Tribute to the Kippax

Terrific article, Stephen. I kept nodding and nodding as I read it. I remember the unutterably boring games, too, and being happy just to be there, even for those. It was the place to be.
A meaningless, end-of-season game against Sunderland, I think. I got soaked with a downpour (must have been too near the front, or it might have been on the long walk up Dickinson Road, anybody ever notice the blue plaque dedicated to Elizabeth Gaskell on one of the houses on that road, by the way?) but then the sun came out gloriously at the end, and the lads invaded the pitch, and you felt glad and sorry, thinking, what the fuck am I going to do with my summer?
I must have had a stronger bladder than I do now, because I don’t ever, once, remember having to use the ‘facilities’ at the Kippax. Thank God for that.
Of all the places that I’ve been on this planet, one of those, perhaps the one, in which I felt most alive. Simply.
 
When we chanted “Helen, Helen, ring your bell! Helen – ring your bell!” it was a sure sign that the game was boring the arses off us. I don’t remember her as being anywhere other than the front of the scoreboard end. Did anybody spot her anywhere else?
Derbies and no segregation. There were a couple where, quite honestly, the Kippax seemed to be infested with rags. Really, about 60% blues, 40% rags. My impression, anyway. Didn’t kick off near me, ever, but a very uneasy co-existence. Sort of like Russia and America at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

(Must stop this rabbiting on. Gotta go and do some work. Pretend to, anyway…)
 
Lovebitesandeveryfing said:
Derbies and no segregation. There were a couple where, quite honestly, the Kippax seemed to be infested with rags. Really, about 60% blues, 40% rags. My impression, anyway. Didn’t kick off near me, ever, but a very uneasy co-existence.
(Must stop this rabbiting on. Gotta go and do some work. Pretend to, anyway…)
Click to expand...
So you were the one that stunk the place out like a skunks arse; )
 
mayo31 said:
She is one of the most loyal blues there is.

A character there is no doubt.
Click to expand...
Not many folk know that she used to be a rag.
She would turn up at the cliff everyday and stalk Bryan Robson amonget others.
Eventually they took a restraining order against her so she turned blue.
If you're ever in her company , drop the name Andy Dibble into the conversation.
She'll shout out "I've shagged him !! ".
 
More than any signing or any Cup we could win, I wish we could have a large safe standing stand along the side of the pitch!

All this “end” stuff is bullshit, the vocal stand being along the side of the pitch was iconic and individual to us. I sit in ESL1 now and I’d happily forsake my SC for two years for City to come out and say “we are knocking down the current East Stand and building you a new Kippax. Anyone with SCs there now can have your ‘seat’ exactly where it is now but you will have a standing space there instead in two year’s time”

I can dream...

I only had a few years of the Kippax towards the end from 1989-1994. But my Dad says the greatest game in the Kippax was the 1970 ECWC semi-final second leg against Shalke.
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
More than any signing or any Cup we could win, I wish we could have a large safe standing stand along the side of the pitch!

All this “end” stuff is bullshit, the vocal stand being along the side of the pitch was iconic and individual to us. I sit in ESL1 now and I’d happily forsake my SC for two years for City to come out and say “we are knocking down the current East Stand and building you a new Kippax. Anyone with SCs there now can have your ‘seat’ exactly where it is now but you will have a standing space there instead in two year’s time”

I can dream...

I only had a few years of the Kippax towards the end from 1989-1994. But my Dad says the greatest game in the Kippax was the 1970 ECWC semi-final second leg against Shalke.
Click to expand...

Burnley, Bolton, Huddersfield, Birmingham and Celtic had ‘sides’... back in the day. Was rare though
 
Really nice article, still sends a chill down my spine remembering the players frantically waving for the stretcher as Roy bailey knelt over Paul lake. The eerie silence that passed over the kippax was horrible.

Once took a Dutch colleague from work he said he'd never felt so terrified in his life. Told me he felt like he was in a mental asylum which I suppose being constantly hit with inflatables and stood next to a guy with a puppet on his hand help him come to that conclusion.
 
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