previous visits to fratton

[harwellsaint]

anyone else going to pompey next week that have been before?

my first visit was in 84 at the age of 14 to see my first derby game when steve moran scored in the' last knockings now, game, lost my older bro and dad in the carnage that followed that goal on the terrace behind the goal.

second time was the alan knight testimonal game which we won 5-1 , as i remember there werent to many of us in the away end and it took about an hour for the plod to get us out through a side entrance at that ****hole only to be attacked at every chance on way to station where car was parked

i also remember at the moran game me dad being hit on head by a pool ball, the retards at the home end setting fire to the stand and bannans being thrown at george chicken lawrence or may have been danny wallace, but for these reasons i will be there as a loyal saint , praying we beat that vile club

anyone have any other memories good or bad about visiting fratton to support the saints

[LGTL]

I imagine 95% of them will be negative! Hopefully to change next Sunday, it really could be a fantastic day. God I hope we beat those ****s.

[JRM]

anyone else going to pompey next week that have been before?

my first visit was in 84 at the age of 14 to see my first derby game when steve moran scored in the' last knockings now, game, lost my older bro and dad in the carnage that followed that goal on the terrace behind the goal.

second time was the alan knight testimonal game which we won 5-1 , as i remember there werent to many of us in the away end and it took about an hour for the plod to get us out through a side entrance at that ****hole only to be attacked at every chance on way to station where car was parked

i also remember at the moran game me dad being hit on head by a pool ball, the retards at the home end setting fire to the stand and bannans being thrown at george chicken lawrence or may have been danny wallace, but for these reasons i will be there as a loyal saint , praying we beat that vile club

anyone have any other memories good or bad about visiting fratton to support the saints

 

great post, would be good to have a few accounts from the older contingent especially of 1984, Alan Knights testimonial was a funny one, get the stories on here to add to the build up, no one really wants to hear about 2005 though.

[Spudders]

Hummmm, been twice. First time we lost, which naturally angered the skates, so they smashed up their own town (city...Really?). Went back to Bournemouth & had beers in club, went for a p!ss, teddy sherringham stood next to me, I say I was at game, he smiles,I say I'm I scummer, he looks worried, I say fair play no problems, someone else asks if they can have his tissue he blew his nose in!

Second time I can summarise as follows: train late, people p!ss in bottles/on train seats, marched to ground, old w@nker abuses us from his window, old w@nker earns a few pound in small change, still queuing outside when skates score first goal, some more goal sh!t happens, skates ruin ammerillo song for me, the end.

Edited 9 December, 2011 by Spudders

[70's Mike]

First game i saw at Fratton was mid 60's, saints won 5-3, i think, stood in the Fratton End that game was all about their nutty full back, Lunniss trying to get Terry Paine.

76 after cup semi final was an evening game, i believe, and Channon scored in last few minutes(did Steve Williams make his debut that night)

Before the Alan Knight testimonial there was the John Milkins one, we won easily but were chased out of the town( I came back via Gosport ferry and bus to Southampton because it was carnage getting to the station.Not sure if that was the one where train was stopped at St Denys on way back and loads arrested.

84 ( i was 30) was still probably the most charged atmosphere game i have ever been to ( 36000 with 9000 saints) Skates singing "Southampton, Southampton here we come" then Armstrong to Moran and sheer joy, 3 minutes later all over, best thing was they were dominating the game, but Lawrie had us set up not to lose in those days and we nicked it.

For those who have never experienced a derby win at Fratton, all i can say is it sticks with you for years, as does a defeat

[Channon's Sideburns]

84 was my first on at Nottarf Krap - 10 yrs old.

 

We had bricks thrown at our coach leaving the area.

 

As Miranda's mum on TV would say 'Such scum'.

[yorkie]

Did Channon's 1-0 in 1976 and Moran's 1-0 in 1984.

 

In all honesty running the gauntlet before and after the game in those days was a different prospect to now! Still get the nasty b@st@rds hanging around in gangs, but I don't think there is the same intensity as 1984.

