Nickybee Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 Random 1st topic that I’ve started I know but following the sad news about Terry Cooper, I was reminiscing about the time he was our Manager. One event that came to mind was Good Friday 1985 and an away game vs Plymouth. Me & few of my mates took a ‘Football Special’ train that had been laid on; unfortunately it broke down on the way (I think) and by the time we got underway again it didn’t get to Plymouth until after the game had started. As a result, the train arrived at the station on the middle track so we couldn’t get off. The engine was then taken from the front and put on the back and we were basically turned round and taken back home. And as this was pre mobile phones we got back to find that City had lost . Anyway, don’t want to alienate the younger forum members as this was over 30 years ago but does anyone else on the forum remember this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 Yep, been a few threads on this over the years. Devon & Cornwall constabulary basically kettled the train and lied to those on it by saying that the game was off. I drove down (we took absolutely loads) but coming the year after the riot at Reading there was a lot of paranoia in the police about our away following. Completely illegal of course, but loads that the police did in football grounds then (filming you, no identification on their clothing) was like that in those days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fodbarmyarmy Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I believe it was Police instruction to not let anyone off..... There had already been a lot of trouble at the ground so the Police at the station were called back to Home park and no way were they going to let another 500 fans wander around un escorted... IIRC those on the train were being told the game was off even tho it had started and was on local radio... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingswood Robin Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I remember going to the match, and did get to watch the game. From memory you didn't miss much, lost 1-0 I think (back in the days of Tommy Tynan) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 7 minutes ago, Fodbarmyarmy said: I believe it was Police instruction to not let anyone off..... There had already been a lot of trouble at the ground so the Police at the station were called back to Home park and no way were they going to let another 500 fans wander around un escorted... IIRC those on the train were being told the game was off even tho it had started and was on local radio... There wasn’t any trouble in the ground at all. Might have been a fair few skirmishes in the park outside but nothing whatsoever in the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Exile Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I was on that train. Utterly bizarre away day...but typical of the way football supporters were treated in those days, and often still are. As a chap pushing 60 I can't think of many other occasions in life when I'm as routinely treated with suspicion by authorities as I am at an away match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol Oil Services Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 Was on the train too. Got off with a few hundred others, crossed the tracks risking life and limb - City til we die, quite liderally - through a cemetry (sorry for your losses, Plymuff brethren; and sorry for trampling across yer loved ones remains), up a hill, into the ground. Lost 0-1. Think plod bundled us back on normal trains after. Fair bit of chaos that day, by all accounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol Oil Services Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 52 minutes ago, GrahamC said: I drove down (we took absolutely loads) but coming the year after the riot at Reading there was a lot of paranoia in the police about our away following. To be fair to plod, their "paranoia" as you put it wasn't without substance or reason (which then impels me to ask: can it have been paranoia given the reasons I am about to give?) coming as that game did a mere 12 months or so after the Reading game, and perhaps most notably (for Devon & Cornwall) our visit to Torquay the previous season. And just weeks after serious disorder - ie, not the often seen "handbags" and giving-it-the-big 'un posturing but near-mediaeval hand-to-hand combat with knives and milk float bottles etc - v Millwall. And a growing list of other serious disorder, such as West Ham that season, Notts County away the previous season (assuming different plods shared info) and more besides. In short, for a well supported away game at that time we caused a lot of problems for the host plod. Where plod were, perhaps, a bit dense that day, a bit 'Hot Fuzz' on the uptake, was in knowing that fans travelling on organised trains by 1985 were not the problem. The serious problem were the ones in the boozers around Plymouth the night before or by midday for a 3pm game, the ones travelling independently, the ones arriving beyond the scrutiny and the escorts of plod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepywall Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 55 minutes ago, GrahamC said: There wasn’t any trouble in the ground at all. Might have been a fair few skirmishes in the park outside but nothing whatsoever in the ground. It was the infamous garage forecourt incident, happened fairly early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidered abroad Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I was at the match with my wife. Dismal display by City. A police helicopter circled over home Park for the entire game. About ten minutes from time, a pissed off City fan looked at the helicopter and screamed "Alright, I give in. I'll buy one of your