Soulboy

As someone who was an observer more than a participant, who occasionally got caught up in things, here would be my list of Top Ten Turnouts- no particular order and games that I attended; Straight in at number 10- West Ham away 81. Watched it happen ie the corner flag getting thrown around like a javelin, from the Chicken run, with my Dad and younger brother. Number 9- Derby 83 in the cup- you had to feel a bit sorry for the poor sods, having had Leeds the week before. Number 8- Man City 84- Amazing numbers. We passed Jimmy Hill on the way up the Motorway- he was commentating that night- pulled up along side him in our boozed up escort estate and all stroked our chins at him, along with various hand signs as you do. A new entry at number 7- Pompey 84. Was in the side enclosure. First time I sampled the conversational delights of court jester to the mob, JK. He reckoned he got there by ship which still makes me chuckle. I remember it looked like a one point our fans behind the goal- which was mega packed, were gonna have a go at their main side terrace- which would have been one hell of an off. Got the slowest train ever home. It stopped at stations where you couldn't even see any houses dotted around Number 6 ill go Man City at Wembley. We were probably aided by floating London fans that day but a mighty show of force. Boro- Wembley 89 for Number 5. Before kick off me and a couple of mates were having a beer on a grassy bank near Wembley Arena- used to like watching us in the daily express five a sides there when I was a kid, but that's another story. Anyway, Boro turned up and scattered all the CFC there- who weren't our boys- Then the Calvary did arrive and it was a different story. Got caught up in the half time thing with a fella I didn't know Adam who stopped to have a puff on his asthma inhaler in the middle of the brawl. I've seen him a few times since and we always have a laugh with that one. Ps who was the bloke who used to take his teeth out if he thought it was going off? Number 4- millwall in 95. Was on my own for that one in one of the side stands. The Brancote Arms got paid a visit that day if my memory serves me Number 3 can be the semi v Man U at Villa. We had hundreds and hundreds of chaps by that grass verge after. Man U late nineties in the cup- think it was a draw- Victoria Beckham had just got up the stick and naturally the vast chelsea support were questioning the parentage of the kid. We took big numbers that day, and I got chased across a dual carriageway for minding me own business. I'm told possibly the very best ensemble was for the 94 cup final against the Mancs, however I wasn't there Kelleys eye, Number one. That's not Jerry Kelleys eye by the way- Stockholm 98. We flew to Malmo then drove for some reason, stayed in what looked like a converted holiday camp, which was ram jammed with Chelsea. There was a meet in the green jaeger - a big barn of a place- some very scary looking blokes in there a recall. That's me lot pop pickers. I'm about to cook lunch for the family. Ps my spicy stew which Im about to get going, is that close to perfection, that its nickname is Peter Osgood

Make that Millwall 95. I'm definately getting worse

When would you say our firm was at its strongest? I'm going mid nineties. They probably didn't see as much activity as 10 years earlier, but before the banning orders kicked- the thing with the banning orders was many of their mates also dropped out with them- they used to share lifts, if he's not going Im not going etc etc If you look back at the Millwall games in 97- the West Stand was a zoo that night- even Millwall fans admit we were much more impressive than them over 2 games, and that's saying something. That's my take on a subject which isn't everyone's cup of tea. What's yours?

One film Im looking forward to is the James Brown biopic- financed by Mick Jagger I believe. Can't think of the actor earmarked for the role, but he needs to be one hell of a dancer. Look on youtube at JB going through his moves- reckon they wired him up to the mains

Make that the second most watched sporting event ever viewed in this country. 28 million tuned in. More than the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, and only bettered by the 66 World Cup final. It either captured the attention of the wider public or there was sod all else on telly that night

The viewing figures for the replay were collosal. It's something like the 3rd or 4th highest audience for a football match in this country, including England in World Cups

Sounds about right. I was thinking south circular, north circular, M1 but that's a flipping long way round

Talking of bad road trips, the Newcastle coaches that got ambushed at the Wandsworth roundabout- why were they heading South?

