Battle of 1984

Re: I can't remember it.

On a completely different subject, have you seen the video doing the rounds of the Seattle football(soccer) fans trying to recreate European ultras with megaphones, etc? Oh dear, it's awful and embarrassing.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

No. US league football leaves me totally cold. It has no roots and just comes across as an extension of corporate America. I've thought about going to games when I've been over there but never bothered. If I'm in France or Spain or somewhere in Europe I'll look up what matches are on and go if I can but the US has little appeal football-wise.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

I was there that night, but me and my dad missed the first half because we were stuck in the fog. Listening to local radio there were lots of calls from Liverpool fans saying that they should be broadcasting commentary for the Barnsley fans stuck on the motorway. I can't honestly say that we felt in any way threatened, certainly nowhere near the atmosphere at St Andrews in 2000 for the playoff semi - 18 years later. Without doubt the worst I've experienced.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

I don't blame you, it's genuinely embarrassing. A load of Americans taking German ultra songs and translating them or walking through the streets singing the "no-one likes us, we don't care" song. Urgh.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

The only good thing about football hooliganism was that it kept the corporations and middle-classes out of the game, the sky-high prices we pay for tickets these days are partly a consequence of the downturn in football hooliganism, and that was mainly a consequence of Ecstasy arriving in the UK.

I do miss those days before the Premier League, because what we have now is a World League that just happens to take place on English soil.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

There was nothing 'good 'about football hooliganism.

The biggest reason for the decline in football hooliganism was the introduction of CCTV at grounds -- nothing to do with Ecstasy

 

Re: I can't remember it.

You're twisting my melons man.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

Try moss side Manchester when Clint marcelle scores an injury time winner.

I got nutted. And even the copper who saw it turned away and didn't want to get involved.

Meanwhile I turned around to stand my ground to be confronted with 5000 of the ****s.

Needless to say I sucked in my lip/blood closed my jacket. Head down and walked.

What else can you do when you are 18 and on your own trying to get back to the bus (parked at the other end of the ground)

Oh happy days

 

perhaps because we have freedom of choice in this country to read what we like??????????????????????????????????

ffs criticising someone for what they read now...

 

Re: I can't remember it.

Yes I can imagine what that was like, I went to Main Road in the late 80s and we got a decent 1-1 draw (Roger Wylde scored I think) and the local wildlife made it quite unpleasant I have to say. Fortunately we kept away from any physical violence but I dare say there was some that day.

 

Just seemed a bit strange given the OP's opinion of the author.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

You're spot on about Maine Road. The last two times I went there I went with Dave L (Sara's hubby) and I felt ok going in but coming out after the game was pretty intimidating.

 

Re: I can't remember it.

It was. Who cares though. That was 5 wins out of 5. Top of the league. And as they say. The rest is history...

Half a day to go

 

Re: I can't remember it.

Yes i was in the pub in boro that day. I think 6 were stabbed altogether and a good few got away with having their clothes slashed. The injuries were hideous. It always makes me chuckle when people say things were safer way back when.

 

I was in my teens and twenties in the 70s and 80s. Me an loads of my mates went home and away. NONE of us were involved in violence at ANY level. It wasn't rife with us.
Hooliganism then and now was a cancer on football and it gave Thatcher and her ilk the perfect excuse to do their worst to the game not to mention the mindless violence inflicted on many an innocent bystander. It made watching football at the time far less enjoyable. But, hey, as long as a collection of Kn**heads got to act big in front of each other every week what does that matter?!
FFS!!!!!

 

So in the 70s and 80s we had gangs of imbecilic men with small **** syndrome and too much money and time on their hands travelling round the country to perform some ritualized homo-erotic chest beating with other gangs of men who happened to be born in a different city.

This stopped in the 90s, when the internet first became popular. Obviously internet porn solved the hooliganism problem, and probably gay porn at that.

 

It was rough as **** after game a few years ago. Walk back to town centre under that subway was interesting.

 

Remember during the 1980s ( not the cup game) walking back to the coaches from Ayresome Park. They attempted to ambush us from A Cemetery. After hiding behind gravestones. Police horses hurdled the railings to disperse them. It was funny and a little scary at the same time. The few Boro lot that got through to us were easily outnumbered and a some of them got a right pasting. Absolutely crazy.

 

Didn't see any trouble at Maine Road in 97 - remember sitting close to the city fans behind the goal - but it was awful in 93 in the cup. We had coins reigning down throughout the game, trouble getting out at the bottom of the steps and we bumped into a Barnsley fan covered it blood on the way back to the station.
Can't believe enjoyed those days or admitting being part of it - embarrassing

 

Re: I can't remember it.

[video=youtube;7sRocdJL99M]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRocdJL99M[/video]