Hooliganism and Violence Maine Road 80's/early 90's

[levets]

In the mid 70s Rangers played United in a friendly, Rangers took OT over. Docherty Uniteds managed always went to great lengths not to criticise Uniteds hooligan followers, that day he was going.mad saying Rangers must never come back,GMP agreed with him. We had been playing in Yorkshire I think, we were used to rags ambushing us in town on are way back from aways. That night we were drinking in town with the Bears any rags who appeared got battered. They were traumatised afterwards being used to doing what they liked, the reputation of their boys never recovered. Went to a pre season friendly at Ibrox a year or two later was very apprehensive but had a great day the Bears treating us like brothers. They seem more friendly with Chelsea these days but back in the 70s they were mates with City.

I remember that rags/rangers pre season. One of my best friends was a red (He became a main player) and told me some stories

 

[levets]

Yeah i knew we drew the game but pretty pissed.
Can't remember the name of the pub we took over either but i remember Pavarotti, pity is no one else can.
Rifle Range was a stop off a few times over your way for us Heywood blues back then

Back then we massed at the Chadderton Arms/Tavern.

 

[xgorton]

In the mid 70s Rangers played United in a friendly, Rangers took OT over. Docherty Uniteds managed always went to great lengths not to criticise Uniteds hooligan followers, that day he was going.mad saying Rangers must never come back,GMP agreed with him. We had been playing in Yorkshire I think, we were used to rags ambushing us in town on are way back from aways. That night we were drinking in town with the Bears any rags who appeared got battered. They were traumatised afterwards being used to doing what they liked, the reputation of their boys never recovered. Went to a pre season friendly at Ibrox a year or two later was very apprehensive but had a great day the Bears treating us like brothers. They seem more friendly with Chelsea these days but back in the 70s they were mates with City.

Think it was 74,remember that Saturday night in Zoobdo club at Belle vue loads of Rangers great night out.Yes we we're at Leeds that day 9th March 74.

 

[Eds]

There was a few Rangers ‘ICF’ with City in 2002; when City absolutely destroyed utd at the Science Park.

as the rags would say ‘are you fucking sure’. Think the rags were sponsored by Jackanory after that incident.

 

[Eds]

Grimsby… what a fantastic away day that was

Was that the day of the wedding party.

 

[bluesteve1964]

Whole towns turned out against us! Mid 80s we had a (well earned) reputation and everyone wanted a go! Like you say the big names were obvious hot spots,but I saw major brawls at Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Hull,Carlisle, and who remembers a mad night in Sheffield on the way home from grimsby? Th8nk they'd played millwall and were all out, and we turned up!

Was there that day. In the pub across from the station. About 20 or 30 of us. A load of locals came in and ordered halfs!!! All hell broke loose. Like a pub fight scene from a Western. All the windows went through and quite a lot of blood spilt. Sure the pub had some sort of agricultural name as there was a big straw baling fork on wall behind the bar. City fan grabbed it and ran after locals with it.
Mad days indeed

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I did, ticketless and late. Knocked on the door at the turnstiles of the seats and steward just gave me a ticket free of charge for the terraces
Still dropped him a fiver !!!

Result! I was there for that one ,bad night.
I also managed to sneak in Luton home end two years on the bounce during their away fan ban.both games tried to be quiet and sit on me hands but I was a Strongbow power drinker back then and being quiet didn't last long both games.
I could never really take Luton seriously as an away ground..I 've heard they had a crew or somat but I could only think of Lorraine chase and mal donaghy.....Luton away ? Yawn.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Brave lad , respect !

CTID

By rights...i should never have made it onto Leeds kop alive that day
I'd arrived Leeds city centre by coach ,on me own.
No real plan how to get to the ground.i spotted a double decker bus with fans getting on....I got on one,oh dear..sat downstairs towards the front...the double decker bus eventually pulled off...and the chant
' who is the immigrant on this bus.?!! " softly started up....
I know now it's only a couple of miles from Leeds city centre to Elland rd....that journey seemed to take hours.
The velocity of the chanting ,and banging getting louder finally exploded when Elland rd came into view.....

I think it was that experience which made me write to the club asking for lifts/ supporters clubs etc..and Leicester and Rugby branch led by Pete and Anita Britton,prob saved me from a lot of bother,ova the early years.
Credit to Leeds Fans that day tbh.the abuse was verbal.no one had a go.i kept me head down.i wasn't fair game....I feel I should say that.
Sticks and stones..... and all that.just a scary bus ride...scary day.
But.always enjoyed going on the piss in Leeds after that and my experiences don't really come close to the gratious violence I've read about on these boards between Leeds and City during the late 70s.....
My experience was late 80s.
I got off lightly.i was lucky.imo.

 

[levets]

Was there that day. In the pub across from the station. About 20 or 30 of us. A load of locals came in and ordered halfs!!! All hell broke loose. Like a pub fight scene from a Western. All the windows went through and quite a lot of blood spilt. Sure the pub had some sort of agricultural name as there was a big straw baling fork on wall behind the bar. City fan grabbed it and ran after locals with it.
Mad days indeed

The Howard pub used to be a haunt of the Blades.

 

[xgorton]

By rights...i should never have made it onto Leeds kop alive that day
I'd arrived Leeds city centre by coach ,on me own.
No real plan how to get to the ground.i spotted a double decker bus with fans getting on....I got on one,oh dear..sat downstairs towards the front...the double decker bus eventually pulled off...and the chant
' who is the immigrant on this bus.?!! " softly started up....
I know now it's only a couple of miles from Leeds city centre to Elland rd....that journey seemed to take hours.
The velocity of the chanting ,and banging getting louder finally exploded when Elland rd came into view.....

I think it was that experience which made me write to the club asking for lifts/ supporters clubs etc..and Leicester and Rugby branch led by Pete and Anita Britton,prob saved me from a lot of bother,ova the early years.
Credit to Leeds Fans that day tbh.the abuse was verbal.no one had a go.i kept me head down.i wasn't fair game....I feel I should say that.
Sticks and stones..... and all that.just a scary bus ride...scary day.
But.always enjoyed going on the piss in Leeds after that and my experiences don't really come close to the gratious violence I've read about on these boards between Leeds and City during the late 70s.....
My experience was late 80s.
I got off lightly.i was lucky.imo.

I remember Pete and Anita was down that way from 1990 for about 3 years,went with the branch few home and away games.