WestBrom.com
West Bromwich Albion FC Forums => West Bromwich Albion FC => Topic started by: ashdoy on February 14, 2015, 10:16:54 PM
-
Firstly; im 24 & I apologise if i sound as if life only exsisted post 1990.
I just wondered what Football, and Albion games in particular were like before the "modern era".
Did fans go to pibs beforehand? Did we make a day of it? Etc etc etc.
I know the vast majority of users on here are 60 or younger, but id be very keen to get an insight into games in the 30s, 40s & 50s if at all possible.
Was it purely men that attended? Were the atmospheres good/better?
-
Firstly; im 24 & I apologise if i sound as if life only exsisted post 1990.
I just wondered what Football, and Albion games in particular were like before the "modern era".
Did fans go to pibs beforehand? Did we make a day of it? Etc etc etc.
I know the vast majority of users on here are 60 or younger, but id be very keen to get an insight into games in the 30s, 40s & 50s if at all possible.
Was it purely men that attended? Were the atmospheres good/better?
No mate, we never went to pibs, had to walk to the nearest railway station, get off at Hawthorns Halt, trudge to the ground, buy programmes and badges of our favourite players off the vendors, squeeze into the turnstiles, stand in your favorite place, next to your mates, have bovril or beers from the back of the old rainbow, walk round the ground and change ends at half time, stand next to opponents supporters, take the proverbial win or lose, shake hands, get the train back, (steam engine), walk back home. or if you went by coach listen to the football results on sports report and half time and discuss the game.
Happy days, walk up pay your money, walk in, watch the game cheer the team simples ;D
-
In the seventies my dad used to go to the old Throstles club on Birmingham Road before the game. i would sit next to old guy who checked the members in until 5 to 3 then me my Dad and the the other members of my family would walk up to the ground. When we played in the cup games we used to go in the Smethwick and regularly I would crawl under the legs of the fans to get in for free ! Oh and it was mixed fans then as well..great times and seeing us in Europe as well....!
-
When I lived just down the road in Halfords Lane..I walked.
When the family moved to Handsworth, I walked up Sandwell road.
When the family moved to B6 not far from the Vile ground, I caught the number 8 and then the 72/73/74 or 75 to the Baggies.
Mid '60's I followed the baggies around England, both home and away. The company I worked for (Concentric Pressed Products), allowed me to go to travel to mid week matches.
Supporters' coaches to away games and WEMBLEY in '67 and '68.
Moved to Droitwich in '68, drove at first then travelled by train to watch the Baggies.
I remember standing up the Brummie Road end, watching Astle, Hope, and Brown in the 60's.
It was a family game, even though it was mainly blokes who went.
Oh, happy days.
-
Started going in 69 aged 8. Me dad took an empty beer crate into the brummie road end for me to stand on. How things have changed
-
Dad took me to my first match in 1954 (aged 8 years) in those days there was a standing enclosure in front of the Halfords.
The Halfords was the only area in the ground with seats. The Brummie had a roof but no back and the wind used to howl around there. Where the East Stand is now, and the Smethwick was all terracing. I think that the first time that sing or chanting was heard in England was after the 1962 World cup where we heard the first chants of B-R-A-Z-I-L.
I became a member of the first singers and chanters at the baggies. Went to 2 losing League cup finals, and the greatest moment in 1968. Bought my first season ticket in 1969 (standing one on the Brummie). Had a season ticket ever since, (now in the East Stand) some of the best days out in my life following the baggies away before hooliganism reared it's ugly head.Had 2 great pubs (Woodman and Hawthorns) in the shadow of the ground. My dad went to the 1954 cup final, and on the Sunday morning he took me to Albion's captain Len Millard's house nearby and at 8years old I had his cup winners medal in my hand. 2 weeks later Len brought the F.A cup to my school. Imagine that happening today.The players were so humble and lived amongst us in those days.
-
No mate, we never went to pibs, had to walk to the nearest railway station, get off at Hawthorns Halt, trudge to the ground, buy programmes and badges of our favourite players off the vendors, squeeze into the turnstiles, stand in your favorite place, next to your mates, have bovril or beers from the back of the old rainbow, walk round the ground and change ends at half time, stand next to opponents supporters, take the proverbial win or lose, shake hands, get the train back, (steam engine), walk back home. or if you went by coach listen to the football results on sports report and half time and discuss the game.
