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Favourite Ever Away Game


Ewell CFC

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It’s approaching the 20th Anniversary of The Super Cup v Real Madrid in Monaco, which was a fantastic trip. Like a lot of Chelsea we spent a few days sunning ourselves in Nice, got the train to Monaco.

It was pretty low key but even so I remember thinking we’ve just beaten Real Madrid in a gorgeous place- it’s not gonna get much better than this ( beat the sh*t out of Rotherham away in 82)

Other live in the memory ones for me were Man City, Pompey, and Grimsby in 84, and maybe Arsenal first game 84/85.

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Some times I type up memories this might be a bit long yet here goes;

'Gary’s Independent Coaches'

Trip to Bristol City away FA Cup 1990.

Only trip on the coach.

Soon as we dropped off all the other chaps trotted off somewhere.

We made our way to the ground only to meet a chap I knew from my first girlfriend. He was a big chap both tall and solid and dressed very street smart, he was concerned as had been approached by City fans wanting to know where his boys were.

During the match very eventful – big boisterous crowd and huge celery stalks being thrown towards the pitch to chants of Celery.

On the right hand terrace some sort of scuffle and things being throw between Chelsea and City fans.

The match was poor we got stuffed 3-1, with Kevin Wilson getting a headed goal and Graham Roberts so good the season before now looking past it.

As we were waiting to exit about 20-30 guys just charged the closed metal gates. There was a line of Police watching from behind. Again and again they charged the gates with their shoulders and the gates eventually came crashing down. The police took a step back and pulled their truncheons.

A roar went up behind us as the other fans saw the gates come down and at the same time I noticed the BBC cameras swivel away from the pitch and down towards us.

The crowd swarmed down towards the gate and then the police seemed to get the nod and all quickly walked away.  On the way back some fans were saying they had been attacked by City fans and went to retaliate and were stopped by police. They felt the police watched them get attacked and only intervened when Chelsea went to respond.

Back on the coach all the others got on and seemed to have bruises and scratch marks and all seemed content. They talked a bit on the way back but the only real group response was to the radio news that giants of the first division Chelsea had been knocked out of the FA Cup to which everyone laughed as this was our first season back in the top flight. The next news was more solemn and that was that the hunger striker Bobby Sands had died in prison. A collective euphoric cheer went around the coach. We looked at each other with puzzling glances it was not the response we would have expected, perhaps a few but not all.

The rest of the journey was not eventful.

We never went with the coaches again though I had reason to remember this as there was another event with Gary. This was away again yet this time in Vienna as we were playing Austria Wien in Nov1994 in the Cup Winners Cup. John Spencer score a cracking equaliser by running half the pitch length, it didn’t look like his short legs would outpace the tall Austrian defenders but they did and he finished in style.

The other main reason I remember this match was because I noticed ‘Gary’ of Gary’s independent coaches standing and he was being lectured to by a shorter man. In fact I soon became aware it was not a lecture but a threat and an extremely menacing threat. The shorter man was wearing a short dark jacket like Harrington jacket or bomber jacket and jeans, he had shortish dark curly hair and an unusual posture. I felt straight away he was military, he was issuing death threats and did not have a care about anyone else. I couldn’t hear the words though felt the venom of the threats and thought if Gary was attacked I would wade in to help him. I don’t think anyone else noticed because of the match and wondered after what Gary could have done to warrant such a response. Gary did not look like a thug and struck me as an ordinary Joe just trying to make an extra bit of money through supporting his football club.

I made a mental bookmark.

What a goal by John Spencer!

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  • 2 weeks later...
8 hours ago, erskblue said:

Rangers 3-2 Chelsea back in Feb 1986.

Freezing cold night in Glasgow.

My first ever Chelsea game. I lived just 30 miles away from Glasgow at the time.

I was there but left home in Bromley Kent at 7:30am in a minibus. Snow started to settle as we joined M1 in London. Got to Ibrox about 45 mins before Ko! Got home about 7:30 next morning.

