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Post by southstandviewer on Oct 24, 2019 20:25:20 GMT 1
Northampton away at their old 3 sided ground in the 80's it rained and rained, no cover and I had my purposely bought umbrella confiscated.
Plymouth away in FA cup in 88, lost 1-0, again it rained, snowed and rained again, no cover and really poor view through a fence designed to keep elephants in.
Cardiff 93 last game of the season lost I think 2-1, there was only about 50 of us there to experience their "exuberant celebrations" for winning the league.
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Oct 24, 2019 20:33:53 GMT 1
Northampton away at their old 3 sided ground in the 80's it rained and rained, no cover and I had my purposely bought umbrella confiscated. Plymouth away in FA cup in 88, lost 1-0, again it rained, snowed and rained again, no cover and really poor view through a fence designed to keep elephants in. Cardiff 93 last game of the season lost I think 2-1, there was only about 50 of us there to experience their "exuberant celebrations" for winning the league. Yes, I was at all of those. Think the Plymouth game included an 'equaliser' that was dragged back over the line by one of their defenders and the ref said play on - right in front of the Town fans.
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Oct 24, 2019 20:57:50 GMT 1
Just drawn up a list of my most 'memorable' games, (not including the truly good ones)
Conference season - Margate (away at Dover). Long, long day that one, can appreciate what the fans of some clubs up north or down south have to put up with and distances involved.
FA Cup - Histon, enough said. Thankfully avoided the long trip to Blyth Spartans.
Got soaked - Northampton (old County Ground), Exeter (abandoned at HT), Brighton (at the Withdean, the fans turned up but the team didnt except Redmile who decided he wanted an early bath. Thankfully Brighton pity on us in the second half and we drew that half 0-0 after getting stuffed first 45 4-0).
League Group Cup - Bradford City away played in a snowstorm in early December just as the harsh winter descended. Just 9 of us on Smithys coach that night. Stood on the then massive open end to watch two teams try to stand up in the conditions. 90 mins 0-0, ET still 0-0, won on pens long after anyone in the ground had lost interest in who went through. Prize for the winners - an evening away trip to Grimsby. the magic of the cup eh...........
Was a regular at Welsh Cup matches in the 80s - Connahs Quay away on a Wednesday afternoon. Stood by Shropshire Star Dave Armitage (no press box on a farmers field.....). He asked me what I thought the attendance was, I told him and that became the 'official attendance' in the following days report. Rhyl - went up for the first game in a rainstorm, just in time to watch the floodlights turned off about 1/2 hour before kick off. Went back the following week and it was about as cold as I've ever been at a game. Pitch was white over with frost, I was running up and down with our subs just trying to keep warm. Think we finally won with 2 late goals to cancel out their early goal. Caernarfon - First time we won 8-1 on a hastily arranged sunday afternoon, it was our first game for about 6 weeks after the above mentioned Bradford game. Was about the only part of the country not still gripped in the big freeze, think it was only arranged at about 24 hours notice. Next time I asked to finish work early "Town are playing Caernarfon", we won by the odd goal I think, but we were playing Llanfair PG village side who moved the tie to Caernarfons ground. Cue having to ask for another early work finish as "Town are playing Caernarfon". "You played Caernarfon in the last round and only just about beat them" Had to come clean that it wasnt Caernarfon but the Anglesey village side. Cue much mickey taking from the boss......and even more after we lost to the real Caernarfon Hereford - we were 2 divisions above them and had just scr@ped a draw at home late on. Went to the replay expecting the gulf in class to prevail, we got stuffed 5-0. I only saw the first 4 as it was one of the only times I've ever gone before the final whistle.
Of course some of the most disappointing have been the Wembley trips. Didnt go to the last one, the first 4 were depressing enough
Being a regular away traveler in the 80s I completed the 92 in 1985, 84 of those were with Town over not too many years. Never kept it up as new clubs came into the FL and clubs moved to new grounds though. I would guess I've only been on about 50-55 of the current grounds if that.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2019 21:21:41 GMT 1
Good post Grizzly
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Post by ssshrew on Oct 24, 2019 21:41:16 GMT 1
Oh yes how could I forget Brighton in the Cup. I swear I’ve never been so wet in my life. Standing in the rain is bad enough but sitting. I remember the coach windows steaming up all the way back and I’m sure they tried to sell us dustbin bags to cover ourselves.
As for the game - as said best forgotten.
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Post by Stowmarket Shrew on Oct 24, 2019 22:20:29 GMT 1
Loving this post. Some great memories.
Was at the Cambridge 5-0, both Dagenham 5-0's and that cold dark Sunday afternoon at Margate (Dover). We actually won that game (Ryan Lowe and Jody Banim scored I think) but it was a miserable game in a god forsaken part of country. Seen a drubbing at Hartlepool, cold Tuesday defeats at Darlington, missed the Rochdale away win as I was at my grans, all of five miles from Spotland. Missed Gillingham stuffing at home as had to take my in laws to the Ludlow food festival, and decided on the morning of the huge Northampton win NOT to go as I had a cold. Gutted.
Do you know what, I've loved it all. It only takes my memories of Exeter 2000, Arsenal 2011, Sheffield Utd 4-2 win three or years ago, or either of the two Charlton trips in the play off season to make it all utterly worthwhile. Those latter two games in particular rank probably as my two favourite ever away games.
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Post by thesensationaljt on Oct 24, 2019 22:39:53 GMT 1
Loving this post. Some great memories. Was at the Cambridge 5-0. Yep, I woz there. I believe Omar Riza and Dave Kitson scored their goals. I can't remember who scored the nought for us. I went with the oldest Bro, on Smithy's tours. He had a gammy leg at the time., so we were dismayed when we had to walk about a mile through a park with local teams playing. In hindsight, I wish we'd stopped there. Dreadful display. Then, as we were filing out, the mic boomed out, "I've got a loverly bunch of coconuts". I remember seeing the fungiside and jigging about and inviting the limping Bro to join in. I can't remember his exact words, but I think he invited me to leave in short jerky movements.
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