I've met some truly mad Sunderland supporters .....

[magcatcherhutch]

Incorrect.I've already commented on the mags signal ( the United chant) to set it away.They were in amongst us and 'escorting' us down to the station.Check the photo again.I'd heard of the bother that took place before the game but as I never witnessed any,I haven't commented on it.

it dont matter but the big battle was bath lane
before game towards waterloo pub then up top of bath lane fact ..after that alover just about and after game all way to station fact ...i was present

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

I know I'm sounding like a right old fart but it was a different world. Going round the town on a Friday & Saturday night you'd be guaranteed to see a fight in the Greens or the Black Bull & probably both. Going to a match was the same. I've seen just as much bother in the after match drinks session at away games, than at the actual game. There was always some locals who took exception to a group of lads in a transit van turning up for a drink in their town. Had bother at Accrington, Chesterfield, Wakefield, Gloucester, Rhyll, Blackpool & Doncaster on the way back from games. I can honestly say we never went looking for bother, but it was an occupational hazard for anyone who wanted a decent night out after the match.

Wakefield!!

 

[My Boy Harry]

Belting lad is Bondy, haven't seen him for years. Is he still living in Prague?

Yes, Robin and Julie seem settled over there. Has the locals all supporting Sunderland!

The caption for the same picture on another image library site says it was in Neville Street. Not that that means anything necessarily, it could easily be wrong.

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It could indeed be wrong. I was given access to a whole load of photos for a book I was doing. That was one of them. However the more I looked at some of image properties ie inbuilt descriptions - file info, then some were plainly just wrong. Remember that the people at the newspapers writing the descriptions may well be some young lad or lass in the archives section who know nowt about football but are following some instruction given by some else.

 

[Hair Flick]

Yes, Robin and Julie seem settled over there. Has the locals all supporting Sunderland!


It could indeed be wrong. I was given access to a whole load of photos for a book I was doing. That was one of them. However the more I looked at some of image properties ie inbuilt descriptions - file info, then some were plainly just wrong. Remember that the people at the newspapers writing the descriptions may well be some young lad or lass in the archives section who know nowt about football but are following some instruction given by some else.

It doesn't look wide enough to be Neville Street, mebbes up Pink Lane or similar?

 

[Reiver]

Let's agree it was in Newcastle somewhere

Any mention of Bath Lane always makes me laugh.

None of us could get a ticket so decided not to risk going without one.

I was offered one in the Mag seats, the day before, which I collected on the day.
I got the service bus into Newcastle, crammed with Mags and had a pint in the Star iirc, crammed with Mags.

It felt really edgy so I decided to bin having another pint and walked off intending to go up Westgate and through the gap in the old walls to get to the ground early.

There were literally hundreds of Mags crammed in the narrow alleyway behind the old walls, could be Wall Street but can't remember. These will be the ones people remember being on Bath Lane. They'd have been able to see any of our lads coming up Bath Lane, Westgate or the big Boulevard. The only police were on the Boulevard.

What makes me laugh is that I went on my own, went on a Mag bus, sat in the Mag seats, was sussed before kick off and didn't see a scrap of bother all day

It wasn't until my relatives in Chopwell rang the next day, to ask if I was all right, that I even knew there'd been trouble.

 

[brandon safc]

