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

[frothy]

Went to Coventry in the late 70s and they made us take our boots off before we went in the ground, it was like a market stand and they gave you a raffle ticket to pick them up after the game, it kicked off after the game so loads of us went home in just socks

 

[frothy]

Went to Coventry in the late 70s and they made us take our boots off before we went in the ground, it was like a market stand and they gave you a raffle ticket to pick them up after the game, it kicked off after the game so loads of us went home in just socks

Market stall

 

[ancoats]

many many mad people back then just looking for trouble, home and away city had a crew that was just as bad as anybody in football, many away day you would get mixed up with them and they used the normal football fans for hiding and numbers ? crazy stuff at watford away in the mid 80s, the train was set on fire running battles at the stations fans on the trains lines, you had to hold your bottle and hang in there even when the police turned up they would be hitting everybody they did not care

also blackburn away was a crazy time you would walk up from darwen and the police would smash right into you with the horses and again kicking off on the roads and shops getting smashed up and normal fans getting dragged into it

the hooligans was like a small army in fact they was setup in the same way with rankings. the lads at the bottom had to start fights just to get a promotion and getting nicked got you stars and badges

i knew the city crews and it never crossed my mind to get involved. i knew they would drop you like a hot brick and leave you to defend yourself when it get hot, because you was a fan of football and going to the games to support man city you was a target by being just there at the wrong time

 

[BolinCell]

remember this one

 

[bluesteve1964]

Been thinking of starting an Operation Omega thread for a while but may as well put it in here.
Mid to late 80s was the era for me. Went home and away. There was some form of trouble at most games. Had moved to Blackpool in early 80s and a group of us travelled together from there. Knew most of the Govenors and Young Governors. Home game was a meet in Bruswick or Merchants depending on who we were playing.
For big matches (Utd, Scouser. WH, Chelsea etc) we'd meet up with City's firm. Safety in numbers. Otherwise we would just go on the piss.
Around this time a few clubs were having early morning raids. We sensed City may be soon after a few large scale incidents and numerous smaller ones. Sure enough it did in 1988. 26 arrested for various offences. There is been a lot said about how the police infiltrated The Governors.
From comments in this thread I suspect a few people on here were either arrested or knew ones who were. Would be interested to hear how they think DS "Henri" and his fellow officers did infiltrate City's mob. Have my own theories but would like to hear others too.
Can't believe it's over 30 years ago!!!

 

[citymad]

Loved that stand m8

Surely it was the biggest of it's kind in those days ? Going the length of the pitch and going up so high.

 

[DRINKLEVEDRY]

I remember a rag telling me one night game at OT they took pure liberties, walking around the ground like they owned it, even the Stretford end.

The cup winners cup game at our place in 1971 was quite a night too, scrapping all over the ground, loads at the top of the kippax.

 

[kippax4ever]

Loved that stand m8

Same as,had so many memories good & bad,always remember a gooner,with the old fashioned motorbike helmet stood up getting the chant going and everything was thrown at him,70ish
2 spurs fans got in,and bottled a couple off guys,the whole back off the kippax come charging down and sliced them when they caught up with them,
This wa after growing up from the white wall to sitting on the tunnel tops,then finally working our way back to the top of the stand,
Plus went in the away paddock also,had many set to with them coming over the little white wall got slashed by a forest fan but dragged the **** over the wall,
And reciprocated the favour..

 

[kippax4ever]

Surely it was the biggest of it's kind in those days ? Going the length of the pitch and going up so high.

It was..

 

[Indaparkside]

Surely it was the biggest of it's kind in those days ? Going the length of the pitch and going up so high.

Same as,had so many memories good & bad,always remember a gooner,with the old fashioned motorbike helmet stood up getting the chant going and everything was thrown at him,70ish
2 spurs fans got in,and bottled a couple off guys,the whole back off the kippax come charging down and sliced them when they caught up with them,
This wa after growing up from the white wall to sitting on the tunnel tops,then finally working our way back to the top of the stand,
Plus went in the away paddock also,had many set to with them coming over the little white wall got slashed by a forest fan but dragged the **** over the wall,
And reciprocated the favour..

You’ll never take the kippax and no one ever did