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Posted by: Nelly GTFC, September 3, 2014, 7:39pm
18,000 at Blundell Park!!! (ohmy)

Just talking on the West Ham forums, one mentioned this game he said he went to, said it was the best fish and chips he ever had lol >> [url=http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=154837]http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=154837[/url]

Link >> [url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-west-ham-united-11-april-1981-119776/]http://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-west-ham-united-11-april-1981-119776/[/url]
Posted by: codcheeky, September 3, 2014, 7:43pm; Reply: 1
yes remember it for bobby mitchells dive to get a peno for our goal, we had a decent team but west ham were a class above that day
Posted by: cod_head_doug, September 3, 2014, 7:46pm; Reply: 2
I remember this game, I was in the top of the old barratt stand and I remember a West Ham fan in the lower section shouting " we want six"
Cannot remember who scored for us.
Posted by: Nelly GTFC, September 3, 2014, 7:46pm; Reply: 3
Can't find it on youtube, but found this one (the away game) from 1980 - lost 1 - 2 doh, says George Kerr put Kevin Drinkell on the transfer list the day before the match!!!!
Quoted Text
A side full of Town legends Batch, Brolly, Drinkell, Waters, Moore......... No disgrace losing 2-1 at Upton Park with Brooking, Bonds, Lampard etc in a West Ham side that ended the season as champions. Town were in the promotion places in March but eventually finished 7th.

[youtube]VnDbPpsylq0[/youtube]
Posted by: promotion plaice, September 3, 2014, 8:10pm; Reply: 4
I was there.
Posted by: RoboCod, September 3, 2014, 8:17pm; Reply: 5
I remember it too. They nullified much of our attack by booting Bobby C all over the pitch. Quality team but they didn't mess around either.
Posted by: cmackenzie4, September 3, 2014, 8:18pm; Reply: 6
I was there that day too, stood in the pontoon right behind the goal, Great memories!
Posted by: gytone, September 3, 2014, 8:18pm; Reply: 7
I was there think super Bobby Cummings got kicked to bits my the Wes Ham full back whose name escapes me, also thought we were only a couple of players short of getting promoted to the first division that year !
Posted by: cmackenzie4, September 3, 2014, 8:20pm; Reply: 8
Didn't they go on to win the fa cup that year too?
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 3, 2014, 8:31pm; Reply: 9
David Cross was one of those "nearly" great strikers. Very good at Div 2 level as it was then, but not quite top class. He was too good for us though that day. West Ham's side was a lot more physical than the Moore, Peters, Hurst one. Worthy champions.
Posted by: Abdul19, September 3, 2014, 8:36pm; Reply: 10
Quoted from cmackenzie4
Didn't they go on to win the fa cup that year too?


Year before I think
Posted by: Badger57, September 3, 2014, 8:44pm; Reply: 11
I wanted to be there but unfortunately that was the day I got married.............for the first time! ;-) Was asking all the time what was the score but it wasn't so easy in those days. Honestly couldn't believe it when I found out we'd lost 5-1. A really rotten day for me!!!!! ;-)
Posted by: mariner tommy, September 3, 2014, 8:44pm; Reply: 12
Quoted from cmackenzie4
Didn't they go on to win the fa cup that year too?


81 was Spurs, won it two years on the trot.

UTM
Posted by: jungleland, September 3, 2014, 8:57pm; Reply: 13
Yeah I was there Barrett stand didn't David cross get 4 that game
Posted by: RoboCod, September 3, 2014, 9:05pm; Reply: 14
Cross got at least 3, possibly 4. Think it was Stewart ? (first name escapes me) who kicked Bobby C around.
Posted by: Perkins, September 3, 2014, 9:07pm; Reply: 15
I was in the Barretts too.
Posted by: Theimperialcoroner, September 3, 2014, 9:07pm; Reply: 16
Was there sat on the barrier at the front of the Pontoon, right next to the kid that Billy Bonds gave a shovel-like handful of money that had been chucked on the pitch when West Ham were defending our end.
Posted by: gytone, September 3, 2014, 9:10pm; Reply: 17
It was Stewart, think his first name was Ray.......or twit
Posted by: A.l.f., September 3, 2014, 9:21pm; Reply: 18
I was there too.  They were excellent and physical too.  We were a good side that season but they made us look ordinary that day.
Posted by: lew chaterleys lover, September 3, 2014, 9:38pm; Reply: 19
I was at the game and remember taking the bus to Blundell Park and there were some West Ham fans also on the bus.

They were talking amongst themselves saying how clean and tidy it was in this area which I was chuffed at.

The game itself I can't remember much about (wasn't it raining hence the bus??) - funnily enough I can remember the League Cup quarter final in 1965 much better which I swear is the best game I have ever seen at BP.  
Posted by: Belfast Town, September 3, 2014, 9:51pm; Reply: 20
Standing in the Pontoon as usual for that one. They were a class team, too good for us on the day (obviously, as the scoreline shows).
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 3, 2014, 10:00pm; Reply: 21
Quoted from gytone
It was Stewart, think his first name was Ray.......or twit



Ace penalty taker.

