Memories of 'old' Bloomfield Road for the fanzine

One thing which I hated about going to football as a youngster was at the end, the crush, when everyone was pushing and shoving to get out of the ground. I can remember many times on the Kop getting to the exit at the top back of the structure and nearly losing my balance whilst looking down the multiple stairs to the turnstiles. Thoughts of the 1971 Ibrox disaster which came later in my life.
 
I only started going in the early 90s when the ground was already a shell of what it once was, watching the Kop slowly dwindle into what it became at the end which I seem to recall was just the bottom part of the right hand side of it with a corrugated fence blocking off the top of it. Don't think I ever got to see the left side of it in use, just had scattered, faded advertising boards and a strange hut which in my head contained the moulding husk of cable cats costume.

I mostly sat in the west, next to the directors box, tried to avoid having to use the piss-wall. Those orange drinks in the cups with the foil lids, the smell of bovril. To me, the south stand was very exotic, I only remember sitting in it once when we played Swindon at home in 1996 where Andy Barlow put us 1-0 up with a daisy cutter from 20 yards out. I think they went up that day, with Steve Mcmahon in charge.
 
PdxTangerine said:
I only started going in the early 90s when the ground was already a shell of what it once was, watching the Kop slowly dwindle into what it became at the end which I seem to recall was just the bottom part of the right hand side of it with a corrugated fence blocking off the top of it. Don't think I ever got to see the left side of it in use, just had scattered, faded advertising boards and a strange hut which in my head contained the moulding husk of cable cats costume.

I mostly sat in the west, next to the directors box, tried to avoid having to use the piss-wall. Those orange drinks in the cups with the foil lids, the smell of bovril. To me, the south stand was very exotic, I only remember sitting in it once when we played Swindon at home in 1996 where Andy Barlow put us 1-0 up with a daisy cutter from 20 yards out. I think they went up that day, with Steve Mcmahon in charge.
Click to expand...
The hut was the police control box
 
I started going in about 86.

There's lots on here that have made me smile.

I think one of the things I do remember really vividly was the season after Hillsborough and all the fences at the front of the stand had gone.

That was a surreal experience having been penned in for the previous years watching us.

There's more, but it's one of those things that defines an era for me.

Attending football was never the same after that. And mostly we are better for it.
 
Last edited:
BlackpoolJane said:
Yes the South Paddock was my home and I miss it! I remember Mike the Memory Man and the man with the beard and the radio and the refreshment kiosk in the corner that sold Fish'n'Chips (the biscuits) and Graham Graham Graham and GERRZETTE!
Click to expand...
Guy who used to walk round the cinder track selling GERRRZETTE in the 90s was called Tony, he was from Grange Park, also used to work at night behind the bar in The Mitre pub on West Street. Had the nickname 'Mad Cow' and was a full on Blackpool fan, used to go all over following the team.
 
Last edited:
Ginge said:
I remember my first few games at Bloomfield Rd. About '76.

Bolton, we won 1-0. Billy Robson scored. It was that packed that I (8or9) couldn't get near the wall in the South paddock so go hoisted onto the roof of the pie stand.
I remember it going mental when we scored.

Wolves, 2-2 draw. Again, sat on the pie stand due to it being packed out.
A lot of agro that day with the teams being taken off doe to George Wood having missiles thrown at him. When we got home it had made the national news.

Notts County, 1-1 we were on St Heliers on our way home to avoid the rush when County equalised.

And finally Hereford in the League Cup, my first match under floodlights. We'd got the 11a from Lytham and I was so excited when I saw the floodlights lit up. To an 8 or 9 year old lad it was absolutely magical.
Before the game we got a pack of stimmerol gum. We'd been treated to the South Stand front row that evening, my mates dad, John, who'd taken us that night nipped off and bought us a Bovril each and a pie to share....this really was the thing that dreams were made of.
Sadly, as the game kicked off the fog came in.
The match was abandoned, we hardly saw a ball kicked.....😂

UTMP.
Click to expand...
 
northstand said:
The guy with the radio on his shoulder stood at the back of the south east corner near the pie stand sticks in my mind.
Click to expand...
Yes of course I remember him tall friendly chap with a Brian blessed beard. Any games played that day when asked he would give you the score update.
 
Ginge. I was at all those games you mentioned. My first season. Still got all the programmes. The Wolves game to a seven year old was mental. The Bolton game, didn't our winner trickle in due to a goalkeeping error from Ronsons shot. Hereford game abandoned was a League game.

I'll add some more from that season. Arsenal in the League Cup, pissed it down 1-1 draw, we lost the replay. Fulham with Best and Moore, shown on MOTD that night. Forest won 1-0, Mickey Walsh late winner. I was waiting outside a long defunct bookies for my old man on Saville or St Heliers Rd when loads of Forest came passed in an escort to Blackpool South, followed by a few Pool fans. Derby in the FA Cup. We sat mainly in Block A or B in the West that season. Vivid memories. Loved it.
 
Potts Must Go said:
Ginge. I was at all those games you mentioned. My first season. Still got all the programmes. The Wolves game to a seven year old was mental. The Bolton game, didn't our winner trickle in due to a goalkeeping error from Ronsons shot. Hereford game abandoned was a League game.