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10 hours ago, Richard P said:

I was there but left home in Bromley Kent at 7:30am in a minibus. Snow started to settle as we joined M1 in London. Got to Ibrox about 45 mins before Ko! Got home about 7:30 next morning.

Respect mate.

I have a memory  of some the floodlights failing during the match and so part of the match was played in semi darkness. 

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On 17/08/2018 at 13:40, Strider6003 said:

The next news was more solemn and that was that the hunger striker Bobby Sands had died in prison. A collective euphoric cheer went around the coach. We looked at each other with puzzling glances it was not the response we would have expected, perhaps a few but not all.

I'm puzzled as well Bobby Sands died in 1981.

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50 minutes ago, bluehaze said:

I'm puzzled as well Bobby Sands died in 1981.

Good point it certainly wasn't 81, can't explain that unless the radio made mention of it in relation to something else.

Death on the Rock was 1988 yet don't think it was that.

 

Edited by Strider6003
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5 hours ago, erskblue said:

Respect mate.

I have a memory  of some the floodlights failing during the match and so part of the match was played in semi darkness. 

Yes your right about the floodlights. We started booing when the players went to go off, any other occasion and then he game would have been called off. Thankfully the game went ahead with light on three sides of the ground.

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19 hours ago, Richard P said:

Yes your right about the floodlights. We started booing when the players went to go off, any other occasion and then he game would have been called off. Thankfully the game went ahead with light on three sides of the ground.

Cheers mate, I thought as much.

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Could choose plenty of away days from down the years, right from my early years going with my dad to London away games (Orient, the Charlton bonfire night, visits to Highbury, the Den etc) through to the mid late 80s when i ventured away myself and early 90s when I did quite a few. Hard choice but one sticks out due to it being a very Chelsea experience and that was the last game of the season at Villa park in I think 1991 or 92.

It wasnt my first visit to Villa park far from it had been 3 or 4 times previous, not a happy hunting ground for us results wise in fact at that point we had lost every times i had been. For a few seasons around that time there was a fancy dress theme for the last away game and that year it was for some reason beachwear, i think it might have been something done via the fanzines at the time Chelsea independent perhaps.

Anyway the away end which was totally full had a fair amount of rubber rings, hawaiian shirts and various other props. The game itself started pretty well with Chelsea wearing white socks after a while of wearing all blue (seemed a big thing at the time) going 2-0 up. I remember a young Ian Pearce (remember him) warming up along the line(was in that small stand to the side of the pitch) and someone yelling '' OI, who are you mate?'' . Anyway,half time arrived alnd the crowd who had been pretty lively settled down a bit but suddenly the groundmen have come on the pitch and I've spotted a Chelsea fan climb over the fence and onto the pitch. So he starts walking alongside the groundsmen and starts stamping down the turf or patting it back in place like the rest of them. Every so often he looks up to the away end and smirks and waves. Gradually people realised and every time he did he got a louder cheer. This continued  until the teams came out and the groundsmen start filing off the pitch, not our Chelsea fan though he pats a few players (wisey for one) on the back and then parks himself on the end of the bench next to Bobby Campbell much to the hilarity of the away contingent. After a few minutes the old bill finally notice and cart him off to a heroes reception from the away fans. After this a kind of carnival atmosphere struck up in the stands, funny songs a streaker and various rubber rings, blow upm dolphins etc being chucked around.

Of course Chelsea being Chelsea we blow our lead by giving away a late penalty but everyones still in great spirits singing Bobby Campbells leaving party,  bring vodka and your charlie etc...so the game finishes and loads go on the pitch hoisting the players on their shoulders etc  If i remember rightly bates came on to try and discourage the  fans and got put on someones shoulders...It all seemed pretty harmless until...the Villa fans who had come on from the Holte End made the move of gesturing towards the Chelsea contingent...so suddenly the mood changed completely and 150 Chelsea broke off from celebrating with the players to go for the Villa. You had the wonderful sight of several men in grass skirts and coconut breasts setting about Villa and chasing them off their own pitch. I also remmber an older guy on the pitch with a walking stick which he suddenly started to use to whack Villa fans with. It was like watching  a wildlife programme with 100 odd Cheetahs chasing 1000 odd gazelles then breaking their crossbar for good measure...The reason I had such a good view was I was right on the centre of the pitch next to a little group of Villa who we had been exchanging pleasantaries with all afternoon. The look on one of their faces as I caught him with a bit of turf on the side of his swede was hilarious. 

