Back in the day, what was your pre-match routine?

As for myself and the other lads from Basingstoke, in the mid to late seventies, it started with a train or car ride to London. We usually reached the Fulham Broadway area around midday and located the pie and mash shop along the North End Road, for night games it would be the Stamford Bridge Cafe. Stomachs suitably lined we would spend a couple of hours taking in the pre match lubricants. The pub we used seemed to change fairly regularly. First the Kings Head then the White Hart, Brittania, Rising Sun, Black Bull ( one of my favourites, used to have a great juke box), finally settling on the Lord Palmerstone on New Kings Road.

Later years usually found me in the Wheatsheaf or the Mitre on Dawes Road. Of course many of these names have changed over the years, mores the pity, I have never understood the point of pub name changes. Managed to stagger into the ground just before the kick off, although not always!

Me and the old man used to get in the Britannia in the build up to a game, then about 30 minutes before kick off head into the stadium but grabbing a rat burger before we went in and hassling the girls serving not to be stingy with onions.

 

After the game we often end up in The Fox and Pheasant on the walk back Earls Court station. 

I suppose what would be my heyday early to late 70s it would be similar to this...Get up nice n early from home in walthamstow...Leave around 10 oc...Go to walthamstow central stn..Get to change at victoria....change for earls court then last train to FB.....Was it the Brittania on the right as one came out the stn..well that first to meet stevie ballard martin n co......Off to the 3 wheatsheafs near kings rd.or whatever it was called ..pissed and leave , ( time depending on who we played) to go to the ground...Up to the shed end...Depending on how we could move about it would either be the t bar area above the steps where pals and pals of pals wouold be..Or the middle to whitewall of the shed......whatever occured occured after the match around fulham rd...Train back to E17..we may go straight out on benders or meet up later for a piss up around leyton leytonstone or chingford or walthamstow.......Away matches were a lot different obviously and a lot more fun

Edited October 11, 201312 yr by Mike Carefree

Before matches used to enjoy the beer in the Nell Gwynn kings Road. Now the Jam Tree.

http://www.pubs.com/main_site/features.php?id=lost_pubs_in_chelsea

Train into Liverpool st then always we would go circle line to edgeware road then district to fulham broadway. I would nearly always drink in the White heart on the odd occasion in the Britannia. After a few light ales i would get sausage and chips from the chip shop along the fulham road and then go stand in the white wall or "promote myself to the benches". Still gutted the white heart is no more.

Went through a stage around mid 90's getting out at sloane square and drinking ourselves silly along the kings road and then being brave enough to eat a rat burger outside the ground.

Last couple of seasons been having a hearty late breakfast around the back of Liverpool st and then drinking in Shoreditch as ive found all the pubs around the ground pretty lifeless and girls removing their clothes more appetizing!

This season been drinking in the Lillie Langtry and the pre match meal has been pie and mash on Bethnal green road but hoping to try the one on Munster road. After the game we always have a quick pint in the Cadogan arms then nip off to brick lane for a curry.

Back in the old days, used to meet up at Shakes in Victoria, couple of pints, hop on the tube, into the Lord Palmerston, couple more pints. Into the Shed stand in the Middle below the police platform.

 

After the game a quick pint anywhere while the tube cleared, then back home to Welling to carry on a proper piss up.

 

These days, usually meet in the Pelican or the Oyster Rooms for a quick pint before kick off, watch the game from Mathew Harding Lower, then depending on kick off time either pop for a quick pint while the tube clears or settle into a decent pub on the kings road for an afternoon session.

 

Train into Liverpool st then always we would go circle line to edgeware road then district to fulham broadway. I would nearly always drink in the White heart on the odd occasion in the Britannia. After a few light ales i would get sausage and chips from the chip shop along the fulham road and then go stand in the white wall or "promote myself to the benches". Still gutted the white heart is no more.

Went through a stage around mid 90's getting out at sloane square and drinking ourselves silly along the kings road and then being brave enough to eat a rat burger outside the ground.

Last couple of seasons been having a hearty late breakfast around the back of Liverpool st and then drinking in Shoreditch as ive found all the pubs around the ground pretty lifeless and girls removing their clothes more appetizing!