I'll add some more from that season. Arsenal in the League Cup, pissed it down 1-1 draw, we lost the replay. Fulham with Best and Moore, shown on MOTD that night. Forest won 1-0, Mickey Walsh late winner. I was waiting outside a long defunct bookies for my old man on Saville or St Heliers Rd when loads of Forest came passed in an escort to Blackpool South, followed by a few Pool fans. Derby in the FA Cup. We sat mainly in Block A or B in the West that season. Vivid memories. Loved it.
Click to expand...
I think Jim McDonah was the Bolton keeper, the ball went through his legs....I even remember he had a blue shirt on 😁
I want sure re the Hereford game but happy to be put right.....
The Blackpool kit during that period was class.
 
Lots of memories as above but watching the half time scores being put up. I think they had a board with a letter that corresponded with the match In the match program and then two other boards to show the score. They used to hang them on hooks. I think it used to be below the south west raised corner but can’t be sure.
 
You'll not know this @BlackpoolJane but there was one urinal in the East where you could just about stick your head round the corner if the play was in the direction of the South and still see the game whilst having a Jimmy Riddle!
 
The clock on the East roof didn't work for ages.

One day a clearance hit it plumb on. I'm sure I remember it going round a second hand speed.
 
TOON Seasider said:
Guy who used to walk round the cinder track selling GERRRZETTE in the 90s was called Tony, he was from Grange Park, also used to work at night behind the bar in The Mitre pub on West Street. Had the nickname 'Mad Cow' and was a full on Blackpool fan, used to go all over following the team.
Click to expand...
Top lad was Tony grew up with him. His mad cow came from him buying beef during the mad cow era he said I was mad before so it will not affect me.
 
The guy who used to walk into the scratching sheds just before kick off and shout, " Burns you're bloody rubbish " Followed swiftly by " Come on Blackpool, thrash these southern bastards " no matter who we were playing or where they were from.
 
JOHNMAJORTOM said:
my first game was about 1970. the old kop. . it was against derby county. we lost 2.4 , not that i was paying much attention. i found out it was still on you tube. i went on my own about 74.75. the kop had been segregated into two sections . that metal cage down the middle. stuff flyig where from both sides. i didnt return on any regurlar badis until my son was able to go. i used to put him on the west paddock wall. omg it wax so easy to lose a ten year old. and i DO remember being pretty crushed one time. the east paddock was the best. you could feel the noise litreally shakingthe tin roof. of course to the present day. we have come a fair old away in my fifty four years folowing the BOYS FROM BLOOMERS, ITS LADS AN DADS 15 8 2023. my sons 38 birthday. utmp.
Click to expand...
I think that game was about 72 or 73 JMT, and Derby won 3-2. They came in Talbot Road Bus Station in big numbers that day, which was quite unusual and prompted a hell of a set to.

Watching Jimmy get a guard of honour (May 71) from the likes of Best, Law and Charlton was a big thing for me. As was watching Tony Green nutmeg Alex Stepney for our equaliser in the same game.
 
basilrobbie3 said:
I think that game was about 72 or 73 JMT, and Derby won 3-2. They came in Talbot Road Bus Station in big numbers that day, which was quite unusual and prompted a hell of a set to.

Watching Jimmy get a guard of honour (May 71) from the likes of Best, Law and Charlton was a big thing for me. As was watching Tony Green nutmeg Alex Stepney for our equaliser in the same game.
Click to expand...
March 1969 we lost 2 3 to Derby. They went up as champs that season. We drew1 1 at their place in August.
 
Remember the kop with little segregation bar line of police. Witnessed the first real act of hooliganism when I was probably 14 - 16, late 60s / early 70s night match v Blackburn Rovers when a container of acid was thrown into the Pool fans. The smell was awful but the injuries probably even worse though didn’t see the results. I think the can was thrown back into the Rovers fans in retaliation. Can’t remember the result of match as the incident overshadowed the football. Anyone else have cleared memories of it.
Also remember at age of around 9 on kop wearing my tangerines scarf v Man U being passed all the way down from back to the front by Utd fans and over the wall to sit on cinder track behind goals.
 
Outside the Kop, there were a couple of blokes, one selling quarters of cough candy, while the other sold packets of razor blades. Wonder why outside a football ground was seen as a good pitch for that? Funnily enough, the latter wasn't seen much as football violence really started to kick off in the early 70s.
 
Gerry Ingrams Blonde Hair said:
Remember the kop with little segregation bar line of police. Witnessed the first real act of hooliganism when I was probably 14 - 16, late 60s / early 70s night match v Blackburn Rovers when a container of acid was thrown into the Pool fans. The smell was awful but the injuries probably even worse though didn’t see the results. I think the can was thrown back into the Rovers fans in retaliation. Can’t remember the result of match as the incident overshadowed the football. Anyone else have cleared memories of it.
Also remember at age of around 9 on kop wearing my tangerines scarf v Man U being passed all the way down from back to the front by Utd fans and over the wall to sit on cinder track behind goals.
Click to expand...
The ammonia incident was national news at the time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top