Memories

C

CGP1

Well-known member
Hate postponements. Throws the whole weekend out of kilter.

So I've been for a walk, and let the memories flood in. From the side of the pitch:
A little bloke who sold programmes, universally known on the Paddock as Rolf, seemingly because he had a beard. Always gave everyone a cheery thumbs up and a grin as he went past.
A Scottish bloke who sold programmes. Generally always got a shout of England as he passed, apart from one time where the chant was £40 for some reason. Not sure I ever saw either of them sell any.
Those poor girls who ran the corner snackshop, and had to run the gauntlet every week. Couldn't they have found a better way out for them?
The ground electrician. Often summoned in his red overalls, reasons never revealed. Apart from the day it snowed bad, our first orange ball got stuck behind the East clock, second went over the roof, we didn't have any more so he was sent round where the touchline might have been with a huge ladder to get the first one back.

Any more?
 
Bovril from the little shack at the south of the Scrattin' Shed

Kids skittles off the wall in front of us by the ball

Coppers patrolling the side of the pitch
 
How great was the view from the top of the kop
How odd looking was the little stand, positioned at an angle between the kop and the West (must have held about 40 people). Never got to sit in it.

Billy Ronson running with the ball, then letting it run out of play whilst he ran back to kick a guy who'd tried to foul him

Trying to stay on my feet during a South Paddock surge because there weren't enough fans in the bottom rows to keep it going. If you got caught in it, you had to run to the bottom after the surge pushed you.
 
CGP1 said:
Hate postponements. Throws the whole weekend out of kilter.

So I've been for a walk, and let the memories flood in. From the side of the pitch:
A little bloke who sold programmes, universally known on the Paddock as Rolf, seemingly because he had a beard. Always gave everyone a cheery thumbs up and a grin as he went past.
A Scottish bloke who sold programmes. Generally always got a shout of England as he passed, apart from one time where the chant was £40 for some reason. Not sure I ever saw either of them sell any.
Those poor girls who ran the corner snackshop, and had to run the gauntlet every week. Couldn't they have found a better way out for them?
The ground electrician. Often summoned in his red overalls, reasons never revealed. Apart from the day it snowed bad, our first orange ball got stuck behind the East clock, second went over the roof, we didn't have any more so he was sent round where the touchline might have been with a huge ladder to get the first one back.

Any more?
Click to expand...
the scottish bloke was imaginatively known as Jock
 
Dave62 said:
How great was the view from the top of the kop
How odd looking was the little stand, positioned at an angle between the kop and the West (must have held about 40 people). Never got to sit in it.

Billy Ronson running with the ball, then letting it run out of play whilst he ran back to kick a guy who'd tried to foul him

Trying to stay on my feet during a South Paddock surge because there weren't enough fans in the bottom rows to keep it going. If you got caught in it, you had to run to the bottom after the surge pushed you.
Click to expand...
Met Billy Ronson. Small guy.
Urinals were a health hazard.
 
Talking of urinals, one Tuesday night match in scratching sheds no lights working in toilets at half time. Whilst everyone queuing a wag broke the silence with 'excuse me is this mine or is it yours'.
 
Coinslot said:
Remember going to that too. Briggsy was sent off after 2 identical fouls within minutes of each other. Other than that, all I remember about that day was a railway behind the away end, the world's ugliest steward and a Pool fan with a horrible growth on his ear stood in front of me. Every time he clapped, it wobbled.
Click to expand...
Crazy to think you could just run on the pitch and get players to sign your match programme. When football was special….. now it’s a bit of an effort.
 
Wooden stands, wooden seats, even wooden toilet seats I think too, although I don’t think I’ve ever had to sit on them at a match ever. Mainly my youngsters back in the day Daddy I need a pooh & that was probably because they were bored and had eaten all the nibbles I’d brought for them in the first 10 minutes.
 
In the early to mid seventies I used to stand on the old East Paddock ‘scraching shed’ at the end nearest the South Stand.
Every home game for quite a few years a geezer with a very loud voice used to announce his arrival at the ground with a huge roar of “You’re bloody rubbish Burns” or something very similar.
 