Happy days, walk up pay your money, walk in, watch the game cheer the team simples ;D
Wading threw the 1 inch of Wee at half time. :o in the toilets
-
Teams like Spurs West Ham. Man Utd coming in the brummie rd to try and take it and in some cases doing so.
-
Teams like Spurs West Ham. Man Utd coming in the brummie rd to try and take it and in some cases doing so.
The days where morons ruled. Thank god they are gone.
-
I started going in 75/76 . the 70's and to some extent the 80's were ruined by hooliganism although I'd have to say whilst conditions for fans now n the ground are superb compared to back then , I'd love terracing to return. Echo the pre match ritual of the throstle club, my Dad was a member of the Halfords lane one and was great in there pre match, smelt of pipe smoke as did the ground back then. Still reminds me of going to the match when I smell pipe smoke even now. Happy days
-
I started going in 75/76 . the 70's and to some extent the 80's were ruined by hooliganism although I'd have to say whilst conditions for fans now n the ground are superb compared to back then , I'd love terracing to return. Echo the pre match ritual of the throstle club, my Dad was a member of the Halfords lane one and was great in there pre match, smelt of pipe smoke as did the ground back then. Still reminds me of going to the match when I smell pipe smoke even now. Happy days
I agree. The whole football experience was a million times better back in the 70's / 80's. If we could return to those times without the yobs and with a bit more of a safety ethic everything would be fantastic.
-
remember first going to the baggies in the late fifties when i was a kid, watching likes of Ronnie Allan, Derek Kevan, Bobby Robson and then moving on through the 60's with the "King" and the "Bomber" and Bobby Hope and all the other heroes of 68, then we moved into the seventies with the " Three Degrees" Robbo and the other great players of that ilk, To all those fans who never had the match day experience of going to the Hawthorns during those great days, its your own fault for being so young, but seriously although i have enjoyed the last 10 years generally speaking, it cannot and probably never will beat the experience of those fabulous years
-
Teams like Spurs West Ham. Man Utd coming in the brummie rd to try and take it and in some cases doing so.
I remember Spurs doing that around 1974 came in before the game and stood at the top left of the Brummie Road ( if looking down to the pitch) then marched across singing , not many Albion in at the time. At half time they were winning 2-0 at the end we had won 4-2. They came steaming up the middle entrance of the Brummie End - mayhem ensued! Happy Days :-\
-
I can remember going on a bus and we had to get off so it got up the hill we came to.Blokes running down the side of the pitch with the takings off the turnstiles.Barmy days!!
-
I remember Spurs doing that around 1974 came in before the game and stood at the top left of the Brummie Road ( if looking down to the pitch) then marched across singing , not many Albion in at the time. At half time they were winning 2-0 at the end we had won 4-2. They came steaming up the middle entrance of the Brummie End - mayhem ensued! Happy Days :-\
i was at that game, they came in early when all the big men were still in the pub Haha I was about 13 at the time hiding round the back of the brummie
-
I remember Spurs doing that around 1974 came in before the game and stood at the top left of the Brummie Road ( if looking down to the pitch) then marched across singing , not many Albion in at the time. At half time they were winning 2-0 at the end we had won 4-2. They came steaming up the middle entrance of the Brummie End - mayhem ensued! Happy Days :-\
Remember that game well, thought it was later than 74 though. Spurs in the Brummie at about 2.15 then all kicked off when Albion lads turned up a bit later. As for the game wasn't it Peter Taylor's debut for Spurs, there big signing from Palace and he scored 2 goals but 2nd half we battered them and won 4-2. After the game there was mayhem on the coach park where the East Stand car park is now.
-
76 I think? The main difference between now and then was the sheer noise. Perhaps I'm romanticising as I was a just a kid in the late 60s but when surged forward the roar was deafening and when we scored it seemed to go on and on and on. The players were proper men too.
-
76 I think? The main difference between now and then was the sheer noise. Perhaps I'm romanticising as I was a just a kid in the late 60s but when surged forward the roar was deafening and when we scored it seemed to go on and on and on. The players were proper men too.
knees up mother Brown in the Brummie, used to lose all your mates when it surged forward then spend next five minutes looking for them and regrouping ready for a chant of Fish clap clap clap clap clap,chips clap clap clap clap clap, where did that start :D
-
This video might be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUfNY7R0KJA
-
This video might be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUfNY7R0KJA
That is a great compilation, bought back so many memories of some of my heroes.