Posted by: MuddyWaters, September 3, 2014, 10:01pm; Reply: 22
Ray Stewart, Scotsman who used to take bullet penalties. Cross was awesome and got 4.
Posted by: crusty ole pie, September 3, 2014, 10:02pm; Reply: 23
Quoted from promotion plaice
I was there.


Me too
Posted by: Sigone, September 3, 2014, 10:19pm; Reply: 24
I would of been there against the wall of the imperial corner but can i buggery remember it, mind you im struggling to remember the winterton game last night  :B














edit. North Ferriby
Posted by: Nelly GTFC, September 3, 2014, 10:50pm; Reply: 25
West Ham Forum - "Knees up mother brown" >> [url=http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=154837]http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=154837[/url]

Poojah is famous haha.
Posted by: TownSNAFU5, September 3, 2014, 10:57pm; Reply: 26
I was there as well. A lot of West Ham fans made the trip up north.  The defeat was our last outside-chance of getting into the Premiership (equiv).   We had had high ambitions in those days and a good team.

We were unlucky during the game but well beaten by the end.

West Ham had 7 or 8 players in the Team of the Season.  
Posted by: Les Brechin, September 3, 2014, 11:03pm; Reply: 27
I remember it well. I'm sure it was 4 goals David Cross scored.

The game was near the end of the season and I think that we'd only conceded 4 goals in total at home all season until that game.
Posted by: mimma, September 3, 2014, 11:11pm; Reply: 28
I was at this game, from what I remember, it was raining heavily, gluepot of a pitch.

I think Bobby Cummings had to go off injured towards the end leaving us a man short when we were two down.

They then made their class tell. tearing us apart with ease.
Posted by: immariner, September 4, 2014, 12:00am; Reply: 29
Very interesting thread on there regarding Sky and its sports channels. I thought it was only me that thought like that! ;) Refreshing to see fans of a Premier League club also angry at what Sky and the greedy Premier League have done to the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdycWHhvsQ
Posted by: promotion plaice, September 4, 2014, 12:05am; Reply: 30
Correct me if i'm wrong but I think West Ham scored while the crowd we're still entering the ground.
Posted by: GrimExile, September 4, 2014, 1:27am; Reply: 31
I remember being furious that I couldn't go to the game because my sister in law got married that day and I really fancied our chances. The reception was at the Winter Gardens and of course it was pre internet so I had no idea what the score was. I seem to remember that one of the staff finally told me and I sulked all evening!! I had an excuse because I was only 30 after all!!!
Posted by: ginnywings, September 4, 2014, 3:38am; Reply: 32
Couldn't get in the Pontoon that day as it was rammed and ended up in the Harrington St open corner. Think we got a bit wet. We were virtually impossible to score against at BP that season, until West Ham turned up and tore us a new one. Think it may have been Paul Goddard who got their other goal.
Posted by: pizzzza, September 4, 2014, 6:59am; Reply: 33
Quoted from Nelly GTFC
18,000 at Blundell Park!!!

Just talking on the West Ham forums, one mentioned this game he said he went to, said it was the best fish and chips he ever had lol.

Link >> [url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-west-ham-united-11-april-1981-119776/]http://www.11v11.com/matches/grimsby-town-v-west-ham-united-11-april-1981-119776/[/url]


A young Frank Lampard played for them as well it seems.
Posted by: oldun, September 4, 2014, 7:02am; Reply: 34
I was there in the Barratt Stand with my old man. West Ham had a very good team at that time
Posted by: moosey_club, September 4, 2014, 9:07am; Reply: 35
Quoted from pizzzza


A young Frank Lampard played for them as well it seems.


i trust this is an attempted wind up.... :B
Posted by: Les Brechin, September 4, 2014, 9:13am; Reply: 36
Quoted from moosey_club


i trust this is an attempted wind up.... :B


I'm not sure. If I remember right, they did have a 3-year old in midfield.  ;D

Posted by: moosey_club, September 4, 2014, 9:15am; Reply: 37
Phil Parkes....most expensive goalkeeper ever (once upon a time).
Posted by: dapperz fun pub, September 4, 2014, 9:24am; Reply: 38
I remember it being a nice sunny day, getting beat by a very good team and remember thinking all the west ham fans are massive lumps.
Posted by: pizzzza, September 4, 2014, 9:31am; Reply: 39
Quoted from moosey_club


i trust this is an attempted wind up.... :B


;)
Posted by: chaos33, September 4, 2014, 9:43am; Reply: 40
I was there - in the Constitutional corner. I was only 8 at the time and remember being very upset at the score.
Posted by: Stranger in the Park, September 4, 2014, 9:50am; Reply: 41
Of all the matches I've seen over the years this one has always stood out most. I feared every time Cross got the ball -he was that outstanding on the day ! One goal in particular was scored from barely a yard inside our our half. I cannot recall any other striker taking Town to bits the way he did. And of course happy memories of the Barrett stand.
Posted by: kingster72, September 4, 2014, 10:40am; Reply: 42
This was my 1st ever Town game, my 9th birthday!
Posted by: arryarryarry, September 4, 2014, 11:03am; Reply: 43
In the open corner between Pontoon and Main, I thought it was an overcast day but can't remember it raining that much.
Posted by: marinerjase, September 4, 2014, 12:50pm; Reply: 44
I was,  in the Main Stand, West Ham were decent, Town not so bad either at the time.
Posted by: FishOutOfWater, September 4, 2014, 1:54pm; Reply: 45
I was at this one in the Pontoon as ever (and also went to the away game too the previous Autumn when we featured on MOTD and what a nervy experience that was at Upton Park!!  ??)  )