 

Of course eventually we filed out the ground and this was one of two occasions I have ever been on a club special (Shrewsbury away 88 the other) and me and my mate walked down towards Witton station and were waiting for the train to come in. In the distance I've seen Villa pile out their end and start walking with urgency towards the away end, of course at that point most Chelsea were still in the ground or gone in the other direction. Just as I am thinking this could be tricky the train comes in gate opens and we pile through onto the special. Just as the train is pulling away heard a roar go up which I'm guessing was Chelsea coming out of the ground to find the mob of Villa we had seen.

I've been to better games of football, I've been to more important matches, I've been to games with far more trouble but that game summed up the Chelsea experience perfectly...the sublime followed by the ridiculous on the pitch and on the terraces with a sprinkling of anarchy aggro and glorious chaos...happy days

 

 

 

 

Edited by fillerywhereru
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24 minutes ago, fillerywhereru said:

Could choose plenty of away days from down the years, right from my early years going with my dad to London away games (Orient, the Charlton bonfire night, visits to Highbury, the Den etc) through to the mid late 80s when i ventured away myself and early 90s when I did quite a few. Hard choice but one sticks out due to it being a very Chelsea experience and that was the last game of the season at Villa park in I think 1991 or 92.

Anyway the away end which was totally full had a fair amount of rubber rings, hawaiian shirts and various other props. The game itself started pretty well with Chelsea wearing white socks after a while of wearing all blue (seemed a big thing at the time) going 2-0 up. I remember a young Ian Pearce (remember him) warming up along the line(was in that small stand to the side of the pitch) and someone yelling '' OI, who are you mate?'' . Anyway,half time arrived alnd the crowd who had been pretty lively settled down a bit but suddenly the groundmen have come on the pitch and I've spotted a Chelsea fan climb over the fence and onto the pitch. So he starts walking alongside the groundsmen and starts stamping down the turf or patting it back in place like the rest of them. Every so often he looks up to the away end and smirks and waves. Gradually people realised and every time he did he got a louder cheer. This continued  until the teams came out and the groundsmen start filing off the pitch, not our Chelsea fan though he pats a few players (wisey for one) on the back and then parks himself on the end of the bench next to Bobby Campbell much to the hilarity of the away contingent. After a few minutes the old bill finally notice and cart him off to a heroes reception from the away fans. After this a kind of carnival atmosphere struck up in the stands, funny songs a streaker and various rubber rings, blow upm dolphins etc being chucked around.

Of course Chelsea being Chelsea we blow our lead by giving away a late penalty but everyones still in great spirits singing Bobby Campbells leaving party,  bring vodka and your charlie etc...so the game finishes and loads go on the pitch hoisting the players on their shoulders etc  If i remember rightly bates came on to try and discourage the  fans and got put on someones shoulders...It all seemed pretty harmless until...the Villa fans who had come on from the Holte End made the move of gesturing towards the Chelsea contingent...so suddenly the mood changed completely and 150 Chelsea broke off from celebrating with the players to go for the Villa. You had the wonderful sight of several men in grass skirts and coconut breasts setting about Villa and chasing them off their own pitch. I also remmber an older guy on the pitch with a walking stick which he suddenly started to use to whack Villa fans with. It was like watching  a wildlife programme with 100 odd Cheetahs chasing 1000 odd gazelles then breaking their crossbar for good measure...The reason I had such a good view was I was right on the centre of the pitch next to a little group of Villa who we had been exchanging pleasantaries with all afternoon. The look on one of their faces as I caught him with a bit of turf on the side of his swede was hilarious. 

