Chelsea memories from a non Chelsea fan

[jimmybog]

First, have to say what an excellent forum this is.

 

Second, just to clarify I am not a Chelsea fan but due to many visits in the eighties and nineties to London to friends who lived in Earls court, I used to try and visit Stamford bridge and some Chelsea London away games as often as I could.  .

 

Here are some of my memories (apologies if the details aren’t correct as my memory is not the best these days) of Chelsea games I experienced during this period:

 

Chelsea v Liverpool – FA Cup – Very early eighties:

 

Fazy memory from this one but remember it being the best atmosphere I experienced at SB as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2 – 0 (Think that was the score). And the only time I saw any trouble at SB as a mob of Chelsea in the North stand terrace got through a gate to attack the Liverpool supporters. Think this was the game when some supporters tried to get into SB via the Brompton cemetery and over the train tracks (crazy thing to do).  And I’m sure Chelsea lost to Spurs in the next round?

 

 

Chelsea v Liverpool (Late eighties / maybe early nineties) – not sure if a league or FA cup game:

 

I know Chelsea lost but remember the Scousers firing a flare into the West stand near the end of the game. And if I’m not mistaken didn’t they fire a second flare also at the West stand after the game finished as the Chelsea fans were leaving? Think near the end of the game I remember a Chelsea fan from the benches in the west stand climbed up onto the fence and proceeded to walk along the top of the fence towards the Scousers in the away terrace. He was eventually pulled down by the stewards/police just before he got to the away section. Can’t imagine what would have happened to him otherwise.

 

Spurs v Chelsea – 1987/1988

 

This was the match which has already been mentioned where Chelsea fans packed the terraces and some had to be let out into the overspill terrace. I was one of the ones who got out and went into the overspill terrace. This section as I remember was in the lower part of the Shelf terrace right near the corner. I remember there being police right at the front of the terrace section above us who were filming the Chelsea fans with a video camera. I know Spurs won that day but even though there were Spurs right next to and above us in the Shelf, I don’t recall them giving any abuse to the Chelsea in our overspill section. I remember the walk back to seven sisters afterwards and the entire road was just full of Chelsea who were still singing even though they had lost. I was also at the game the previous year when Chelsea won 3 – 1 or 3 nil but can’t remember much about that game apart from the brilliant atmosphere. And I don’t recall any trouble at either of these games as once the games ended the Spurs supporters just seemed to disappear. I do remember the price to get into this (or the previous seasons game) was £4 for the park lane terrace. How times have changed!!!

 

 

Arsenal – Chelsea – 1984 – First league game of the season

 

This was Chelsea’s first game of the season after being promoted. I remember the tube train pulling in to Holborn and being rammed. Managed to squeeze on somehow and thinking no one else will get on this train all the way to Arsenal. How wrong I was. At Kings cross there were hundreds waiting on the platform. We were jammed in like sardines all the way from Kings cross to Arsenal. Once outside the tube the entire street leading down to the Clock end was full of Chelsea. We managed to get in ok and stood near the corner of the clock end and the West stand. At the start of the game there was a large mob of Chelsea in the North bank/West stand corner singing Chelsea, Chelsea. The police then lead them onto the pitch and down into the clock end. There seemed to be a never ending stream being led down and I’d estimate several hundred in total. Remember Dixons equalizer and the celebration went on for ages. Also remember the bar being open at half time underneath the stand and lots of us were drinking beer on the terrace in the second half. That was a huge away following that day for a 11:30 am kick off. Think the attendance was around 45,000 and newspaper estimate was that 20,000 were Chelsea. This was also the only day I ever went to two matches in the same day as I went to watch QPR and West Brom in the afternoon. Think quite a few Chelsea went to Wimbledons game with Man City in the afternoon as I remember reading reports of trouble at that game.

