When did the football specials stop running ?

[Didsbury Dave]

The last one i can remember was Portsmouth away, think it was a bank holiday, we drew 2-2, Bradbury scored for pompey. This was the season we were promoted under Royle

I was on that one, it was a bit of a one-off.

Total nightmare. No booze on sale and took about 7 hours.

 

[mancunial]

leeds and forest were alway,s the worst in the 70s

 

[The Good Doctor]

The last one i can remember was Portsmouth away, think it was a bank holiday, we drew 2-2, Bradbury scored for pompey. This was the season we were promoted under Royle

I was on that one, it was a bit of a one-off.

Total nightmare. No booze on sale and took about 7 hours.

I was on that too, the longest day ever. I remember on the way home the train stopped at Earls Court for about an hour. Fucking Bradbury!

 

[Royaloak]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

 

[Sky Blue]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

I was on the Luton one mate. Deb leading the singing on the way down.

Loads of Luton invaded the pitch but got as far as the half way line and wouldn't come any further!

Proper rampage on the way back to the station and a right crew of Luton trying to get at us too....exciting days for a young teenager!

 

[mat]

I think it depends on depot management nowadays.

Our bosses keep telling us were short of trains yet they've managed to arrange a 9 car special to rum to wembley should forest reach the play off final. Absolutly nowt to with with the fleet manager being a Forest fan....

 

[Royaloak]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

I was on the Luton one mate. Deb leading the singing on the way down.

Loads of Luton invaded the pitch but got as far as the half way line and wouldn't come any further!

Proper rampage on the way back to the station and a right crew of Luton trying to get at us too....exciting days for a young teenager!

Ha ha - I've been trying to remember what her name was. My recolection of her was that for a bird, she was tough and she had a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her. She used to turn out at Belle Vue with the rest of the Wild Bunch from Gorton when Utd played a midweek game to pick off the Utd fans coming off the 53 bus. Happy Days. I wonder if she still has a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her?

 

[Mr Blue Sky]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

Remember that game at Luton it was fuckin mayhem from getting on train at Piccadilly to getting off again. It was one of my first journeys to an away game without my Dad after arriving in Luton i wished he was with me i shit myself never seen so much trouble.<br /><br />-- Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:30 pm --<br /><br />

I was on the Luton one mate. Deb leading the singing on the way down.

Loads of Luton invaded the pitch but got as far as the half way line and wouldn't come any further!

Proper rampage on the way back to the station and a right crew of Luton trying to get at us too....exciting days for a young teenager!

Ha ha - I've been trying to remember what her name was. My recolection of her was that for a bird, she was tough and she had a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her. She used to turn out at Belle Vue with the rest of the Wild Bunch from Gorton when Utd played a midweek game to pick off the Utd fans coming off the 53 bus. Happy Days. I wonder if she still has a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her?

I remember Deb very well and i know she passed away a good few years ago she was a proper character and seemingly scared of nothing she had a brother called Tony as well i think he still lives in Hyde.

 

[LongsightM13]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

Remember that game at Luton it was fuckin mayhem from getting on train at Piccadilly to getting off again. It was one of my first journeys to an away game without my Dad after arriving in Luton i wished he was with me i shit myself never seen so much trouble.

-- Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:30 pm --

Ha ha - I've been trying to remember what her name was. My recolection of her was that for a bird, she was tough and she had a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her. She used to turn out at Belle Vue with the rest of the Wild Bunch from Gorton when Utd played a midweek game to pick off the Utd fans coming off the 53 bus. Happy Days. I wonder if she still has a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her?

I remember Deb very well and i know she passed away a good few years ago she was a proper character and seemingly scared of nothing she had a brother called Tony as well i think he still lives in Hyde.

There's a lot of posts about her in the Maine Road terrace legends thread

 

[fallowfield]

remember the one at Watford or poss Oxford when the special pulled up after the game and it was on fire - could see it burning as it came into the station.

Back downstairs and to the offy for cans etc and everyone was allowed on a service that went through about an hour later

 

[Royaloak]

Used to do them a lot. the two that really stick out are to Luton, last game of the season in about '75 and Stoke, probably the same year. It was mayhem to and from the ground, as it was at most places, but with a full special, you always felt that you had more of a chance. A full special would have circa 750 on it and disembarking the train at the opponents station as a 14/15 year old, was in those days, one of the great thrills in life.

Remember that game at Luton it was fuckin mayhem from getting on train at Piccadilly to getting off again. It was one of my first journeys to an away game without my Dad after arriving in Luton i wished he was with me i shit myself never seen so much trouble.

-- Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:30 pm --

Ha ha - I've been trying to remember what her name was. My recolection of her was that for a bird, she was tough and she had a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her. She used to turn out at Belle Vue with the rest of the Wild Bunch from Gorton when Utd played a midweek game to pick off the Utd fans coming off the 53 bus. Happy Days. I wonder if she still has a touch of the Suzi Quattro's about her?

I remember Deb very well and i know she passed away a good few years ago she was a proper character and seemingly scared of nothing she had a brother called Tony as well i think he still lives in Hyde.

Jesus, didn't realise that - she must have died young, she could have only been 18 in the mid '70s.

 

[Skashion]

In Guvnors Mickey Francis says he heard she threw herself in front of a train in Longsight. Sounded like he was unsure though.

Went and found what he says about her:

There were some real characters. Kippax Debbie was a girl who ran with the Gorton Blues. She could fight. She was built like a bloke and I have seen her get stuck in like a bloke. She had fair hair and she wore all the gear, scarves on her wrist and belt and head and Doc Marten boots. You wouldn't necessarily have wanted her as your girlfriend but she was a loyal City fan, loved the Blues and used to egg the lads on, 'Come on, let's have the bastards'. Dead game. I don't know what happened to her but I heard a story that she threw herself under a train in Longsight.

Guvnors, p. 91.