11 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Wow !

There were dog tracks at Brixton, Battersea, Mitcham, amongst loads of others .!

Well I never had a clue about that, cheers mate 👍

Grandad started watching Chelsea in the 1920’s, old man 40’s. Spaghetti twirlers originally from Little Italy 🇮🇹 in Clerkenwell, then Wardly St SW18. There was a murder at Wandsworth Dogs- rival gangs and bookies protection- grandad was part of the Italian mob headed by Bert Marsh, though that wasn’t his real name. Chronic gambler my grandad. Grandmother used to have to hide her house keeping money otherwise it would get spunked on the dogs. He spent time in the glasshouse during the war, for nicking a pushbike, going AWOL, and cycling from Aldershot to Wandsworth to put a bet on- which lost.

Staunch Chelsea from the 20,s to the early 90’s RIP

 

9 hours ago, Timmy Elms said:

Grandad started watching Chelsea in the 1920’s, old man 40’s. Spaghetti twirlers originally from Little Italy 🇮🇹 in Clerkenwell, then Wardly St SW18. There was a murder at Wandsworth Dogs- rival gangs and bookies protection- grandad was part of the Italian mob headed by Bert Marsh, though that wasn’t his real name. Chronic gambler my grandad. Grandmother used to have to hide her house keeping money otherwise it would get spunked on the dogs. He spent time in the glasshouse during the war, for nicking a pushbike, going AWOL, and cycling from Aldershot to Wandsworth to put a bet on- which lost.

Staunch Chelsea from the 20,s to the early 90’s RIP

 

What a story mate, and what a character ! Yeah, I worked at Mount Pleasant for a few years, all the cafés in Clerkenwell had Italian football club posters on their walls ..as well as that team from Woolwich!

 

Chris Garland scoring v Spurs in the first leg of the League Cup Semi Final.Dec 1971.

Had a chuckle at this.

Outside the Bridge in 1952. Queuing for tickets for the FA Cup against Arsenal.

Ah, the days of queuing for tickets. Spent many an hour in queues for football matches and concerts. In all sorts of weather. Great banter. Now we have virtual waiting rooms.

1 hour ago, Boyne said:

Outside the Bridge in 1952. Queuing for tickets for the FA Cup against Arsenal.

Ah, the days of queuing for tickets. Spent many an hour in queues for football matches and concerts. In all sorts of weather. Great banter. Now we have virtual waiting rooms.

My heart used to sink when we used to arrive early Sunday to see a massive queue !

24 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

My heart used to sink when we used to arrive early Sunday to see a massive queue !

A few years ago I remember arriving at the Bridge one evening to queue for tickets for a Cup Final. I  forgot who we we were due to play and tickets were to go on sale next morning. Late in the evening Eddie Barnett opened the ticket office. Saved queuing up overnight.

2 hours ago, Boyne said:

A few years ago I remember arriving at the Bridge one evening to queue for tickets for a Cup Final. I  forgot who we we were due to play and tickets were to go on sale next morning. Late in the evening Eddie Barnett opened the ticket office. Saved queuing up overnight.

 I remember queuing straight after games when tickets were on sale from the Portacabins.

Can't recall why we had to do that though ? Away games maybe?

Edited August 30, 20241 yr by The Rising Sun
Info

3 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

 I remember queuing straight after games when tickets were on sale from the Portacabins.

Can't recall why we had to do that though ? Away games maybe?

I remember that as well but like you can't remember for what. It's all a blur after all the years.

7 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

 I remember queuing straight after games when tickets were on sale from the Portacabins.

Can't recall why we had to do that though ? Away games maybe?

Some away games sales used to be done by queuing at the old shed turnstiles and going back through to buy tickets!! 
 

Frustrating thing was missing last few minutes of the game to guarantee getting a ticket. At least there was none of this modern day 3000 allocations. 

On 29/08/2024 at 17:20, Boyne said:

There were two of those massive badges, one middle tier East Stand, and another by Shed turnstiles. Had a conversation with my mate Clint who’s a bit of a pitch owners stalwart and font of Chelsea knowledge as to their whereabouts; apparently one of them got given away to a disabled Chelsea fan. Wouldn’t it be great to have that on the wall in your downstairs karzi…

11 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

 I remember queuing straight after games when tickets were on sale from the Portacabins.

Can't recall why we had to do that though ? Away games maybe?

Frazzled memory on way out….queued a couple of times…maybe for Spurs FA Cup quarter final versus Spurs in 82 which was all ticket, and I think the other may have been the 94 semi with Luton. Can’t remember the last time my memory was this bad 

BTW those epic CFC signs were turquoise rather than Royal Blue unless mistaken. Fantastic works of art.

