http://www.greenockmorton.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=9465

Found this re Chelseas trip to Greenock in 1968 top play Morton in Fairs City Cup. I was unable to attend match as only 14months.

Having spent the last few weeks on here and thinking about the old days I have taken a new interest in a lot of the old stuff. Whilst many pictures and videos have been posted I have found out just how much I do remember. I will probably get round to that book soon.

I have been more involved in the Chelsea chats in Facebook as well. This afternoon I saw a lot about Peter Osgood who died 6 years ago today. A Chelsea mate on Facebook remarked that there was a rather special horse running in the 17.10 at Taunton. The horse's name? Osgood! - Well I just had to. I am not a gambling man and I can't remember betting on a horse since West Tip rode home the National back in 86.

So I logged into William Hill, put £50 on the nose and Osgood came in at 9/2.

Without you lot on here it is doubtful I would have done this. So next time I am over in the UK I've got a £225 bar float and hope to meet up with you lot in a Chelsea boozer!

Cheers lads!

Did anyone else back it?

http://www.greenockm...?showtopic=9465

Found this re Chelseas trip to Greenock in 1968 top play Morton in Fairs City Cup. I was unable to attend match as only 14months.

I went to the home match, probably my second Chelsea game, sitting in the upper tier of the wobbly North Stand.

> wobbly

How wobbly was it? There were rumours it used to shake when tube trains went past. Also, when was it built and do you know if there were supposed to be 3 more of them built to identical specs at the North End?

> wobbly

How wobbly was it? There were rumours it used to shake when tube trains went past. Also, when was it built and do you know if there were supposed to be 3 more of them built to identical specs at the North End?

You're right about the trains making it shake Garry, and I think that's the reason it was condemned in my first season 71/2 after which it sat empty until being demolished as part of the planned rebuild of the whole stadium, then we went skint and the rest is no history.

Was the 'old stand' part of an Archibald Leitch Stadium design ?

There was one at Ibrox and was used by teh players to change (a pavillion ) until it was demolished in 1928. There is still one at Craven Cottage !

Peckham: My old man was at the return leg in 1968 at Cappielow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rangers-matchprogrammes/6931843245/

My first Blues game back in Feb 1986. A Friday night friendly. It was a 3-2 win for Rangers.

Rangers had been down at The Bridge in May 1985 for a game in aid of The Bradford Fire Disaster,

Was the 'old stand' part of an Archibald Leitch Stadium design ?

There was one at Ibrox and was used by teh players to change (a pavillion ) until it was demolished in 1928. There is still one at Craven Cottage !

Peckham: My old man was at the return leg in 1968 at Cappielow

I went with my Dad and the family across the street, the only time I ever went near the old North Stand either sitting upstairs or standing down underneath it. My main memory of the match is the Morton goalkeeper pulling down the crossbar to a long range shot from I think Charlie Cooke which went inches over.

I only sat in the North Stand once, and was convinced it was going to collapse at any moment. Every time a train went by or if there was a gust of wind the whole place seemed to move!

The North Stand was built in 1939, and was originally intended to span the entire north end of the ground, but the outbreak of war and it's aftermath meant that the club had to keep the stand small.

The old East Stand was designed by Archibald Leitch, who also designed Ibrox and Craven Cottage, and apparently Hampden and Septic Park.

The old north stand is the only part of the ground old or new that i have never been in and can't remember it being open when i started going in 70/71,when was it actually condemmed.Garry still looking forward toseeing the pictures.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Single piece of paper for the Arsenal friendly 1977,now worth £15-£25

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I only sat in the North Stand once, and was convinced it was going to collapse at any moment. Every time a train went by or if there was a gust of wind the whole place seemed to move!

The North Stand was built in 1939, and was originally intended to span the entire north end of the ground, but the outbreak of war and it's aftermath meant that the club had to keep the stand small.

The old East Stand was designed by Archibald Leitch, who also designed Ibrox and Craven Cottage, and apparently Hampden and Septic Park.