I loved the bit with the guy combing his eyebrows in the crowd.
But the best bit, well that has to be the mini skirts. ;)
-
That is a great compilation, bought back so many memories of some of my heroes.
I loved the bit with the guy combing his eyebrows in the crowd.
But the best bit, well that has to be the mini skirts. ;)
Fashion definitely got a few things right back then :P
The book itself has loads of details and stories about being an Albion fan in the Sixties and Seventies too; might be useful to the original poster.
-
Fashion definitely got a few things right back then :P
The book itself has loads of details and stories about being an Albion fan in the Sixties and Seventies too; might be useful to the original poster.
recently bought this book of Amazon keeping it till I go away in may
-
Them old leather laced balls killed your head has they got heavier in the rain. :-\
-
standing in the under 15's queue (25p to get in if I remember correctly) with some very tall 15yr olds :)
the roar every time willy Johnson got on the ball :)
being relegated with Don Howe as manager :(
getting hit by a bottle underneath the BRE lobbed by some spurs knob :o
-
This video might be of interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUfNY7R0KJA
great memories that brought tears to my eyes and goose pimples, the Rotherham beach party, losing to stoke AGAIN 3-2 and the unforgettable Swansea play off game, I say this with honesty WE HAD THE BEST FANS IN THE WORLD. we had that many different coloured strips amongst us it was unbelievable. those were the days.
-
I remember my dad getting ready to go to Wembley in 68, and dressing up in his suit and tie like some of the fans in the film.
-
I remember my Dad, God Bless him, in the early 50's lifting me and my brother over the turnstile so it didn't click round and add to the count of those attending. He'd then give the turnstile operator a shilling (5p) which would go straight in the blokes pocket.
That would save my Dad about 3 shillings (15p) and would buy Him a couple of pints on Saturday night.
We stood behind the goal at the Smethwick End, which was all standing and regularly full. When it was full me and my brother would be manhandled over the heads of the blokes in the crowd down to the wall at the front. We used to sit on the wall and a copper would come round and make us sit with our legs on the other side of the wall.
They were simple times and people appeared more friendly and willing to help others.
My first experience of yobs and intimidation at a football match was against Man United. In those days there was no segregation it was quite frightening at the time.
But still, I'd take those days back in a heart beat.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AmYpvsaQA
Just found this one. All you youngsters.....look out for the clip of Liverpool away in 1978/79 season. The atmosphere in those days was unbelievable to imagine now. We were actually top of the league at kick-off, but Liverpool beat us. Its the last time we were top of the pile. There were thousands of albion there....I was actually in the Kop with a couple of mates (keeping very quiet). Just look at the size of the crowd at Anfield in them days!
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AmYpvsaQA
Just found this one. All you youngsters.....look out for the clip of Liverpool away in 1978/79 season. The atmosphere in those days was unbelievable to imagine now. We were actually top of the league at kick-off, but Liverpool beat us. Its the last time we were top of the pile. There were thousands of albion there....I was actually in the Kop with a couple of mates (keeping very quiet). Just look at the size of the crowd at Anfield in them days!
Hadn't realised there was a book that recently came out about the Brummie Road !
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AmYpvsaQA
Just found this one. All you youngsters.....look out for the clip of Liverpool away in 1978/79 season. The atmosphere in those days was unbelievable to imagine now. We were actually top of the league at kick-off, but Liverpool beat us. Its the last time we were top of the pile. There were thousands of albion there....I was actually in the Kop with a couple of mates (keeping very quiet). Just look at the size of the crowd at Anfield in them days!
I was also in the Kop that day. Got pinned to a crush barrier during one surge, but made sure I ducked under for the rest. Scary, but exciting.
-
Hadn't realised there was a book that recently came out about the Brummie Road !
Yep, covers the birth of the Brummie Road choir and cup wins (1964-68), the 1978-79 season, bits of the early Nineties and the 2001-02 promotion.
-
I was also in the Kop that day. Got pinned to a crush barrier during one surge, but made sure I ducked under for the rest. Scary, but exciting.
