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Most embarrasing turn out

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Simon Maskell said:
Chelsea had a big turnout that night id say at least 8,000 to 9.000 for what was really a nothing game. The gate was 24,025 and Chelsea had loads on the clock end and 900 in the seats on the side. Arsenal had only got 14,843 the previous sat v west brom at home. Chelsea lost 2 0 Nicholas scored a wonder goal from 40 yards if i remember. That night a huge arsenal mob ran across highbury fields towards a far far smaller chelsea mob who im sorry to say came 2nd. AArsenal bod i knew at the time a couple of days later said i coulndnt believe how many Chelsea were there for a nothing game. Guts me more and more that i never took a camera to these games.

The folllowing season Chelsea lost 3 1 at Arsenal and again had roughly the same numbers from a 32,990 gate. I was at the back under the clock both games and Chelsea were spread out over the clock end but it werent full crn flag to crn flag like aug 84. I got told the day before Arsenal are coming in the chelsea part of the clock end and they did but didnt get very far. MIRRORPIX,, Type Arsenal v Chelsea 1986 and you see photo,s of that day. Type CHELSEA V and you see page after page of Chelsea pics going back years or type Chelsea v west ham Chelsea v liverpool etc you have to spell out the club name in full and dont put fc.
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Off topic but Arsenal had a few gates of 14k back then i went to Arsenal v Coventry in about 87? 0.0 bore draw & the gate was about 14k so wernt just us who had poor gates back then(for a club the size of Arsenal)

 
Cobham said:
I have to say my night was a carbon copy of Super Luca's. His posts could have been written by me. We also got there early and it was sheer mayhem. Basically if you were walking up the OKR towards the away end you were getting battered. It seemed like on every corner of every street, and in the entrance ways in to any of the estates round there, there was a small mob waiting. Most of these groups were 20-50 strong and it looked like they were all mates from the estates. As I said earlier anyone who was walking the wrong direction (towards Ilderton Road) or who just didn't look right was getting done. I saw at least two sets of ours getting battered. In one case there was only three of them and this mob of 30 or so just rushed over from the other side of the OKR totally surrounded them and gave 'em a total kicking. In the carnage one bloke got away and got chased onto a routemaster and done on there instead. At that time of the night there were only small groups of Chelsea trying to get to the ground and we were totally outnumbered and not mobbed up at all.

When we arrived at the OKR we were at a junction and didn't know which way to go (first trip to Millwall, we were just teenagers up from Surrey). It was already out of control by then. I sidled up to this Old Bill who was standing in some kind of forecourt and very quietly asked him which direction the away end was in. He barely acknowledged me and just moved his head and eyes enough for me to see which way he was suggesting as he whispered this classic: "It's that way. Don't stand near me."

There was four of us and we split up, two on each side of the road and twenty feet between the two on the same side. Then we walked up the OKR trying to look like we were out for a stroll and not interested in any match that might be happening in that area, eyes to the ground most of the time. The hatred was unreal that night. Somehow we all made it to Ilderton Road in one piece and we got back together on the same side of the road as we turned the corner. Just as we turned we very luckily came up behind four coppers because at that moment this nasty little mob of about 20-30 came round the corner in the other direction. I walked right up behind the nearest copper. Practically had my chin on his back as we passed through the mob. They were giving it the "you Chelsea c**ts", "f**cking Chelsea w**kers" and all that as they gobbed on us. Anyway, we got through them and I turned round to my mates and said: "f**k me that was close" and as I said it I realised all three of them had blood dripping from noses or split lips. They'd all taken a few punches as the mob passed by.

Once in the ground I would agree with Melbourne. I also thought we were about 3000 strong. Have to say though that this was without doubt the quietest away support I experienced in that era. Barely sang a song all night long. The whole game was watched in near silence. It was eerie and so different to the boisterous, piss taking away mobs we used to have back then.

A further perspective might be given by others who were with our main mob. I heard they marched down all the way from the Elephant, about 600 of them, a very, very good firm and well up for it. But, apparently, by the time they got there Wall were inside. (Anyone confirm that?)

I think there's a lot to be said about what time you got there that night as to what experience you had. I wouldn't have missed it for the world but I'm not sure I'd want to do it again. That walk up to Ilderton Road was about the longest of my life. Great memories though. 
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Millwall 1 chelsea 1 84/85 the chelsea mob went from queens victoria to queens rd peckham and 500 to 600 chelsea walked to the ground and millwall in the distance didnt go overboard to go near such a huge chelsea mob. Lets not forget it went off in the old kent rd after the game a different direction to the bulk of chelsea who got excorted to south bermundsy after the game.