Away to Millwall first game of the season 73/74 I think won 4-1. Me and my matewent down on bus from Ferryhill, didn t know anyone on bus only 16 yr old. Drunk as lords before the game in Harrow and Wealdstone wmclub. Set off for the Den a bit late. Got there 20mins after kick off on our own and went in their end by mistake. After the initial panic we just stood a bit to one side not saying a word as our goals went in and watching the bother at the other end of the ground. Surprisingly ok. coming out as well.
West Ham can t be positive of year but score was 1-1 Joe Bolton scored and we were on Mot Day. We went in the paddock to avoid any bother pretended to be part of the t.v. crew after the game to delay going out of the ground for as long as possible. Must have been a good 45 mins after the whistle we went ouside and they were still milling about. Bollocks to walking to the tube station we just jumped on the first service bus and paid a quid. Then made our way back to the hotel for wherever.
London trips back then were £11.00 picked up at seven on fri night bus down to Sheffield into a nightclub out at three in the morning and down to London. Check into hotel out at eleven match night out, overnight in hotel . Afternoon session in London and back home, great value and apart from being on edge and scared shitless fantastic weekends.
Could go on but just to finish off on one trip to a Sheffield nightclub there was a hairdressing competition on the third floor one of the ladswas passed out mortal drunk and we carried him in his chair and table upstairs and parked him up in the middle of the hairdressers. His hair was down his back anyway. What a laugh when they woke him up.

Good old Micky!

 

[Wakey ftm in Sussex]

Any mention of Bath Lane always makes me laugh.

None of us could get a ticket so decided not to risk going without one.

I was offered one in the Mag seats, the day before, which I collected on the day.
I got the service bus into Newcastle, crammed with Mags and had a pint in the Star iirc, crammed with Mags.

It felt really edgy so I decided to bin having another pint and walked off intending to go up Westgate and through the gap in the old walls to get to the ground early.

There were literally hundreds of Mags crammed in the narrow alleyway behind the old walls, could be Wall Street but can't remember. These will be the ones people remember being on Bath Lane. They'd have been able to see any of our lads coming up Bath Lane, Westgate or the big Boulevard. The only police were on the Boulevard.

What makes me laugh is that I went on my own, went on a Mag bus, sat in the Mag seats, was sussed before kick off and didn't see a scrap of bother all day

It wasn't until my relatives in Chopwell rang the next day, to ask if I was all right, that I even knew there'd been trouble.

Done the old travel with other team fans a few times:
Sheff Wed at home ( train strike?)
Brighton the other year in the league cup ( Bexhill Seagulls bus) but my fav was on a "Shoppers Special" from Wakey to London ( Palace in the fog). 50 women shopping for Christmas, loaded up with bags & a mate & me only had a match programme & a 24 pack Cheap as fuuuuck mind. Met Tommy the Clockwork Orange chef there for a beer, lost 2-0 iirc & saw no goals !

 

[Reiver]

Away to Millwall first game of the season 73/74 I think won 4-1. Me and my matewent down on bus from Ferryhill, didn t know anyone on bus only 16 yr old. Drunk as lords before the game in Harrow and Wealdstone wmclub. Set off for the Den a bit late. Got there 20mins after kick off on our own and went in their end by mistake. After the initial panic we just stood a bit to one side not saying a word as our goals went in and watching the bother at the other end of the ground. Surprisingly ok. coming out as well.
West Ham can t be positive of year but score was 1-1 Joe Bolton scored and we were on Mot Day. We went in the paddock to avoid any bother pretended to be part of the t.v. crew after the game to delay going out of the ground for as long as possible. Must have been a good 45 mins after the whistle we went ouside and they were still milling about. Bollocks to walking to the tube station we just jumped on the first service bus and paid a quid. Then made our way back to the hotel for wherever.
London trips back then were £11.00 picked up at seven on fri night bus down to Sheffield into a nightclub out at three in the morning and down to London. Check into hotel out at eleven match night out, overnight in hotel . Afternoon session in London and back home, great value and apart from being on edge and scared shitless fantastic weekends.
Could go on but just to finish off on one trip to a Sheffield nightclub there was a hairdressing competition on the third floor one of the ladswas passed out mortal drunk and we carried him in his chair and table upstairs and parked him up in the middle of the hairdressers. His hair was down his back anyway. What a laugh when they woke him up.

Do keep posting your stories mate, some crackers on there.

Incidentally my auntie Elsie had the Eldon Arms in Ferryhill in the 70's and 80's, I used to stay there before some home games.

