Me and my mate used to hitchike all over the country and usually managed to blag a lift on a coach on the way back, had some really scary moments over the years getting in cars with some right weirdo's got dropped of in the middle of Cannock Chase at 3am foggy as fuck and not the place you wanted to be after what happened there in the late 60s,had our lift in a Tate and Lyle lorry taken off us at knive point by some Liverpool fans at a service station when the driver had gone to the bog
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Traveling to away games in the 1970s
- Thread starter cyberblue
- Start date
In the Kippax
Active Member
Just out of curiosity, has anyone got any storys from what happened after the Luton relegation game in 1983?
I imagine there weren’t that many Luton fans up that day, but I bet the ones that were, were given an interesting send off!
I imagine there weren’t that many Luton fans up that day, but I bet the ones that were, were given an interesting send off!
After the game Cardiff got legged everywhere. Can’t speak for before as we came in on Chadderton coach... lateI’ve been going to away games since 81 and the only two times I’ve been seriously concerned for my safety was Cardiff away fa cup 94 and Poznan 08
There were more than you’d think. It was some of the Luton players that got an interesting send off.Just out of curiosity, has anyone got any storys from what happened after the Luton relegation game in 1983?
I imagine there weren’t that many Luton fans up that day, but I bet the ones that were, were given an interesting send off!
OffertonBlue
Well-Known Member
Every away game in the 70's and 80's was crazy. Darn sarf was always lively at Millwall, Chelsea, West Ham & Spurs. Midlands was usually bad at Birmingham, Forest & Luton. Northern aways at Old Toilet, Leeds, Merseyside, Sheffield, Boro & Newcastle. Before, during and especially after games, trouble was almost inevitable. Memories still of bricks raining down on you from the dark skies whilst at Leeds, always being asked the time around Stanley Park, being careful crossing the bridge over the Trent at Forest, running battles getting back to your coach at Luton, etc etc etc are still as vivid now even after 40 years! Me and my brothers and mates always tried to avoid trouble. Experienced away fans could tell when the situation was getting moody. You would recognise certain groups of fans, whether they were City or the opposition, and you knew when it would kick off as it always went eerily quiet 30 seconds beforehand. This usually gave you enough warning to move away and let the shenanigans begin. Being eyed up by opposition fans was a little uncomfortable but we were always pleased to see our regular City boys close by who would usually take the fight to the opposition rather than yourself! It was obviously much easier to avoid trouble at Maine Road for City fans. You knew the hotspots where away fans emerged from the ground, the many back alleys, and surprisingly the forecourt outside between the main stand and supporters shop. Away fans were never comfortable visiting Maine Road, especially when dark for winter games or night games. I hope those dark days never return. The Government, Police, Courts, segregation, cctv, etc have all made massive dents to the madness and rightly so. But the memories remain. The sense of relief getting home in one piece; the strange sense of achievement after having been to battle and survived. Adrenaline is a powerful drug isn't it?
Too many stories from the 70's, but who remembers coming back to piccadilly from places like stoke etc, kicking off with Cockney reds on the platform, then escorted out the back way off the station because there was too many rags waiting for us!!!.
After the game Cardiff got legged everywhere. Can’t speak for before as we came in on Chadderton coach... late
Barricaded in a pub before with about 200 Cardiff outside trying to smash the doors down, come through windows, down chimneys lol
Every away game in the 70's and 80's was crazy. Darn sarf was always lively at Millwall, Chelsea, West Ham & Spurs. Midlands was usually bad at Birmingham, Forest & Luton. Northern aways at Old Toilet, Leeds, Merseyside, Sheffield, Boro & Newcastle. Before, during and especially after games, trouble was almost inevitable. Memories still of bricks raining down on you from the dark skies whilst at Leeds, always being asked the time around Stanley Park, being careful crossing the bridge over the Trent at Forest, running battles getting back to your coach at Luton, etc etc etc are still as vivid now even after 40 years! Me and my brothers and mates always tried to avoid trouble. Experienced away fans could tell when the situation was getting moody. You would recognise certain groups of fans, whether they were City or the opposition, and you knew when it would kick off as it always went eerily quiet 30 seconds beforehand. This usually gave you enough warning to move away and let the shenanigans begin. Being eyed up by opposition fans was a little uncomfortable but we were always pleased to see our regular City boys close by who would usually take the fight to the opposition rather than yourself! It was obviously much easier to avoid trouble at Maine Road for City fans. You knew the hotspots where away fans emerged from the ground, the many back alleys, and surprisingly the forecourt outside between the main stand and supporters shop. Away fans were never comfortable visiting Maine Road, especially when dark for winter games or night games. I hope those dark days never return. The Government, Police, Courts, segregation, cctv, etc have all made massive dents to the madness and rightly so. But the memories remain. The sense of relief getting home in one piece; the strange sense of achievement after having been to battle and survived. Adrenaline is a powerful drug isn't it?
You forgot the 2 main contributory factors to the calming of the terraces, ecstasy and seats, imo it would probably still be more prevalent today if it weren't for those 2 things.
Other than that you're bang on, it was pure adrenaline, every other Saturday was to be treated like a military operation but beer usually intervened and plans went out the window.
Agreed it is a good thing that those days are long behind us but I wouldn't swap the late 70's/early 80's experience for anything.