Memories of old mates and habits at the old Bloomers.........

[HetzkeBlaster]

After yesterday's game, I was reflecting this evening about some of the old mates and old habits we had standing on the old Bloomers terraces that were in happier times when we could all crowd in together long before the days of COVID stopped us going on.

For a period of about 10 years I used to stand in the old West Paddock with a group of about 8-10 of us that were there week-in-week-out, always the same faces, the same steps, and the same conversations about players, managers, refs etc. We certainly gave the linesmen and the opposition players a bit of stick.

If we were kicking towards the South, we used to huddle as far back as you could go back against the wall, about in line with the edge of the 18 yard box. Then the next half we'd move towards the Kop and we'd all shuffle along into the same position on the steps - talk about creatures of habit .

There used to be a chap at the back called Tony, who was a right character, a proper laugh a minute who stood next to his mate (can't remember his name). Then if front of them was a lovely chap called "Merve the Swerve (RIP, he died far too young). He stood with his wife Mrs. Swerve and their son. In front of them was me and my old mate Billy Wizz (posts on here as Wizzerboy). In front of us were "Pie Man" and his kids who ate pies one after the other. He always told exaggerated stories that no-one believed and kept us laughing with his porkies when the footy was quiet.

We were there through some heady days with Sam Ellis, Jimmy Mullin, Billy Ayre to name a few, and some fantastic players who we got to watch at very close quarters. It's crazy to think how we watch the game now on iFollow - it's a million miles away from those days and hopefully we'll be back later this year at some point.

Anyone else got similar old habits / mates they wish they could turn the clock back to?

 

[Wizaard]

After yesterday's game, I was reflecting this evening about some of the old mates and old habits we had standing on the old Bloomers terraces that were in happier times when we could all crowd in together long before the days of COVID stopped us going on.

For a period of about 10 years I used to stand in the old West Paddock with a group of about 8-10 of us that were there week-in-week-out, always the same faces, the same steps, and the same conversations about players, managers, refs etc. We certainly gave the linesmen and the opposition players a bit of stick.

If we were kicking towards the South, we used to huddle as far back as you could go back against the wall, about in line with the edge of the 18 yard box. Then the next half we'd move towards the Kop and we'd all shuffle along into the same position on the steps - talk about creatures of habit .

There used to be a chap at the back called Tony, who was a right character, a proper laugh a minute who stood next to his mate (can't remember his name). Then if front of them was a lovely chap called "Merve the Swerve (RIP, he died far too young). He stood with his wife Mrs. Swerve and their son. In front of them was me and my old mate Billy Wizz (posts on here as Wizzerboy). In front of us were "Pie Man" and his kids who ate pies one after the other. He always told exaggerated stories that no-one believed and kept us laughing with his porkies when the footy was quiet.

We were there through some heady days with Sam Ellis, Jimmy Mullin, Billy Ayre to name a few, and some fantastic players who we got to watch at very close quarters. It's crazy to think how we watch the game now on iFollow - it's a million miles away from those days and hopefully we'll be back later this year at some point.

Anyone else got similar old habits / mates they wish they could turn the clock back to?

Another with a similar group always behind the away dugout in front of the directors box. We used to have to shuffle along the steps if it was raining as the bus shelters installed used to steam up and block the view. Every player who came off was told they'd had a nightmare and the manager had been slagging them off just before he made the sub. Every sub coming out to warm up was informed that they must be really bad if they couldn't make that team.

The most fun was had when managers occasionally decided to watch from the directors box. They used to try to send down instructions to the bench at which point we'd get very vociferous to stop the message getting through.

Good times with lifelong mates who still go, apart from those who have gone to watch from above.

Football lost something when we lost terraces.

 

[dodgy_surname]

We are mad
In the head
No one takes the Scratching Shed️

 

[Fast Fourier Transformati]

Nah nah nahnah nah nahnah nah nah!

 

[Levi501]

Nah nah nahnah nah nahnah nah nah!

Heyeheh. Alan Suddick!!

 

[dodgy_surname]

We’ll see you all outside

Every where we go
People want to know

 

[wizard_wes]

There is no doubt the humour and the banter on the terraces were so much better. I used to love listening in to other's conversations. It was like Jeremy Kyle on heat! Still miss the old South - which is ironic because we all wanted shut of it.

 

[Wizzerboy]

After yesterday's game, I was reflecting this evening about some of the old mates and old habits we had standing on the old Bloomers terraces that were in happier times when we could all crowd in together long before the days of COVID stopped us going on.

For a period of about 10 years I used to stand in the old West Paddock with a group of about 8-10 of us that were there week-in-week-out, always the same faces, the same steps, and the same conversations about players, managers, refs etc. We certainly gave the linesmen and the opposition players a bit of stick.

If we were kicking towards the South, we used to huddle as far back as you could go back against the wall, about in line with the edge of the 18 yard box. Then the next half we'd move towards the Kop and we'd all shuffle along into the same position on the steps - talk about creatures of habit .

There used to be a chap at the back called Tony, who was a right character, a proper laugh a minute who stood next to his mate (can't remember his name). Then if front of them was a lovely chap called "Merve the Swerve (RIP, he died far too young). He stood with his wife Mrs. Swerve and their son. In front of them was me and my old mate Billy Wizz (posts on here as Wizzerboy). In front of us were "Pie Man" and his kids who ate pies one after the other. He always told exaggerated stories that no-one believed and kept us laughing with his porkies when the footy was quiet.

We were there through some heady days with Sam Ellis, Jimmy Mullin, Billy Ayre to name a few, and some fantastic players who we got to watch at very close quarters. It's crazy to think how we watch the game now on iFollow - it's a million miles away from those days and hopefully we'll be back later this year at some point.

Anyone else got similar old habits / mates they wish they could turn the clock back to?

Ha ha, memories eh!!
Merv's lad is now banned from Bloomfield Rd met him at a couple of times at the bst golf days, he's doing ok
Not seen Mrs Swerve since the final at the millennium stadium when we played Southend in the LDV!!
Haven't seen the tall lad and his mate with the silver glasses for over 20 years!!
Every time I saw Tony he asked every time if I had a windscreen wiper concealed upon my person (due to the altercation I had with a knobhead outside my house)
Had forgotten all about pie man but since you jogged my memory, he stank

The banter on the terrace was brilliant.
Bring back the old Bloomfield Rd