Dave62 said:
How great was the view from the top of the kop
How odd looking was the little stand, positioned at an angle between the kop and the West (must have held about 40 people). Never got to sit in it.

Billy Ronson running with the ball, then letting it run out of play whilst he ran back to kick a guy who'd tried to foul him

Trying to stay on my feet during a South Paddock surge because there weren't enough fans in the bottom rows to keep it going. If you got caught in it, you had to run to the bottom after the surge pushed you.
Click to expand...
God yes, the surges. Dangerous place to be. I watched the 250 goals vid yesterday, to try and replicate what would surely have happened to Hudd, scary stuff down the front as you say. The TV doesn't really show how much space there was there.

Best one ever was the City FA cup game in '84. I got there about 2.30, which is unusual enough in itself, Paddock was already rammed. Was it Dave McNiven scored in the first couple of minutes? Instead of going forward with it, I managed to fight back through the crowd and ended up with one of the prized places on the back wall.
 
CGP1 said:
God yes, the surges. Dangerous place to be. I watched the 250 goals vid yesterday, to try and replicate what would surely have happened to Hudd, scary stuff down the front as you say. The TV doesn't really show how much space there was there.

Best one ever was the City FA cup game in '84. I got there about 2.30, which is unusual enough in itself, Paddock was already rammed. Was it Dave McNiven scored in the first couple of minutes? Instead of going forward with it, I managed to fight back through the crowd and ended up with one of the prized places on the back wall.
Click to expand...
Yep, think you're right, Dave McNiven. Is that the draw where we replayed at Maine Road midweek? I remember going to a replay there but can't recall the year.

You did well to get to the back wall of the south. It was always too crowded at the top. I never managed it.

Sadly I only started going in 76, so I'm the only AVFTT poster who wasn't in the south when Mickey Walsh scored against Sunderland in 75. 😁
 
No I'm with you on that one. I'd done a couple of games in the seats with my dad, but my first season of going properly was the first in Div4, 81?

Wasn't at Barnet either!

That City game was the first one, we won it 2-1. I think it was the second cup game in 88 that went to replay. Richard Sendall scored late on for us then they equalised last kick from a fourth down and 1 to go situation on our goal line.
 
1973, I was 9 and my grandad gave me his old wooden tangerine and white rattle circa1926 or something. I remember raising it above my head to give it a spin. I felt a clunk, I looked up and there was this fella glaring at me rubbing his temple where I'd clattered him. 🤣
I never took it again.
 
Davepick said:
Remember on the KOP when kids were handed down overhead to sit on the wall round the ground.
Wouldn't be allowed n
Click to expand...
Dave yes my dad and his brother told me those. And how they had someone "organising" the group so they could fit more in.

Amazing really that when I started going how full it looked, when it really wasn't! Like that City game above, I think it was about 15.5k, and it looked rammed. But it's not even half what we were getting in the 50s.
 
CGP1 said:
Dave yes my dad and his brother told me those. And how they had someone "organising" the group so they could fit more in.

Amazing really that when I started going how full it looked, when it really wasn't! Like that City game above, I think it was about 15.5k, and it looked rammed. But it's not even half what we were getting in the 50s.
Click to expand...
My dad also used to tell me about 'packers' on the Kop who were employed to move people down to fill empty spaces to make more room for supporters to get in the ground.
 
CGP1 said:
Dave yes my dad and his brother told me those. And how they had someone "organising" the group so they could fit more in.

Amazing really that when I started going how full it looked, when it really wasn't! Like that City game above, I think it was about 15.5k, and it looked rammed. But it's not even half what we were getting in the 50s.
Click to expand...
For H&S reasons, in the 70s they took out every other row of seats in the West. You could see the marks on the floor where they had been bolted to the wooden floor.
 
TOON Seasider said:
My dad also used to tell me about 'packers' on the Kop who were employed to move people down to fill empty spaces to make more room for supporters to get in the ground
Click to expand...
Yep , they had them behind the South goal as well. From memory I think they had white bands around their arms to identify them.
 
