Who misses the football special?

[maccieblue]

I remember Watford when the special caught fire in a siding before picking us up for the return journey
we all had to pile on the service train which was already rammed with rugby fans returning from Twickenham

 

[Bluesince1979]

My first special was crystal palace away, last game of the season when they were olaying united the week after in the cup final! Was that 1990?

Anyway as a 15 year old it was an amazing experience , the whole day. Brilliant

 

[Harvster]

The person who oversleeps

 

[lancs blue]

I was on that special. Fun and games that day. On the pitch and police dogs on long leads on the way back to the station.

Yes, I remember the dogs, I think they'd been starving them! Luton's relegation was confirmed that day, from memory I think they needed to win and Spurs lose or draw? Their fans charged on at the final whistle towards the open terrace where the City fans were and then stopped when they realised the City fans were going nowhere. Found the goals footage, not one of Big Joe's best efforts.

 

[BrianW]

I remember going up to Carlisle for a league match circa 1974. The entertainment began in the Manchester Arms near Vicky station, a place I won't try to describe as the oldies remember it and the youngsters would never believe it.

On the way back, a lad was playing 'The Sash My Father Wore' using a table as a drum until a copper stopped him. The party broke up with a rousing chorus of 'I want a wee, wee, mammy,' by hundreds of throats as we walked through Victoria to go our various ways.

The actual match was shite.

 

[INDEEDY DEEDY]

In the early 70s you could get the Special to London for £2 return. It would normally arrive about 11, and depending how far away the ground was, you could have a decent couple of hours in the pub before the game. Got chased a few times but nothing too serious. All in all, a great day out despite mixed results.

 

[City Mike 1969]

Miss it? I regularly used to through too much ale on a Friday night.

 

[jrb]

Cheap and free at times. ;-) Very rarely did the train arrive back in the condition it set off in.

The shop was always at the back of the train, a ball ache if you were sat or more likely stood up at the front of the train.

One of the best bits of the journey was getting off the train in another city, hundreds of lads walking down the platform chanting City, City, getting out of the train station, with a heavy police presence waiting outside for you, being penned in, and then being escorted to the ground, with the hooligans from other clubs waiting, looking on, and trying to get to you. Even if you weren't a proper hooligan in the day, which was pretty much the norm, it was a real buzz and a top day out. Never to be repeated again.

 

[jrb]

Exactly how it used to be until football specials were stopped.

70's?

 

[oakiecokie]

What was the name of the Police Sergeant who was a right twat who always travelled on them way back in the late 60/70`s. What a horrible cnut he was.