Leitch never designed Hampden or parkhead, He did design Villa Park, Roker Park, Ayresome Park, Goodison, Anfield and Old Trafford off the top of my head.

The old north stand is the only part of the ground old or new that i have never been in and can't remember it being open when i started going in 70/71,when was it actually condemmed.Garry still looking forward toseeing the pictures.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

The same night Allan Wells and Steve Ovett won Gold in 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Interesting point on when the North Stand shut to the public, seem to remember it being open round about 1972?

Edited March 2, 201214 yr by Nitro

Leitch never designed Hampden or parkhead, He did design Villa Park, Roker Park, Ayresome Park, Goodison, Anfield and Old Trafford off the top of my head.

That's what I thought, just goes to show you should never believe anything you read on the internet! I had a feeling he designed Goodison, similar design to Ibrox.

Just had a quick read of the 'Chelsea FC - The Official Biography' by Rick Glanvill, and he states that Leitch definitely designed Parkhead and Hampden as well as Ibrox - interesting.

Regarding the North Stand, there was a GLC inquiry in December 1971 after fans mentioned 'movement' - the result of which was the closure of the stand, and it was demolished in 1975 (or 1976 if you believe Rick Granvill).

The south end terrace of the ground was built up in 1930, and had a small covering over part of it which became known as The Shed. Many people believe The Shed was built for greyhound racing spectators to shelter under, but greyhound racing didn't come to the Bridge for another 6 or 7 years.

Greyhound racing: The first meeting took place on 31st July 1937. Meetings continued for 31 years until the curtain came down on 1st August 1968.

There are some more facts here.

http://www.oleole.com/stadiums/stamford-bridge/history/vhin.html

However this site shows greyhound badges for the ground dating back to 33.

http://www.greyhoundderby.com/Stamford%20Bridge%20Greyhound%20Stadium.htm

And some wonderful pictures and stories from the grounds speedway days dating back to 28

http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Stamford%20Bridge.htm

Just had a quick read of the 'Chelsea FC - The Official Biography' by Rick Glanvill, and he states that Leitch definitely designed Parkhead and Hampden as well as Ibrox - interesting.

Regarding the North Stand, there was a GLC inquiry in December 1971 after fans mentioned 'movement' - the result of which was the closure of the stand, and it was demolished in 1975 (or 1976 if you believe Rick Granvill).

The south end terrace of the ground was built up in 1930, and had a small covering over part of it which became known as The Shed. Many people believe The Shed was built for greyhound racing spectators to shelter under, but greyhound racing didn't come to the Bridge for another 6 or 7 years.

That old stand was demolished late 76 or early 77 as it appears in the video footage

That old stand was demolished late 76 or early 77 as it appears in the video footage

The last supporters I saw in it were Plymouth after the North Stand charged them at full time!

That old stand was demolished late 76 or early 77 as it appears in the video footage

I'll take your word for it, I was only going by what I've found in various books. I used to enjoy standing under the old North Stand as a youngster - one game in particular was against Newcastle, couldn't understand a word of what they were saying.

It appears that Archibald Leitch did design Parkhead and was involved in the improvements f Hampden Park in the 1920s. Apologies.

The Hereford game, page 22 on here, you can see clearly how there is a load of rubble and bulldozers in the old north stand.

.

Edited March 9, 201214 yr by Eddie Macs blue and white

The last supporters I saw in it were Plymouth after the North Stand charged them at full time!

Re the Plymouth game I can remember being impressed by the number of fans they brought to the game, I think they filled the entire North Stand. One of their supporters even had the audacity to spray paint Plymouth on a white wall on the the Fulham Road near the North Stand entrance.

Re the Plymouth game I can remember being impressed by the number of fans they brought to the game, I think they filled the entire North Stand. One of their supporters even had the audacity to spray paint Plymouth on a white wall on the the Fulham Road near the North Stand entrance.

That was a good turnout from Plymouth, Cardiff was about the only other decent support numbers wise that season from memory