 

Arsenal – Chelsea – late eighties:

 

Can’t remember the year or the score but remember a mob of Arsenal tried to get in to the clock end from the clock end/west stand gates. The police intervened and led the Arsenal mob out. There looked to be at least a hundred of them and I was surprised that they tried this as there was a good Chelsea away following that day as well.

 

 

QPR v Spurs – Mid eighties wintertime

 

I know this wasn’t a Chelsea game but this game was the only one played in the Capital that day as QPR had their plastic pitch and all other games were called off due to the weather. I’m sure that quite a few supporters from all the other London clubs descended on Loftus rd that day and I recall trouble happening in every part of the ground except for the Spurs away terrace. Also remember the crush in the away terrace being that bad that a lot of Spurs were taken out and put in the side terrace either side of a bunch of home fans. Were any of you Chelsea fans there on that day? I recall it being quite lively on Shepherds bush green after the game. I have read a few accounts of that day years later which suggested that some firms went to that game to settle old scores but I don’t know how true this was.

[Backbiter]

Arsenal – Chelsea – 1984 – First league game of the season

 

This was Chelsea’s first game of the season after being promoted. I remember the tube train pulling in to Holborn and being rammed. Managed to squeeze on somehow and thinking no one else will get on this train all the way to Arsenal. How wrong I was. At Kings cross there were hundreds waiting on the platform. We were jammed in like sardines all the way from Kings cross to Arsenal. Once outside the tube the entire street leading down to the Clock end was full of Chelsea. We managed to get in ok and stood near the corner of the clock end and the West stand. At the start of the game there was a large mob of Chelsea in the North bank/West stand corner singing Chelsea, Chelsea. The police then lead them onto the pitch and down into the clock end. There seemed to be a never ending stream being led down and I’d estimate several hundred in total. Remember Dixons equalizer and the celebration went on for ages. Also remember the bar being open at half time underneath the stand and lots of us were drinking beer on the terrace in the second half. That was a huge away following that day for a 11:30 am kick off. Think the attendance was around 45,000 and newspaper estimate was that 20,000 were Chelsea. This was also the only day I ever went to two matches in the same day as I went to watch QPR and West Brom in the afternoon. Think quite a few Chelsea went to Wimbledons game with Man City in the afternoon as I remember reading reports of trouble at that game.

I've just finished reading 'Chelsea Here, Chelsea There', by Dave Johnston, Kelvin Barker and Mark Worrall, which is an entire book devoted to this game and the promotion season that led up to it. An excellent read.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chelsea-Here-There-Mark-Worrall/dp/0955745934

I  got the Kindle version, which is really cheap!

[Clockwork Skin]

Arsenal -Chelsea late 80s -remember that game very well,when Arsenal came in the Clock End,fair play to them,they got run out in the end but I think most people were surprised they tried! Before the game I remember their pubs been attacked as well.Just a normal Saturday afternoon back in the days!!!

[KEYNSHAM NEWS]

I just joined this site after reading various accounts of 74-black bull and 75-on the shed. We came up the steps of fulham broadway into the road about 40 of us-a mixture of long hairs and wedge haircuts, thought i was the kid with my fiorrucci jeans and plastic sandles. The landlord of the Britt defended his door with a iron bar if i remember-he didnt last too long, outnumbered his windows went in. Fulham old bill quickly arrived in black transits and moved us on -we plot up further down the road in the Black Bull-this was the Anglo Scottish Cup 1974.  I was nineteen years old, into soul music down the Guildhall every weekend.

Drinking up time came and i was sat near the door, bang-the door opens and in comes a one-armed man with a small afro and denim waistcoat, (by his side was a dark -skinned bloke with long hair). He came out with the immortal words that i will never forget-"You Bristol c**ts think your flash-but were flasher" a dart was thrown at him which connected in his forehead-then all hell broke loose, the place turned into a wid west saloon brawl-sitting by the door my head and back were badly cut but wouldnt go to the local hospital, that man was one of the bravest blokes ive seen and i couldnt believe it when i seen his photo on your site at a party in Lewisham. After that we were escorted round to the North Stand terrace-what was left of us got kicked all over the place, had to climb the fence into the East stand. I remember being at Paddington later on queuing up for the train-turn around and you lot were there-dustbins being thrown the lot. Im 58 yrs old now-3 yrs down the road with Parkinsons, but my memories crystal clear.

