Scariest away day following City

[shackattack]

that was an eventful evening for sure, replay was it 4 days later was similar. one of the best away followings to come to goodison

 

[manclad]

I've not read the whole thread but had some great, exhilarating, frightening experiences watching City away, one that sticks in my mind was 1983 Cardiff away on the August bank holiday.

We got an early service train from Manchester, probably about 150 lads, we got off the train at Newport for a few pints early doors, we were just having a laugh when someone ran in and said the Welsh were outside, we all ran out, word at got around and a massive mob of Welsh not sure if Newport or Cardiff were trying to get at the pub, glasses/bottles and anything were exchanged with the welsh police doing there best to keep us apart, they eventually moved them down the road then emptied us back into the station for our train to Cardiff, that was just a taster of things to come.

We got off the train at the side of Ninian Park, just remember it wasn't like a proper station with just a cinder path leading down to the main road, we were all patting ourselves on the back about how well we had performed half an hour earlier, what was waiting for us at the bottom of that path will stay with me for the rest of my life, there was hundreds if not thousands of them waiting for us, they weren't just football lads, grown men, farmers, miners the lot, there was a used car garage on the other side of the road and they were stood on the cars, the valleys must of been empty, you could see the hatred in them, we tried to hang back on the path for our own safety, but the welsh police went full anti English, remember one of them saying " you wanted it you English bastards, now your gonna get it"

We got onto the road and turned left towards the ground, next thing it was like Rourkes Drift in reverse, the police just let them steam in, we just had our backs to the wall wind milling and kicking where possible, but we came un stuck big time, was gutted I had a brand new Jaegar jacket on and it was ripped to shreds, after what felt like a 10 minute fee for all the police decided to move in and escort us to the ground.

All through the match they were trying to break the police lines, we were kept in after the game and bricks were being launched into the ground, the City end was silent when a City fan stood on a barrier and played the last post on a mouth organ and a few nervous laughs broke out. We got escorted back to the station and jumped on the match day special which got bricked and got back to manchester minus a few windows.

Sounds like a lot more VCs should have been handed out than were awarded for Rourkes Drift. 11 VCs at Rourkes Drift iirc.

 

[WestGorton]

Not directly related but documentary on Gooch/Doddie on Channel 5 at 10. May be some footage of our beloved Moss and god's own ground.

 

[Adidas Sharston]

Sounds like a lot more VCs should have been handed out than were awarded for Rourkes Drift. 11 VCs at Rourkes Drift iirc.

Blackley Fusiliers have that record for holding the west wall at Tolka Park

 

[WestGorton]

I was at Bradford away and didn't have a problem. I was in the stand that got rebuilt after the fire. Frank Newton of the banana's craze getting me a ticket and membership which you needed to get in. The Blue's who went into their end behind the goal though were attacked and were getting leathered until they fought back and backed Bradford off. The only friction in our end was some pissed up half wit Blue taking the piss out of the fire on the concourse at half time. Their main man and his mates were justifiably angry but the half wits own mates took him to task and it calmed down.

I was in the Bradford end as we got some membershios of some of their fans. No problems all day. Just chatted to them.

 

[manclad]

Blackley Fusiliers have that record for holding the west wall at Tolka Park

Nice one.
The Blackley Fusiliers had their HQ slap bang in the middle of Plant Hill estate.

 

[red 2 hats]

Sounds like a lot more VCs should have been handed out than were awarded for Rourkes Drift. 11 VCs at Rourkes Drift iirc.

The main difference, the Taffs held out for days at Rourkes Drift, we got mullered.

 

[WestGorton]

that was an eventful evening for sure, replay was it 4 days later was similar. one of the best away followings to come to goodison

I was there on the side paddock. I was there in the league on Boxing Day and my mate got thrown in Walton jail overnight

 

[manclad]

The main difference, the Taffs held out for days at Rourkes Drift, we got mullered.

Yes but the 24th Regiment of Foot were armed with Martini Henri rifles vs native spears, where as you were similarly out numbered but were only armed with fists and trainers!!!

 

[red 2 hats]

Yes but the 24th Regiment of Foot were armed with Martini Henri rifles vs native spears, where as you were similarly out numbered but were only armed with fists and trainers!!!

Good point well made, not looked at it like that