As I remember it in the home game, West Ham went at us and deservedly took a two goal lead then we pulled one back and in trying to go for an equaliser we were punished in that Bobby Cummings Cumming had to go off and then with us being a man down and more or less done for after that, they ripped us apart

It was certainly no disgrace to lose to them and they did deserve the victory but (and maybe I'm deluding myself here) the scoreline didn't totally reflect the circumstances
Posted by: mimma, September 4, 2014, 2:09pm; Reply: 46
If that was when the return game was on MOD, then I was also at that game.

We went on the train, then underground. Very scary! All the West Ham skinheads around the ground before & after.

We were loosing 2-0 with seconds to go, so we left to get away, John Stone scored in injury time, but we missed it, & didn't get home in time to see it on MOD.

Going to away games then you were taking a huge risk at places like Upton Park.
Posted by: Les Brechin, September 4, 2014, 2:32pm; Reply: 47
That was a great season for Town (until that game). We didn't start the season that well put from November/December time we went on a great run and at one time we could have been the first team to go from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons, a feat which has still never been achieved and more than likely never will. We weren't overly high scorers but we had a hell of a defence.

We dropped away after the West Ham game and only won 1 of our last 7 games. Still, I think we finished 6th or 7th and only missed out on the top three by 4 or 5 points I think. There were no play-offs back then so it was always the top 3 who were promoted.
Posted by: cmackenzie4, September 4, 2014, 3:23pm; Reply: 48
Quoted from Les Brechin
That was a great season for Town (until that game). We didn't start the season that well put from November/December time we went on a great run and at one time we could have been the first team to go from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons, a feat which has still never been achieved and more than likely never will. We weren't overly high scorers but we had a hell of a defence.

We dropped away after the West Ham game and only won 1 of our last 7 games. Still, I think we finished 6th or 7th and only missed out on the top three by 4 or 5 points I think. There were no play-offs back then so it was always the top 3 who were promoted.


You have a good memory Les.
Posted by: Les Brechin, September 4, 2014, 4:03pm; Reply: 49
Quoted from cmackenzie4


You have a good memory Les.


The Fishy database is always a good way of checking though Chris.  ;)

http://www.thefishy.co.uk/story.php?id=7988363
Posted by: jock dock tower, September 4, 2014, 4:07pm; Reply: 50
That season was phenomenal. We carried on our unbeaten record from the old 3rd division and ended up with an unbeaten run of about 21 games, before we lost away at Leyton Orient.

By mid November we were flirting with relegation again, and when we lost 2-1 at the previously mentioned away game at Upton Park think we may have dropped into the bottom 3 - but it was always a false position. Trevor Whymark was signed shortly afterwards and we went on an amazing run that shot us up the table faster than a ferret up a drainpipe. We suffered only another 2 defeats in the next 20 odd games before going away to QPR in 3rd place and automatic promotion a real possibility, but unfortunately lost 1-0 (did Gerry Francis get the goal?) There were about 2,500 to 3,000 Town fans at Loftus Road that day, and it was a massive disappointment from which we never recovered, only winning one out of our last 7 games.

The West Ham game was memorable for the fact that we were still in it at 2-1 with about 15 minutes to go. Huge West Ham following on the day, and a fair few "tasty" incidents down the Prom beforehand. I remember walking from my house round the corner to Isaac's Hill to get the bus down to BP and seeing a huge mob of West Ham giving it large down the hill with everybody (sensibly) giving them a very wide berth. Can't remember whether it was the game against West Ham or Chelsea that season when one of the mobs hijacked a milk float near Isaac's Hill and started throwing the milk bottles at all and sundry. Hard as nails, eh?
Posted by: Richard, September 4, 2014, 4:18pm; Reply: 51
i was in pontoon,  wet spam were a different class  this was an amazing season on top of the previous two promotions  very good times to be a marriner i cant wait till the good times start to roll again  :)
Posted by: jock dock tower, September 4, 2014, 5:04pm; Reply: 52
It's amazing now to think of those days - regular crowds into 5 figures, superb away days with the travelling Town fans often in excess of 1,000 (as they were in 1971-2, now THAT was a season) and mixing it with the big boys on an equal basis. I think I'm right in saying that with 7 seasons in the 2nd flight we had a longer unbroken run than any other club? An established nearly top flight club, and we could easily have gone up from the play offs in the 1983-4 season when we finished 5th (including another great unbeaten run of 16 games, only to fall away at the last again) That season we defeated the likes of Leeds, Derby, Chelsea (away) Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle. We were a f*cking great team then, fearing nobody.
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 4, 2014, 6:15pm; Reply: 53
It was a great season. The side was exceptional. Most of the spadework was done by Tom Casey's faith in youth John Newman's nous. When George Kerr took over he had the sense to leave well alone and just tinkered a bit. Wymark was a great addition and Dave Booth signing Chris Nicholl was a bit of underrated genius. It was a pity that the only way some great Town players in this side got to play in the top league was by leaving the club.
Posted by: codcheeky, September 4, 2014, 6:37pm; Reply: 54
Quoted from jock dock tower
That season was phenomenal. We carried on our unbeaten record from the old 3rd division and ended up with an unbeaten run of about 21 games, before we lost away at Leyton Orient.

