How intimidating was Maine Road ??

[bornblue49]

Asked the same question to an Arsenal fan who organised away travel.He said that for most away games he could filll 3 coaches, but for Maine Road he struggled to fill a Mini-Bus,nobody wanted to come.

 

[wrongun73]

i used to walk back to get the 53 sometimes and think, 'imagine playing swindon or someone on a dark december wednesday, i bet they fucking shit it walking round here, getting back to the car or whatever, through all the back streets'.

 

[lancs blue]

37 years I spent travelling to Maine Rd, I went to school in Rusholme less than half a mile from Maine Rd and the sum total of trouble I experienced was very early in my match-going life when a couple of rags tried to nick my scarf - they didn't get it of course. I never had any hassle from the locals walking to and from the ground and when I started driving there I never had my car nicked or vandalised. I wish I could say the same about my experiences in a lot of other parts of the country. I always thought Moss Side got a bad press tbh though I can see why visiting fans might have judged it purely on its reputation.

 

[gazzaa2]

What does my head in, is how the hooligan books all say that they only ever fought other hooligans and normal fans were left alone.

Anyone who was around in the 70s and 80s and had to run the gauntlet, got chased, or got a good kicking for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, will tell you what aload of bollocks that is. If you had the wrong accent, the wrong clothes, or the wrong scarf, you were considered fair game for a kicking.

 

[blue order]

37 years I spent travelling to Maine Rd, I went to school in Rusholme less than half a mile from Maine Rd and the sum total of trouble I experienced was very early in my match-going life when a couple of rags tried to nick my scarf - they didn't get it of course. I never had any hassle from the locals walking to and from the ground and when I started driving there I never had my car nicked or vandalised. I wish I could say the same about my experiences in a lot of other parts of the country. I always thought Moss Side got a bad press tbh though I can see why visiting fans might have judged it purely on its reputation.

As was the case for 99.9999999% of match goers.The stormtroopers in this thread must be in the 0.00000001%.

Lots of folks used to charge up and down Thornton and Horton road shouting and yes,the passages were not pleasant but the most intimidating thing in there at MOST games were piles of steaming dog shit!

 

[shackattack]

I can only hazard a guess but I'd say very intimidating purely because of the area, a very blue but very rough area, and because of the streets and alleys surrounding the ground. Just a staggering amount of opportunities to ambush opposition fans whilst avoiding police intervention and escaping to fight another day.

On the money...even the little local robbers used to use it to that affect when concerts were on. The prime example were the oasis gigs held there. You shouldn't laugh really but it was funny,if you were there and witnessed it you'd know why.

those poor out of towners and students there to watch oasis in their hometown- shock of their lives and funny to watch!!<br /><br />-- Tue May 11, 2010 4:49 pm --<br /><br />sure some of you older lads will remember the mancs v scousers colin bell testimonial...we came on the night as original one was cancelled. ended up in kippax at top by north stand, surrounded by city, all 2 of us!!worked our way to away part of kippax, to find it full of united..tried to get out early but saw 800 pairs of adidas samba waiting outside so thought better of it. seem to remember it kicking off with utd and city so we sneaked off back to oxford road. maine road WAS scary but give me that over your sky stadia any day. not being hard just honest

 

[Skashion]

I take it then you weren't born in that era and it's a subject that you have little knowledge of apart from reading a 'micky francis' book? A dart in the head would have been considered quite tame compared to what could have happened to you at certain away games.

I have no knowledge of that era and I don't pretend to. It's not going to change my opinion that anyone who throws a dart into a crowd or stabs people is a twat though. You might enlighten me with some of your experiences so you can demonstrate just how bad it was. I'm guessing you're carrying gunshot wounds as a minimum, yes?

 

[isgeorge]

my uncle john was the landlord of the osbourne near platt fields which was allways rammed on a matchday, it must of been intimidating for outsiders walking past all them pubs (red lion) (parkside) down dog shit alleys. loved the place with all my heart and would love to have a bit of the atmosphere and banter we had there at this place.

 

[Midlands Blue]

It was at the swamp. It was a 'mixed race' City fan in a scarf and denim jacket, as I remember. I was with my Dad not so far away. I was so young that I just thought it was normal although it is one of my earliest City memories and has obviously stayed with me.

According to Mickey Francis, his name was Hamrick Bryan and the rag bastard who threw the dart got off because he claimed it was threw from the City end first and he just threw it back. What the fuck. Even if it did come from the City end first, that's no justification for throwing back. Unless you're fucking Phil Taylor you're not gonna hit the person who actually threw it at you. Disgrace.

I used to go to matches with Hamrick, a few years after the dart incident, and no way was he a hoolie.
IIRC, the rag said that he felt something hit his hand and just grabbed it, pulled it out and threw it without thinking.
Is that horseshit i can smell?

 

[mancityscot]

anyone got any pics of moss side/maine road