Stories of being in the ‘Home’ End

[WhiteHorseRam]

20 hours ago, Needlesh said:

Braved the badlands of Burton Albion away, all on my own. 

We lost, the game was awful and one quizical look from a local aside, nothing occurred.

True story.

My heart was in my mouth reading that ... it was like time stood still

[WhiteHorseRam]

12 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

A police guy on a horse was shouting through a megaphone that "all away fans should turn around now and return down the road in the opposite direction to the stand for the away fans". To which a cheerful cockernee voice chirped "wots the dacking point of saying that - if any geezer turned rahnd nah, ee'd get a dacking kicking". 

'Dilly-dallying on the way' would have also been a give away

[Bob Mash]

Hull City away in the early 1980s, the old Third Division I think. Through the Junior Rams me and a mate won two tickets to the game and free coach travel. So far so good...until we got to the game. The away end was on the opposite side of the ground! We were housed in a stand surrounded by Humberside's finest. At 2-0 to the Rams a thin line of stewards and police formed a barrier around the 50 or so of us. It didn't stop the bottles, coins and other items raining down on us. We were saved by a second half capitulation which resulted in an injury time winner for the Tigers. While the locals were celebrating we legged it past the Grandways supermarket and to safety. 

 

[Donnyram]

When we were in the old 3rd division back in the mid 80's we had a home game against Gillingham I believe.  It was absolutely hammering it down and therefore there was every chance we would get soaked stood on the terrace on the Pop Side / Columbo Terrace unless we were at the back under the stand.  My mate had a bright idea - Gillingham will bring a handful of supporters and in all likelihood they will be moved from the Ossie end terrace into the mid tier seats due to the weather so "let's go into the away end" ?.  In my teenage years I went along with it and as predicted we were moved into the seats with around 50 or so Gillingham supportors from "down souf".  Didn't seem such a great idea during a tense 1st half that was fortunately goalless and we made our way across to the main stand at half time claiming we'd "got lost".  Stewards move us to the C stand and we were able to properly celebrate the Bobby Davison winner! ?

[Van der MoodHoover]

4 hours ago, Angry Ram said:

That's the worst 'cockernee' impression I have ever seen.. ?

Think he was from reading...... ?

[GangwayD]

3 hours ago, Donnyram said:

When we were in the old 3rd division back in the mid 80's we had a home game against Gillingham I believe.  It was absolutely hammering it down and therefore there was every chance we would get soaked stood on the terrace on the Pop Side / Columbo Terrace unless we were at the back under the stand.  My mate had a bright idea - Gillingham will bring a handful of supporters and in all likelihood they will be moved from the Ossie end terrace into the mid tier seats due to the weather so "let's go into the away end" ?.  In my teenage years I went along with it and as predicted we were moved into the seats with around 50 or so Gillingham supportors from "down souf".  Didn't seem such a great idea during a tense 1st half that was fortunately goalless and we made our way across to the main stand at half time claiming we'd "got lost".  Stewards move us to the C stand and we were able to properly celebrate the Bobby Davison winner! ?

Used to do this regular at the BBG.  It must have really annoyed the handful of travelling fans who'd actually paid to sit in the away end Ossie middle tier only to be joined by those who we're on the terrace (where you should be !)

I also recall for a few weeks running some lads appeared on the Columbo terrace and had clearly nicked an opposing fans scarf which was held up and ceremonially burnt.  One visiting, team who'd brought a few hundred and been moved to the middle tier we're livid at this and all tried to move down the seats as if they we're going to try and take them on - it was hilarious.  

Always used to be a rather overweight gentleman picked out each week amongst the away following who was royally hammered, and whilst they we're the same songs each time the reaction always made me laugh.

Happy Days

Gangway D from the terrace 

[CWC1983]

Rowett and Warburtons 1st game in charge.

Sat in the Brian Clough stand and got a cracking view of Nugents header to go 2 1 up. 