By mid November we were flirting with relegation again, and when we lost 2-1 at the previously mentioned away game at Upton Park think we may have dropped into the bottom 3 - but it was always a false position. Trevor Whymark was signed shortly afterwards and we went on an amazing run that shot us up the table faster than a ferret up a drainpipe. We suffered only another 2 defeats in the next 20 odd games before going away to QPR in 3rd place and automatic promotion a real possibility, but unfortunately lost 1-0 (did Gerry Francis get the goal?) There were about 2,500 to 3,000 Town fans at Loftus Road that day, and it was a massive disappointment from which we never recovered, only winning one out of our last 7 games.

The West Ham game was memorable for the fact that we were still in it at 2-1 with about 15 minutes to go. Huge West Ham following on the day, and a fair few "tasty" incidents down the Prom beforehand. I remember walking from my house round the corner to Isaac's Hill to get the bus down to BP and seeing a huge mob of West Ham giving it large down the hill with everybody (sensibly) giving them a very wide berth. Can't remember whether it was the game against West Ham or Chelsea that season when one of the mobs hijacked a milk float near Isaac's Hill and started throwing the milk bottles at all and sundry. Hard as nails, eh?


I remember going to this, it took forever to get home, someone jumped out the emergency door at theback of a coach and smashed a car up with a hammer and the police had us all parked in a layby for ages
Posted by: codcheeky, September 4, 2014, 6:38pm; Reply: 55
Quoted from jock dock tower
That season was phenomenal. We carried on our unbeaten record from the old 3rd division and ended up with an unbeaten run of about 21 games, before we lost away at Leyton Orient.

By mid November we were flirting with relegation again, and when we lost 2-1 at the previously mentioned away game at Upton Park think we may have dropped into the bottom 3 - but it was always a false position. Trevor Whymark was signed shortly afterwards and we went on an amazing run that shot us up the table faster than a ferret up a drainpipe. We suffered only another 2 defeats in the next 20 odd games before going away to QPR in 3rd place and automatic promotion a real possibility, but unfortunately lost 1-0 (did Gerry Francis get the goal?) There were about 2,500 to 3,000 Town fans at Loftus Road that day, and it was a massive disappointment from which we never recovered, only winning one out of our last 7 games.

The West Ham game was memorable for the fact that we were still in it at 2-1 with about 15 minutes to go. Huge West Ham following on the day, and a fair few "tasty" incidents down the Prom beforehand. I remember walking from my house round the corner to Isaac's Hill to get the bus down to BP and seeing a huge mob of West Ham giving it large down the hill with everybody (sensibly) giving them a very wide berth. Can't remember whether it was the game against West Ham or Chelsea that season when one of the mobs hijacked a milk float near Isaac's Hill and started throwing the milk bottles at all and sundry. Hard as nails, eh?


I remember going to this, it took forever to get home, someone jumped out the emergency door at the back of a coach and smashed a car up with a hammer and the police had us all parked in a layby for ages
Posted by: Teestogreen, September 4, 2014, 6:54pm; Reply: 56
Quoted from pizzzza


A young Frank Lampard played for them as well it seems.


Frank Lampard senior may be?

Posted by: Les Brechin, September 4, 2014, 7:41pm; Reply: 57
Quoted from Teestogreen


Frank Lampard senior may be?



You've caught one Pizzzza.  ;)
Posted by: Zmariner, September 4, 2014, 7:55pm; Reply: 58
Went home and away with my brother. Was shocked at aggression of West Ham fans after we had lost and put me off going there again for a long while
Posted by: lew chaterleys lover, September 4, 2014, 8:15pm; Reply: 59
Quoted from Les Brechin
That was a great season for Town (until that game). We didn't start the season that well put from November/December time we went on a great run and at one time we could have been the first team to go from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons, a feat which has still never been achieved and more than likely never will. We weren't overly high scorers but we had a hell of a defence.

We dropped away after the West Ham game and only won 1 of our last 7 games. Still, I think we finished 6th or 7th and only missed out on the top three by 4 or 5 points I think. There were no play-offs back then so it was always the top 3 who were promoted.


Didn't Northampton go from Division 4 to the top flight and then back again in consecutive seasons?

I am not certain of it but in my mind I see a blond centre forward (was it Frank Large) scoring all the goals. At least he did on the Anglian TV highlights!
Posted by: BIGChris, September 4, 2014, 8:25pm; Reply: 60


Didn't Northampton go from Division 4 to the top flight and then back again in consecutive seasons?