Millwall 1 Chelsea 3 89/90. This was the game Chelsea went from victoria to elephant and castle ands were marched down the new kent rd then into the old kent rd which took ages. was untold old bill waiting for chelsea at the elephant unlike west ham the year before on that underground prog. Just before chelsea got to where the ilditon rd was the old bill made all the chelsea go on the left side cos millwall was in the carlton and a side road on the right. A few millwall showed themselves at the top not many and lobbed a few things but it was easily dealt with by the old bill. Years later i heard millwall were mob handed on the right and most were held back back by old bill and the few seen got through.

 
Anyone got to the Millwall/Ipswich FAC QF?  That was fun.

 
supa luca vialli said:
I vowed then and there if I ever got out alive I would never go ther again. And I never have.
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I only went there once as well. In those days before mobile phones, internet etc, living in the Southend area we had no daily/weekly info on where the various CFC firms were meeting up, apart from the rumours at the previous weeks home game, which you did'nt take as gospel.

Our route was to Whitechapel on the district line, then train to New Cross/New Cross Gate. Not advised!.

 
Generally it was a call before at stamford bridge for......12 oc VICTORIA, 12 oc VICTORIA for a london derby away

 
[SIZE=medium]re Millwall away in the milk cup[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I have a few faded memories of that game[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Firstly as Cobham says below [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Have to say though that this was without doubt the quietest away support I experienced in that era. Barely sang a song all night long. The whole game was watched in near silence. It was eerie and so different to the boisterous, piss taking away mobs we used to have back then.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]we were quiet through the whole game ,even when we scored no one moved [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I went with 3 other mates and to be honest I dont recall to much about the trip although it was dark, scary and probably the most tense I personally have been at a game .I took a few slaps over the years and that night I never got touched but it was simply scary[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Afterwards I do recall a wild west scene where the few CFC I was with turned down a side road and walking slowly down the road were 5 or 6 old boys holding baseball bats. To say we turned sharpish and legged it would be a massive understatement [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]A night that ,after so many years you look back on fondly but in reality one you were happy to get home from in one piece  [/SIZE]

 
Agree with F1905. I think I went to every London derby, home and away, between 83 and 87 and for me this one was different to all the rest. Being a night game didn't help of course but it was pretty close to lawless, "a wild west scene" sums it up nicely.

I was at college at the time and when this other Chelsea bloke I'd spoken to a couple of times offered me and my mate a ride with his mate we took him up on it thinking it might be the safest way to get there. All well and good until the driver picked us up and we discovered he was a headbanger with only a cheap leather jacket on over the top of that classic 83-85 home shirt. We told him to do his jacket up to hide it when we got out but with that slightly high round neck on that shirt it was still f**king obvious. Bloke was an absolute muppet.

I've described what happened before the game but F1905's post reminded me of after the match. We came out and left the main body of Chelsea who were going to the station. Not sure what happened to them but it was going off everywhere it seemed and although there were OB running around in full on riot gear there didn't seem to be any plan or control. It was like they were playing catch up all night. We thought not going with the main group might work in our favour until the four of us realised no one had taken note of where we'd put the car. Four naive teens up from the burbs were now wandering around in bandit country with no idea where the car was. Anyway, a very tense time followed with LOTS of walking around including through a couple of the estates off the OKR before we eventually found it and made it home in one piece. As F1905 said it was "simply scary" and for me very different to any other match I went to around that time.

 
We went to the Millwall game in 76 by car, the fella who was driving wanted to turn back after seeing what was happening going to the ground( this same bloke was telling me the night before in the boozer that Chelsea would simply overwhelm them with numbers). I lived in Rotherhithe so I knew the score. I told him to stick it out and we will go in the Ilderton Road end, wrong move as anyone who looked like Chelsea was getting bashed and because they all knew each other it was not difficult. We got away unscathed luckily, saw a few Millwall that I knew but just kept my nut down and walked on. The thursday before the game I was with mates down the Old Kent Road after work and had a brick thrown at my head by Millwall. Even if you are familiar with the area and know a few Millwall it is still a f.....g scary place to go.

 
Around 7-8 years ago , opposite their current ground their was a pub (closed down a few years ago), which had a large poster up in the window which in cap letters read FORGET NOTHING, FORGIVE NO-ONE. Says it all really.

