Stories of being in the ‘Home’ End

[Ram-Alf]

1 hour ago, ossieram said:

We climbed up straight after Archie scored the penalty. 

Leeds fans are still in denial about that.

Legends in their own lifetime are the dirties ?

[GB SPORTS]

23 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.

Stood behind him on the way out that day (KO) that is and can clearly remember him goading on the whole East End as we came down the steps. Our escapade came to an abrupt end when my best mate took one in the shoulder with a broken bottle and had to rush him to the St John's to be sorted out.

Happy Days.

[Bob Mash]

Anybody remember the away game at Bradford around 1984? About 15 of us were in the back of a transit van, no windows, complete darkness. Went in a very hostile pub and left. Got to the ground and were pelted with concrete chunks from the crumbling terrace. Rams fans responded in kind and the slabs rained back and forth until kick off. My mate got smacked straight in the ear, blood everywhere. No sympathy from cops or stewards. The ref blows for kick off. Huge chant of DLF from the main home stand and around a hundred Derby stand up gesturing to a group next to them. Another chant goes up, 'Leeds Leeds Leeds'...A pre arranged scrap Then 90 minutes of all out fighting. Graham Richards apparently described the chaos as 'like a scene from Zulu dawn'.. Can't remember the game or the score. 

[Eddie]

First year in Div 1 under Cloughie, Arsenal at Highbury. Asked a copper which end was the North Bank. He said "thataway" so we went t'other way - and ended up on the North Bank. We got sussed after about a nanosecond - it may have been the black and white scarves, or perhaps the "Bertie Mee" song. Over the wall at the front, across the pitch and into the Scoreboard end in about 15 seconds.

[Ram-Alf]

6 minutes ago, Eddie said:

First year in Div 1 under Cloughie, Arsenal at Highbury. Asked a copper which end was the North Bank. He said "thataway" so we went t'other way - and ended up on the North Bank. We got sussed after about a nanosecond - it may have been the black and white scarves, or perhaps the "Bertie Mee" song. Over the wall at the front, across the pitch and into the Scoreboard end in about 15 seconds.

Bertie Mee said to Bill Shankly

Have you heard of the north bank highbury

Shanks says no I don't think so

But i've heard of the Popside...Derby ?

[chezzyram]

2 hours ago, Bearwood Ram said:

Anybody remember the away game at Bradford around 1984? About 15 of us were in the back of a transit van, no windows, complete darkness. Went in a very hostile pub and left. Got to the ground and were pelted with concrete chunks from the crumbling terrace. Rams fans responded in kind and the slabs rained back and forth until kick off. My mate got smacked straight in the ear, blood everywhere. No sympathy from cops or stewards. The ref blows for kick off. Huge chant of DLF from the main home stand and around a hundred Derby stand up gesturing to a group next to them. Another chant goes up, 'Leeds Leeds Leeds'...A pre arranged scrap Then 90 minutes of all out fighting. Graham Richards apparently described the chaos as 'like a scene from Zulu dawn'.. Can't remember the game or the score. 

I remember this game well, it was 6 months or so before the Bradford fire disaster. It was absolute carnage, one of the worst I can remember. As I recall the end terrace was divided in two and we were in the left hand side. I think there may have been some work happening on the terrace and they had helpfully left piles of rubble, but whatever the cause there were chunks of concrete flying back and to. I saw several of our fans covered in blood and looking back it was a miracle nobody was seriously hurt or worse. Incidentally we lost 3-1 although I don't think I saw much of the match! Football was a different world back then. 

[Gee SCREAMER !!]

On 04/09/2021 at 12:34, QuitYourJibbaJivin said:

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!

Me to.

[cannable]

Burton when Jackson Irvine scored.

Sky pundits were about five yards away so at full time I shouted to Darren Wassall that he should have gotten the job and that was as exciting as it got!

[Bob Mash]

Not the 'home end' but I take great pride in avoiding the Police escort at Notts Station. We showed our tickets to a cop (Birmingham to Nottingham) and our Birmingham Camra memberships and pleaded ignorance about any football related activity. Said we were doing research for Brum camra and were looking for the Vat and Fiddle pub. A kindly female police officer apologised for the police presence and guided us to said pub, explaining that there was 'a big game on'. We get in the pub, jam packed with red dogs,listen to them whining, have a few beers and a cob and then walk to the ground with the dogs. Rams win 3-1. One of my fave ever away days. 

