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when birmingham took the east end and we got spanked on and off the pitch


where's the joy

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Can anyone remember the year? early 70's?

The police just marched the Blues fans into the east end very early.

They stood right behind the goal, with fights kicking off all around the edges, but we never got our 'rightful' places back  

i think they won 2-0, can't remember if Trevor Francis was playing, when he was 16/17 years old and ridiculously talented 

it was not a great day for us reds.

here's hoping for better times today

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During the early 70's away fans were frequently in the east end early doors and Birmingham amongst others managed to stay there despite all attemts to move them. Even Rovers did during the Gloucester cup around that time. We did the same at most away games and often stayed the whole match certainly don't ever recalled being dislodged from the town end Swindon except by the police dogs after we knocked the gates down about 2 hours before kickoff one time.

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28 minutes ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

Only team I can recall getting close to taking the East End was West Ham, and that didn't stick either. I remember the police marching us early into the Town End at Swindon, where we stayed all game. 

Millwall in 1971 i think had a real go was absoulute mayhem in there that day.

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The OP is right,  it was before segregation when away fans could go in any part of the ground. About 1969 I think. As a boy I would arrive at 1pm to get a place by the railings where I could see.  The Brum fans arrived at 1pm and simply paid on the East End turnstiles and occupied the terrace behind the goal. AG was deserted apart from a few schoolboy.

They didn't "take" the EE.....but they did hold it.  City did mob up outside and entered with about 100 fans but we're outnumbered by about 7 or 800 Brum behind the goal and we're ran. Eventually enough City arrived to even the numbers  up and it was even from then on with both mobs charging and counter charging but Brum weren't dislodged.

Different times then, I don't remember much Police presence and the 2 groups basically just got on with it!

 

 

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Only thing that stopped Brum getting battered were the Police they shielded behind.

After the game, the Brummies were escorted/protected by the Police all the way back to Temple Meads, and others to their coaches (parked just off North Street?)

What really constituted the bragging right of "Taking an End" was to take it from the home team's fans after they were firmly esconced and ready to protect their popular spot.

Getting in early before the other lot and holding your ground did not have the same kudos.

Considered by many as the bad old days. Football on the pitch and the fans' matchday experience are very different today.

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11 minutes ago, CodeRed said:

The OP is right,  it was before segregation when away fans could go in any part of the ground. About 1969 I think. As a boy I would arrive at 1pm to get a place by the railings where I could see.  The Brum fans arrived at 1pm and simply paid on the East End turnstiles and occupied the terrace behind the goal. AG was deserted apart from a few schoolboy.

They didn't "take" the EE.....but they did hold it.  City did mob up outside and entered with about 100 fans but we're outnumbered by about 7 or 800 Brum behind the goal and we're ran. Eventually enough City arrived to even the numbers  up and it was even from then on with both mobs charging and counter charging but Brum weren't dislodged.

Different times then, I don't remember much Police presence and the 2 groups basically just got on with it!

 

 

Yep. That’s my recollection. The only difference being the small City ‘mob’ were left licking their wounds in the area to the left of the central section as you looked to the stand from the open end. The central section was solid blue apart from the ****** who nicked by scarf. 

We had the ignominy of being escorted by the police for our own safety to the open end!   

Think we got a little bit more organised after that embarrassment and while the likes of Oxford, Huddersfield, Cardiff, Millwall all had a go, they never had the complete victory the Brummies managed that day!

 

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13 minutes ago, CodeRed said:

Different times then, I don't remember much Police presence and the 2 groups basically just got on with it!

 

 

Definitely plenty of Police there.

That's why it was Cat and Mouse fighting.

Several City ejected throuhout the game (though it was easy enough to get back inside).

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33 minutes ago, Sheltons Army said:

Yep ?

The old St.Andrews ground walk to New Street station was one of the roughest walks in England back to and from the station in those days (Cold Blow Lane & Ayresome Park came close also). Waste land, side streets and Zulus all tooled up that day. Big mob of City there early doors, but you did not want to lose all your mates walking to and from the ground on your own - trust me. Dangerous place to be an away fan in those days.

Went off down AG in the home game that season also with a Zulu jumping through someone’s front window to escape a mob of CSF.

God knows what the family inside must have thought!

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I watched it all from the small open terrace where the Dolman is now, so not in the thick of it. Just a kid then! I remember some of there fans got on the pitch just after they arrived and had a kick about for a few minutes before stewards or police ( can't remember which) chased then back into the terrace.

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36 minutes ago, Bazooka Joe said:

Only thing that stopped Brum getting battered were the Police they shielded behind.

After the game, the Brummies were escorted/protected by the Police all the way back to Temple Meads, and others to their coaches (parked just off North Street?)

What really constituted the bragging right of "Taking an End" was to take it from the home team's fans after they were firmly esconced and ready to protect their popular spot.

Getting in early before the other lot and holding your ground did not have the same kudos.

Considered by many as the bad old days. Football on the pitch and the fans' matchday experience are very different today.

Not sure whether that’s the same match.

The late 60’s one they basically took the p*ss......and then some. It was like us at Swindon away a season or so later, who despite help from Millwall were well and truly trashed in their own ground.

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The Zulus were a well respected firm back in the 80’s. Mixed race following also which was rare back in the 80’s. Met a few at England away games and some real characters amongst them.
Lively bunch and great company to be with. 
Zulus written by Caroline Gall is a good read and tells the mixed race story well.

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6 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

Only team I can recall getting close to taking the East End was West Ham, and that didn't stick either. I remember the police marching us early into the Town End at Swindon, where we stayed all game. 

if that was the 76/77 season the pg tips chimps tea party was going on in the centre of the pitch at the same time.....

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7 hours ago, where's the joy said:

Can anyone remember the year? early 70's?

The police just marched the Blues fans into the east end very early.

They stood right behind the goal, with fights kicking off all around the edges, but we never got our 'rightful' places back  

i think they won 2-0, can't remember if Trevor Francis was playing, when he was 16/17 years old and ridiculously talented 

it was not a great day for us reds.

here's hoping for better times today

I remember them being in the East End giving it large at circa 1:30pm one Saturday but don't recall the year (73 or 74 maybe). We were in the open end that day. Mind you come 2:45pm most of them had evacuated both the East End and their bowels.

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5 hours ago, CodeRed said:

I watched it all from the small open terrace where the Dolman is now, so not in the thick of it. Just a kid then! I remember some of there fans got on the pitch just after they arrived and had a kick about for a few minutes before stewards or police ( can't remember which) chased then back into the terrace.

What year was that ? I think that was the game I recall.

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