 
Peckham Blue said:
Anyone got to the Millwall/Ipswich FAC QF?  That was fun.
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No - but that was the year they won when they had all their star players like Micky Mills, Kevin Beattie, Paul Mariner etc.

In the semi final they played WBA, the game after, and I think because of the nearby clash at Highbury, we kicked off at 2.30 rather than 3.00 so there was a mob walking up the High Road when their coaches came down, and a few windows got put in.

Perhaps they had a quieter visit on their 3rd and final visit to London

 
I used to follow Luton and Chelsea away in the seventies and eighties,Luton being my local team(apart from Watford and they dont count).A few of us decided to go to Millwall away and go early.We had nothing but trouble and decided to leave and go to the Bridge for Chelsea v Derby.We went in the North Stand and there was a scuffle with some Derby,not much.Chelsea had played West Ham away the week before and Chelsea went in the North Bank early.I remember one lad had about twenty stitches in the top of his head from a brick thrown at him.Not sure of the exact year but early seventies.Following Luton away could be a lot more dangerous than following Chelsea.They had a very game little mob but you were normally up against it numerically.I loved the adrenalin rush on the terraces in those days but Millwall was never fun to be honest,they all bloody knew each other.

 
i remember at luton chelsea taking their end..i remember one very brave , game luton chap fighting, by himself , up the terracing through lots of punching chelsea surrounding him..and punching his way down again through the frenzy of the blues around him...he didnt go down.i watched from the other side with a certain respect for this huge blond fellow

 
Mike Carefree said:
i remember at luton chelsea taking their end..i remember one very brave , game luton chap fighting, by himself , up the terracing through lots of punching chelsea surrounding him..and punching his way down again through the frenzy of the blues around him...he didnt go down.i watched from the other side with a certain respect for this huge blond fellow
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A lot of teams seemed to have 'one man war machines'!. God knows what they look like now!.

 
[SIZE=medium]All this reminiscing about Millwall away in the milk cup got me thinking about the fun following CFC up and down the country was back in the mid 80’s .  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]In 1985 I was 22 ,working in a warehouse ,single ,had enough money for food, drink ,clothes and football .I had a mark one fiesta and thought I was the bolloxs. I also had speccy glasses, a dodgy fringe and actually looking back wasn’t the bollox! I was living a few miles from Guildford train station and on match days used to catch the train up to Waterloo.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]That train journey alone, especially if Pompey were in town was a fun story in itself. If Pompey were at Millwall it was even more enjoyable as Millwall ran them ragged every time i seem to recall ;-)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]One such CFC trip in 1985 kind of covered all angles of what being a fan back then was about and why I had to have my fix every week. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I used to go with three or four mates and Forest away ,mid week Wednesday 10th[/SIZE] April was no different. Book day off work, attach pin badge to jumper, meet mates at Guildford, stick a newspaper in your back pocket (you dont see that anymore) off to Waterloo, across London, stop and have few beers and train to Nottingham.

[SIZE=medium]I can’t recall the exact times etc but I know there were a few CFC on the train. We weren’t firm, I never have been but you ended up knowing the main faces, by sight, by nickname etc and you knew who was who .If they were on the same train, then heh happy days,if not then there were always loads of CFC about and most if not all were happy to have a scrap if put in the right situation .[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We arrived in Nottingham found a pub and carried on drinking, now I can’t drink much but back then I could put a few back. Soon it was drinking up time and off to the ground. We arrived at the city ground having ambled along by the river and the first entrance we see is the home end, the Trent end and with no hesitation in we go, four pissed mates trying to act sober and trying to mingle in.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]First half we were quiet to begin with but it soon became clear that we had been sussed as CFC ,I think the general moaning when Dixon miss controlled another pass probably gave it away and it was just a case of when and not if it would go off. We made it to half time and went back out behind the stand into a forecourt area and had a burger as you do while more eyes were on us then a model strutting her stuff on a cat walk.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The minute we were back on the terraces before the second half it went crazy with punches landing from all directions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]To this day I still remember I stuck my head up to clout some w**ker and took a load back for my troubles. The old bill came in, after what seemed an age dragged us out and as you do you plead your “innocent†case and instead of nicking the infamous four, they led us out and behind the goal and very kindly into the big new Forest stand that ran the length of the City ground. I think why we didn’t get nicked became apparent when we actually sat down and looked at each other. We were all covered in lumps, ,bruises and cuts, my speccy glasses were in bits, I had cuts around my eyes and we sat there and just laughed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We lose the game 2-0 .to be honest I can’t recall too much about it and we come out the stand, it is late, we lost, we’re sore. So the only thing to do is get back to Nottingham train station and be sensible and head south and back home but oh no we jump on a train north to Doncaster where we can get a late night drink. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I have no idea what time we finally started the journey home but it was late. I know by the time we got back to London we had to wait for the milk train back to Guildford. From there I went to work without even attempting to go home. My boss was an arse but to his credit he told me to get myself off to the doctors to get my eyes checked and then the opticians for a new pair of glasses. Luckily my eyes were ok as I kind of knew they were and luckily we had the chance to do it all again in two days’ time as we had West Ham away!!! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Happy days[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Apologies if the above rambles on a bit, it is how I recall that particular day out. What I do know is there were loads of days like that and I also know I was staunch CFC then and even though I don’t go anymore, underneath my old glad rags I still am![/SIZE]

