Intimidating grounds

They should make Grimsby and Millwall play all their league matches against each other. The funeral directors would do very well.

 

I remember a game there at Christmas time, the atmosphere was very intimidating. 1-1, Roger Wylde scoring for us.

 

That ginnel was horrific that day, I didn't see any bricks but we were just carried along by the crush, my girlfriend's feet never touched the ground.

 

Victoria Ground Stoke, early 90s. Parked in the wrong part of town . It was a long and uncomfortable walk back

 

I was watching a police documentary on YouTube which took me back to the play off semi.

They were playing Villa, and the Birmingham bobbies kept Villa in for well over an hour while they attempted to clear the street down to McDonald’s at the bottom of the hill. Ended up bobbies v Brum fans, with missiles being hurled and lots of arrests - very similar to the day of the semi first leg. I was glad I was on a coach.

Felt a bit surreal at the start of last season when we played them there, and my mate and me walked back to the car with them all without an issue, mind you we had lost

 

The crush wasn't helped by someone from SYP who decided it might be advisable to put a mounted police officer on duty in the ginnel.

 

Night matches at port vale .

 

I remember that police horse, I was stuck in the crush and couldn't move, the horse started munching the hair of a guy jammed right under it's nose, all he could do was shake his head from side to side trying to avoid the horse's gnashers.
Funny at the time but looking back I'm amazed nobody got seriously hurt on that lane

 

I wasn't on a coach for the semi, unfortunately - you made a better choice than I did!

I had to walk back to New Street, on my own. It was not fun. I was dreading some fvcker asking me if I'd got the toyme, or a loyghter.

Wish I'd just taken the sodding bus. I seem to remember there being a pub - in either Digbeth, or Sparkhill, near the ground? - which was in a state of some disrepair. A ready supply of missiles was hence available.

In some ways, it's the best and worst away I've ever done. The scenes behind that goal were something to remember!

 

Don't remember that, but do remember a copper on a Police horse galloping through the car park when we played at Maine Road at the start of the promotion season. My wife didn't see it coming straight for her, as she's only 5 feet tall, and I basically had to push her over to avoid getting trampled.

 

Chelsea in Prem year was horrible. Their fans in the seats above us were throwing all manner of stuff down on us.

 

Yeah I think we decided on the coach for safety reasons. I’d been to St Andrews a few times and never seen any bother, but I knew they turned out for the big games.

Much prefer it these days and at this age. I go all over without any bother. It’s nice not to be looking over your shoulder when walking back to the car.

 

Sing when you’re fishing you only sing when you’re fishing

 

Would have thought their home ends had plenty of non local accents in

 

Blundell Park was ok. We got a free mince pie when we beat them 3-0 on Boxing Day 1999.

 

The players are only talking about the grounds from a playing point of view so the fans who have a far ‘wider’ perspective are going to have a different view.
‘Bad’ games have been: Liverpool in the League Cup, Birmingham in the Play off semi, Ninian Park because they are welsh. Honourable mentions for nastiness go to; Hartlepool, Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park, Portsmouth in the 70/80s, Bradford in the 70/80s (absolute nutters!) Colchester in 1980, The Police and their dogs in Plymouth early 80s, Chelsea in the 80s and Millwall because they are just obnoxious tw@ts.

 

Millwall 1 September 1990. Not the most pleasant ground at the best of times. We got humped 4-1, I thought the locals would leave relatively happy but not so. The Den was a strange old ground and the away fans were above the home fans streaming out. unfortunately one of our own decided to get his own stream out and moisturise the locals below. To say it was lively as we left would be an understatement.

Other grounds which used to get the adrenalin running were:

Ayresome Park
Elland Road
Molineux
Maine Road
Victoria Ground
White Hart Lane

Lots of happy memories.

 

The Den in the 70s & 80s, Upton Park & St James Pk 80s, Elland Rd 70s, Victoria Ground 80s - not for the faint hearted

 

I’ve been to Stoke a lot over the years and never had any bother, just a great time in the Waggon and Horses. That includes the Pink Panther cup game when a couple of us went in with the Stoke fans because the queues for the Barnsley end were so big.
I think we must have had a beer or two because when David Currie scored I pulled out an Irish tricolour with ‘Barnsley’ written across it and waved it around. Not the brightest thing to do at the best of times. My memories of what happened next are quite vague though I do remember sailing through the air and landing among my fellow Barnsley fans.

 

In the 60s & early 70s due to no segregation & not bothered bobbies nearly every local derby was risky Bradford C, Halifax, Chesterfield, Donny even Darlington were all as bad. I remember the Bradford fans getting in the Ponty early but moved out near kick off time when the Barnsley fans started to arrive.