I was also on the Kop. Got in through the last turnstile open before it slammed shut behind me. Everyone was in place on the terracing and felt they were all looking at me as I stood on the only free space directly behind a pillar, albion scarf hidden deep inside my pocket. Forced to applaud Liverpool's two goals. Meanwhile there was mayhem in the Anfield Road End as Albion fans in the home section, who had instinctively stood close to the away section, were attacked. Remember flare going off and fans being stretchered away behind the goal. Apparently Albion fans who were locked also got attcked. It was that sort of day.
-
I was at the Anfield Road End of the ground. Shame the video doesn't show our goal. Pandemonium. Better days. That said there are two things I don't miss. Firstly, overcrowded terracing. Don't get me wrong I loved the terraces and would love safe standing to be introduced (the Brummie just shouldn't be all seated) but it is amazing a Hillsborough like disaster didn't happen earlier (indeed it did at Burnden Park and at Ibrox). A couple of times at the Hawthorns (Man Utd and Liverpool in 68, Villa in 73) I remember feeling really scared and struggling to breath. Secondly the idiots. Starting in the late 60s, by the 80s it had become ridiculous and lead to the death trap fences and fans being treated like cattle. I mean when you were young it was quite fun for you and your mates to have a little scrap but there were some absolute psychos.
-
Started going in '71 .... the 4-4 draw(and eventual loss on pens) to Colchester in the Watney Cup final (Remember the rule was tried when offside was only in the penalty box)
Remember that in the early 70's we were always struggling to avoid relegation and in general the football was enjoyable because of the crowds but as I remember as a teenager sometimes we struggled a bit with the results.
I stood in the Rainbow stand terraces and could move from one end to the other just to see us attack.
Don Howe came in, and the football sometimes was dire .... but we bought Willie Johnston and he was generally worth the entrance fee on his own once he settle in.
Remember getting relegated in 1973 .... think it sunk in when we lost 2-0 at home on a cold midweek night to Man City and Tony Book scored thier second which was a pile driver towards the Brumie Road end that went in off the post and I remember thinking our fate was sealed.
First year we went to Everton in the FA Cup and I think played the first ever game on a Sunday ... We drew 0-0 and then brought them back to the Hawthorns on a cold wet Sunday night and Bomber Brown gave us a 1-0 win and Willie Johnston was sent off for fighting with Archie Styles, their fullback.
Boxing Day 1973, we had been relegated and Villa had been promoted from the 3rd Division and we clashed at The Hawthorns, 43,000 cramed in and Bomber Brown headed the first at the Brummie Road end and Joe Mayo scored the second at the Smethwick end after a run down the wing by our fullback Gordon Nesbit.
We also beat them 3-1 at Villa Park in March .... Wile and Bomber x2 .... no promotion but happy times at school.
Johnny Giles arrived in 1975 ..... that bloke was a Leeds Hero and got our team ... Osbourn, Cantello, Wile, Robertson, Mulligan, Robson, Bomber, Ally Brown, Johnston etc playing football ...... amazing.
Remember the Oldham Goal that Bomber scored and was there in the 15,000.... but how many remember the run in when we went to Charlton and lost 2-1 on a Friday night when Derek Hales nearly ruined our promotion chances with about 3 games to go .... We went to Leyton Orient where Laurie Cunningham, playing for them hit our post and we hung on for another midweek result of 0-0 before eventually succeeding at Oldham .... be bought Laurie and Joe Mayo went the other way, but not before he scored a screamer on Boxing Day 1975 against Oldham at the Hawthorns and we drew 1-1 .... he scored at about 4:40pm ... because that is exactly the time my Dad passed away ... and he always blagged me about how good Mayo was as I didn't agree ... the the old man had lost his sight since 1945 .... shows how little I knew as a 16 year old.
Promotion assured we went on to see some fantasdtic games in the late 70's where we expected to win every game we played in ... as you mentioned Regis, Batson, Cunningham, Robson .... some of the football we played was out of this world .... the main memory fort most people was the 5-3 victory at Old Trafford .... and I know I have Rose tinted glasses ... but I honestly think for 3-4 years we played that style of attacking football every week.
Times were good, there was violence on the terraces, especially when you travelled away .... just had to avoid the trouble and just remember the good times.
Regards
AW
-
Remember that game well, thought it was later than 74 though. Spurs in the Brummie at about 2.15 then all kicked off when Albion lads turned up a bit later. As for the game wasn't it Peter Taylor's debut for Spurs, there big signing from Palace and he scored 2 goals but 2nd half we battered them and won 4-2. After the game there was mayhem on the coach park where the East Stand car park is now.