 
F1905 said:
F1905, on 15 Nov 2013 - 07:45 AM, said:
[SIZE=medium]All this reminiscing about Millwall away in the milk cup got me thinking about the fun following CFC up and down the country was back in the mid 80’s .  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]In 1985 I was 22 ,working in a warehouse ,single ,had enough money for food, drink ,clothes and football .I had a mark one fiesta and thought I was the bolloxs. I also had speccy glasses, a dodgy fringe and actually looking back wasn’t the bollox! I was living a few miles from Guildford train station and on match days used to catch the train up to Waterloo.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]That train journey alone, especially if Pompey were in town was a fun story in itself. If Pompey were at Millwall it was even more enjoyable as Millwall ran them ragged every time i seem to recall ;-)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]One such CFC trip in 1985 kind of covered all angles of what being a fan back then was about and why I had to have my fix every week. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I used to go with three or four mates and Forest away ,mid week Wednesday 10th[/SIZE] April was no different. Book day off work, attach pin badge to jumper, meet mates at Guildford, stick a newspaper in your back pocket (you dont see that anymore) off to Waterloo, across London, stop and have few beers and train to Nottingham.

[SIZE=medium]I can’t recall the exact times etc but I know there were a few CFC on the train. We weren’t firm, I never have been but you ended up knowing the main faces, by sight, by nickname etc and you knew who was who .If they were on the same train, then heh happy days,if not then there were always loads of CFC about and most if not all were happy to have a scrap if put in the right situation .[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We arrived in Nottingham found a pub and carried on drinking, now I can’t drink much but back then I could put a few back. Soon it was drinking up time and off to the ground. We arrived at the city ground having ambled along by the river and the first entrance we see is the home end, the Trent end and with no hesitation in we go, four pissed mates trying to act sober and trying to mingle in.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]First half we were quiet to begin with but it soon became clear that we had been sussed as CFC ,I think the general moaning when Dixon miss controlled another pass probably gave it away and it was just a case of when and not if it would go off. We made it to half time and went back out behind the stand into a forecourt area and had a burger as you do while more eyes were on us then a model strutting her stuff on a cat walk.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The minute we were back on the terraces before the second half it went crazy with punches landing from all directions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]To this day I still remember I stuck my head up to clout some w**ker and took a load back for my troubles. The old bill came in, after what seemed an age dragged us out and as you do you plead your “innocent†case and instead of nicking the infamous four, they led us out and behind the goal and very kindly into the big new Forest stand that ran the length of the City ground. I think why we didn’t get nicked became apparent when we actually sat down and looked at each other. We were all covered in lumps, ,bruises and cuts, my speccy glasses were in bits, I had cuts around my eyes and we sat there and just laughed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We lose the game 2-0 .to be honest I can’t recall too much about it and we come out the stand, it is late, we lost, we’re sore. So the only thing to do is get back to Nottingham train station and be sensible and head south and back home but oh no we jump on a train north to Doncaster where we can get a late night drink. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I have no idea what time we finally started the journey home but it was late. I know by the time we got back to London we had to wait for the milk train back to Guildford. From there I went to work without even attempting to go home. My boss was an arse but to his credit he told me to get myself off to the doctors to get my eyes checked and then the opticians for a new pair of glasses. Luckily my eyes were ok as I kind of knew they were and luckily we had the chance to do it all again in two days’ time as we had West Ham away!!! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Happy days[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Apologies if the above rambles on a bit, it is how I recall that particular day out. What I do know is there were loads of days like that and I also know I was staunch CFC then and even though I don’t go anymore, underneath my old glad rags I still am![/SIZE]
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Quality Tale mate, I was around at the same time and lol on newspaper in the back pocket that was a must. My last train home was a post train and on a few occasions we slept on that. Also had a fight at Notts forest but ours was on a Saturday evening after the match, must of been the thing to do in the 80s.