Talking of Blackpool, like all Northerners they think we're all flash cockneys. Just to play up to their stereotype, next time Im in Blackpool I'm deliberately gonna pay way over the odds for donkey rides, just to make Northern holiday makers look like paupers

Gill Scott Heron- the revolution will not be televised. Never worked out whether Herons his real name or a moniker cause his knees bend the wrong way when he walks. Roy Ayers gets my vote too. Pubic Ayers brother

I also thought the equaliser was poo. Poorly acted and more importantly, absolutely NO LESBIAN SCENES. What is the point I ask you

Prefer breaking wind meself

What's all the pressing of thighs against each other thing all about. Looks a trifle homoeroctic. I used to like Greavesie too. Gone right off him now!

Ever missed the part or all of the game, or arrived back home at a stupid time due to transport mishaps? I've lost count meself. Had to walk from Victoria once in the early 80s. The district line went bandy, and buses were handily on strike that day, so hundreds of us trod it on one of the coldest days of the winter, arriving at half time. Arsenal in the league cup final at Cardiff in 2003- picked up Als coach at Wimbledon Station- the tone was set by a crazy loner sitting at the front drinking neat vodka out of a plastic cup at five in the morning; early kick off for some reason. The coach broke down coming home- after a lengthy wait someone turned up to mend it- was given a load of grief so he sodded off. Think we got home 24 hours after we set off, went straight to work the next morning red eyed and half cut. Remember going to Luton once when the train died. Managed to hitch a lift on the M1- the driver put his hand on my knee, so that was the end of that. Worse one I heard of was the semi in Sunderland. A coach had most of its windows put through and still drove back to London, including the windscreen according to fable. Icy cold night, going down the M1, with the wind blowing through the coach. People pulled the curtains off and used as makeshift blankets Im told. .... that for a game of soldiers

See the police federation are already up in arms. I don't personally see the fact that they were coppers unfortunately killed as significant. They could have been butchers, bakers, out of work suspender belt fitters, can't see what difference their occupation makes. Ps as far as football fans go by far the most anti- plod bunch are Millwall. Can only think of four serious incidents where fans have really turned on OB, and they've been involved in two of them. Domestically that is

Harry Roberts got 45 years. Oscar Pristorious gets about 45 weeks. Different country's, different eras but even so.

In fact it's bigger than a hard hat. Alan-turkey smuggler- Hudson on that evidence

Take a look at Alan Hudsons belly in that photo. Looks like he's got a hard hat under his top

Harrows finest- I must know you? Remember Noel, Del, scotch Eddie the manager. Played half a season- probably 95-96- think we won the league. Your not Tony are you?

Big march in London today apparantly. All about the Costa living crisis

Briefly lived with a bird in North Harrow/Pinner in mid 90s- the only time I've ever resided north of the water- and a lot of the lads my age and older were Chelsea, and everyone younger was Arsenal. Used to play Sunday football for Mirrabeaus wine bar- virtually all the team could hold their hands up including a couple of CFC boys. Ps every QPR fan I've ever met hails from Northolt

An interesting scenario was the Battersea boys, who liked to cross over Battersea bridge at weekends for a night out, but didn't get on with the Worlds End estate and Fulham lads, who used to wait on the Bridge for them- mostly all Chelsea fans by the way. This went on for years until a couple of senior faces saw sense and shook hands, and that was the end of it. That was when a good time was to be found on the Kings Rd. it's a pretty staid place now iny estimation

Talking of Sands End, I wonder what away fans thought of the area, having arrived by coach? You had the gasworks- with broken glass lovingly embedded on top of the perimeter walls- threatening graffiti everywhere, Fulham power station belching out sh*t- Remember being in traffic on Townmead Rd, saw some scallywags come leaping over the power station wall, and run off holding carrier bags- maybe they'd been stealing electricity I don't know. Dodgy, semi slum housing. It' made Moss Side look like Wimbledon Village.

Wasn't the hefty lad who gave chase to Clive Walker a solicitor? Bit of a crazy night. We got locked in the Palmeston. I'm told there were that many waiting for West Ham at Parsons Green only a fraction of them actually made it onto the platform

Stood next to a chap once who had a deep seated hatred for Micky Fillery. It was at QPR and the only time I went there before they developed the ends and turned it into a rabbit hutch ground- 81 probably? Anyway from the first minute to extra time it was Fillery you this, Fillery you that all in a booming voice. Felt like giving the bloke a head massage to calm him down. I would say that though individual players could get some earhole, I can't remember hearing the team getting booed too much. Do remember us being so poor that people were laughing. If your a player Im not sure what's worse; having you own fans boo you or double up laughing every time you get the ball.