Scotland v England at Hampden Park 1976, dodging bottles of scotch whisky being thrown by the Jocks - empty ones of course. I managed to catch one and for a split second thought of chucking it back; thankfully it was only for a split second, so dropped it and carried on ducking. I've never been back to Hampden since.
Hungary v England 1981 we won 3 v 1. It was a few days after the riot at the Switzerland game. Only 400 English in a 78,000 crowd. We had to wait at the back of the stadium at the end of the game and 1,000z coming down the concourse at high-level threw everything at us bottles,chairs,bricks,they would have thrown the kitchen sink but as they were a good Socialist country at the time they didn't have running water ---it was pitch black and people were getting knocked out flat everywhere.Blood snot ,fecking terrifying.Its the only time ever i actually thought i was going to die at football.My knees really did feel like they were knocking. Next to me a few Chelsea Herbert's said "fuck this lets run at them"--- now it was stand there and get hurt or have a go--we run up the stairs/terraces and they bolted !!!!
It looked like Hungarian plod would get involved---only they weren't Hungarian they were Russian and they loved us !! They put huge attack dogs in front on us and then wall to wall round us--- the Hungarians had to climb over a 10 foot high fence ,through the dogs and then the Russians,who looked like they were on a jolly,no robo cop shit-- short sleeved shirts normal head gear but massive night sticks.The Hungarians still had a go !!! true nutcases.
They even attacked our hotel but after all that shit we had been through and shed loads of booze they got well and truely done
Did you do many Eng aways in those days @Goonerhater ? I’ve met a Chelsea lad on a few Eng trips who now goes with his wife but used to be with Hickeys Chelsea lot. Say what you like about them, it was every man for themselves and they really did have to battle out of some shit situations whilst also being scorned and unwanted by the FA etc. Have to respect them. My generation of Eng fans now wouldn’t have lasted a second back then and don’t the foreign firms know it nowadays and take the piss.
Scared....Chelsea at Home when they decided to set light to anything red.....Most of their mob were initially on the south terrace, me and a few mates decided to leave the Covered End as all the mob around us singing "Charlton" were in fact Chelsea......there was a bit of a ruck on the East Terrace and we got split up.....I then watched as a huge crew decided to run around the East terrace to get to the Covered End....I stood trying very hard to look disinterested and then this bloke in a Levi jacket with the arms cut off stopped and said "He's Charlton" as he pulled a bayonet out of his DM's....I ran for my life up to the big gates where the Bartram entrance is nowadays and managed to clamber over it and out of the ground, ripping my leather jacket in the process......I decided the best thing was to give it a miss. One of my mates got done pretty badly at Woolwich outside of the Covered Market on his way home.
Dodgey moments from that era included Cardiff, Sheffield Weds, Sunderland, West Ham in the league cup, Southampton and of course Pompey (hats off to them they always travelled in huge numbers)....I was detained in the old Medicine hut with one other Charlton fan and about 25 Pompey which was interesting when they came to chuck us out of the ground at 3.30, but nothing really compares to the Chelsea game.
I remember the Chelsea game, it was my first real experience of trouble on the terraces. I was 15 at the time and on the East aterrace with my uncle and his father in Law. As the Chelsea crew came through the East Terrace to get to the covered end has been the only time I’ve been really scared at a match!
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
I went to that Cambridge game. There was trouble before, during, and after the game.
A more recent example though not scary - Blackburn first away this season - getting train back after from Mill Hill station with a single platform down steps from road. Its a bit of a rough area. The local youth aged about 13 on their push bikes lobbed stuff such as drinks cans and fruit (really) from the top of the steps while shouting abuse. Happens every match according to a Blackburn fan we were chatting to while waiting for train. The best response was to laugh at them or ignore. Only risk was if anyone was silly enough to confront them.
I well remember that Leeds game Pedro. When the Leeds boys started chucking bits of turf at us, some bright spark started chucking it back, and that was when they started trying to climb the fence. I remember looking behind to see that the police and stewards had disappeared as had most of the Charlton. Five of us had gone to the game by car, and had parked in the car park behind the away end. Seemed like a good idea before the game, but afterwards it was full of Leeds trying to pick off away fans. We decided to split up on the basis that five blokes together made us easier targets. A pretty hairy afternoon all round.
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
I went to that Cambridge game. There was trouble before, during, and after the game.