I know it was after 1978 but there were a lot of Spurs fans in the brummie during the 1982 league cup semi 1st leg (0 - 0). Loads of trouble, they were ferrying the injured out throughout the 1st half! A big crowd was in, can't remember how many. We lost the 2nd leg at Spurs and there was a lot of fighting there too. Still cant stand white hart lane (or highbury for that matter).
-
I know it was after 1978 but there were a lot of Spurs fans in the brummie during the 1982 league cup semi 1st leg (0 - 0). Loads of trouble, they were ferrying the injured out throughout the 1st half! A big crowd was in, can't remember how many. We lost the 2nd leg at Spurs and there was a lot of fighting there too. Still cant stand white hart lane (or highbury for that matter).
32,166
-
Living in the South with no connections to the Midlands, I started supporting Albion in 1958 aged 9. My older brother was a Villa fan but we were too young to know that we were enemies!!
My first Albion game was at Fulham in 1961 and seeing my heroes Don Howe and Bobby Robson (although he had moved to Fulham). Was at the 1966 1st Leg League Cup Final at West Ham, the QPR 1967 Final, couldn't get a ticket for 68 Cup Final but at Wembley again in 69 v Man City. I saw many great games v the London teams and my first mgame in 7atch at the Hawthorns was in 1972. Made it to Oldham in 76 and managed to get tickets from the wonderful Tony Brown for all the cup run in 77. Wembley hasn't been kind to me as whenever I've been there Albion lost - see what happens this season!!
Blooded my 6 year old son away at Millwall, not sure whether that was madness or very brave, but he's now 25 and we still travel to matches together.
-
Late fifties and early sixties we used to cycle from Blackheath to the ground and pay 6d to leave our bikes in somebody's front garden in Halford Lane . Also sometimes cycled early morning, then queued in freezing cold for hours for cup tickets. On the way back we used to go into the public toilets by the Merivale to warm our hands, if you see what I mean!
-
Started going in '71 .... the 4-4 draw(and eventual loss on pens) to Colchester in the Watney Cup final (Remember the rule was tried when offside was only in the penalty box)
Remember that in the early 70's we were always struggling to avoid relegation and in general the football was enjoyable because of the crowds but as I remember as a teenager sometimes we struggled a bit with the results.
I stood in the Rainbow stand terraces and could move from one end to the other just to see us attack.
Don Howe came in, and the football sometimes was dire .... but we bought Willie Johnston and he was generally worth the entrance fee on his own once he settle in.
Remember getting relegated in 1973 .... think it sunk in when we lost 2-0 at home on a cold midweek night to Man City and Tony Book scored thier second which was a pile driver towards the Brumie Road end that went in off the post and I remember thinking our fate was sealed.
First year we went to Everton in the FA Cup and I think played the first ever game on a Sunday ... We drew 0-0 and then brought them back to the Hawthorns on a cold wet Sunday night and Bomber Brown gave us a 1-0 win and Willie Johnston was sent off for fighting with Archie Styles, their fullback.
Boxing Day 1973, we had been relegated and Villa had been promoted from the 3rd Division and we clashed at The Hawthorns, 43,000 cramed in and Bomber Brown headed the first at the Brummie Road end and Joe Mayo scored the second at the Smethwick end after a run down the wing by our fullback Gordon Nesbit.
We also beat them 3-1 at Villa Park in March .... Wile and Bomber x2 .... no promotion but happy times at school.
Johnny Giles arrived in 1975 ..... that bloke was a Leeds Hero and got our team ... Osbourn, Cantello, Wile, Robertson, Mulligan, Robson, Bomber, Ally Brown, Johnston etc playing football ...... amazing.
Remember the Oldham Goal that Bomber scored and was there in the 15,000.... but how many remember the run in when we went to Charlton and lost 2-1 on a Friday night when Derek Hales nearly ruined our promotion chances with about 3 games to go .... We went to Leyton Orient where Laurie Cunningham, playing for them hit our post and we hung on for another midweek result of 0-0 before eventually succeeding at Oldham .... be bought Laurie and Joe Mayo went the other way, but not before he scored a screamer on Boxing Day 1975 against Oldham at the Hawthorns and we drew 1-1 .... he scored at about 4:40pm ... because that is exactly the time my Dad passed away ... and he always blagged me about how good Mayo was as I didn't agree ... the the old man had lost his sight since 1945 .... shows how little I knew as a 16 year old.