I am not certain of it but in my mind I see a blond centre forward (was it Frank Large) scoring all the goals. At least he did on the Anglian TV highlights!


They had a meteoric rise but it was 3 promotions (4th Div to 1st) in 5 seasons and i think 3 relegations in 4 years coming back down.

Frank Large mostly played for them when they were back down in the 4th tier in the early 70;s although he did feature earlier in their rise before being transfered on Leicester?
Posted by: LondonMariner43, September 4, 2014, 9:06pm; Reply: 61
I went to that West Ham game - I was 14 at the time, standing in the Constitutional Avenue open corner.  My first town game was the season when we were in Div 4 under John Newman (Port Vale at home, 1-0 from a late Tony Ford goal) and my second game was the first game under George Kerr when we beat Exeter 4-1 on the first day of the following season.  I didn't get to every game but i saw a half a dozen or so each season and for a few years I had never seen Town lose.  Those seasons under Kerr and Dave Booth were as good as anything Alan Buckley served up.

I seem to remember that West Ham game was maybe half a dozen games before the end of the season.  Before the game, Town were on the fringes of the promotion places with a genuine chance of going up to old Div 1.   That game was the first time I experienced real disappointment as a Town fan.  We were outclassed and got hammered and from there our chances of promotion fell away.  

These days I look back on that game as one of the high points of my nearly 40 years supporting Town because it was a time when we were playing teams like West Ham with genuine stars in the team and we were battling with a real chance of top flight football.  Its nice to beat Alfreton 7-0 but I'd rather be losing 1-5 to West Ham.

Posted by: LondonMariner43, September 4, 2014, 9:08pm; Reply: 62
Quoted from mimma
If that was when the return game was on MOD, then I was also at that game.

We went on the train, then underground. Very scary! All the West Ham skinheads around the ground before & after.

We were loosing 2-0 with seconds to go, so we left to get away, John Stone scored in injury time, but we missed it, & didn't get home in time to see it on MOD.

Going to away games then you were taking a huge risk at places like Upton Park.



I remember an away game against Millwall about 15-20 years ago when we went 1-0 up and then being quite relieved that we went on to lose the game!!
Posted by: LondonMariner43, September 4, 2014, 9:24pm; Reply: 63
Quoted from chaos33
I was there - in the Constitutional corner. I was only 8 at the time and remember being very upset at the score.


Me too - I was 14 - I used to love that corner - seemed to be mainly miserable middle-aged and older men - some great banter to overhear as a young lad.
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 4, 2014, 9:38pm; Reply: 64
Quoted from LondonMariner43


Me too - I was 14 - I used to love that corner - seemed to be mainly miserable middle-aged and older men - some great banter to overhear as a young lad.


That was where the Nunsthorpe teachers used to go. No wonder they seemed miserable!

Some of the football in the Kerr/Booth times was quite sublime and Waters was inspirational. Dave Booth is not a manger who springs readily to mind but he was knowledgable, tactically aware and tough with players when needed. He was also willing to listen. Chris Nicholl and Kev Moore were also very bright. Nicholl was one of the first to get into computers. If you think of Ford, Drinkell and Wymark in the same forward line with Wilkinson & Lund waiting for a chance, it takes some beating. I was one of the few who liked Bobby Mitchell. He was the one that kept the side ticking over. But just look at the choice of players he had to pass to.

Posted by: Les Brechin, September 4, 2014, 9:46pm; Reply: 65


Didn't Northampton go from Division 4 to the top flight and then back again in consecutive seasons?

I am not certain of it but in my mind I see a blond centre forward (was it Frank Large) scoring all the goals. At least he did on the Anglian TV highlights!


As Big Chris said, it was nearly but not quite. On the way up they spent 2 season in both Division 3 and Division 2 and coming down again spent 2 seasons in Division 3.
Posted by: barralad, September 4, 2014, 9:48pm; Reply: 66
Quoted from LondonMariner43



I remember an away game against Millwall about 15-20 years ago when we went 1-0 up and then being quite relieved that we went on to lose the game!!


I remember going to an FA Cup tie at Millwall in the early 80s. The game had been postponed on the Saturday but was deemed playable on the Monday. We went in a mini-bus with Ready Rent a Van written on the side. Millwall scored first which seemed to galvanise Town-to the extent that they scored six! After the third went in we were praying we wouldn't score anymore. We went back to the bus in singles after the game and left about 10 p.m. Two hours later we were still in S.E. London on a petrol station forcourt because nobody could work out how to get the petrol cap off. We had to call the AA. Got home at 5:30
Posted by: BIGChris, September 4, 2014, 9:57pm; Reply: 67
Quoted from barralad


I remember going to an FA Cup tie at Millwall in the early 80s. The game had been postponed on the Saturday but was deemed playable on the Monday. We went in a mini-bus with Ready Rent a Van written on the side. Millwall scored first which seemed to galvanise Town-to the extent that they scored six! After the third went in we were praying we wouldn't score anymore. We went back to the bus in singles after the game and left about 10 p.m. Two hours later we were still in S.E. London on a petrol station forcourt because nobody could work out how to get the petrol cap off. We had to call the AA. Got home at 5:30


That's a grammar school education for you!
Posted by: LondonMariner43, September 4, 2014, 10:19pm; Reply: 68

I was one of the few who liked Bobby Mitchell. He was the one that kept the side ticking over. But just look at the choice of players he had to pass to.