It was a bit uncomfortable when Forest scored a last minute equaliser right in front of me and all around were going mental. 

 

 

[Coneheadjohn]

This might surprise people but I’ve been sat in the home end at Hillsborough a few times.

Never seen us lose(unlike when I’m in the away end).

On the North Stand when Bamford scored that injury time screamer,I really enjoyed it.

That was the game when it hit me how good our away support is.

 

[uttoxram75]

Birmingham probably around 1977 ish, arrived late at the ground, parked up in a side street as the driver "knew" all about Brum as he worked there at the time. The ITK driver then took us to a turnstile which led us onto a huge terrace on the side of the pitch. As we squeezed in (the match was already underway) it suddenly dawned on us that the Derby fans were away to our right, behind the goal and we were slap bang in the middle of Digbeth's finest.

Derby scored and it kicked off down beneath us as several Derby were being attacked, we decided to make our way down towards the pitch and with Brummies streaming down to get involved we were hid in plain sight. As the police got the Derby lads out we just climbed over and joined them and got escorted round the pitch to the away end to a heroes reception!

After the game we couldn't get back to the car as the side street seemed to be the meeting place for the Zulu's to plan their attack on the Derby fans.......I don't think we went with that ITK driver again.?

 

[uttoxram75]

The old grounds in the 70's were dangerous even if you was in the so called away end.

Stoke and Wolves both had huge open terraces where anyone could pay on the gate and more often than not you'd get the locals in the "away" end kicking off.

[Ram-Alf]

Altho a neutral ground Wembley 1975 Charity Shield, On a very hot August day 50 of us from Chadd clamboured on the bus in good heart to play WHU, On the way down on the M1 meeting shedloads of Derby fans, We park up at the stadium and head for the Greyhound pub at the back of Wembley, Just our lot at 1st, Then it slowly started to fill up with WHU, Don't know to this day how it kicked off but it did, We got busted and rescued by the Police yet again.

After the game we could see the hammers fans leaving from the other side, A 2-0 win then we see the presentation and leave in good voice, Until just getting out of the ground the greeting of 100s of lads waiting for us, We had one lad K O'Rielly one of the toughest men I knew stood on the steps taking them on, A man on his own he was screaming at us to charge, Well it was a case of getting clumped by the hammers or get a beating in town by KO, Slowly but surely more and more Derby were coming out of the ground a little like a cork from a bottle of champaigne, It looked to be numbers in our favour, Clouds of dust and lads going "hammer and toe" the police were shocked at the leval of violence lads at each other with whatever came to hand, Derby had the day with WHU lads mooching off.

It wasn't until a little later we found that our ranks were filled with some of Derbyshires finest coal miners, Who waded in with scafolding poles and planks that were left from building works at Wembley.

I'm told that in Bill Gardners book (a nutter of a WHU fan) that he admitted through gritted teath that Derby won the day, And his "mile end boys" took a beating...crazy days the 70s.

[ossieram]

36 minutes ago, uttoxram75 said:

The old grounds in the 70's were dangerous even if you was in the so called away end.

Stoke and Wolves both had huge open terraces where anyone could pay on the gate and more often than not you'd get the locals in the "away" end kicking off.

Ahhh the good old days ? 

We never had to argue about being in someone's seat or standing in seated sections then.

[QuitYourJibbaJivin]

29 minutes ago, Unlucky Alf said:

Altho a neutral ground Wembley 1975 Charity Shield, On a very hot August day 50 of us from Chadd clamboured on the bus in good heart to play WHU, On the way down on the M1 meeting shedloads of Derby fans, We park up at the stadium and head for the Greyhound pub at the back of Wembley, Just our lot at 1st, Then it slowly started to fill up with WHU, Don't know to this day how it kicked off but it did, We got busted and rescued by the Police yet again.