Of course eventually we filed out the ground and this was one of two occasions I have ever been on a club special (Shrewsbury away 88 the other) and me and my mate walked down towards Witton station and were waiting for the train to come in. In the distance I've seen Villa pile out their end and start walking with urgency towards the away end, of course at that point most Chelsea were still in the ground or gone in the other direction. Just as I am thinking this could be tricky the train comes in gate opens and we pile through onto the special. Just as the train is pulling away heard a roar go up which I'm guessing was Chelsea coming out of the ground to find the mob of Villa we had seen.

I've been to better games of football, I've been to more important matches, I've been to games with far more trouble but that game summed up the Chelsea experience perfectly...the sublime followed by the ridiculous on the pitch and on the terraces with a sprinkling of anarchy aggro and glorious chaos...happy days

I think it was 91 and 2-2, I was there also and if I remember correctly was when Bates ran onto to the pitch trying to keep the fans off the pitch like Brian Clough had done recently at that time. Bates got it wrong and instead of him chasing the fans away they grabbed him and lifted him in the air onto their shoulders and ran around chanting, 'Kenny Bates, Kenny Bates,' it was hilarious and I think he forced a smile as there was nothing else he could do.

I can remember skirmishes on the pitch yet can't remember getting home as I have been other times and there was trouble both before and after the match.

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Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt
Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt

Chelsea Megastore Away Shirt

9 minutes ago, fillerywhereru said:

Yes that's the one, funny thing was at that point it was all in good humour, only when the Villa lot got a bit cocky it all changed. I remember a few climbing on the crossbar and breaking it as a final parting shot as well. Great day out

I forgot about the cross bar, yet now you mention it that did happen too.

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5 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I forgot about the cross bar, yet now you mention it that did happen too.

FA Cup Semi at Villa Park v Man U 96 was  a bad one- we weren’t blase about winning things back then like these days, and everyone was well pissed off with the result. 

Massive mob out that day.

Edited by Ewell CFC
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Arsenal away Boxing Day '77 and the taking and holding of the Northbank.  I had toothache on Xmas day, luckily cleared up for the morning kick off next day, my best mate a QPR fan came around early and made our way to Parson Green station.  Got to Earls Court where there was an almighty mob of Chelsea on the platform (no pubs open so a bit of decent organization for once).  We got the train before them, Arsenal fans hiding their scarves on the train we were on and went straight into the Northbank.  Went for a piss in the bogs at the tops of the stairs up and just as I came out saw the platform mob coming up the stairs and joined in as we all charged and cleared the end.  Arsenal hardly tried to take it back, loads of skinheads over the far side, we walked right thought them more than once , there must have been the best part of 1000 Chelsea right at the back, a great end taking.  Afterweards we walked unchallenged in a huge mob until we confronted another huge one at Finsbury Park station, also Chelsea.

Sad thing was two days later West ham did the same thing in the Shed.

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16 hours ago, fillerywhereru said:

Could choose plenty of away days from down the years, right from my early years going with my dad to London away games (Orient, the Charlton bonfire night, visits to Highbury, the Den etc) through to the mid late 80s when i ventured away myself and early 90s when I did quite a few. Hard choice but one sticks out due to it being a very Chelsea experience and that was the last game of the season at Villa park in I think 1991 or 92.

It wasnt my first visit to Villa park far from it had been 3 or 4 times previous, not a happy hunting ground for us results wise in fact at that point we had lost every times i had been. For a few seasons around that time there was a fancy dress theme for the last away game and that year it was for some reason beachwear, i think it might have been something done via the fanzines at the time Chelsea independent perhaps.