Not sure if we lost 4-0'.If I recall correctly we played them first time away in 73 and lost 1-0.Was loads of trouble before during and afte the game ( another well known Poster might also want to provide his memories).It was a very eventful day to day to say the least and quite hairy is putting it mildly.After the game when it all kicked off got separated from most of the Charlton ( 2 mile walk back to the station didn't help) and ended up in a group of about 10 of us including Jim Jarret -RIP.At some stage we got an escort from the local plod walking around some dark and dingy street a shovel came flying in our direction.Eventually got back to station and onto the train which again was lively among some Charlton fans - but that as they say is another story!
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
Have been in really hostile atmosphere's away - Millwall at the Old Den; Leeds play-off at St Andrew's and the away leg; Man City at Maine Road when things were being chucked (around the time that dart throwing was on the increase); Battle of Stamford Bridge; and also outside in a few barnies (Bristol City cup game, Bristol Rovers at Twerton, Tranmere on a Sunday in the early seventies, Pompey at home in a cup game, etc) but the only two times I've really been scared are:
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
I went to that Cambridge game. There was trouble before, during, and after the game.
Not sure if we lost 4-0'.If I recall correctly we played them first time away in 73 and lost 1-0.Was loads of trouble before during and afte the game ( another well known Poster might also want to provide his memories).It was a very eventful day to day to say the least and quite hairy is putting it mildly.After the game when it all kicked off got separated from most of the Charlton ( 2 mile walk back to the station didn't help) and ended up in a group of about 10 of us including Jim Jarret -RIP.At some stage we got an escort from the local plod walking around some dark and dingy street a shovel came flying in our direction.Eventually got back to station and onto the train which again was lively among some Charlton fans - but that as they say is another story!
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
If the same bloke, was my coach at Villacourt Rovers when i was in the U8's - about 1979. We trained at Delucy School in Abbey Wood. A good coach, perhaps a better nutcase.
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
Being taken ‘unwell’ in the old Covered end only to find the khazi next to the gate was padlocked. Jogging along to the one behind the Valley club to find it was full to the brim
Luckily Alan let me in the back door of the Valley club with seconds to spare.
Me and my brother missed the train to Cambridge along with Kieth Giles. Anyone remember him. Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off. So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end. Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans. Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us . Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack. This happened a couple of times until we released him. Happy days.
If the same bloke, was my coach at Villacourt Rovers when i was in the U8's - about 1979. We trained at Delucy School in Abbey Wood. A good coach, perhaps a better nutcase.
I would be very surprised if it's the same Keith Giles. Last time I saw him (many years ago), he had tried to start a fight at a railway station up north right in front of half a dozen coppers who promptly nicked him. He began struggling and they put him on the ground. He shouted "steam the Old Bill" to two of us who were watching this. He then physically shat himself on purpose and began laughing hysterically as the disbelieving officers carted him off. I might be wrong but he didn't strike as someone who would be into giving up his time for anyone else.
Any time I got on a train to go away an k. Giles was there was scary ! Over years very few real nut jobs on the firm, but he was one of them. As we were looking at how the hell we would get out of a situation, he would be up front offering them all out !! He scared me, Christ knows what they made of him.
Chelsea 88 Sheffield Weds home when they took covered End. All Millwall away games. Cambridge Utd Bristol Rovers Twerton Park, fight in bar under the stand , the biggest man I'd ever seen walked in. I am clanger and afriad of no one he said, and off it went. He came up on the terrace 10 mins later covered in blood ! Man Utd at Birmingham new street, we were going to Walsall. Had them running all overt the place.
Lots of games in the 70’s were scary with no segregation. Sheffield W cup, Chelsea burning ground game, all Millwall games. Chelsea away 70’s & 80’s. Worst for me as a 15yr old and first distant away game, was Wolves in the cup. Attacked as soon as I arrived at midday at the station. Never stopped me going to all these though. Hoolaganism was the norm, and to be honest, part of the fun.
Any time I got on a train to go away an k. Giles was there was scary ! Over years very few real nut jobs on the firm, but he was one of them. As we were looking at how the hell we would get out of a situation, he would be up front offering them all out !! He scared me, Christ knows what they made of him.
Chelsea 88 Sheffield Weds home when they took covered End. All Millwall away games. Cambridge Utd Bristol Rovers Twerton Park, fight in bar under the stand , the biggest man I'd ever seen walked in. I am clanger and afriad of no one he said, and off it went. He came up on the terrace 10 mins later covered in blood ! Man Utd at Birmingham new street, we were going to Walsall. Had them running all overt the place.