Attending Keith Mercer's testimonial game vs Watford in 1985. My mates and I were next to the away dugout where Graham Taylor was sat. Us 14 year olds gave him a bit of stick throughout the game and he took it in good spirit. Late on, Elton John (who was sat in the West immediately behind us) started yelling at the Watford bench. They couldn't hear him, so he asked us lads to attract their attention. We made out that we couldn't hear him, so he kept yelling louder and louder. Proper diva stuff. Big fedora, comedy glasses & red faced. How we laughed. We also learned that anyone who wears a fedora definitely a wrong un.
 
Dave62 said:
How great was the view from the top of the kop
How odd looking was the little stand, positioned at an angle between the kop and the West (must have held about 40 people). Never got to sit in it.

Billy Ronson running with the ball, then letting it run out of play whilst he ran back to kick a guy who'd tried to foul him

Trying to stay on my feet during a South Paddock surge because there weren't enough fans in the bottom rows to keep it going. If you got caught in it, you had to run to the bottom after the surge pushed you.
Click to expand...
Brilliant days
 
Sitting on wall in West Paddock. Allowed but told to keep your legs on the other side. Proper health and safety.
Anyone remember Bill Bentley's amazing in swinging corners?
 
Coinslot said:
Remember going to that too. Briggsy was sent off after 2 identical fouls within minutes of each other. Other than that, all I remember about that day was a railway behind the away end, the world's ugliest steward and a Pool fan with a horrible growth on his ear stood in front of me. Every time he clapped, it wobbled.
Click to expand...
I had it removed in April, I really don’t appreciate you reminding me
 
Running on the pitch at the end of the game to get the players tie ups, the stinking piss trough’s in the west, collecting all the programs, getting them signed by players, verbally abusing the Scottish EG seller, big Graham obviously, RIP
Cycling from cleveleys at silly o clock to chain our bikes up on the prom then walking to the ground to get a coach to Torquay at silly o clock then getting back at more of a silly o clock to cycle home in the rain back to cleveleys
The outside of the south stand - what a mess but I loved it , getting it hand painted over the rotting wood by fans, the steps in the south west corner outside the ground
Getting twated by a Portsmouth fan when I was 14 & him stealing my scarf and burning it in full view in the away end- such happy days
Stan McEwan,
The smell of bovril & nicotine,
Night matches in that ramshackle old ground my god they were amazing, I’ve shagged a few super models in my time but nothing came close to a night match back in the day, I made that last bit up, I never went to a night match…
Terry pashley
( I didn’t shag him)
Peter noble with his comb over at Everton away in the replay
The green the pink, the fans taking transistor radios into the ground to listen to the other scores, some of those radios were bigger than the person’s head, the total lack of any kind of PC , you could chant what the fuck you wanted ( obviously some chants were not good so I’m not condoning them)
Cheerleaders
BLACKPOOL BLACKPOOL COME & SEE THEM PLAY the nolans
Taking my little brother to his first game and getting him hooked on the pool, same with my 3 kids, should have taken my mates 10 yo to the Huddersfield game to get him hooked but that’s gone wrong for now
Ishmail’s tea
Ian hesford
Rotherham away Colin morris
I was never one to be involved in the hooliganism side but when it kicked off I loved the way our fans always protected big Graham and usually got the better “outcome “
At the end of the day we’re just like a massive disfuncial (wrong spelling I know but I’ve asked Alexa and she’s unplugged apparently) family
My god thick/ thin weren’t we lucky to end up saddled with this great club!!!!
 
1. Being able to pay for a transfer from the Kop to the Scratchers.

2. The old Supporters Club, and buying a coach ticket from Ossie.

3. Walking from Fleetwood to Blackpool (and back) to catch a coach to Sunderland on Boxing Day (lost 2-1 to a late penalty).

4. Crystal Palace turning up as League leaders, wearing purple and light blue pinstripes and then getting tubbed 3-0.

5. Pompey skinheads, circa 68/69.

6. Rioting Wolves fans, 1977

7. Taking the Kop at Deepdale, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 .... (repeat to fade)

8. The Longside before they ruined it.
 
The old South stand getting a fresh coat of tangerine paint.
The club landline you could ring at premium rate to hear exciting news/signings.
People rattling buckets outside to buy a striker (Andy Watson)
Nobber fans on the stand roofs
throwing coins down.
Getting the smell of pipe smoke in my face as a boy and hating/loving it at the same time.
 