Anyway the away end which was totally full had a fair amount of rubber rings, hawaiian shirts and various other props. The game itself started pretty well with Chelsea wearing white socks after a while of wearing all blue (seemed a big thing at the time) going 2-0 up. I remember a young Ian Pearce (remember him) warming up along the line(was in that small stand to the side of the pitch) and someone yelling '' OI, who are you mate?'' . Anyway,half time arrived alnd the crowd who had been pretty lively settled down a bit but suddenly the groundmen have come on the pitch and I've spotted a Chelsea fan climb over the fence and onto the pitch. So he starts walking alongside the groundsmen and starts stamping down the turf or patting it back in place like the rest of them. Every so often he looks up to the away end and smirks and waves. Gradually people realised and every time he did he got a louder cheer. This continued  until the teams came out and the groundsmen start filing off the pitch, not our Chelsea fan though he pats a few players (wisey for one) on the back and then parks himself on the end of the bench next to Bobby Campbell much to the hilarity of the away contingent. After a few minutes the old bill finally notice and cart him off to a heroes reception from the away fans. After this a kind of carnival atmosphere struck up in the stands, funny songs a streaker and various rubber rings, blow upm dolphins etc being chucked around.

Of course Chelsea being Chelsea we blow our lead by giving away a late penalty but everyones still in great spirits singing Bobby Campbells leaving party,  bring vodka and your charlie etc...so the game finishes and loads go on the pitch hoisting the players on their shoulders etc  If i remember rightly bates came on to try and discourage the  fans and got put on someones shoulders...It all seemed pretty harmless until...the Villa fans who had come on from the Holte End made the move of gesturing towards the Chelsea contingent...so suddenly the mood changed completely and 150 Chelsea broke off from celebrating with the players to go for the Villa. You had the wonderful sight of several men in grass skirts and coconut breasts setting about Villa and chasing them off their own pitch. I also remmber an older guy on the pitch with a walking stick which he suddenly started to use to whack Villa fans with. It was like watching  a wildlife programme with 100 odd Cheetahs chasing 1000 odd gazelles then breaking their crossbar for good measure...The reason I had such a good view was I was right on the centre of the pitch next to a little group of Villa who we had been exchanging pleasantaries with all afternoon. The look on one of their faces as I caught him with a bit of turf on the side of his swede was hilarious. 

 

Of course eventually we filed out the ground and this was one of two occasions I have ever been on a club special (Shrewsbury away 88 the other) and me and my mate walked down towards Witton station and were waiting for the train to come in. In the distance I've seen Villa pile out their end and start walking with urgency towards the away end, of course at that point most Chelsea were still in the ground or gone in the other direction. Just as I am thinking this could be tricky the train comes in gate opens and we pile through onto the special. Just as the train is pulling away heard a roar go up which I'm guessing was Chelsea coming out of the ground to find the mob of Villa we had seen.

I've been to better games of football, I've been to more important matches, I've been to games with far more trouble but that game summed up the Chelsea experience perfectly...the sublime followed by the ridiculous on the pitch and on the terraces with a sprinkling of anarchy aggro and glorious chaos...happy days

 

 

 

 

Great story about one of our lot actually going on at half time and helping the Villa groundsmen.

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  • 5 weeks later...

This is waaaaaaaaaaay too difficult a question. How can we possibly choose one? It's one of these though, I make no excuse for choosing a top ten.

Bolton 1982-3, 1-0, don't need to explain that one.

Portsmouth 1983-4, 2-2, lots of fun was had that night including a full 90 mins of taking the piss out of Alan Biley and his Rod Stewart haircut. Also the clock if anyone remembers that. "What's the time, what's time, what's the time?" Mayhem on the A3 and on the trains.

Grimsby 1983-4, 1-0 emotional scenes, nearly died in a crush. Chelsea are back.

Arsenal 1984-5, 1-1, again, no need to explain this one. Chelsea are back (again).

Everton 1985-6 (Milk Cup replay after 2-2 draw at the Bridge), 2-1. Champions Everton beaten with 10 men after Darren Wood got sent off (is it cruel to say that may have actually improved the side?) One of the best Chelsea goals I've ever seen from King Kerry. Small Chelsea turn out but very vocal.

Man Utd 1985-6, 2-1, killed off their challenge for the title shortly after we'd blown ours (believe me QPR 6-0 is definitely not on this list) "Who the f**k are Man Utd?" for 45 mins after the game.

