Ewell CFC

Cheers Ersk. 74 years old today that game. It’s my birthday today. I knew about the Moscow Dynamo game but didn’t tealise it was Nov 13th. I was born exactly 20 years after the biggest gate ever at the Bridge I guess Not sure whether my Grandad was there. Reckon he hadn’t been demobbed yet

We took the Holmesdale that night. I’ve never been able to work out why that game took place. He left us yonks before and only played for Palace 44 times in 77/78

The top corners of the North and South Banks were weird- the steps faced towards the middle of the ends rather than the pitch ( in the South Bank they called it the cage I think) First year at secondary school in 78 we played them very early season- remember kids that went saying they had a torrid time in the South Bank- they got rid of their scarves and stayed quiet. I went to the 81 game- people older than me and in the scene have told me that West Ham begrudgingly were impressed with the firm we took. All changed by the 90s- we walked round like we owned the place night game 95- top firm out for the Cup Replay in 2001- a lot of them got wrapped up in Canning Town but there was still loads of Herbert’s that made it in.

Is that Upton Park. Thought it might be where the Chicken Run joined the South Bank but doesn’t look quite right?

Whose this against?

Mitcham Roysls were a very handy youth set up. I’m coming up to 54 now- when I played against them they were decent, but not as dominant as a few years before when they were probably one of the best in London- a bit like Senrab that produced John Terry and others. Battersea Devas were also good, and s but later on YABAC, which stood for young and black and cool. Edit: Anyone know how many CFC players came through Mitcham Royals? Sparrow, Chivers, Fillery. I’m sure they’re s more. Mark Dennis who had the reputation as a bit of a nutter turned out for them.

Highly unusual for a club side to play an international team ( albeit U21) I can’t think of another example.

Check out the two tone four by two’s on the fella queuing for the boys turnstile. Pure 71 smooothie look. I reckon these photos are part of the batch by David Nicholson. The fella looks suspiciously like one of the group photo taken at Eel Brook Common. Still bugs me that he never released all those hundreds of pics

Superb pics. A year earlier a lot of those kids would have been “ baby skins” but not a crop in sight

A mate of mine illegally employed sold so much product in two pubs on the Kings Rd on the Bolton night, it paid for a two week all inclusive holiday. Tones Bar North Cheam ( owned by CFC stalwart TM) Sunday night it was still ram jammed- no one had had any kip- remember clocking an older face smiling his head off whilst smoking a f**k off Havana cigar- said to him “ I didn’t know you smoked mate”’ He replied “‘ I dont. But I’ve been waiting 50 years for this. Seems like the right thing to do “‘ One and only time the geezer ever smoked

I’ve done half a dozen or so parades. Sunday morning affairs, very happy occasions; lots of kids and parents which is nice, but some of my best Chelsea memories have been nightiime on bottom end of the Kings Rd after the 97 Cup Final, and when we wrapped up the Premiership in 2005- ( that year I had manufactured pretty poxy plastic replica Premiership drinking trophies- punted them out to local pubs- struggled like sh*t until the Bolton game- made me money that night flogging to revellers who were too happy/ pissed to care) Cant describe just how packed the area was on both those nights. Every celebration since, including the CL Final has been a watered down version IMO

Apparantly when Bates first met him his first words were “ I’ve heard you’ve got more money than me” A couple of years later he was calling him “ an evil man”

A fence got ripped up on the way back to the station ( was that the school?) Didn’t really fathom why cause couldn’t see any Southampton anywhere. Never got vandalism. More of a 70s thing. Saw the aftermath of plumbing getting ripped out of the karzi at Derby in 82, and a few smashed windows at Luton circa 81 and that’s about it.

Funny I didn’t go to that game, but caught up with a mate later that night that went. He said that they were a Patrick kagoule firm which wasn’t much of a compliment

Pompey Xmas 83

Ha. Doddle from side on with his shark nose

Yep. I’ve got a book at home called the Face of London by Harold Clunn which came out in the mid 60’s. He said that the part of Fulham bounded by North End Rd, Lillee Rd, Greyhound Road, Munster Rd and Star Lane was as mean and depressing as anywhere in the East End ( a lot of this got demoed to accomadate the Clem Atlee) Then again I’ve spoken to Fulham lads who were around then and they didn’t think it was that rough.

Clem Atlee Estate in the background by the look of it

I started in the Whitewall 78 and pretty sure it was in place. Can’t remember when the fence went in- reckon mid 80’s. Probably after a West Ham showing. Then again the last time they went all across the Shed was 77-78. The night game 78-79 was a token effort, early season 80 they were by the Teabar, don’t remember they having another pop till 84 when they left the West Stands seats and that was mostly down the front. I think the North Bank Highbury had a fence put down the middle after the pikies got in there with a smoke bomb in 82. Maybe it was a reaction to that? No idea basically...

Remember the bloke with the moustache who sold CFC lottery tickets on the main Shed entrance steps for years. Really friendly fella? What year did the OB observation platform arrive? Cue Laurel and Hardy whistle and the Harry Roberts song

I think that’s before Pates time mate ( he was rumoured to have a NF tattoo BTW) I was thinking more of a bit part player like David Stride or Micky Nutton? Edit: Stand corrected. Pates was playing in ‘80. Could well be

Who is that behind Gary Chivers?

“Sing when your fishing...you only sing when your fishing...” Barnsley it was “ Sing when your mining” What other versions were there.... Ps Classic story about Grimsby taking a rubber dingy to games during the inflatable craze. I miss those days when football was just a big laugh

The first time many of us had seen us win at Highbury. Some top songs. The Arsenal Bus is coming, all the kids are running, Wenger is the driver.......

I suppose all grounds pre Taylor Report had their own character and quirks ( Taylor didn’t even like football), but the Bridge was particularly unique. There was nothing remotely like the North Stand ( I believe the plan was it to continue right across the end, which probably would have made the covered terracing underneath a cracking end) I only saw the half a North Stand once before it got demolished. Cant think of another ground with benches- when they became just bare concrete it was a bit uncomfortable- good for getting a dose of the “ Neurenburg Trials” when it had been pissing down. We also had the tallest floodlights in the country, and the first triple deck cantilever stand. Edit: I guess the original North Stand mob stood under the stand? I remember up until probably 82 them infiltrating the away fans and kicking off but it was just an open terrace then