Bobby Mitchell is one of those players in a long line of town midfielders who did the simple, no nonsense stuff and got slated by the fans, often while their more forward playing partner got the glory.  Its a rare Town team that has 2 or 3 midfielders loved by the fans....this side could be one of them.

Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 4, 2014, 10:54pm; Reply: 69
Quoted from LondonMariner43


Bobby Mitchell is one of those players in a long line of town midfielders who did the simple, no nonsense stuff and got slated by the fans, often while their more forward playing partner got the glory.  Its a rare Town team that has 2 or 3 midfielders loved by the fans....this side could be one of them.



That's true. It was rare. I remember a midfield pairing that was equally appreciated by the crowd was Ron Foster and Bobby Ross. Lew Chatterley and Dave Boylen was another, Shaun Cunnington and John Cockerill, but then I'm struggling.

Posted by: mimma, September 5, 2014, 12:05am; Reply: 70
That incident at Orient, where a Town fan jumped out of the bus & attacked a family in a car, it was a lad by the name of Mad Miff from the Scaffa lot.

It hit all the headlines at the time, he did time for it.
Posted by: FishOutOfWater, September 5, 2014, 12:14am; Reply: 71
Quoted from mimma
That incident at Orient, where a Town fan jumped out of the bus & attacked a family in a car, it was a lad by the name of Mad Miff from the Scaffa lot.

It hit all the headlines at the time, he did time for it.


I couldn't believe what I was seeing when this happened :-/

I was driving two cars behind the coach when the lad jumped out and started on the guy driving the car in front of us

He really laid in to him, beating him around the head really aggressively and at that point some of his family got out of the car too and started trying to defend the dad

If I recall correctly the man attacked was called Oswald (?) - you're right about it being front page news too

The Sun made out there was some kind of mass attack by Town fans and had a headline as I recall it something like "They even attacked my daughter" whereas in reality it was just the one lad who lost it big time

He was lucky he didn't really do more harm to the poor old bloke than bash him about a bit...could have been up for manslaughter if the bus hadn't pulled off which meant he had to leg it (or become stranded in the East End to face the wrath of the locals!)
Posted by: mimma, September 5, 2014, 12:54am; Reply: 72
I've been talking about the old Scaffa lads in the pub, & in particular Mad Miff.

He was an absolute nutcase who could be talked into doing anything "for a laugh"

We was wandering what happened to him, he's gone off the radar.

Does anyone know what became of him, we would be interested to know.
Posted by: grimps, September 5, 2014, 6:55am; Reply: 73
Quoted from mimma
I've been talking about the old Scaffa lads in the pub, & in particular Mad Miff.

He was an absolute nutcase who could be talked into doing anything "for a laugh"

We was wandering what happened to him, he's gone off the radar.

Does anyone know what became of him, we would be interested to know.


The lad with the hammer was called 'Doc'
Miff is still about and actually did do time for manslaughter at what point, I always see Miffy on his bike or jogging now and he seems to have turned into a bit of a fitness fanatic.
Posted by: mimma, September 5, 2014, 11:36am; Reply: 74
Thanks for that grimps, my mate knew him well, he'll be pleased to hear that he is well.

I always thought that it was Miff that did it.

Apologies to Miff if you read this.
Posted by: grimsby pete, September 5, 2014, 4:19pm; Reply: 75
My wife and I attended the West Ham game,

I remember it was pouring down with rain and there was a late pitch inspection,

We only let In 10 goals that season at home and West Ham got 5 of them.
Posted by: Madeleymariner, September 5, 2014, 5:27pm; Reply: 76
I would of been there, never missed a home match in those days, but have no recollection of it at all, is that just me getting old or my mind filtering bad things :-/
Posted by: Mrs Doyle, September 5, 2014, 7:53pm; Reply: 77
Yeah remember it well that was the year we had a great chance to make the big time but needed a couple of decent players for that final push injuries and tiredness cost us dear. That was a defining moment for both teams with extremely different fates.................................if only those in charge had been a bit braver how different things could have been, story of our history in a nut shell.    :'( :'( :'(
Posted by: KingstonMariner, September 6, 2014, 6:11am; Reply: 78
If we'd had that final push then - and I seem to remember it was during that sort of time there was a proposal to have a mass share issue to fans - we'd have probably ended up like a Watford type club.  A few seasons in the top flight when it was still feasible for small clubs to become established up there, and then latterly the odd season or flirtation with promotion, and the odd season in the 3rd.
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 6, 2014, 8:47am; Reply: 79
Quoted from Mrs Doyle
Yeah remember it well that was the year we had a great chance to make the big time but needed a couple of decent players for that final push injuries and tiredness cost us dear. That was a defining moment for both teams with extremely different fates.................................if only those in charge had been a bit braver how different things could have been, story of our history in a nut shell.    :'( :'( :'(