 Fast-forward one year 1975, league match, three transit loads move as one across the forecourt and up the steps rhs of the shed-the young lads in there with thier Union flags move away from our small group-only about 25 of us.I think Pat Dolan mentioned this in his book! The old bill come around and start to move us down to the dog-track, we walk round to the North-Stand to applause from the away support separated from your lot by a line of police.The game starts and in the top rh corner a large mob of late-comers arrive-"Chelsea aggro" comes from the shed-but its late Bristol Boys steaming into the back of your lot, which causes a ripple effect onto the pitch! I've never been a top boy-theres no shame in that, but i've always been there, done my bit and i hope never let anyone down This all happened 38 yrs ago and our support has a bit of a bad rep today, and this arose last season when we played the boys from the Barking Road-at the home match some of my London friends were drinking at the waterfront bars in the centre of Bristol. I turned up on my own thinking 

it would be ok-i couldnt be more wrong! i was quickly surrounded -but not touched- on the say-so of a giant of a bloke. He asked me what i thought of an incident outside the Queens. Rather than say what he wanted to hear i answered truthfully-IF it happened and i have my doubts- tho i wasnt there-i would be ashamed-his response-"He's old skool, leave him alone"!

Edited April 30, 2013 by KEYNSHAM NEWS

[Mike Carefree]

I remember going to Bristol and giving a little back to a few pubs on our walk to your ground...Went into your end and how massive it felt from the inside.....Good days...Bluebeard will remember more im sure

Edited April 30, 2013 by Mike Carefree

[KEYNSHAM NEWS]

You always came down in numbers-i remember the bloke with the black suit and the Bryan Ferry haircut, jump onto the pitch when it got too hot in the east end- but his mate a massive black fella with a shaved head-which was unusual in those days-he took his time and i admit -ha! we gave him a bit of space! does the name "Hazell" mean anything to you or any of your mates? This would be 75- a hot sunny day!

[Mike Carefree]

You always came down in numbers-i remember the bloke with the black suit and the Bryan Ferry haircut, jump onto the pitch when it got too hot in the east end- but his mate a massive black fella with a shaved head-which was unusual in those days-he took his time and i admit -ha! we gave him a bit of space! does the name "Hazell" mean anything to you or any of your mates? This would be 75- a hot sunny day!

Youll get more remembered replies later when guys come on site.....Hazell means nothing to me......Speak later

[Mike Carefree]

I just joined this site after reading various accounts of 74-black bull and 75-on the shed. We came up the steps of fulham broadway into the road about 40 of us-a mixture of long hairs and wedge haircuts, thought i was the kid with my fiorrucci jeans and plastic sandles. The landlord of the Britt defended his door with a iron bar if i remember-he didnt last too long, outnumbered his windows went in. Fulham old bill quickly arrived in black transits and moved us on -we plot up further down the road in the Black Bull-this was the Anglo Scottish Cup 1974.  I was nineteen years old, into soul music down the Guildhall every weekend.

Drinking up time came and i was sat near the door, bang-the door opens and in comes a one-armed man with a small afro and denim waistcoat, (by his side was a dark -skinned bloke with long hair). He came out with the immortal words that i will never forget-"You Bristol c**ts think your flash-but were flasher" a dart was thrown at him which connected in his forehead-then all hell broke loose, the place turned into a wid west saloon brawl-sitting by the door my head and back were badly cut but wouldnt go to the local hospital, that man was one of the bravest blokes ive seen and i couldnt believe it when i seen his photo on your site at a party in Lewisham. After that we were escorted round to the North Stand terrace-what was left of us got kicked all over the place, had to climb the fence into the East stand. I remember being at Paddington later on queuing up for the train-turn around and you lot were there-dustbins being thrown the lot. Im 58 yrs old now-3 yrs down the road with Parkinsons, but my memories crystal clear.