After the game we could see the hammers fans leaving from the other side, A 2-0 win then we see the presentation and leave in good voice, Until just getting out of the ground the greeting of 100s of lads waiting for us, We had one lad K O'Rielly one of the toughest men I knew stood on the steps taking them on, A man on his own he was screaming at us to charge, Well it was a case of getting clumped by the hammers or get a beating in town by KO, Slowly but surely more and more Derby were coming out of the ground a little like a cork from a bottle of champaigne, It looked to be numbers in our favour, Clouds of dust and lads going "hammer and toe" the police were shocked at the leval of violence lads at each other with whatever came to hand, Derby had the day with WHU lads mooching off.

It wasn't until a little later we found that our ranks were filled with some of Derbyshires finest coal miners, Who waded in with scafolding poles and planks that were left from building works at Wembley.

I'm told that in Bill Gardners book (a nutter of a WHU fan) that he admitted through gritted teath that Derby won the day, And his "mile end boys" took a beating...crazy days the 70s.

I’ve heard about this day from my dad and his mates numerous times over the years, his account is almost identical to yours, especially the bit of about KO!

[Derby blood]

Been in the home ends a few times, Villa away, when we win 2-1, Deano and Goddard scoring if i remember right, Manu away when we lost 4-1 and steve Howard scored, i jumped up and got loads.of dogs abuse, from a women with a cockney accent lol, Hull away when we lost 2-1, we equalised i jumped up and the locals went mad pointing at me to get me thrown out but it all calmed down and when they got there winner they was all asking me the score lol, but all in all i never felt in to much danger. 

Edited September 4, 2021 by Derby blood

[Foreveram]

3 hours ago, Unlucky Alf said:

Altho a neutral ground Wembley 1975 Charity Shield, On a very hot August day 50 of us from Chadd clamboured on the bus in good heart to play WHU, On the way down on the M1 meeting shedloads of Derby fans, We park up at the stadium and head for the Greyhound pub at the back of Wembley, Just our lot at 1st, Then it slowly started to fill up with WHU, Don't know to this day how it kicked off but it did, We got busted and rescued by the Police yet again.

After the game we could see the hammers fans leaving from the other side, A 2-0 win then we see the presentation and leave in good voice, Until just getting out of the ground the greeting of 100s of lads waiting for us, We had one lad K O'Rielly one of the toughest men I knew stood on the steps taking them on, A man on his own he was screaming at us to charge, Well it was a case of getting clumped by the hammers or get a beating in town by KO, Slowly but surely more and more Derby were coming out of the ground a little like a cork from a bottle of champaigne, It looked to be numbers in our favour, Clouds of dust and lads going "hammer and toe" the police were shocked at the leval of violence lads at each other with whatever came to hand, Derby had the day with WHU lads mooching off.

It wasn't until a little later we found that our ranks were filled with some of Derbyshires finest coal miners, Who waded in with scafolding poles and planks that were left from building works at Wembley.

I'm told that in Bill Gardners book (a nutter of a WHU fan) that he admitted through gritted teath that Derby won the day, And his "mile end boys" took a beating...crazy days the 70s.

I was there that day , went down on the train with my mate. We had a few drinks in the pub and it was all good natured with the hammers fans and then a good result for Derby but as you said it was afterwards that it all kicked off. As we came down the steps we were met with a hail of bottles and bricks thrown at us. In the carnage that ensued I got split up from my mate ( no mobiles then)and had to catch the tube back to the station on my own crammed in with loads of WH fans trying not to make eye contact with anyone so I didn’t have to speak and give my accent away. It was such a relief to find him at the station and get back on train home. Good day out though ?