[HorsforthRam]

22 minutes ago, chezzyram said:

I remember this game well, it was 6 months or so before the Bradford fire disaster. It was absolute carnage, one of the worst I can remember. As I recall the end terrace was divided in two and we were in the left hand side. I think there may have been some work happening on the terrace and they had helpfully left piles of rubble, but whatever the cause there were chunks of concrete flying back and to. I saw several of our fans covered in blood and looking back it was a miracle nobody was seriously hurt or worse. Incidentally we lost 3-1 although I don't think I saw much of the match! Football was a different world back then. 

I was at that game behind the goal and to the left. My mate got hit my a lump of concrete and was covered in blood from his head wound. He was lifted to the front of the terrace and escorted round the ground for treatment. He said the Bradford fans were throwing cigarette ends and coins at him. He also walked past our dugout with Roy Mac and Arthur Cox in it. He said they gave him a look of disgust. I think there was extra rancour at this game as it was the first time Roy Mac had gone back to Bradford after we poached him. I remember police horses were in front of pub doors to stop the locals getting out. And the scrapping in the stand on our right was intense. I think Graham Richards said all the other journos had left but he stuck it out to commentate ?

[Eddie]

3 hours ago, Unlucky Alf said:

Bertie Mee said to Bill Shankly

Have you heard of the north bank highbury

Shanks says no I don't think so

But i've heard of the Popside...Derby ?

That's the one.

[DavesaRam]

I was at the same Old Trafford match as Forever Ram and JJs dms - assuming  that was on the Hillsborough disaster day. Tickets for the match were hard to come by, but a mate said his brother lives in Manchester and he would sort the tickets out. We didn't think things through, and ended up not so much in the home end as in an upper stand full of Manure. So we decided we would sit on our hands for the duration, even though there were 3 car loads of us. We managed it until Dean Saunders scored our first, when to a man we sort of hovered about 8 inches above our seats, had a quick look round and settled down again. Then the second went in and some of us put our hands in the air, and suddenly there were several hundred of us all hands up, then leaping up and down like mad. Safety in numbers would be a relevant expression!

[GB SPORTS]

14 minutes ago, DavesaRam said:

I was at the same Old Trafford match as Forever Ram and JJs dms - assuming  that was on the Hillsborough disaster day. Tickets for the match were hard to come by, but a mate said his brother lives in Manchester and he would sort the tickets out. We didn't think things through, and ended up not so much in the home end as in an upper stand full of Manure. So we decided we would sit on our hands for the duration, even though there were 3 car loads of us. We managed it until Dean Saunders scored our first, when to a man we sort of hovered about 8 inches above our seats, had a quick look round and settled down again. Then the second went in and some of us put our hands in the air, and suddenly there were several hundred of us all hands up, then leaping up and down like mad. Safety in numbers would be a relevant expression!

Goddard scored the first that day after Saunders had hit the bar, then Deano converted a penalty after Goddard was brought down Sorry to be pedantic!!! Never had such a mixed day at a game The euphoria of winning at Old Trafford then the down of learning of the events at Hillsborough.

Edited September 5, 2021 by I DONT MIND

[Bianoic]

Is this thread a parody ? A kind of Monty Python/Not the nine oclock news pisstake ? 

I have been in the away end manys the time - out of choice 

The idea that people on here want to claim it as some kind of conquest is astonishing

Like throwing bricks at other people somehow made them proud

Its the kind of thing 13 year old boys and girls might want to brag about and glorify

All very pathetic and sad 

[Crewton]

Away end? Isn't this a thread about going in the home end at away games? 

[Archie]

11 hours ago, I DONT MIND said:

Goddard scored the first that day after Saunders had hit the bar, then Deano converted a penalty after Goddard was brought down Sorry to be pedantic!!! Never had such a mixed day at a game The euphoria of winning at Old Trafford then the down of learning of the events at Hillsborough.

Thought it was Micklewhite. Don't remember a pen that year. 