 Fast-forward one year 1975, league match, three transit loads move as one across the forecourt and up the steps rhs of the shed-the young lads in there with thier Union flags move away from our small group-only about 25 of us.I think Pat Dolan mentioned this in his book! The old bill come around and start to move us down to the dog-track, we walk round to the North-Stand to applause from the away support separated from your lot by a line of police.The game starts and in the top rh corner a large mob of late-comers arrive-"Chelsea aggro" comes from the shed-but its late Bristol Boys steaming into the back of your lot, which causes a ripple effect onto the pitch! I've never been a top boy-theres no shame in that, but i've always been there, done my bit and i hope never let anyone down This all happened 38 yrs ago and our support has a bit of a bad rep today, and this arose last season when we played the boys from the Barking Road-at the home match some of my London friends were drinking at the waterfront bars in the centre of Bristol. I turned up on my own thinking 

it would be ok-i couldnt be more wrong! i was quickly surrounded -but not touched- on the say-so of a giant of a bloke. He asked me what i thought of an incident outside the Queens. Rather than say what he wanted to hear i answered truthfully-IF it happened and i have my doubts- tho i wasnt there-i would be ashamed-his response-"He's old skool, leave him alone"!

The one armed fellow is BABS....Good luck with coping with your Parkinsons mate

Edited April 30, 2013 by Mike Carefree

[Peckham Blue]

I'm sure the Anglo-Scottish Cup match was during the pre-season prior to the League Div 2 match?   I went to the league game and was right next to your lot in the Shed (without a union jack!) but I don't remember our North Stand ending up on the pitch, no-one has ever done that at Chelsea, lots of skirmishes as our lot used to run along the back and pile into the away fans, it was never ending against Forest a few weeks before, and Plymouth a bit later on.

[KEYNSHAM NEWS]

Another time you lot came down was 1988 when we beat you 3-0. I was in Goodies cafe in North st, when i noticed a long haired ginger fella wearing a Drizabone ( those old aussie stockman coats). Me and me mate went outside and he was trying for tkts, so i directed him up to the Hen and Chicken-next thing he's having it with the pub! They come running back to us, whereupon things dont turn out right for him, so were now engaged in a running battle-i look round for me mate and he's in the cafe having todays special!  Fast forward to near 2.15 and theres mobs of you milling about by the park , when im pointed out a stocky chap wearing a Chelsea floppy cap strides over to me clapping his hands -his face changes when i caught him with a telescopic hidden inside my barbour, he looked like he was spitting out polo-mints. I'm not proud of it but those were the times, You must of had 4,500 in the open end that day -a huge mob of blokes, things were different afterwards.  

[MKBlue]

Keynsham, welcome to the site mate and good luck with your health issues. I think I was at all three games you mentioned, the Anglo Scottish game when you were in the Shed, pretty early on if I remember right. I was only 14 or 15 then and there was a lot of talk about the battle in the Rising Sun, lot of credit to your lot for doing something that Spurs, Utd and a fair few others never have.

 

Was the sunny day game the last day of the season after you'd just been promoted? If so I've pretty good memories of that one, good Chelsea turnout considering now far we'd sunk in a handful of years, I remember some Brizzle lovelies going round the pitch in a car and throwing pork pies out to the crowd and getting a fair few thrown back at them from the Chelsea end and the small mob of Chelsea battling it out in your end for what seemed like a long time before being led around the perimeter to applause from the away end.

 

Less said the better about the cup game in 90, first away game I ever took my little brother too and prior to Moscow 5 years ago the worst soaking I've ever got at a game, seem to remember it going off all over the shop after the game and the Chelsea lot trying to break the gates down when we'd been kept in after the match, Bristol was always a good day out, both at yours and Eastville, all the best mate.