 

[JJs dms]

Sat in the main stand at Anfield with two mates the night Shilts played a blinder in a 4-0 defeat so not much to shout about though we  did smile when Barnes scored direct from an indirect free kick and the rams fans celebrated it being disallowed. We'd been sussed on the way in having been followed from the away end by scouses telling us they 'friggin hate Derby' and seeing as there were old ladies in there who'd stab you for 50p I decided there was no way we were going out at full time so we made our way down the stand and over the wall  and began to walk down the touchline,nobody seemed to be bothered until a rather large copper asked us where were we going told him we were Derby and he put us in the away end and then went on  to get a load of good natured abuse from our lot for being rather large! Following season went to Old Trafford with a manc mate sat above the away terrace it wasnt a goal that gave me away but Steve Bruce trying to decapitate Dean Saunders up i jumps' Bruce you dirty blah blah blah'  thinking fast on his feet my mate shouts in his thick manc accent 'yeah  Brucey no need for that' and I just about got away with it.sat on my hands for our 2 goals though! The mate who got us the freebies for Anfield through work also occasionally got free home tickets but they were always in the ossie middle with the away fans he was in there when Leeds wrecked it a rather polite yorkshireman said'come on mate give us your seat'and went on to kick his seat off and lob it!Been in with the dogs a few times at there place but nowt much happened

[Ram-Alf]

9 hours ago, JJs dms said:

Sat in the main stand at Anfield with two mates the night Shilts played a blinder in a 4-0 defeat so not much to shout about though we  did smile when Barnes scored direct from an indirect free kick and the rams fans celebrated it being disallowed. We'd been sussed on the way in having been followed from the away end by scouses telling us they 'friggin hate Derby' and seeing as there were old ladies in there who'd stab you for 50p I decided there was no way we were going out at full time so we made our way down the stand and over the wall  and began to walk down the touchline,nobody seemed to be bothered until a rather large copper asked us where were we going told him we were Derby and he put us in the away end and then went on  to get a load of good natured abuse from our lot for being rather large! Following season went to Old Trafford with a manc mate sat above the away terrace it wasnt a goal that gave me away but Steve Bruce trying to decapitate Dean Saunders up i jumps' Bruce you dirty blah blah blah'  thinking fast on his feet my mate shouts in his thick manc accent 'yeah  Brucey no need for that' and I just about got away with it.sat on my hands for our 2 goals though! The mate who got us the freebies for Anfield through work also occasionally got free home tickets but they were always in the ossie middle with the away fans he was in there when Leeds wrecked it a rather polite yorkshireman said'come on mate give us your seat'and went on to kick his seat off and lob it!Been in with the dogs a few times at there place but nowt much happened

 Chelsea did the same...but threw them on their own fans below on the terracing, Leeds in their game threw the seats at us as we were on the terracing, Derby lads climbing up onto the barbed wire and into the Ossie seats to get a little retrebution, Which they did.

Mike Waterson said after that game "we have our own Lunatic Fringe" well Mike look what you started ?

[ossieram]

1 hour ago, Unlucky Alf said:

 Chelsea did the same...but threw them on their own fans below on the terracing, Leeds in their game threw the seats at us as we were on the terracing, Derby lads climbing up onto the barbed wire and into the Ossie seats to get a little retrebution, Which they did.

Mike Waterson said after that game "we have our own Lunatic Fringe" well Mike look what you started ?

We climbed up straight after Archie scored the penalty. 

Leeds fans are still in denial about that.

[uttoxram75]

5 minutes ago, ossieram said:

We climbed up straight after Archie scored the penalty. 

Leeds fans are still in denial about that.

We watched it happen from the Popside and saw the chaos in the seats as it kicked off. Hundreds left the Vulcan Street Popside and ran round to the Ossie End.

 

 

[Crewton]

I remember the Charity Shield game. I was there with two mates. We came out of the stadium with the 'battle' in full flow and the Derby fans seemingly on top of the situation. We opted for going in a different direction to the way the Hammers were running and made it back to the special train at Wembley Central without incident, fortunately. Much later I heard about certain lads from Chadd ripping up a railing and charging the Hammers, and also the story about the Ilson miners. Given West Ham's reputation at the time, it must have come as a nasty shock to them.