My nephew, Christopher, once took me down to Elland Road in his Triumph Spitfire which was quite a treat in those days.

We were followed after the game and he was so impressed with my stone throwing abilities he wouldn't take any petrol money

 

[Tlea Boy]

it dont matter but the big battle was bath lane
before game towards waterloo pub then up top of bath lane fact ..after that alover just about and after game all way to station fact ...i was present

I went with my Dad and walked to the ground with no problem and were in the Gallowgste paddock of the main stand which was half full of Sunderland. After the match we walked out of the ground and could see loads of Mags hanging around and waiting for the Sunderland fans who had been in the Leazes. Saw no trouble.

 

[TOONDOON]

Good old Micky!

The very man.

 

[Deleted member 39436]

No internet, but back abut 69 in the RK days, the mag put an advert in one of the local papers in the classifieds "All Sunderland fans meet in the Strawberry" !
It was trap!! haha dozy gets.


Aye that's was mint, the boro lads were getting chased up the road by our lads on the other train and we were marching down the other way having walked from think it was Thornaby.


That was Joe Kennedy from Seaham


Yes, know big Harry well he went on the trawlers I recall, Oxo was a little mean looking character wit tattoos

I stand corrected Vauxie, Thornaby eh, was it Big Steph from Hylton Castle with the axe in the park?

No internet, but back abut 69 in the RK days, the mag put an advert in one of the local papers in the classifieds "All Sunderland fans meet in the Strawberry" !
It was trap!! haha dozy gets.


Aye that's was mint, the boro lads were getting chased up the road by our lads on the other train and we were marching down the other way having walked from think it was Thornaby.


That was Joe Kennedy from Seaham


Yes, know big Harry well he went on the trawlers I recall, Oxo was a little mean looking character wit tattoos

Joe Kennedy yes, the Seaham lads Cole brothers McTomneys etc.

 

[Hair Flick]

I went with my Dad and walked to the ground with no problem and were in the Gallowgste paddock of the main stand which was half full of Sunderland. After the match we walked out of the ground and could see loads of Mags hanging around and waiting for the Sunderland fans who had been in the Leazes. Saw no trouble.

Sat next to Tony Blair?

 

[Deleted member 39436]

Sat next to Tony Blair?

Tony sat in the leazes at King James park,well Alistair told me to say it. Said he.

 

[Deleted member 6830]

Yes, Robin and Julie seem settled over there. Has the locals all supporting Sunderland!


It could indeed be wrong. I was given access to a whole load of photos for a book I was doing. That was one of them. However the more I looked at some of image properties ie inbuilt descriptions - file info, then some were plainly just wrong. Remember that the people at the newspapers writing the descriptions may well be some young lad or lass in the archives section who know nowt about football but are following some instruction given by some else.

Neville St ffs ???? Anyone who went to scum park from the station knows thats Bath Lane

I went with my Dad and walked to the ground with no problem and were in the Gallowgste paddock of the main stand which was half full of Sunderland. After the match we walked out of the ground and could see loads of Mags hanging around and waiting for the Sunderland fans who had been in the Leazes. Saw no trouble.

lucky you eh

@JTF message received and understood

 

[goldie]

Goldie read your thread on Poland.Travelled all over with England since the 80's and cold write a book myself and it would be only one trip. Poland/ England 93 Katowice there's a clip on YouTube hairy stuff.Being on the dole at the time my mate bought a old Honda Civic. For £60 yes I did say £60 and off we set 3 from Peterlee and a mate from Blyth called longhair never seen him for 20 year anyone know him. Got told two lads were arrested by Police took by landrover to a field and were given a good beating and all their stuff nicked.

