Why was the old Social Club demolished?

Great place that was, I remember a Friday night in there followed by a 5 hr journey to Bournemouth and a 2 nil win and a massive headache

 

I used to enjoy it , you could pop in at half time & have a swifty, which was sometimes more enjoyable than the match, happy days !

 

I always remember when I first started going to Oakwell in 1988, the Social Club was really busy on
match days. I never ever used it, but I knew lads who did. Don't remember who told me
or how it was done, but some fans used to have a few pints and then apparently somehow find a
way to get onto the Ponte Road terrace without paying.

Remember a lot of folks were still suffering from the effects of the Miners strike and for a
lot of supporters money was really tight. Lad I worked with once told me, that when
you could turn up and simply pay at the gate, for a modest " backhander" , one particular operator would
let you slide kids over the top of the turnstile once you had paid to go into the ground. Over the weeks,
he must have cost the Club an absolute fortune.

 

I/we used to go int back room. Watched zenith data in there ( Wednesday away) everyone went mental when we won.
Another memorable moment. v Pompey at home prior to the match. Got in about 1pm. Walked to the bar. Looked round. All I saw. were skinheads in blue and white. Turned round, walked out ( only time ever) . I might be brave but not that brave.

 

Did one have a big hat and a bell, that bloody bloke must be 300 by now

 

Sneaked in many a time.

 

I remember that even the women were skinheads

 

Our bus from

Our bus from kexborough social followed you down........great days

 

His son Jack runs the Mount now

 

I'm stood with him now evin a dinner time bevvy

 

Good lad is jack I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for him

 

me did either used to lift me over or tell me to crawl under. Was always the way!

 

This thread has evoked so many happy memories of how for some reason , times appeared
to be better. Me and my lad used to park in the Education Dept Car park of Berneslai Close.
We used to then make our way to the ground on foot.

First stop was the row of shops at the front of the old bus station where my lad would get a
bag of fries. Over the crossing at Jumble Lane where you would see an increased Police
presence and our fans bedecked in their red and white. Up the hill to the little corner shop,
where we would pick up a couple of bags of Yorkshire mixtures.

From that point, the anticipation levels would start to rise. You would hear the familiar sound
of a guy rattling a bucket. Using fancy dress he would try to raise funds for charities like Barnados
or the R.N.L.I. Seem to remember I read that he was eventually done for fraud.!

Programme on Grove Street, into the ground and more often than not, watch the Reds collect
the three points. Where have those years gone.? Those were the days.

 

I haven't been confident of picking up 3 points in a home fixture since 2000

 

M