[sparkplug]

I'm sure the game was early Auggust 1975 Anglo Scottish Cup a week or two before first league game away at Sunderland (what a day that was) remember it quite well Black Bull was our pub Guvnors name was Noel i think

I remember Old B getting the dart in his head.

Went to the league game at your place got in the covered end early I think it's the away end now bit of a skirmish Ernie T got nicked ended up in the paddock in front of the seats to the left

[KEYNSHAM NEWS]

Thanks for your replies, should have replied last night- but you get good days n not so good. Been chatting with me old mucker in Bristol  "A" and he reckons you were right about both events being in the same year-Anglo scottish was pre-season i remember the crowd was only 7,000. Anyway re: the bit about the crowd on the pitch, i remember you had fencing around the North Stand and gates at intervals-when the late arrivals came down the back there was more of a crushing effect n OB opened these gates to let the kids out. Anyone of your lot remember that night game at Ashton Gate when you were all in small groups in different parts of the ground, and you had a crusty little crew in the Dolman Stand, 'bout 25 of you sat down keeping quiet, but we were inching our way closer to you seat by seat. An older blonde-haired bloke in a cream polo neck had the say-he was holding it together for the younger ones, who were understandingly getting edgy, because the mob descending upon them were no mugs. Off it goes n he did very well, slowly moving back, standing his corner-pulling up those from below- stuck in the seats.Game finishes and were all outside-cream of Bristol- all along the stone wall trying to blend in with the civilians leaving by the park. Then out comes this fella with his small mob -brazen as f**k walking in the middle of the road trailed by his lieutenants. Backwards n forwards the two sides clashed none giving any ground, after about ten minutes he reaches the Rising Sun and stops-f**k it he thought, well stop here, and he forms them into an arc and with the help of the OB they held us off. This was the geezer who was calling out to one of your lot "Hazell-Hazell in the Dolman Stand just before it all went. I'll never forget about 100 of us arose as one and started shouting Hazell-Hazell, never found out who he was?

 

 

 

[Mike Carefree]

Thanks for your replies, should have replied last night- but you get good days n not so good. Been chatting with me old mucker in Bristol  "A" and he reckons you were right about both events being in the same year-Anglo scottish was pre-season i remember the crowd was only 7,000. Anyway re: the bit about the crowd on the pitch, i remember you had fencing around the North Stand and gates at intervals-when the late arrivals came down the back there was more of a crushing effect n OB opened these gates to let the kids out. Anyone of your lot remember that night game at Ashton Gate when you were all in small groups in different parts of the ground, and you had a crusty little crew in the Dolman Stand, 'bout 25 of you sat down keeping quiet, but we were inching our way closer to you seat by seat. An older blonde-haired bloke in a cream polo neck had the say-he was holding it together for the younger ones, who were understandingly getting edgy, because the mob descending upon them were no mugs. Off it goes n he did very well, slowly moving back, standing his corner-pulling up those from below- stuck in the seats.Game finishes and were all outside-cream of Bristol- all along the stone wall trying to blend in with the civilians leaving by the park. Then out comes this fella with his small mob -brazen as f**k walking in the middle of the road trailed by his lieutenants. Backwards n forwards the two sides clashed none giving any ground, after about ten minutes he reaches the Rising Sun and stops-f**k it he thought, well stop here, and he forms them into an arc and with the help of the OB they held us off. This was the geezer who was calling out to one of your lot "Hazell-Hazell in the Dolman Stand just before it all went. I'll never forget about 100 of us arose as one and started shouting Hazell-Hazell, never found out who he was?

Perhaps he lost his missus

[Nitro]

As far as I cannot remember I do not remember any trouble at any of the Anglo Scottish Cup games, we did appear to have a massive turnout though for the Fulham away fixture.

 

As above the Sunderland away, dartless person, Plymouth at home impressive turnout, great days.

 

Keynsham interesting posts, good luck with your health issues cant recall ever hearing of Hazel., we did and still have some interesting fans though.