 
F1905 said:
[SIZE=medium]All this reminiscing about Millwall away in the milk cup got me thinking about the fun following CFC up and down the country was back in the mid 80’s .  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]In 1985 I was 22 ,working in a warehouse ,single ,had enough money for food, drink ,clothes and football .I had a mark one fiesta and thought I was the bolloxs. I also had speccy glasses, a dodgy fringe and actually looking back wasn’t the bollox! I was living a few miles from Guildford train station and on match days used to catch the train up to Waterloo.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]That train journey alone, especially if Pompey were in town was a fun story in itself. If Pompey were at Millwall it was even more enjoyable as Millwall ran them ragged every time i seem to recall ;-)[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]One such CFC trip in 1985 kind of covered all angles of what being a fan back then was about and why I had to have my fix every week. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I used to go with three or four mates and Forest away ,mid week Wednesday 10th[/SIZE] April was no different. Book day off work, attach pin badge to jumper, meet mates at Guildford, stick a newspaper in your back pocket (you dont see that anymore) off to Waterloo, across London, stop and have few beers and train to Nottingham.

[SIZE=medium]I can’t recall the exact times etc but I know there were a few CFC on the train. We weren’t firm, I never have been but you ended up knowing the main faces, by sight, by nickname etc and you knew who was who .If they were on the same train, then heh happy days,if not then there were always loads of CFC about and most if not all were happy to have a scrap if put in the right situation .[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We arrived in Nottingham found a pub and carried on drinking, now I can’t drink much but back then I could put a few back. Soon it was drinking up time and off to the ground. We arrived at the city ground having ambled along by the river and the first entrance we see is the home end, the Trent end and with no hesitation in we go, four pissed mates trying to act sober and trying to mingle in.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]First half we were quiet to begin with but it soon became clear that we had been sussed as CFC ,I think the general moaning when Dixon miss controlled another pass probably gave it away and it was just a case of when and not if it would go off. We made it to half time and went back out behind the stand into a forecourt area and had a burger as you do while more eyes were on us then a model strutting her stuff on a cat walk.  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The minute we were back on the terraces before the second half it went crazy with punches landing from all directions.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]To this day I still remember I stuck my head up to clout some w**ker and took a load back for my troubles. The old bill came in, after what seemed an age dragged us out and as you do you plead your “innocent†case and instead of nicking the infamous four, they led us out and behind the goal and very kindly into the big new Forest stand that ran the length of the City ground. I think why we didn’t get nicked became apparent when we actually sat down and looked at each other. We were all covered in lumps, ,bruises and cuts, my speccy glasses were in bits, I had cuts around my eyes and we sat there and just laughed.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]We lose the game 2-0 .to be honest I can’t recall too much about it and we come out the stand, it is late, we lost, we’re sore. So the only thing to do is get back to Nottingham train station and be sensible and head south and back home but oh no we jump on a train north to Doncaster where we can get a late night drink. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I have no idea what time we finally started the journey home but it was late. I know by the time we got back to London we had to wait for the milk train back to Guildford. From there I went to work without even attempting to go home. My boss was an arse but to his credit he told me to get myself off to the doctors to get my eyes checked and then the opticians for a new pair of glasses. Luckily my eyes were ok as I kind of knew they were and luckily we had the chance to do it all again in two days’ time as we had West Ham away!!! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Happy days[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Apologies if the above rambles on a bit, it is how I recall that particular day out. What I do know is there were loads of days like that and I also know I was staunch CFC then and even though I don’t go anymore, underneath my old glad rags I still am![/SIZE]
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::clap2::  Quality mate, love tales like that.

 
supa luca vialli said:
Not saying you are calling me a lier but that is  what happened and it sounds like it was very different once their mob were inside the ground.
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Definitely not calling you a liar, just realising how lucky I was to arrive at New Cross station probably around kick off time and miss the puishment.  1990 was very different though, not at all frightening.

 
I was in Melbourne 2008 when Chelsea met the y*ds in the Carling Cup Final, watched it at the Charles Dickens pub, all y*ds - no Chelsea  

 
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