OldGuard, on 06 November 2010 - 01:23 AM, said:
What a day that was. I was stood with 'Kojak' and 'China' who was from Bristol. Me and China made our way over from Paddington on the tube and saw a few Chelsea coming away from the ground back into the tube station as we got there, which was not re-assuring. We made our way up to the Den and got in the ground just before kick off. We saw Kojak and he told us of all the trouble that had kicked off earlier. We were right next to the fence that seperated the CBL from the side enclosure. There were a few of the Millwall lads stood around us. Fotunately some of them also use to go over to Chelsea as well at the time and they knew Kojak. They were chatting to the three of us and obviously knew we were Chelsea. Each time Millwall scored they went mental and the three of us just stood there in silence. To be fair, the Millwall mob we were standing with were ok. They could have kicked the sh*t out of the 3 of us at any moment but didn't. Must admit as time went on I was feeling more and more vulnerable. Just before the final whistle me and China said our goodbye to Kojak and took our chances in the street. Getting back to the tube was a heads down, keep your mouth shut, hope for the best situation. We were making our way back to the tube and I just felt that me and China stuck out like a bulldogs boll*cks. There were lots of Millwall about looking to pick off any Chelsea. Then China said "O f*ck. Some of them know me". He had spotted a couple of Millwall further up the road he knew who also went over to the Bridge. We couldn't turn back at that point so just walked through with the crowd, fortunately undetected. We made it to the tube and I have to admit have never been so relieved to hear the sound of the doors shutting on a tube train. The next home game in the Black Bull Eccles told us of his 'adventures' that day. China had been going to Chelsea since the late sixties and knew Eccles and Greenaway quite well. Happy days, great memories.
Happy days indeed although that 77 away game at the old Den was anything but happy. Met up wioth a load of chelsea at Fulham Broadway and travelled down by tube. Got off and walked for miles and into the CBL end well before kick off. About 100 or so of us in there and then the fun started.
West Han away was always tasty and remember Wolves away when we were banned, Went up on the friday night and had a mate of mine stabbed in all the action that followed.
Somebody mentioned Cambridge....always had a good time there although another of my mates got nicked up there in all the scuffles after one match.
Other happy memories...Wigan away in a rearranged FA cup reply at their old ground that is. Got into their club house and had a good few hours in their bar area. Decent blokes and great pies!!
Loads more memories. Think I missed about 5 games in 10 years home and away from that era. Blimey, starting to sound like the old codger I am