My favourite 2 memories are from the same time. I sat on the wall behind the goal in the South as a nipper.

Firstly George Wood. I loved him and he always acknowledged us. The view of him from my childlike perspective was that he was a giant. I can see him between the sticks as I’m penning this. Classic green goalkeeper jersey, massive hands, joyful Scottish accent and a great keeper.

secondly Mickey Walsh. From my view on the wall, our corners seemed so exciting at the time. Mickey Walsh at the near post with a flick on to the far post where Bob Hatton was always a threat. What was incredible was Mickeys ability to hang in the air for those flick ons. The only Pool player I’ve seen with as good a hang time since then is Luke Varney.
 
Last edited:
Standing near the top of the Kop and catching the first glimpse of the tangerine shirt as the team emerged from the dressing room and followed Jimmy Armfield out.
 
Greennutmegsmoore said:
Sitting on wall in West Paddock. Allowed but told to keep your legs on the other side. Proper health and safety.
Anyone remember Bill Bentley's amazing in swinging corners?
Click to expand...
I used to sit on the wall of the South paddock and I remember there was one senior police officer who used to walk along the cinder track waving his swagger stick at boys who had their legs over the wall.
 
This is Ska said:
My favourite 2 memories are from the same time. I sat on the wall behind the goal in the South as a nipper.

Firstly George Wood. I loved him and he always acknowledged us. The view of him from my childlike perspective was that he was a giant. I can see him between the sticks as I’m penning this. Classic green goalkeeper jersey, massive hands, joyful Scottish accent and a great keeper.

secondly Mickey Walsh. From my view on the wall, our corners seemed so exciting at the time. Mickey Walsh at the near post with a flick on to the far post where Bob Hatton was always a threat. What was incredible was Mickeys ability to hang in the air for those flick ons. The only Pool player I’ve seen since with as good a hang time since then is Luke Varney.
Click to expand...
My dad said that Ray Charnley could do it.
 
Sat on my stool on the cinder track circ 1957 watching Pool play the Busby Babes, think we lost 2-0 or 2-1
At the Wolves match when they shut the ground, around 35,000 locked in
Never used to announce at away games if Stanley Matthews was playing until just before kick off as it affected the attendance by a few thousand. Watched him play loads of times. The best games were the local derbies where they would attempt to kick Matthews up in the air, in particularly Bolton Wanderers and their full back Tommy Banks.
 
This is Ska said:
My favourite 2 memories are from the same time. I sat on the wall behind the goal in the South as a nipper.

Firstly George Wood. I loved him and he always acknowledged us. The view of him from my childlike perspective was that he was a giant. I can see him between the sticks as I’m penning this. Classic green goalkeeper jersey, massive hands, joyful Scottish accent and a great keeper.

secondly Mickey Walsh. From my view on the wall, our corners seemed so exciting at the time. Mickey Walsh at the near post with a flick on to the far post where Bob Hatton was always a threat. What was incredible was Mickeys ability to hang in the air for those flick ons. The only Pool player I’ve seen with as good a hang time since then is Luke Varney.
Click to expand...
George Wood came back for about 10 games in 1990 and I remember we were losing 5 - 0 away at Brentford and he turned to the away fans shrugging his shoulders and with a smile as if to say what can I do. The team was poor at that time and I think we had the chairman acting as manager or something like that. Good day out on train though.
 
CAGU said:
Sat on my stool on the cinder track circ 1957 watching Pool play the Busby Babes, think we lost 2-0 or 2-1
At the Wolves match when they shut the ground, around 35,000 locked in
Never used to announce at away games if Stanley Matthews was playing until just before kick off as it affected the attendance by a few thousand. Watched him play loads of times. The best games were the local derbies where they would attempt to kick Matthews up in the air, in particularly Bolton Wanderers and their full back Tommy Banks.
Click to expand...
1956/57 Pool 2 Man Utd 2 : 1957/58 Pool 1 Man Utd 4
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top