Old Maine Road photos thread

The Lightbowne Cowboy said:
Absolutely not. The capacity at that time was 52600 and it was definitely above capacity. I know scores of people who either jibbed in, paid a turnstile operator or falsified the vouchers scheme from the programmes and got in that way. I was there, and for a 12 year old it was fucking scary. I'd been to a 52000 game against the shits in 1982 and this was a different beast altogether. If you watch the highlights on YouTube, you'll see the section of the bit between the platt lane and Kippax almost empty with about 50 Charlton fans in it. After 20 or so minutes it starts filling up because of the shear numbers in the Kippax, by the 2nd half it was rammed. I remember the police letting us go through the gates and crouch down behind the advertising hoardings such was the crush risk. I think there was 55k or maybe even more there that day. That's only in my opinion and someone who'd been in a 52 k crowd a few years prior. P.S I've also heard tales of all the walkways in the seating areas rammed with fans. I also think the head copper that day should have got a medal.
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I was only 9 at the time of the Charlton 85 game. I was stood on the raised police platform at the back of the Kippax that day. We got in the ground really early. That platform filled up with kids as the match approached. I had to use my elbows to keep my prime slot at the front. It was probably one of the best views in the whole ground. My Dad was stood in front of me to start with. He said he ended up near the front of Kippax with the chaos after each of the goals when he came back to check on me at half time. He said he’d never experienced anything like it. A mix of being scared and exhilarated by the carnage - he’d watched West Brom home and away since the late 60’s but had nothing like that day. It was quite a hot spring day. I remember his denim shirt looking like a bucket of water had been thrown over him or like he’d been in the middle of a mosh pit. After the final whistle I remember the crown singing YNWA. I had to be cajoled to go down on to the pitch after the announcements to stay off it over the tannoy. A magical day. But when we got home and saw the Bradford fire on the news my dad was inconsolable.
 
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