Yes squads were relatively small in those days. Injury to Bobby C cost us dear. The following year saw us not do so well and George Kerr was sacked midway then the year after saw us start to sign more quality players. Some of the promotion winners like Mitchell and Waters got older. Andy Peak from Leicester, Chris Nicholl and Paul Emson coming back were good signings, but 90K on a Watford striker didn't work out so well! Losing Kev Moore was a big blow though. A great pity Andy Moore didn't fulfil his promise and replace him as many thought he was potentially the best player of the 3 brothers.
Posted by: Les Brechin, September 6, 2014, 9:02am; Reply: 80


Yes squads were relatively small in those days. Injury to Bobby C cost us dear. The following year saw us not do so well and George Kerr was sacked midway then the year after saw us start to sign more quality players. Some of the promotion winners like Mitchell and Waters got older. Andy Peak from Leicester, Chris Nicholl and Paul Emson coming back were good signings, but 90K on a Watford striker didn't work out so well! Losing Kev Moore was a big blow though. A great pity Andy Moore didn't fulfil his promise and replace him as many thought he was potentially the best player of the 3 brothers.


Wasn't this around the same time as Liverpool won the First Division title and only used about 14 or 15 players all season?
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 6, 2014, 10:07am; Reply: 81
Quoted from Les Brechin


Wasn't this around the same time as Liverpool won the First Division title and only used about 14 or 15 players all season?


And played in Europe as well. It wasn't uncommon for several players to play more than 60 games a season was it?

Posted by: Les Brechin, September 6, 2014, 10:12am; Reply: 82


And played in Europe as well. It wasn't uncommon for several players to play more than 60 games a season was it?



Quite, nowadays it's more like a squad of 60 players that play 14 or 15 games a season.  ;D
Posted by: ginnywings, September 6, 2014, 11:49am; Reply: 83


And played in Europe as well. It wasn't uncommon for several players to play more than 60 games a season was it?



And most of them are now crippled with arthritis and have plastic joints. Player welfare and health is more to the fore now, which is to be expected given the amount of money invested in them.
Posted by: TheRonRaffertyFanClub, September 6, 2014, 12:22pm; Reply: 84
Quoted from ginnywings


And most of them are now crippled with arthritis and have plastic joints. Player welfare and health is more to the fore now, which is to be expected given the amount of money invested in them.


True. But to be fair, so are a lot of fishermen and filleters and they didn't get paid as much!
Posted by: Grimal, September 6, 2014, 12:31pm; Reply: 85
Quoted from mimma
That incident at Orient, where a Town fan jumped out of the bus & attacked a family in a car, it was a lad by the name of Mad Miff from the Scaffa lot.

It hit all the headlines at the time, [/b]he did time for it.[b]



Don't know how many years ago that was but if he's out and about now it definitely wasn't long enough.

Posted by: ginnywings, September 6, 2014, 12:54pm; Reply: 86


True. But to be fair, so are a lot of fishermen and filleters and they didn't get paid as much!


Yes, i come from one of those families of fishermen and filleters.
Posted by: forza ivano, September 6, 2014, 1:38pm; Reply: 87
Quoted from Grimal



Don't know how many years ago that was but if he's out and about now it definitely wasn't long enough.



Think you'll find miffy has been out for many a year and is quite a different character these days
Posted by: im the daddy, September 6, 2014, 2:13pm; Reply: 88
went with my dad in the main stand Trevor brooking was quality played the simple pass never over did things made it look easy , didn't waters miss a penalty hit post maybe ?
Posted by: Eastendmariner, September 6, 2014, 8:54pm; Reply: 89
Yep I was there I was a season ticket holder and lived in Stratford London. Basically ended towns promotion bid abs gutted I stood in the osmand end along with loads of West ham I think D Cross scored 4 with Town losing 2-1 Bob Cumming had to go off After being fouled time and time again.  great time
Posted by: Eastendmariner, September 6, 2014, 8:56pm; Reply: 90
March 1981
Posted by: Eastendmariner, September 6, 2014, 9:03pm; Reply: 91
Also remember the away game walked from Stratford down green street with a couple town fans  All the under 5's were out spotting and as you walked down towards the ground they would shout out across the road at you oi you ok ''Grimsby'' If you looked round you stood a good chance of being rumbled. And getting a good slap.
I stood in the west side not the away end when entered the ground you received a voucher for the west ham v spurs league cup cup tie later in the month I went to that west ham won 1-0.
Posted by: Eastendmariner, September 6, 2014, 9:07pm; Reply: 92
West ham 2-1  d cross 2  j stone for us. Town 1 Whu 5  cross 4 pike was there scorer any one know who scored for town ??
Posted by: Brazilnut, September 6, 2014, 10:49pm; Reply: 93
I can remember this game there was an appeal on radio for volunteers to fork the pitch in the morning to get the match on  went with couple of mates spent hour or so sticking gardening fork in ground to drain water and feeling chuffed when ref gave the ok cos we was on a role at the time............tho it wasnt this match that did us ....around the time either just before or just after we should have played sheff wed away but was called off.......an interview on calander with a sheff player the night before seem to indicate he knew it would be off tho wasnt announced till the morning.......this knocked town off their stride



The hammer thing .............few years later got a book for xmas about football fans .....the songs .......the fighting......the tribal thing how we all clap in milliseconds of each other etc....and the hammer incident was mentioned  to highlight how it was spread amoung smaller teams as well as the big ones


wow.....cant remember what i had for tea yesterday lol
Posted by: FishOutOfWater, September 7, 2014, 10:40am; Reply: 94
Quoted from Eastendmariner
West ham 2-1  d cross 2  j stone for us. Town 1 Whu 5  cross 4 pike was there scorer any one know who scored for town ??


