John McDonald

Yes saw and hated watching him. Diving wee *****. Nothing but a cheat but playing for Rangers he got away with it. I remember talking to you before about McDonald and you told me you were surprised as you never really saw that in him as a player.
Obviously the Rangers way. Get in the box, dive, penalty assured, game won.

 

Any away fans were probably in the wing stand, as it was known at the time, now Block UA of the West Stand. Me and my dad used to sit in Block UB. I can't remember if there were any away fans in there for that game though. 1981/82 was our first season back in the second tier and it was the first time I really became aware of away fans in any regular numbers apart from derbies, cup games etc. Away fans were only segregated on the Kop if there was enough of them and I think it was probably the last season when we allowed our fans to walk around and gather there for the half we were kicking that way.

 

I seem to remember you mentioning that now. Also, a couple of posters on here (who I have the greatest respect for) have talked in the past of meeting him both professionally & socially. They said he was a truly obnoxious person.

 

I remember Martin Gorry scoring a couple of crackers but more like 30 yards not the half way line....All in the mists of time...and we've had this conversation before....Aylott Scored from outside the Black Bull...now get it right

 

That's what I was wondering. I started going in 1987 and the Spion Kop was always reserved for away fans, and was the only part of the ground which still retained a perimeter fence. The lower part of the West Stand was occasionally given to the visitors as well - I remember Newcastle basically being given half the ground as the East Stand was under construction, when we beat them 1-0 on the telly. I also remember Hull fans being moved into part of the Brewery Stand when it was pissing it down with rain. A bit odd.

 

We used to stand on the corner of the Ponty to see which way we were kicking until they stopped it. then we would go to that end of the brewery stand when they were kicking that way...then they started locking the gate behind the Ponty so we became Brewery standers waiting near the half way line until we knew which way they were playing...Oh happy times.

 

Bit of a ladies man too. I used to work in Japanese Whispers and he was usually in there on a Saturday night. I remember one night he was chatting to these two young ladies and a couple of blokes took offence and things were becoming a bit heated...until Paul McGugan came back from the toilet that is, at which point the two blokes beat a hasty retreat.

 

I remember that with the Hull fans, they were only a few yards away from us...no trouble tho.

 

Me and my dad stood on the Kop a few times in the late 70s/early 80s, cos it used to be packed in the Ponty and I was only 10 or 11, so if I didn't bag a barrier I couldn't see very well. I certainly remember a 0-0 against Plymouth and a 0-0 against Charlton that we watched from there. In fact, it was the Charlton one that finished it for us, as they had around 50-100 supporters that were surrounded by police, because there were more Reds fans in the Kop than away fans. It got a bit angry during the match, with threats and insults going both ways. The police couldn't really break ranks to clear the Reds fans away, as they were literally holding the Charlton fans in.

I think I've mentioned this before on here, but I was on the Kop in around 78 against Stockport (the one we lost 1-0, not the 4-4) and a load of Wednesday fans arrived, as their game had been called off so they all came to Oakwell on their coaches, why, I'll never know. But me, my cousins and my uncle hopped over the wall and went into the terrace.

In the mid-80s I used to do the Ponty/Brewery thing, as many did. But when they started locking the gate we used to have to nip down the front and jump over the wall when the bobby had his back turned. We got caught a few times and chucked back in the Ponty, but if you timed it right you got away with it. In fact, Sgt Ellis caught us once and getting told off by him was always worse than getting told off by the others, because he was always so nice and you felt you'd betrayed his trust!

It was crazy when they started locking the gate though, because the crowds were so low at this point you could have fitted the lot in the Ponty and shut the other stands.

 

Ant Kay liked a good screamer from 50+ yards, didn't he? Was it Plymouth at home?

 

Chuckling

 

Brings back great memories does Aylotts goal and indeed the whole cup run.think it was the Coach and Horses supporters club ( Sheffield Road )who had the game filmed as it wasn't televised.can remember going into the pub later in week to watch it.

 

Don't know but I remember it was in the old Kop end and a night match...

 

Sounds about right. LOL

 

Yeah I seem to remember that happening and was very surprised cos loads of them had been in the old supporters club pre match with no trouble as far as I can remember . I was stood in the middle of them at one point whilst they were in full swing singing maybe its because I'm a Londoner.