Lots of games in the 70’s were scary with no segregation. Sheffield W cup, Chelsea burning ground game, all Millwall games. Chelsea away 70’s & 80’s. Worst for me as a 15yr old and first distant away game, was Wolves in the cup. Attacked as soon as I arrived at midday at the station. Never stopped me going to all these though. Hoolaganism was the norm, and to be honest, part of the fun.
Any time I got on a train to go away an k. Giles was there was scary ! Over years very few real nut jobs on the firm, but he was one of them. As we were looking at how the hell we would get out of a situation, he would be up front offering them all out !! He scared me, Christ knows what they made of him.
Chelsea 88 Sheffield Weds home when they took covered End. All Millwall away games. Cambridge Utd Bristol Rovers Twerton Park, fight in bar under the stand , the biggest man I'd ever seen walked in. I am clanger and afriad of no one he said, and off it went. He came up on the terrace 10 mins later covered in blood ! Man Utd at Birmingham new street, we were going to Walsall. Had them running all overt the place.
Lots of games in the 70’s were scary with no segregation. Sheffield W cup, Chelsea burning ground game, all Millwall games. Chelsea away 70’s & 80’s. Worst for me as a 15yr old and first distant away game, was Wolves in the cup. Attacked as soon as I arrived at midday at the station. Never stopped me going to all these though. Hoolaganism was the norm, and to be honest, part of the fun.
My uncle used to go away on the 70’s and he told me about how it was kicking off everywhere at the Wolves game.
Keith Giles who once threw a sheep in the back of a transit on the way home from an away game ---- heard about the "dirty protest" as well. I heard he was living up north somewhere and another rumour was he got sectioned !
About 15 years ago at an away friendly against Plymouth Argyle I had a hot dog at half time. The fear of not getting away with clean pants was immense.
About 15 years ago at an away friendly against Plymouth Argyle I had a hot dog at half time. The fear of not getting away with clean pants was immense.
About 15 years ago at an away friendly against Plymouth Argyle I had a hot dog at half time. The fear of not getting away with clean pants was immense.
Comments
Firstly at Cambridge (of all places) in the mid-Seventies, probably the first time we ever played them away. I went with a school mate and wore scarves tied round my wrists etc, and got lots of verbals walking past pubs on the way to the ground. We got stuffed 4-0 I think, and afterwards, in the dark, we hiked back to the station on our own. Just short of it, a couple of Charlton lads came haring round the corner and said run, so we did. They were being chased but not very far. We eventually got onto the station platform and on the train and the Cambridge mob of about 30 were looking in the carriages trying to see if they could whack anyone easily. They got on our carriage but I had my foot on the sliding door to our compartment so they couldn't get in easily and then I think the old bill turned up as they left quite quickly. Was sure I was gonna get thumped that day!
The second time was at Elland Road for the last game of the season and Eddie Gray's final match as a player in the early eighties. We lost 1-0 and at the final whistle, loads of youth ran onto the pitch, realised they couldn't get anywhere near Gray (who ran off quickly), so started cantering towards our corner and soon were climbing the barriers to get at us. I ran off the terrace and down to the exit gate where a copper told me to wait, but I ran past him telling him that the Leeds were coming over the fences and I wasn't hanging around to get beat up. It seemed safer on the coach parked just outside though maybe it wasn't?
Five of us had gone to the game by car, and had parked in the car park behind the away end. Seemed like a good idea before the game, but afterwards it was full of Leeds trying to pick off away fans. We decided to split up on the basis that five blokes together made us easier targets. A pretty hairy afternoon all round.
Anyway when we got to Cambridge we got a taxi to the ground arriving about 5 minutes after kick off.
So we done what was normal in those days and headed for the home end.
Upon entering the ground we were in the middle of all the Cambridge hooligans. There was a row of police between us and the Charlton fans so we pushed our way to the front and decided to wait for the next bit of bother and run through to the Charlton fans.
Keithy Giles grabbed a Cambridge fan and we took him into the Charlton fans with us .
Keith then said to the poor bloke who was absolutely shitting himself every time Cambridge fans try to attack us you are Getting a smack.
This happened a couple of times until we released him.
Happy days.
Luckily Alan let me in the back door of the Valley club with seconds to spare.
Shat himself on purpose... what an absolute line.
Never see him shit himself though.