This season been drinking in the Lillie Langtry and the pre match meal has been pie and mash on Bethnal green road but hoping to try the one on Munster road. After the game we always have a quick pint in the Cadogan arms then nip off to brick lane for a curry.

 

I drink in the Lilly myself when I'm over but I prefer the goose. Pity.

Pat behind the bar is a Manc

 but I prefer the goose. 

 We normally go there post match. Spacious and beer at a decent price, which is a bonus for the area (and wallet!).

 

 

I drink in the Lilly myself when I'm over but I prefer the goose. Pity.

Pat behind the bar is a Manc

Never been down to the Goose so i'll try that out before the season ends. I've been trying to find a pub with some atmosphere/characters etc for about 3 seasons. I thought the Lilly was the closest i've found to the old white heart so i'm happy with that. Ive also got some mates who drink in the prince of wales so it makes sense. Blimey, doesnt matter where you are you always find a Manc, they everywhere like dog sh*t!

initially the malsters then for years we drank in the Ifield.it used to be full of lads from our area and if we drove up there,the guvnor would take our keys and move the motors if OB complained about the double parking!after evening games some of the players would come in for a light ale too.There used to be a firm from another part of our town that we never saw eye to eye with who drank in the black bull and walking past there to the ground was occasionally lively.as times moved on we took up residence in the white hart then the dray and 7 stars.nowadays most dont go anymore but some still get in the POW after the tournament shut down.miss those times when you didnt have to arrange anything cos you knew all your pals would be there as usual.

Started mid 70s in the Black Bull when Noel was guvnor then pub became a bit poncey i think became an Art Gallery at one point.

cant remember in which order next then the Rose, Imperial and a couple of others before we became settled in the Brewers in the North End Road Frank the guvnor was alright he locked the doors at three mainly for the Market traders letting you in by the side door it was the only place to get a beer after the game (Before all day opening) as the police made most pubs stay shut until 7 on a match many a time 3 a clock came the booze was flowing and it was f**k the game

It was the Adelaide for me, was in there when Spurs attacked the Imperial.

Everyone piled out the side door, out the back of the Imperial and from the Wheatsheaf, they didn't last long but still go on about it now. Next home game John Bindon was in the Adelaide, word was he would have steamed into the y*ds if he had been there that day. Imagine a mob of Chelsea led by John Bindon!

Bindon would have stabbed at least one spud in the eye

John would of knocked out half a dozen and then knocked out some dodgy blues to the rest, lol!

Was he Chelsea ? And was that Spurs game in 1982? I was in the Imperial when that happened.

No idea if he was Chelsea but it was his manor and he was king of it.

Think it was 1982

 

 We normally go there post match. Spacious and beer at a decent price, which is a bonus for the area (and wallet!).

 

We had a BBQ after hours one time in the back yard of the gooose after the Leeds game in 2004. Great night.

Why did the seven stars close down? Some nut jobs in that place. I like the elm but haven't been in it for a few years.

Not sure if any of you know but the Black Bull has re-opened, owned by a CFC fella who also has the 12 Bar Club In Denmark St. Havent been there myself yet though.

Lord Palmerston. Great day when the Leeds coaches went past and pub emptied, last day of the season, 5-0, the only thing Leeds smashed was the scoreboard

Used to get in via the beer garden after games (in days when pub didn't open until later) often had some of the team in for a beer straight after the game as well

Edited October 27, 201312 yr by Shug

Adelaide pub for us.

Not the biggest place and standing room only,seem to recall the Chap that

Run it back then was called wayne .

Mid 1980s onwards i guess

Not sure if any of you know but the Black Bull has re-opened, owned by a CFC fella who also has the 12 Bar Club In Denmark St. Havent been there myself yet though.

You gotta be on a guest list to get in...tried a couple of weeks ago

You gotta be on a guest list to get in...tried a couple of weeks ago

We need to bring back the days of good old brute force to get into wherever for a pre match beer or seven a DTF? Saying that though i watched a door staff of 4 turn away plenty of Chelsea at Le Arse lastweek, a few mentioned just " Going in anyway " but alas we are a civilised bunch these days. 

You gotta be on a guest list to get in...tried a couple of weeks ago

My mate got me on the guest list for the Man City game. Do you need to be on each time?