BFC Nightmare away days

The one I'm aware of was as I said. We were chuckling as the word quickly spread. and the fans were coming in late. Point being n'all the driver took em through the blackwall tunnel. And was giving those questioning him the deaf un. Everyone taking the piss out of the driver after the game. Where the busses were parked. Hope they got a refund. Can't remember if they did.

 

Another I've remembered is Swindon away probably at the start of the season as it was boiling hot weather. Probably late 90s. We were doing an over nighter so me and mate booked on coach run by Gary Sephton (RIP Big fella).

If I remember rightly we took 2 coaches and back then there was no rules governing where you could go pre match. All was paid up, coach, accomodation etc. Then we pull up in Swindon for the drop off ...... happy days.... then...... Gary gets up and says "I'm sorry lads I forgot to book the digs!"

FFS Gary. So after plenty of moaning it was like that scene off Only Fools & Horses - Jolly Boys Outing edition where everyone bolts off in different directions looking for somewhere to kip for the night. Me and mate just wanted a quick pint (turned into a dozen) and then we'd find somewhere later.......... eventually we just went out for the night with our bags and kipped in a multi story car park with our bags as pillows after the nightclub. I'm still waiting for a refund 25+ years later Think we lost aswell and didn't pull aswell as most lasses aren't bothered about going back a lads car park when he's not washed for 24 hours.

Happy days!!!!!!!

 

It used to be almost a right of passage for any away traveller to have experienced Gary Sephton’s tours.

I and my pals had many adventures with Gary and, as said earlier. a proper bloke. The trip to Man City in 1996/7 season was memorable for a couple of reasons.

First of all it was the first time i’ve travelled to an away game on a tracky double decker. That in itself was novel but this became a bit of an issue as our driver didn’t know a way to Manchester without going under a low bridge. After around. an hour and a half we were no further than Dunford Bridge.

Part of that journey Gary came round with the usual football card with a newspaper hanging out of his back pocket. As he left our group another sadly departed pal thought it would be funny to set fire to the paper. Gary made his way to the front of the bus but what seemed like literally a couple of seconds he was well alight. A few panicking hands managed to diff out the fire.

Anyway we got to the game beat Man City and had many happy away days with big Gary.

 

And another (ps it wasn't my fault)

Huddy away late 90s. Walking out after match up that hill where the two pubs were on the opposite corners at the top. I'd separated from mates as Id got a doo to go to with my new missus and meet her family for the first time so I'd been sensible all day. Bumped into Mapp lads I grew up with making their way to the train station ......... then boom. We got ambushed by a massive group of Huddersfield. A 'mellee' ensued and then I saw the Cop van screech up. My first thought was 'thank eff for that' but i ended up the first in it!

Was 5-6 in it eventually all with our own rooms. When we all got to the station I was conscious about this new family doo so I thought I'd try and turn the salesman charm on. "Excuse me, how do we get processed? Is it in alphabetical order?" ........... "yes why?" Was the reply. So regrettably I said "Oh that's good. My name is Gary Aardvark"........ well that went down like a sh17 sandwich. I was last out.......

Went to the station after 3-4 hours to try and get train to make the doo. Just nearly there and dropped on the kids who'd ambushed us and got a few more for desserts. Made the doo for the last hour or so. Made a cracking impression as you can imagine. Then to top it off weeks later got a £200 fine and 100 hours community service!

 

Stoke away in FA Cup, January 1989. Coach broke down en route but 3 of us managed to thumb down another coach and hitch a lift. Got there 5 minutes before kick off thinking we'd cracked it.
Then we saw the packed car park and turnstiles. Four goals later, with only the crowd roars to go on, we still hadn't got in the ground. Found out we were 3-1 up when we got in with about 15 mins left.
Just in time to see Stoke score twice to get a 3-3 draw......

 

I'll probably know you. Used to travel regular with him back int day.

 

These tales have been amusing reading, I've obviously led a charmed life when it comes to away days!

 

I'm in the same boat, Helen. Despite going away with The Colliers for over fifty years, I've been extremely fortunate not to experience anything like the sort of problems some of our posters have. However, this thread is fascinating, funny and thoroughly entertaining.

 

I darent even tell you the ones about the theft of a sheep, a grandfather clock and that bell the Pompey fan rings

They weren't me though. Fellow traveller associated. Not on the same day though.

Oh and a kidnap. Id forgot that til now.

 

Preston away the year it was called off. Had music on in the car all the way there so didn’t find out it was called off until we got to the ground haha.

 

You can't leave it there I'm intrigued!

 

And Sheff Utd when we sent them down. Me and my brother made some flags about welcome to L1, dingles say bye bye etc. Got collared on the way in after been searched. Ticket confiscated. So had to go for a pint in Sheffield on my own until full time. First pint and all their banned hooligans came in. Now I'm not bragging but i can pull a fantastic Scouse accent off and pretended to be one so I didn't get a beating.

Then left and 20 mins or so managed to sneak in the home end. Don't know how but lads I'd gone with saw me and were sing at me and pointing. So i obviously had to leave quickly. Then managed to get in our end to celebrate sending them down. Then a foto of me in the away end with a pig mask on in the Chron.

I need to grow up.

 

Bus gearbox blew up coming down Hoylandswaine hill if its the same one !

 

Is the grandfather clock Southampton related? Was Royston Legion involved somehow?

 

I'll wait til I've had a few pints later. I'm concerned I'm coming across like a right plum. I'm not like but just lead a colourful past. Not in a going to prison type past ..... Just a loveable rogue and been a magnet for finding myself in certain situation type past.

 

Yep, same here.

 

I do remember hearing of a kidnapping, after we'd seen us lose 3-0 at Port Vale, FA Cup 2nd Round December 1976. A couple of days later, we were told about what had happened to a Vale fan. He'd been mouthing off to a coachful of Barnsley fans after the match. The coach stopped and a group of blokes jumped off and grabbed him, dragging him onto the coach. He was given a heavy beating, as the coach made it's way home. The Vale supporter was kicked off the coach just outside Penistone and told he'd have to make his own way home. This was obviously before the days of mobile phones.
I have no idea whether this was true, or which group of Barnsley fans were supposed to have done it.

 

No this was early 90s. A hitchhiker who ended up in the underneath luggage compartment and dropped off on Dodworth Road. Current location unknown.

 

Rushing home from Milton Keynes one afternoon to pick up the lad in Bingley and a short drive to Valley Parade to meet @YTBFC and @arabian_ian and a couple of others for a quick couple in a pub / brothel in Manningham. P155 wet through on the short walk to VP only to see it called off just before kick-off.

Start of a great run, that was.

 

It was the South Coast and been trying to think which club. I thought Pompey but could be wrong. Don't think it was Royston Legion it was the nutty bus.