Joe Waters from the spot for us
Posted by: nickmariners, September 8, 2014, 12:47pm; Reply: 95
Quoted from Brazilnut
I can remember this game there was an appeal on radio for volunteers to fork the pitch in the morning to get the match on  went with couple of mates spent hour or so sticking gardening fork in ground to drain water and feeling chuffed when ref gave the ok cos we was on a role at the time............tho it wasnt this match that did us ....around the time either just before or just after we should have played sheff wed away but was called off.......an interview on calander with a sheff player the night before seem to indicate he knew it would be off tho wasnt announced till the morning.......this knocked town off their stride



The hammer thing .............few years later got a book for xmas about football fans .....the songs .......the fighting......the tribal thing how we all clap in milliseconds of each other etc....and the hammer incident was mentioned  to highlight how it was spread amoung smaller teams as well as the big ones


wow.....cant remember what i had for tea yesterday lol


With you on that!

But - can remember - just - going to this match.  Much preferred the Bonetti Cup game there later on (95/96, according to database on The Fishy) - bloomin' freezing though.
Posted by: TownSNAFU5, September 8, 2014, 2:40pm; Reply: 96
Eastendmariner,  there was also "spotting" at the Liverpool away game in Jan 1981.  I was in the RAF and had to travel to Liverpool on my own by train.  I (and a few other Town fans) could not get out of the station.  We did not wear any colours.  Small gangs of 10-12 year old skinheads in bovver boots would pick on any likely suspects or stragglers.

They would say "have you got the time?", yes, some of them then could string a few words together. If or when you answered in a non-scouse ascent they would challenge you further , maybe surround you and/or give you a kicking.  Only kids really playing at being their elders but with a few of them and boots, it was a shock when you were looking forward to the game.   Once identified as a town fan, you were marked. Everytime we tried to get out of the station they were there like predators.  In the end  3 of us had to get a taxi to near the ground to escape.

There was a great atmosphere at the ground, with around 12,000 Town fans in the virtual 50,000 capacity crowd.  Some Town fans could not get in the Anfield Road end.  They went in the Kop end, standing,  only to be physically kicked out by Kopites when identified. So much for their great humour.  Other Town fans went to watch Everton as they could not get in the ground.  

An honourable 5-0 defeat to a team slightly better than Lincoln are now.  How our standard of opponents had dropped since that day. (Sorry for going off thread, however, many young fans missed these days. There was always a danger at away games from football violence unless you went in large groups).  
Posted by: tanga_the_indestructible, September 8, 2014, 4:01pm; Reply: 97
A few people have mentioned standing in the Barratt stand but wasn't this the season it was demolished? I'm sure our promotion from the Third Div was the last time it was used or am I remembering wrongly?
Posted by: tanga_the_indestructible, September 8, 2014, 4:10pm; Reply: 98
Quoted from TownSNAFU5
Eastendmariner,  there was also "spotting" at the Liverpool away game in Jan 1981.  I was in the RAF and had to travel to Liverpool on my own by train.  I (and a few other Town fans) could not get out of the station.  We did not wear any colours.  Small gangs of 10-12 year old skinheads in bovver boots would pick on any likely suspects or stragglers.

They would say "have you got the time?", yes, some of them then could string a few words together. If or when you answered in a non-scouse ascent they would challenge you further , maybe surround you and/or give you a kicking.  Only kids really playing at being their elders but with a few of them and boots, it was a shock when you were looking forward to the game.   Once identified as a town fan, you were marked. Everytime we tried to get out of the station they were there like predators.  In the end  3 of us had to get a taxi to near the ground to escape.

There was a great atmosphere at the ground, with around 12,000 Town fans in the virtual 50,000 capacity crowd.  Some Town fans could not get in the Anfield Road end.  They went in the Kop end, standing,  only to be physically kicked out by Kopites when identified. So much for their great humour.  Other Town fans went to watch Everton as they could not get in the ground.  

An honourable 5-0 defeat to a team slightly better than Lincoln are now.  How our standard of opponents had dropped since that day. (Sorry for going off thread, however, many young fans missed these days. There was always a danger at away games from football violence unless you went in large groups).  


I was attacked that day but most of it was from Evertonians exacting revenge after their League up defeat earlier in the season. The guy who I was with (a Millwall fan), got slashed with a blade in his arm but was fortunately wearimg a sheepskin so only had his coat knackered.
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