As a Bristol Rovers fan, one of my abiding memories of our original ground - Eastville, is seeing Chelsea almost totally clear the Tote End at a midweek match around 1976. One minute it was packed with Gasheads, next minute, they parted like the red sea, and Chelsea were standing in the centre of the terrace.  I don't think I've ever seen the Tote clear that quickly, either before or since. When order was eventually restored, some of the Chelsea fans were marched along the back of the stand to the away end, managing to break the dressing room windowns en route.  I seem to remember that there was plenty going on outside when the game ended.

 

Just wondered if any of the older guys on here were at that game, and can remember what it was like to visit Eastville?

 

There was a thread on the Rovers forum a while back, but it only gave a brief mention to this particular game. http://www.brfcforum.co.uk/index.php?/topic/100908-chelsea-at-eastville/

Edited March 15, 201312 yr by In the Net

As a Bristol Rovers fan, one of my abiding memories of our original ground - Eastville, is seeing Chelsea almost totally clear the Tote End at a midweek match around 1976. One minute it was packed with Gasheads, next minute, they parted like the red sea, and Chelsea were standing in the centre of the terrace.  I don't think I've ever seen the Tote clear that quickly, either before or since. When order was eventually restored, some of the Chelsea fans were marched along the back of the stand to the away end, managing to break the dressing room windowns en route.  I seem to remember that there was plenty going on outside when the game ended.

 

Just wondered if any of the older guys on here were at that game, and can remember what it was like to visit Eastville?

 

There was a thread on the Rovers forum a while back, but it only gave a brief mention to this particular game. http://www.brfcforum.co.uk/index.php?/topic/100908-chelsea-at-eastville/

 this one ?  i think Chelsea also scattered the Tote earlier in the 70s as well .. if my memory serves me well Rovers did better outside afterwards but still got run underneath the motorway .. bristol city at ashton gate a much tougher job

Have a look here mate, few posts on some of our games,

 

http://www.theshedend.com/topic/18020-vintage-blues-pictures-and-film/page-100

Cheers Carshalton Blue - lots of interesting stuff on that thread, and some great pics of Eastville.

Up The Gas! Up The Chels!

 

I'm too young to remember Eastville although always saw what was left of the ground before the IKEA was dumped on it (shame), must hold some great memories for many Gasheads..

 

If it ain't a royal blue shirt then it's the infamous blue & white quarters

 

Goodnight Irene

As a Bristol Rovers fan, one of my abiding memories of our original ground - Eastville, is seeing Chelsea almost totally clear the Tote End at a midweek match around 1976. One minute it was packed with Gasheads, next minute, they parted like the red sea, and Chelsea were standing in the centre of the terrace.  I don't think I've ever seen the Tote clear that quickly, either before or since. When order was eventually restored, some of the Chelsea fans were marched along the back of the stand to the away end, managing to break the dressing room windowns en route.  I seem to remember that there was plenty going on outside when the game ended.

 

Just wondered if any of the older guys on here were at that game, and can remember what it was like to visit Eastville?

 

There was a thread on the Rovers forum a while back, but it only gave a brief mention to this particular game. http://www.brfcforum.co.uk/index.php?/topic/100908-chelsea-at-eastville/

The year in question was the hot summer of 76 and i was working in a pub on the evenings called the Maypole in Hanham-after my shift on a weekend i used to go down the GUILDHALL tavern with some of the regulars-this was an underground bar that played all the latest funk/dance music from across the pond. To say the dress code was different would be an understatement! Both sets of supporters mixed in here as they shared a love of the music and there was rarely any football trouble. So come the night of the Chelsea game my two mates from the Maypole asked if i wanted to go down with them for the crack, so i said what about my allegiance to the other team in Bristol where im quite well known. Your with us and they come thru us first, was Tony Sk**e's reply. So me Tony and Phil Wa**s made our way down in my capri. We got there late and i was shocked to see Chelsea up at the back by the Totaliser bit (greyhound racing) and a huge gap around them. There was even police horses trotting about trying to stop the trouble-Rovers mobbed up and went forward towards perhaps 150 chelsea but they got scattered by them. Afterwards there was mayhem and i kept out of it. The Chelsea mob were put out by the ob and the cream of Bristol Rovers were there that night, its funny i still see some of them now in cafe's and i reminecse with them about those days. 

The year in question was the hot summer of 76 and i was working in a pub on the evenings called the Maypole in Hanham-after my shift on a weekend i used to go down the GUILDHALL tavern with some of the regulars-this was an underground bar that played all the latest funk/dance music from across the pond. To say the dress code was different would be an understatement! Both sets of supporters mixed in here as they shared a love of the music and there was rarely any football trouble. So come the night of the Chelsea game my two mates from the Maypole asked if i wanted to go down with them for the crack, so i said what about my allegiance to the other team in Bristol where im quite well known. Your with us and they come thru us first, was Tony Sk**e's reply. So me Tony and Phil Wa**s made our way down in my capri. We got there late and i was shocked to see Chelsea up at the back by the Totaliser bit (greyhound racing) and a huge gap around them. There was even police horses trotting about trying to stop the trouble-Rovers mobbed up and went forward towards perhaps 150 chelsea but they got scattered by them. Afterwards there was mayhem and i kept out of it. The Chelsea mob were put out by the ob and the cream of Bristol Rovers were there that night, its funny i still see some of them now in cafe's and i reminecse with them about those days. 

lovely car the Capri

The year in question was the hot summer of 76 and i was working in a pub on the evenings called the Maypole in Hanham-after my shift on a weekend i used to go down the GUILDHALL tavern with some of the regulars-this was an underground bar that played all the latest funk/dance music from across the pond. To say the dress code was different would be an understatement! Both sets of supporters mixed in here as they shared a love of the music and there was rarely any football trouble. So come the night of the Chelsea game my two mates from the Maypole asked if i wanted to go down with them for the crack, so i said what about my allegiance to the other team in Bristol where im quite well known. Your with us and they come thru us first, was Tony Sk**e's reply. So me Tony and Phil Wa**s made our way down in my capri. We got there late and i was shocked to see Chelsea up at the back by the Totaliser bit (greyhound racing) and a huge gap around them. There was even police horses trotting about trying to stop the trouble-Rovers mobbed up and went forward towards perhaps 150 chelsea but they got scattered by them. Afterwards there was mayhem and i kept out of it. The Chelsea mob were put out by the ob and the cream of Bristol Rovers were there that night, its funny i still see some of them now in cafe's and i reminecse with them about those days. 

 

You seem not too bad for a pikey, mate.