On 29/08/2024 at 18:52, PloKoon13 said:

Had a chuckle at this.

Good chuckle that

On 25/08/2024 at 17:13, The Rising Sun said:

What a story mate, and what a character ! Yeah, I worked at Mount Pleasant for a few years, all the cafés in Clerkenwell had Italian football club posters on their walls ..as well as that team from Woolwich!

That Italian community there, most were only half Italian and could hardly speak a  word of the mother tongue. My Mums done some research on Wardly St, Wandsworth. It was predominantly a gypsy enclave, got knocked down for slum clearance during the late 50’s. According to the 1922 census there was a smattering of Italians there, due to Rock Asphalt relocation to the area, which was a very Anglo/ Italian trade. Had a rough war and didn’t speak much, but enjoyed his Saturdays at The Bridge

15 hours ago, Timmy Elms said:

Frazzled memory on way out….queued a couple of times…maybe for Spurs FA Cup quarter final versus Spurs in 82 which was all ticket, and I think the other may have been the 94 semi with Luton. Can’t remember the last time my memory was this bad 

The previous round against the scouser’s was also all ticket. Had to start queuing 9am both games. I was at school my brother at work, so asked my mum to travel up and get them!

19 hours ago, Richard P said:

The previous round against the scouser’s was also all ticket. Had to start queuing 9am both games. I was at school my brother at work, so asked my mum to travel up and get them!

Not sure bout the scousers being all ticket. We got to the ground really early, maybe 12.30- tried parking up round Imperial Road and it was a trial finding a space even then, which told us it was gonna be a bumper gate.

Changing subject quite a moving article about Joey Jones in Mail on Sunday today. In a very bad way with dementia. Micky Thomas comes over every day with shopping and to keep him company. MT went on to say JJ used to visit him when was doing time, and he’s returning the gesture now. A very enduring friendship, quite heartwarming in a period where a lot of sh*ts going on.

21 hours ago, Timmy Elms said:

Not sure bout the scousers being all ticket. We got to the ground really early, maybe 12.30- tried parking up round Imperial Road and it was a trial finding a space even then, which told us it was gonna be a bumper gate.

Changing subject quite a moving article about Joey Jones in Mail on Sunday today. In a very bad way with dementia. Micky Thomas comes over every day with shopping and to keep him company. MT went on to say JJ used to visit him when was doing time, and he’s returning the gesture now. A very enduring friendship, quite heartwarming in a period where a lot of sh*ts going on.

That's sad to hear but at the same time rather heart warming. Fond memories of both of them.

 

On 01/09/2024 at 16:19, Timmy Elms said:

Not sure bout the scousers being all ticket. We got to the ground really early, maybe 12.30- tried parking up round Imperial Road and it was a trial finding a space even then, which told us it was gonna be a bumper gate.

Changing subject quite a moving article about Joey Jones in Mail on Sunday today. In a very bad way with dementia. Micky Thomas comes over every day with shopping and to keep him company. MT went on to say JJ used to visit him when was doing time, and he’s returning the gesture now. A very enduring friendship, quite heartwarming in a period where a lot of sh*ts going on.

Spoke to Micky T about a year ago. He was saying Joey’s old memories were good but in the present forgetful and repetitive like most dementia patients. As we were at a function he wrang Joey while a crowd were chanting his name!!

Season of that cup run I use to sit on the benches. For the scousers game had to have a ticket there was no paying at the shed and then handing over transfer money by the benches 

On 02/09/2024 at 21:04, Richard P said:

Season of that cup run I use to sit on the benches. For the scousers game had to have a ticket there was no paying at the shed and then handing over transfer money by the benches 

Completely unique the benches. West Stand constructed in 65. Normal case seats top tier, paddock terracing below. Given that it was a Shed transfer for an extra knicker or so, how on earth did they know whether the benches were at capacity? There’s a limit to “ Do us a favour and shove up a bit mate”

7 minutes ago, Timmy Elms said:

Completely unique the benches. West Stand constructed in 65. Normal case seats top tier, paddock terracing below. Given that it was a Shed transfer for an extra knicker or so, how on earth did they know whether the benches were at capacity? There’s a limit to “ Do us a favour and shove up a bit mate”

Anyone had any incidence of “seat share, or seat stealing in the 80s?

Gate 13 early 80’s multiple cases of having to shuffle up and have three quarters of a seat cause people had bunked in. Palace away on that night mid 90’s when it was pissing down with rain and what should have been a goal but got got stopped by a puddle on the goal line…returned from the lavatory to find someone sitting on my seat. Told him to f**k off to which his mates said “ Watch out. He’s a nutter”  Got my seat back, got arrested, charged with assault; Case dismissed thank f**k

Bit off subject but Walham Green Station- now Fulham Broadway- in 1939.