime, anywhere.

Anyway, assured by the lads they were OK, she allowed the coach driver to set off.

I went on a few coach trips after that when she was on board, and she always came across as a very caring woman. City was her life, the fans were her family, and woe betide anyone or anything getting in the way.

I can't write about the late 70's or early 80's like you can, but I always liked seeing her.

 

[Bluebee2]

Helen was a fine Manchester woman. I knew her from Smithfield Market where she would buy her flowers for her stall at the Hospital. She used to have a musical mirror in her house that said " Mirror Mirror on the wall who's the greatest Team of all" Manchester City ! Helen really was a blue legend.

 

[debevec]

I remember my first ever City game and seeing her. It was a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord of all things. I think if memory serves me correct it was the 93/94 season. I was sat in the north stand five or six rows away from Helen, she was alone and I still remember the first time I heard that bell ring. I think we lost 4 - 2, alas nice memory, I'll never forget it.

 

[masterwig]

Usually on Finglands coachs sat at front to away games, nobody ever wanted to be on the same coach because she was very strict and ruined the atmosphere of an away trip, but have to give her vast credit for one trip I `shared` with her to Wolves, got to the ground fairly early and were surrounded before we even got to the coach stop by about 200 of there hoolies all banging the side of the coach, we pulled up ad the driver was unsure about opening the doors, ca`nt remember her exact words but she said open the doors we`re not scared of this lot, se got off first, bell in hand and we all followed, snaking our way through an incredulous band of Wolves fans who were totaly non-plussed by our audacity....I`m not a soft sod but fully expected to get turned over, it was amazing to be honest, she really is a legend. In quiet moments on the terraces it was the custom for the Kippax to sing Helen Helen ring your bell, and she always did, home and away, History really, part of the fabric.....R.I.P.

Hahaha.

I can just imagine the sight of a woman ringing a bell getting off the coach followed by a load of football fans. It'd be like the 7 dwarfs or something.