 

I'm really glad it's on TV and I don't have to endure the bubble - perhaps we should just ban Pompey fans from SMS and save the police (and tax payer) a lot of money?

 

Not sure what the outcome will be this time - but I'd settle for 1-0 to The Saints just like in 1976 & 1984 - especially if we score in the last seconds of the game!

[Goalie66]

Not going next week but vividly remember the only two games that I have seen at Fratton. September 1963 we won 3-0 with Chivers Paine and Sydneham. The following year was promotion year and in February we walloped them 5-2 with a Norman Dean Hatrick and goals from Chivers and Melia. In those days you could walk around the ground to get behind the goals.Even in those days fights broke out and there was absolutely no attempt at segregation. What a contrast to next Sunday eh !!!!

[amigo1]

first ever away game was fratton in 84, i ilive on the isle of wight so the most interesting part is always getting back to the ferry terminal. alan knights testamonial we were all being held in the ground so i had a word with a nice policeman who said he would escort me and my group across the pitch so we could sneak out the fratton end and on to the train, he said what ever you do keep yer mouths shut, ok we said. so were walking across the pitch we get to the half way line and the red machine come out of the tunnel to applaud the fans, as soon as we see them were all over them, opps cover blown, but we made it back to the ferry unscathed which is more than can be said in 84 when it kicked of on the train and the ferry. happy daze

[Breeny]

Definitely far more dangerous place to visit during the 70s and 80s.Went to all of them

John Milkins testimonial was a test of nerves.We were stuck under the stand

Only a couple of hundred of us at at the most.Battered them about 8-0 !

One of our lot still managed to run on to the pitch a take a pompey flag away

from one of theirs before the game !

[saintoaks]

Remember 84 really well. A 12 year old boy going to watch the arch enemy !!, got in early with my folks to to find a barrier and my wooden stool to stand on. We plonked ourselves right in the middle behind the goal and steadily the saints fans started coming into the ground. Bad mistake really as within 5 minutes of kick off my stool had broken as thousands of saints fans surged forward at any chance that we may score !! Looking back i crack up looking at my mum and dads faces being crushed and looking at us to see if we were alright..i was having the time of my life though !! It's only when you look at the tv replays that you realize how many saints fans were that day on every pillar and fence you could find. I remember being kept in the ground for a long long time after the game and finding an air horn and giving it a good blast just as the Lawrie was being intervied on the side line.It will be my first time back in that sh#t hole on the 18th and i doubt things have changed much since. coyr's. w.c.f.y Skates

[Toomer]

First game i saw at Fratton was mid 60's, saints won 5-3, i think, stood in the Fratton End that game was all about their nutty full back, Lunniss trying to get Terry Paine.

76 after cup semi final was an evening game, i believe, and Channon scored in last few minutes(did Steve Williams make his debut that night)

Before the Alan Knight testimonial there was the John Milkins one, we won easily but were chased out of the town( I came back via Gosport ferry and bus to Southampton because it was carnage getting to the station.Not sure if that was the one where train was stopped at St Denys on way back and loads arrested.

84 ( i was 30) was still probably the most charged atmosphere game i have ever been to ( 36000 with 9000 saints) Skates singing "Southampton, Southampton here we come" then Armstrong to Moran and sheer joy, 3 minutes later all over, best thing was they were dominating the game, but Lawrie had us set up not to lose in those days and we nicked it.

For those who have never experienced a derby win at Fratton, all i can say is it sticks with you for years, as does a defeat

John Milkins testimonial was about 30ish years ago Mike we won 7-0 we would have been about 18-20 years old then sitting in the luggage racks on the train there and back train stopping at Fareham, Porchester and Cosham was fun.

Edited 9 December, 2011 by Toomer

[Turkish]

What were the police tactics for the ones in 84 and 88? Given this was at the height of FV and the 657 crew were at their peak in this era? Did they escort to and from the station?