Promotion assured we went on to see some fantasdtic games in the late 70's where we expected to win every game we played in ... as you mentioned Regis, Batson, Cunningham, Robson .... some of the football we played was out of this world .... the main memory fort most people was the 5-3 victory at Old Trafford .... and I know I have Rose tinted glasses ... but I honestly think for 3-4 years we played that style of attacking football every week.
Times were good, there was violence on the terraces, especially when you travelled away .... just had to avoid the trouble and just remember the good times.
Regards
AW
Boxing day 73 v the vile was my first game at The Hawthorns. I could've sworn Bomber scored both goals that day.
-
My first visit the The Hawthorns was in the 1966/67 season; we lost 2 -1 to Sheffield Wednesday :(
Saw us lose 1 - 0 to Chelsea, Man Utd (4 - 3 Brilliant game), Villa away 3 -2 and a 1 -1 draw at Stoke before I finally saw us win a match 1- 0 at home to Everton Clark got the winner late on in the match. First trouble I ever saw was at that Man Utd game. Albion and Villa fans together in the Holte End that season with no bother that I saw, a couple of seasons later and there seemed to be trouble at pretty much every match.
I used to get the bus from Birmingham city centre to the Hawthorns - they used to put on loads of special buses, after the game there would be a queue of thousands (well it seemed that many to me) along the Birmingham Road waiting for a fleet of buses to ferry us back into Brum.
I remember Sammy (never did know his surname) who would lead the cheering on The Brummie Road. He would get onto his mates' shoulders with his back to the pitch and 'conduct' the chanting waving his arms about like a maniac Great times
-
Do you remember that old refreshment "café" at the back of the Rainbow Stand? Had my first ever cup of Bovril there,my tongue is still hurting now! Mcdonalds coffee is luke warm compared to that Bovril!
-
Some great memories for all us old 'uns! I remember the year Spurs won the double, beating us in the cup on the way. I got passed down to the front and sat on the gravel at the side of the pitch...imagine that now!
On another occasion, my granddad introduced me to the great Jessie Pennington in Halfords Lane. I was in awe of the great man!
We've had some terrific times along the way, and the book about Dave Matthews 'Mr Albion' captures my era perfectly....wish I could do it all over again!
-
Late fifties and early sixties we used to cycle from Blackheath to the ground and pay 6d to leave our bikes in somebody's front garden in Halford Lane . Also sometimes cycled early morning, then queued in freezing cold for hours for cup tickets. On the way back we used to go into the public toilets by the Merivale to warm our hands, if you see what I mean!
interesting reading that because I worked for brookes forklift in Smethwick for 20yrs and the owner said he made his money to start the company from charging fans to leave their cycles in his garden in Halfords lane.
did anyone else on here ever sell refreshments walking round the pitch, I did it for one season but the abuse you got especially from away fans was scary but at least I got to see games for free.
-
interesting reading that because I worked for brookes forklift in Smethwick for 20yrs and the owner said he made his money to start the company from charging fans to leave their cycles in his garden in Halfords lane.
did anyone else on here ever sell refreshments walking round the pitch, I did it for one season but the abuse you got especially from away fans was scary but at least I got to see games for free.
Ed Ballsup says he should have given me a receipt. I bet he's got a Swiss bank account now!
-
Boxing day 73 v the vile was my first game at The Hawthorns. I could've sworn Bomber scored both goals that day.
Correct both goals down to Bomber. Also joe Mayo scored that goal on Boxing Day against Orient not Oldham in 1975. Cunningham was outstanding for them that day.
-
Do you remember that old refreshment "café" at the back of the Rainbow Stand? Had my first ever cup of Bovril there,my tongue is still hurting now! Mcdonalds coffee is luke warm compared to that Bovril!
yeah remember that little shack round the back of the Rainbow, also when they opened the gates 10-15 minutes before the end of the game, running round the back and sitting in the seats or was it a long bench up in the top of the Rainbow stand and having to bend down to see all the pitch as the roof was so low :)
-
Ed Ballsup says he should have given me a receipt. I bet he's got a Swiss bank account now!
sadly he passed away many years ago and he was a very wealthy man owning lots of property including the most photographed thatched cottage in England somewhere in Stratford upon Avon. from small acorns aye.