fxxxxxx houses"! (Barratt Homes tv advert had a helicopter in it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstdivision Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 1 hour ago, Nickybee said: Random 1st topic that I’ve started I know but following the sad news about Terry Cooper, I was reminiscing about the time he was our Manager. One event that came to mind was Good Friday 1985 and an away game vs Plymouth. Me & few of my mates took a ‘Football Special’ train that had been laid on; unfortunately it broke down on the way (I think) and by the time we got underway again it didn’t get to Plymouth until after the game had started. As a result, the train arrived at the station on the middle track so we couldn’t get off. The engine was then taken from the front and put on the back and we were basically turned round and taken back home. And as this was pre mobile phones we got back to find that City had lost . Anyway, don’t want to alienate the younger forum members as this was over 30 years ago but does anyone else on the forum remember this? I was there. An utterly miserable wet 'Good' Friday. Tommy Tynan. As someone else has commented, you didn't miss much. We'd won 8 of our previous 9 games and were going for promotion. We had a goal disallowed for offside (Rob Newman, I think). It looked well on from behind the goal! We beat Hull City 2-0 at home in the sunshine on Easter Monday to keep our hopes alive, but it proved not quite enough. We finished fifth - easily good enough for a play-off place but no play-offs in those days - six points behind third-placed Hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I wasn’t at that game, but I remember going to watch City there another time (must have been early 1990s) with my dad. We found a pub that let in away fans on the other side of the park by the ground, but the walk back across the park felt very intimidating. Lots of Plymouth fans waiting for City fans. One of them advised us to hide our scarves and walk quickly, fair play to him cos he could see we weren’t looking for trouble I have a distant memory of another game there where we walked out of the away end and had to walk across the pitch to get to the car park…..cue fans digging lumps out of the pitch with their heels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 There were a fair few of us in Torquay for the weekend, quite an interesting weekend all round. Torquay were home to Exeter on the Saturday and I was in the pub having a drink , first wife in tow. City boys at the back of the pub, Exeter in the front, and we were in the middle as glasses were exchanged. I remember chatting to some lads that had jumped off the train that day, I think we got near the ground just after the forecourt kicked off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 4 minutes ago, Offside said: I have a distant memory of another game there where we walked out of the away end and had to walk across the pitch to get to the car park…..cue fans digging lumps out of the pitch with their heels. I think that was a Cup replay, another loss. Winter I seem to remember as it was slippery under foot on the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offside Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 Not surprised it was a loss, one of those grounds we’ve always seemed to struggle at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDarwall Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I think my 1st away trip was Home Park around Easter time. It bucketed down & the game was called off quite late. It was rearranged for later in the season, they needed to beat us to seal promotion & hammered us 4 nil. Naively I thought we had a superb away following until they scored & most of the away end erupted with home fans. Probably best we lost really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingswood Robin Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I don't pretend to know what goes on down there but, can anyone explain the training pitch, top right of the picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphindevon Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 2 minutes ago, Kingswood Robin said: I don't pretend to know what goes on down there but, can anyone explain the training pitch, top right of the picture? That was when Plymouth played Forest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingswood Robin Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 1 minute ago, ralphindevon said: That was when Plymouth played Forest Thanks, that clears it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphindevon Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 I remember this incident, a lot of very unhappy city fans including some that hadn’t missed a game for years. As I lived in Minehead at the time so I drove down and wondered why the away following looked down in numbers. Didn’t hear the reason until the next day. All the games I’ve been to at at Plymouth mingle into one, dreadful and this was no exception Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 4 hours ago, Offside said: 4 hours ago, 1960maaan said: I think that was a Cup replay, another loss. Winter I seem to remember as it was slippery under foot on the pitch. I have a distant memory of another game there where we walked out of the away end and had to walk across the pitch to get to the car park…..cue fans digging lumps out of the pitch with their heels. It was. Dwight Marshall scored in ET for a 1-0. We hit the post in the 90th minute - can`t remember who. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRock Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 5 hours ago, weepywall said: It was the infamous garage forecourt incident, happened fairly early. That was the Cherry Tree ‘Incident’. Unless there were two such garage forecourt situations, that was in the early is 1990’s and unrelated to the special train. The Cherry Tree was one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve ever encountered at a football match. Like a scene from the Wild West outside with axes and bottles flying through the air, wandered into the pub for a pint and it was like nothing had happened/was happening. A few City and several regulars sipping their pints in the bar/lounge. Surreal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepywall Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 1 minute ago, RedRock said: That was the Cherry Tree ‘Incident’. Unless there were two such garage forecourt situations, that was in the early is 1990’s and unrelated to the special train. The Cherry Tree was one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve ever encountered at a football match. Like a scene from the Wild West outside with axes and bottles flying through the air, wandered into the pub for a pint and it was like nothing had happened/was happening. A few City and several regulars sipping their pints in the bar/lounge. Surreal. That's the one, memory a bit hazy about the date, certainly remember the axe man tho !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archie andrews Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 10 minutes ago, RedRock said: That was the Cherry Tree ‘Incident’. Unless there were two such garage forecourt situations, that was in the early is 1990’s and unrelated to the special train. The Cherry Tree was one of the most bizarre experiences I’ve ever encountered at a football match. Like a scene from the Wild West outside with axes and bottles flying through the air, wandered into the pub for a pint and it was like nothing had happened/was happening. A few City and several regulars sipping their pints in the bar/lounge. Surreal. cherry tree was 96.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Taylor Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 6 hours ago, Moments of Pleasure said: To be fair to plod, their "paranoia" as you put it wasn't without substance or reason (which then impels me to ask: can it have been paranoia given the reasons I am about to give?) coming as that game did a mere 12 months or so after the Reading game, and perhaps most notably (for Devon & Cornwall) our visit to Torquay the previous season. And just weeks after serious disorder - ie, not the often seen "handbags" and giving-it-the-big 'un posturing but near-mediaeval hand-to-hand combat with knives and milk float bottles etc - v Millwall. And a growing list of other serious disorder, such as West Ham that season, Notts County away the previous season (assuming different plods shared info) and more besides. In short, for a well supported away game at that time we caused a lot of problems for the host plod. Where plod were, perhaps, a bit dense that day, a bit 'Hot Fuzz' on the uptake, was in knowing that fans travelling on organised trains by 1985 were not the problem. The serious problem were the ones in the boozers around Plymouth the night before or by midday for a 3pm game, the ones travelling independently, the ones arriving beyond the scrutiny and the escorts of plod. What ignited the riots at Elm Park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
77 punk Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 the reading game was a big promotion clash, city lost absolute anarchy it made the back pages of the papers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lenred Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 5 hours ago, Kingswood Robin said: I don't pretend to know what goes on down there but, can anyone explain the training pitch, top right of the picture? Played there many years ago in a trial when I was 12/13. Very nice pitch indeed - felt continental with the pine trees all around - like something you’d see on Gazetta Football Italia on C4. Game was on a Saturday morning and Plymouth played Millwall in the afternoon to which we were invited to watch. Millwall fans were giving us 12 year olds trialists the ‘we’re going to slit your throats’ signs throughout the game and then there was a massive fight in the car park after. Not ashamed to admit that I loved it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merrick's Marvels Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 7 hours ago, Moments of Pleasure said: Was on the train too. Got off with a few hundred others, crossed the tracks risking life and limb - City til we die, quite liderally - through a cemetry (sorry for your losses, Plymuff brethren; and sorry for trampling across yer loved ones remains), up a hill, into the ground. Lost 0-1. We shouldn't have bothered. As I recall by the time we got to the ground there was only about 20 minutes left, Keith Curle hit the bar, they scored, final whistle, train home with a handful of others, Ronnie and Tuba I think. Fond memories of that season as a whole though. 19 minutes ago, Shaun Taylor said: What ignited the riots at Elm Park Alcohol and Lawrie Sanchez scoring for Reading after 10 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Taylor Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 11 minutes ago, Merrick's Marvels said: We shouldn't have bothered. As I recall by the time we got to the ground there was only about 20 minutes left, Keith Curle hit the bar, they scored, final whistle, train home with a handful of others, Ronnie and Tuba I think. Fond memories of that season as a whole though. Alcohol and Lawrie Sanchez scoring for Reading after 10 minutes. I'm guessing there wasn't much resistance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merrick's Marvels Posted August 2, 2021 Report Share Posted August 2, 2021 9 minutes ago, Shaun Taylor said: I'm guessing there wasn't much resistance Think Old Bill took the brunt of it, if memory serves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.