[Dog]

I may of broke into the ground midweek circa 1990 and deposited a huge curly wirly in the main stand and decorated all the back boards with three initials of my favourite football team in red spray paint, but my memory isn't too great these days and it is all a bit of a blur.

 

Slaphead giving it large on his balcony, 'come on then you f***ing scummers!'

[Gemmel]

Had a very strange fp experience, about 10 years ago, when an old work colleague who was a Wolves fan had a spare ticket for a night game between them and pompey.

Could never bring myself to sing another teams songs, but quite happy to cheer when Wolves took the lead, there were a couple more goals and I think the score was 2- 2 with about 10 minutes left. pompey started to taunt wolves and from the back of the away section a there was a weak response of "Oh When The Saints" (Much like opposition today will sing play up pompey at us). I'm not a big song starter, but ran to the front and started bellowing OWTHS as loud as I could. The whole Wolves end joined and the skates (Still half empty back then) started running down to the Wolves fans foaming at the mouth.

 

Totally sureal, hadn't known I was going until about an hour or so before the game and there on a freezing cold Tuesday night, I was singing OWTHS at full blast with about 1,500 Wolves fans behind me. The warm glow, turned warmer as Wolves scored a late winner and sank the skate *****s

[Brittanysaint]

My first visit there was as a nipper in the 60's with my dad and grandad, I suspect I was about 8 or 9 at the time. For about 20 years after I always wondered why someone kicked me on the way out from the terrace and left me crying? 20 years later it dawned on me that was my first bit of "terrace agro"

Through the 70's 80's & 90's I went to every game..it was always "exciting" to say the least... I'm ****e with dates etc but the worst time for me was a game which I think must of been late 70's, It was an evening game and was my first in my late teens with a mob of about 20 from Basingstoke, we went to all games home and away but this was a first visit to fratton for most of them, we were running a bit late in out transits after finishing work. I remember the traffic jams on the road which was probably the M27...we were all out on the road playing footy. Anyway we got to the ground a bit late, the match had started, all quiet outside the ground, now, us all dressed up with silk scarves dangling from wrists, jeans like bay City Rollers..well Slade really !! DM's etc..remember I said most hadn't been before, most gad had a party 4 or more, all of us just went to the first turnstile we came to , paid and went in..............only to find we were under the home end..oh crap!!! Hundreds of the home lots came pouring down the steps and into us, we wern't there for that reason, we just went in the wrong end by mistake. Our little lot scattered to the corners wehere some got marched down the side of the pitch to our end. I always remember be left right in the middle of the concours( if you can call it that ) on my own, I was a bit slow off the mark, my mates had legged it, I found myself next to a copper with me and him being surrouined by literally hundreds of pompy all snarling etc, I asked the plod to escort me to the corner flag area.....he bottled it and just said no chance it's your fault for coming in the wrong end...oh crap !! again..in seconds I made a run for it 20-30metres to the nearest turnstile, jumped over and out of the ground to saftey....where i found one or two mates who had done the same thing, we all paid to get in again at the away end where we met up with more of our lot...After the game we had to go and collect one of us from the hospital as he'd been well beaten.

Still went back to all games since but I now know which end not to go in......and for the youngsters amongst you, matches were all ticket in those days, you just turned up and paid on the day, they crammed in as many as turned up and if you like me were a short arse or you might not even get 3 yards insidfe the turnstile then you didn't see much of the game...but you were there !!!

[KK the 2nd]

Could only get a ticket in the Pompey stand for Moran's 1-0 in 1984. So much pent up emotion and how I managed to sit still when the goal went in, I still don't know. Then afterwards it was so, so difficult not to laugh let alone smile. What a feeling! Actually smiling now just thinking about it!

[ericofarabia]

 

76 after cup semi final was an evening game, i believe, and Channon scored in last few minutes(did Steve Williams make his debut that night)

 

My only visit to the cesspit.