[GB SPORTS]

8 minutes ago, Archie said:

Thought it was Micklewhite. Don't remember a pen that year. 

Yes me getting senile again ,twas Micklewhite and Goddard on that day at OT, the game where Saunders scored a pen was at home. 

Was also getting mixed up with 2-1 the season after!!

Cheers

[Ram-Alf]

Newport away Bradford fire disaster, On this occasion no bother other than the Welsh really hating the English from our experience.

No bother that day at all, We stopped in Worcester on the way back beers and giggles into the early evening, Word got around that there was a fire at Valley Parade and there were a few deaths, We didn't really take a great deal of interest as the whole story was yet to break, As the evening wore on more and more stories were being told, Unfortunately beer took hold and there wasn't a great deal of concern from us.

Got home and off to bed, Next Morning turn the TV on, News reporting that there was alot of reported deaths, But no exact figure, I was fully focussed all Morning and remember seeing an old fella(I think)with his hair on fire struggling on the pitch, I was in shock, Tears rolling down my cheeks...Ibrox, Heysel, Hillsborough and Bradford...football aye?

[Zag zig]

First time in the “Home” end, as a nipper my Dad took me to Anfield, we ended up standing behind the dugouts because my old man didn’t want me in with our other nutters who had traveled on Viking buses in the away end. Cheered when we scored, can’t even remember the result, just the experience and my old man nudging me to pipe down. 

Around the same time, also did Everton in their “home” end, we lost in the cup I think but again remember the old man rescuing 2 scousers who get getting lynched by their scarves at the front of the away buses. (He was a bit hard I suppose, so people tended not to mess with him). We were on the front (Viking buses again) coach, parked up outside the cemetery in a line. 4 or 5 Boro coaches were further down and they were coming over Stanley Park after playing Liverpool the same day (yes that long back). Was knee high and only recall the mayhem in truth. Bizarrely though, my old man taught me, so long as you are respectful you can go anywhere.

Since then I’ve watched the Rams in away stands at Stoke, Leicester, Man Utd, Norwich, Ipswich, Wolves, Villa, Plymouth Barnsley, Sunderland and Sheffield Utd; I’m sure I missed some, but all great experiences and fun to take the p***.Particularly when we win, very often the locals know you’re an outsider, more so if you’re grinning like a Cheshire Cat, oh dear never mind, what a shame, when your team wins. Like when Wanchope scores a wonder goal. Little trouble in the corporate sections, they get used to fans mixing, so why not.

[Ram-Alf]

12 hours ago, Bianoic said:

Is this thread a parody ? A kind of Monty Python/Not the nine oclock news pisstake ? 

I have been in the away end manys the time - out of choice 

The idea that people on here want to claim it as some kind of conquest is astonishing

Like throwing bricks at other people somehow made them proud

Its the kind of thing 13 year old boys and girls might want to brag about and glorify

All very pathetic and sad 

Some folk like to go ballroom dancing, Some like to walk in the Country, Some like to go to Church, There's a multitude of things that people did and still do, Not sure how old you are or if you were a around in the 70s-80s, But for some it was a way of life, It wasn't all Council house lads, I knew some posh lads with very wealthy parents, Teachers, Soldiers, The Police(not the band)Females, Professional people who on a Saturday would be just as much up for it than us.

Over the years while travelling away watching DCFC we'd go into a local boozer and see a group of Derby supporters(shirters and scarfers) being bullied by home fans, To see their smiling faces when we entered was a sight to behold, The home fans would soon back off.

I understand your "pathetic and sadness" of it all, Many many years ago I watched "World in Action or Panarama" where a Psychologist tried to explain "football violence" this was his opinion.

The British are an Island race of different peoples, What they have in common is an ability to fight/go to War, Something they have done for 2000 years, Beer was a big reason for this, Water wasn't drunk by the common man centuries ago, It was Beer, As all the c**p that was in the water was boiled away when making beer or mead even Children drank it, Around the time of the 1st world war public houses were ordered to close at certain times of the day.

So you see Bionoic it's not our fault...blame the Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings, Normans, And most of all, Blame global warming for the last Ice age some 12000 years ago, As when that melted we were no longer joined to Europe ?