The North Stand at Maine Road?

[Blue Streak]

What was it like in that season when it was standing? Was it like a Kop End type stand?

I suppose it couldn't have been long since finished when the club decided to seat it. Seeing the highlights of the game against Derby County (when Marsh scores) although we have blown the title, it looks a cracking place.

I know we had the Kippax but always remember reading an interview with Tony Book at the time, and he spoke about always deciding to attack the 'North End Terraces' due to the amazing atmosphere.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Before my time. But I have heard that city's more boisterous fans adopted that end for a year or two before reverting back to the kippax, where they ended up next to the away fans when segregation was introduced.

 

[Blue Mist]

What was it like in that season when it was standing? Was it like a Kop End type stand?


Not sure what you mean there as it was always a standing area.... cold wet concrete....... with no roof......... and the wind always coming in. It was shite. But I think you mean the final season before they redeveloped it. As I remember the lads who sang decided to finally have an 'end' rather than a 'side (the Kippax) so they gave up there relative comfort and went out into the wilds. To be honest I don't really remember it being a cauldron of noise and not sure what Tony Book is refering to.

 

[harry the plumber]

What was it like in that season when it was standing? Was it like a Kop End type stand?


Not sure what you mean there as it was always a standing area.... cold wet concrete....... with no roof......... and the wind always coming in. It was shite. But I think you mean the final season before they redeveloped it. As I remember the lads who sang decided to finally have an 'end' rather than a 'side (the Kippax) so they gave up there relative comfort and went out into the wilds. To be honest I don't really remember it being a cauldron of noise and not sure what Tony Book is refering to.

Your thinking of the scoreboard end.
When it was ripped out and the north stand was built it was standing for 1 maybe 2 seasons.And if i am not mistaken it was split down the middle and housed the away fans aswell.

 

[squirtyflower]

when the scoreboard end was developed it took two off seasons
they put up the roof first with no seats, so the following season we had a standing area behind the goal with a roof
the atmosphere was electric and i thought much better than the kippax
we also had an excellent season on the pitch and should have gone on to win the league

over the next summer they put in the seats and so that was the end of the standing north stand.

 

[manclad]

when the scoreboard end was developed it took two off seasons
they put up the roof first with no seats, so the following season we had a standing area behind the goal with a roof
the atmosphere was electric and i thought much better than the kippax
we also had an excellent season on the pitch and should have gone on to win the league

over the next summer they put in the seats and so that was the end of the standing north stand.

I remember being stood in the North Stand when we drew with United 3-3,and that was one of the best derby games for a long time.(1971-1972 season).
Also because the City "boys" had abandoned the Kippax,the away fans always went in there for 1 season.Middlesborough fans tried to storm into the North Stand from the Kippax corner,but were quickly repulsed by City fans.(Jeff Winter,the referee ,writes about this incident in his book "who's the bastard in the black").

 

[Alan Oakes Shinpads]

when the scoreboard end was developed it took two off seasons
they put up the roof first with no seats, so the following season we had a standing area behind the goal with a roof
the atmosphere was electric and i thought much better than the kippax
we also had an excellent season on the pitch and should have gone on to win the league

over the next summer they put in the seats and so that was the end of the standing north stand.

Yes thats how I remember it,very lively and noisy.I recall a game against Airdrie in a competition(Anglo-Scottish cup I think)and despite a small crowd a good atmosphere .Seem to remember it was split into separate concrete bays rather than one big open area.

There was also a song which I think went ...

Bertie Mee said to Joe Harvey
Have you heard of the North Bank Highbury
No said Joe ,I don`t think so
But I`ve heard of the North Stand Maine Road

 

[TGR]

What was it like in that season when it was standing? Was it like a Kop End type stand?


Not sure what you mean there as it was always a standing area.... cold wet concrete....... with no roof......... and the wind always coming in. It was shite. But I think you mean the final season before they redeveloped it. As I remember the lads who sang decided to finally have an 'end' rather than a 'side (the Kippax) so they gave up there relative comfort and went out into the wilds. To be honest I don't really remember it being a cauldron of noise and not sure what Tony Book is refering to.

Your thinking of the scoreboard end.
When it was ripped out and the north stand was built it was standing for 1 maybe 2 seasons.And if i am not mistaken it was split down the middle and housed the away fans aswell.

You are correct! (and it did have a roof on it!). The City 'bovver boys' of the time (me included!!!) adopted the North Stand for 2 seasons - for the exact reason it was in with the away fans - hence the excellent opportunity to get some 'aggro' in on a Saturday afternoon. Everyone then moved back to the Kippax. The atmostphere in the North Stand was pretty good to be fair! Always packed and when we scored at that end it went truly mental!! Happy days!

 

[dave bacuzzi]

Bertie Mee said to Joe Harvey
Have you heard of the North Bank Highbury
No said Joe ,I don`t think so
But I`ve heard of the North Stand Maine Road

Remember singing that song. To me they were the best days, absolutely loved it behind the goal.
Oh Rodney Rodney! And that game when Gordon Banks played as well as Hart did the other night.

 

[urmston]

I was the first person in the stand for the Alan Oakes testimonial in May 72.

That was because I cycled to the match from Urmston straight after school finished at 3.50pm, and so was there hours before the kick-off.

The electronic scoreboard seemed very modern, but it soon went wrong, starting City's grand tradition of scoreboard bungling and incompetence which still persists to a minor degree today.