Hi Mansfield Lad here. The Buzzcocks definitely played at the Mecca, it was either 77 or 78. Me and my brother and 2 mates went. We were in Blackpool for the Blackpool v Mansfield game that had been played that afternoon.
There were loads of punks from Manchester there, and loads of Blackpool lads. There was a load of trouble inside, we kept a low profile as there was only 4 of us. Afterwards there was loads of fighting with the Mansfield lot that had stayed over.
Most of the Mansfield lads at that time were still wearing Northern Soul baggie trousers. The punks were taking the piss, out of how they were dressed. We were wearing straight legged jeans or cords so we blended in a bit more.
I remember a massive off outside a chippy. We were walking fown with a load of punks, I think they were from Manchester. They attacked a load if Mansfield lads outside the chippy. These were mates of ours so we helped them fight back against the punks.
But there were too many as more came running down the road. In truth we took a bit of a beating. And we were only saved by the police who eventually chased the punks off. One Mansfield lad was found strung up from a lamppost, he nearly died but was took down in time.
The Sunday dinner time we all met up in the Manchester pub. We looked a sorry sight, black eyes, broken noses and fat lips were à plenty. But we had a laugh about it, and we blamed their fashion sense of wearing Northern Soul Baggie trousers.