Helen the bell ringer

[Big G]

When you hear people talk about characters, Helen was a character, and sadly (in a positive way) probably talked about more now than when she was alive.

 

[citiblue375]

A true legend.

I also remember how she used to come around the Supporters Club - when we had it adjoining Maine Road - with those raffle tickets.

That was one raffle where everybody had a ticket. Nobody but nobody ever said 'No' to Helen - that 'Look' meant it was only a question of how many -)

 

[dennishasdoneit]

No kid stony I didn't know this, she such a part of our history mate don't you agree.

Agree completely blue. He doesn't post much but his name is a dead give away.

If she was on your coach you never fucked about. City legend.

that bell came in handy at dodgy away grounds back in the day-from what i,ve heard helen was fearless in protecting young blues who were being picked on..

last time i saw helen was on the isle of man tour( i think)early 90s..she was in a wheel chair by then but gave me a big smile and demanded a kiss!!

great character,one of the old school,just reminds me so much of maine road..the old city i loved so much.

 

[bluelol]

A true legend.

I also remember how she used to come around the Supporters Club - when we had it adjoining Maine Road - with those raffle tickets.

That was one raffle where everybody had a ticket. Nobody but nobody ever said 'No' to Helen - that 'Look' meant it was only a question of how many -)

Yep, bought a ticket myself !!!

 

[dennishasdoneit]

A true legend.

I also remember how she used to come around the Supporters Club - when we had it adjoining Maine Road - with those raffle tickets.

That was one raffle where everybody had a ticket. Nobody but nobody ever said 'No' to Helen - that 'Look' meant it was only a question of how many -)

used to love that supporters club..helen selling half time draw tickets,woodpecker cider on draught,classy blue wall to wall decour ,programme seller, pie seller..big screens for football focus etc ..all you ever wanted as a football daft teenager ,all under one roof. i loved maine road.

 

[DavidM]

Memories of the good old days, Helen and her bell are part of our history.

 

[totallywired]

Remember going on her coach to Ipswich for a midweek league cup , late 70`s which we actually won, not many teams got anything at Portman Road those days. We stopped at Newark on the way for an emergency piss stop and went behind some advertising boards. The next minute Helen appears and does a Paula Radcliffe right next to us. True to form she also shouted after us `no messin about, straight on the coach` without batting an eyelid. KIN LEGEND.

 

[Clevers]

"Helen Helen ring your bell, Helen ring your bell" great memories, sadly I think she wouldn't be allowed these days, maybe someone should give it a go lol

Thats right the Kippax would sing this during the match, and of course Helen would reply, much to the cheers of the Kippax, I think she use to sit in the North Stand, because I was a season ticket holder for a while, and saw her regulary take a seat on the front row, decked out in a big blue and white scarf and badges ect.....those where the days, good memories.........

Yes, right behind the goal. I remember she was a big Joe Corrigan (no pun intended!) fan and used to give him birthday presents.

Didn't she give him a piece of lucky heather every match,

 

[citiblue375]

A true legend.

I also remember how she used to come around the Supporters Club - when we had it adjoining Maine Road - with those raffle tickets.

That was one raffle where everybody had a ticket. Nobody but nobody ever said 'No' to Helen - that 'Look' meant it was only a question of how many -)

used to love that supporters club..helen selling half time draw tickets,woodpecker cider on draught,classy blue wall to wall decour ,programme seller, pie seller..big screens for football focus etc ..all you ever wanted as a football daft teenager ,all under one roof. i loved maine road.

Me too - we used to come over from Dublin so we'd spend hours there on a Saturday night after the games until our coach was ready to take us back to Holyhead in the early hours. We had the Saturday night comedians, not to mention the bingo sessions -)))). But they were great days - no other club had a facility like it. Lots of times the club would arrange for a player or two to pop in and spend an hour with us. They were simple times - but just as you said - as a wide eyed football daft youngster - they were magic times.

 

[bluelol]

Thats right the Kippax would sing this during the match, and of course Helen would reply, much to the cheers of the Kippax, I think she use to sit in the North Stand, because I was a season ticket holder for a while, and saw her regulary take a seat on the front row, decked out in a big blue and white scarf and badges ect.....those where the days, good memories.........

Yes, right behind the goal. I remember she was a big Joe Corrigan (no pun intended!) fan and used to give him birthday presents.

Didn't she give him a piece of lucky heather every match,

Yeh I think she did Clevers

 

[bluelol]

More good memories

 

[IOWBlue]

No kid stony I didn't know this, she such a part of our history mate don't you agree.

Agree completely blue. He doesn't post much but his name is a dead give away.

If she was on your coach you never fucked about. City legend.

Haha, you mean if you were on her coach LOL. I went Leeds away on her coach ( Junior Blues ) aged 14, heard new swear words from her that day. She used to sell flowers on the corner of the MRI. Legend of a City fan.

 

[bluelol]

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More good memories

 

[BlueMooner87]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/9-Brass-S...eAntiques_Collectables_EH&hash=item45fd9c4135

Someone needs to be helen

 

[LongsightM13]

Errr, I might be wrong but doesn't Helen's grandson own bluemoon, never mind post on here?
The old away coaches had Helen ruling with a rod of iron on one and the slightly more liberal Ian Cheeseman running another didn't they?
I remember when Big Joe left City and came back for the first time, playing for Brighton.
He made a beeline for Helen behind the goal and gave her a big hug and a kiss. The picture was all over the papers the next day. I think City won 4-0.
I also remember Helen running her flower stall outside the MRI back in the 70s/80s. My dad got badly injured at work one time and one evening my mum brought me and my little brother in to see him. Our kid was only a nipper at the time and was pretty upset. Helen made a point of coming over to cheer him up and when she found out we were blues, she gave him some sweets. What a lovely lady she was. RIP.

 

[iggy1966]

I have three lasting memories, she was a flower seller outside the royal infirmary, Going on the supporters coach she organized for the 74 cup final and finally taking me and a mate to Maine rd at the back end of 1974. It was during the week and we got to meet several players, Marsh, Corrigan, Donachie

 

[WyongBlue]

A true legend.

I also remember how she used to come around the Supporters Club - when we had it adjoining Maine Road - with those raffle tickets.

That was one raffle where everybody had a ticket. Nobody but nobody ever said 'No' to Helen - that 'Look' meant it was only a question of how many -)

Thats right nobody ever said "NO" to Helen with those raffle tickets, because if you did she'd nail you to the wall with one of those withering looks she could give you, until you relented and bought those flippin raffle tickets!!!.........

 

[Joe CurryGan]

When City won the League Cup in 1976 she joined in the 'Lap of Honour' round Wembley with the players

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Remember a game at Coventry, must have been very early 80's and she was in the seats, us standing up. She was ringing her bell and the West Midlands finest constabulary went into the seats and took it off her to much booing and shouting from City fans.
5 minutes later out comes a very small bell - small but still heard perfectly - and she starts ringing it much to our approval

At the end of home games she would come round the supporters club with a bucket, shouting ''coppers for the kids'' and she wasn't asking you to put coins in, rather like the raffle tickets, it was a demand!

 

[Bluekiwi]

Who remember Helen the Bell ringer and how she would go down today at the ETIHAD?

What about those wooden rattle things? They would be banned as dangerous weapons!!!!