West Ham, 1985-6, 2-1, killed off the Pikey's challenge for the title, thank f**k. Really did not want them to win it. Good turnout, well up for it. Went a goal down but came back in a hostile atmosphere, one of the really great wins from that era. It was so important to win that one, doesn't bear thinking about the Pikey's winning the league.

Spurs, 2001-2, FA Cup, 4-0, brilliant atmosphere, like the old days, top quality revenge, "Normal service has resumed."

Arsenal 2003-4, Champions' League QF, 2-1, "Oh Wayne Bridge, scored a f**king great goal..."

Bolton, 2004-5, 2-0, "Have you ever seen Chelsea win the league?"

 

 

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  • 3 months later...

Ive changed my mind..ive had this one on my mind today and realise it must be my personal best away..very margionally from too many others....my adled mind cant remember dates accurately...ill have to suggest it was mid 70s....baseball grpind derby....first time there for me and the chelsea hierarchy made it clear the POP SIDE will be taken....the nervous excitement of us leyton walthamstow kids on the train there was tangible....every blue on the train paid to get in the popside...it went off dramatically but a group of derby toughs held a section of this popside...there was staircases that went from the terrace to the bar areas were stuff was going on..

On the terrace chelsea fans were to be proud of..single standing and fans on shoulders of fans had arms n scarfs up singing CHELSEAA CHELSEAA CHE ELSEAA. Over and over for what seemed the whole first half...travel back was fun too

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 27/08/2018 at 07:17, erskblue said:

Rangers 3-2 Chelsea back in Feb 1986.

Freezing cold night in Glasgow.

My first ever Chelsea game. I lived just 30 miles away from Glasgow at the time.

I went up on a very early morning train, got to Glasgow about lunchtime, not many Chelsea on the train but 2 OB were standing keeping an eye as we came off the platform..  Glasgow had quite a reputation and my only visit had been for an England game where we played hide and seek all day with some West Ham who kept avoiding us but they were snidey so you had to keep an eye out.

Anyway the train arrives and some guy walks up and just belts a guy standing in Central Station, totally knocked him off his feet. OB grab him and he goes quietly. Still no idea wtf it was all about, nothing to do with football. We looked at each other like what have we walked into here but after that everyone was sound, we were well treated.

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16 hours ago, sxshedboy said:

I went up on a very early morning train, got to Glasgow about lunchtime, not many Chelsea on the train but 2 OB were standing keeping an eye as we came off the platform..  Glasgow had quite a reputation and my only visit had been for an England game where we played hide and seek all day with some West Ham who kept avoiding us but they were snidey so you had to keep an eye out.

Anyway the train arrives and some guy walks up and just belts a guy standing in Central Station, totally knocked him off his feet. OB grab him and he goes quietly. Still no idea wtf it was all about, nothing to do with football. We looked at each other like what have we walked into here but after that everyone was sound, we were well treated.

Anyway the train arrives and some guy walks up and just belts a guy standing in Central Station, totally knocked him off his feet. OB grab him and he goes quietly. Still no idea wtf it was all about, nothing to do with football.

Probably alcohol related. It has been known in Glasgow...

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8 minutes ago, Ewell CFC said:

Anyone go to the Celtic “ friendly” at the Bridge about 10 years ago.

Pretty lively on Fulham Broadway before the game.

 

I was down doing a Bridge Tour not long after this game, upon hearing my Scottish accent.

Someone near me came over and asked which of the Glasgow teams I preferred.

When I replied it was Rangers. I was told a few tales of what happened before the friendly with Celtic !

 

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Always wanted to go to an Old Firm game.

Me mate made it for the New Years Day fixture last year I think. Reckoned half the crowd were still steaming drunk from the night before.

He went for a piss at half time; A Rangers fan was slagging off the ref, a fellow Gers fan said he was talking bollox, the team were sh*te. 

Next thing they’re rolling round in the urinals! Sounds pretty drink related...

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