aye that one 99 was scary...worse personally was turin for friendly 2000 or 2001 got proper good kicking bats the lot.only 3 of us..luckily for me as I lay on floor was I had my own kevin costner haha..my mate was a bodyguard in iraq at time and was fending them off while saying goldie are u gonna get up and help haha...yr right could right a book on most away trips.although a lot more sanitised nowadays...went to slovenia with lass..didnt even bother going match...and couldnt believe the difference between scotland away 2000 and the last time when we drank round glasgow all day my avatar was taken in glasgow..couldnt of done that in 2000...used to go with blackpool lads and man city amongst a few others and what a laugh..got to eindhoven for portugal game for a quid..aye a quid...made a documentary for japanese tv in japan...seen norman wisdom in albania....took 70quid to Helsinki for a wk and loads more stories..quality times

 

[magcatcherhutch]

bath lane will be talked about for years n years not by mags cos it did not happen according to them lot .
another one is a few of the gateshead lads met in travalger pub on high street before the new years day game yeh the petrol pump yeh i know .so anyway 40 odd turned up we drank in traf. half moon .central bar .railway club .near gateshead end of hiğh level bridge with a few gateshead mags we new ...then hour before game wonderd over bridge to meet trains ...mags waiting for us some snide called regan set us up with his mag mates hell on in middle of bridge how someone never ended up in tyne god knows ..we stood our ground to station we had to they hated us more than sland folk ...one bobby kept dozons apart outside newcastle castle till others arrived cops said how did we get here from sland we said we gateshead lads born n bred 100 yards that way ..always remember those words years later ..never seen game as that bastard petrol pump came into play later on around gallowgate spent week in r v i ...happy days ..

 

[Deleted member 6830]

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The blurry picture is the one MBH posted tho his didnt show the cop horse on the right - you can just make out the big sunlun lad in the middle so there you have it lads, PROOF that the scum's newspaper called it the battle of bath lane, NOT US.

bath lane will be talked about for years n years not by mags cos it did not happen according to them lot .
another one is a few of the gateshead lads met in travalger pub on high street before the new years day game yeh the petrol pump yeh i know .so anyway 40 odd turned up we drank in traf. half moon .central bar .railway club .near gateshead end of hiğh level bridge with a few gateshead mags we new ...then hour before game wonderd over bridge to meet trains ...mags waiting for us some snide called regan set us up with his mag mates hell on in middle of bridge how someone never ended up in tyne god knows ..we stood our ground to station we had to they hated us more than sland folk ...one bobby kept dozons apart outside newcastle castle till others arrived cops said how did we get here from sland we said we gateshead lads born n bred 100 yards that way ..always remember those words years later ..never seen game as that bastard petrol pump came into play later on around gallowgate spent week in r v i ...happy days ..

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[My Boy Harry]

Neville St ffs ???? Anyone who went to scum park from the station knows thats Bath Lane



lucky you eh

@JTF message received and understood

It was a general point TBH about the labelling of some of the images wrongly by the newspapers.

 

[rugga]

Big thanks to the lads who have posted on this thread and told some cracking stories, I only started doing away games very late 80's so missed out on a lot of the dangers that went with away trips in the 70's, my fatha used to go to loads of aways late 60's through to late 70's and he's mentioned how dicey it was even if you weren't looking for bother. He's from Consett so him and his mates used to just drive down. He says his scariest time was Bristol City away, (I'll have to ask him roughly what year, his memory is shite on dates).

One story he told me was finishing night shift at the company and as he was walking home bumped into his mates setting off to an away, so my dad being the fanatic he was jumped on the car without any cash and still wearing his steel capped work boots (he worked in the billet mill sp?) They got to the ground and a copper told him to take his boots off, so he had to stand on the terraces with his boots hung around his neck!

 

[Deleted member 6830]

It was a general point TBH about the labelling of some of the images wrongly by the newspapers.

I know mate but it's so ludicrous it's nuts !

It was taken further up Bath Lane ,probably where the Japanese restaurant is now.I was in the escort.It was definitely taken after the match though.

It was pitch black after the match finished man, it was February fhs !!!! Photo was taken before the game. Don't get how ur confused unless u on a wind up