 

Stevie Williams did make his debut, as a few of the senior pro's had been dropped by Lawrie for over celebrating the weekends semi final victory!! The story goes that Stevie Williams was so p!ssed off when he saw that he wasn't on the reserve team sheet for their next match, that he stormed into LM's office demanding to know why - Lawrie simply asked him if he'd looked at The 1st XI team sheet yet!! Williams was brilliant that night.

Channon's goal was the only Saints goal I've missed at a game I've been to. We'd gone down on a Special Train and were told that it would be leaving bang on time, which barely gave you time to catch it after the game finished even if you jogged back!! Not wanting to get stranded in Skatesmuff we left at what we thought was just about the end of the game. Just after we got out we heard an almighty roar, and assumed that Skates had scored and a few moments later The whole of The Fratton End came running down the street towards Saints end. A few moments earlier and we'd have been the 1st thing they'd have seen - lucky escape. Walking back to the station heads down, shoulders hunched up not looking anybody in the eye or saying a word, dodging sporadic slappings we just about made it safely to the platform and it was only then that we found out it was us who had scored!!

[mikee]

84 was first visit for me. Couldn't get a decent view up the back of the terrace so climbed up on the fence at the back. Was just getting down when moran scored as it was virtually full time - went mad anyway. Probably the most hostile atmosphere i have ever experienced.

 

think we drew brighton in the next round which was also very messy and I can remember the special football train getting bricked on the way home as we passed through Havant and Fareham.

 

alan knight's testimonial was one of my favourite trips. A good win and Matty who I think scored a hat trick got a standing ovation from the Skates which really brought a tear to your eye. I think he was replaced by Dave Beasant who then played as a striker!

 

Also remember Dave Beasant keeping all the away fans amused after the game by telling us a series of jokes - all whilst the skates were right behind us outside the ground chucking coins over and fighting with the police because they couldn't get to us.

 

One of my proudest visits was taking a Spurs ST holder friend of mine to FP and watching his face as he realised the intense hatred that existed. Pretty sure we drew that game 2-2. He took me to Spurs v Arsenal in return but it just wasn't the same level of vitriol and he knew it!

[suewhistle]

Only been to see Saints there once: the Knight testimonial, and one very embarassed Pompey player coming over to apologise and thank us (bless 'im) as we were kept back after the game and had lumps of concrete chucked over the wall. The police tried to escort me back to the station but as I lived in the Chichester direction managed to persuade them to let them out the alley and had no problems: me looking so sweet and innocent...

 

I also went to see Danny Wallace play for England u-21s v Egypt, a couple of women's internationals (Portugal - [i'm a better keeper!] and Denmark) and finally Paul Gilchrists debut for them after he left us. A university friend persuaded me to go and see how he got on: their best player even if the crowd didn't acknowledge it.

 

The 1984 game I was away skiing but remember getting back and making a noise at the airport after I'd got hold of a newspaper with the result.

[carljack]

I976 Channon scores late on,Skates got relegated I think,the fighting at the Fratton Coal yard area was toe to toe, saw someone thrown through a plate glass window!,remember the rucking went on all the way to the train station,once on the train hanging on to the door handles to stop the Sc@m trying to attack us at Fareham cosham etc,the thread on whether or not to wear a Saints shirt on the 18th makes me laugh when I think back to this and other Awaydays,wear it with pride I say.

 

SAINT TILL I DIE!

[stanthemanfairoak]

First game i saw at Fratton was mid 60's, saints won 5-3, i think, stood in the Fratton End that game was all about their nutty full back, Lunniss trying to get Terry Paine.

76 after cup semi final was an evening game, i believe, and Channon scored in last few minutes(did Steve Williams make his debut that night)

Before the Alan Knight testimonial there was the John Milkins one, we won easily but were chased out of the town( I came back via Gosport ferry and bus to Southampton because it was carnage getting to the station.Not sure if that was the one where train was stopped at St Denys on way back and loads arrested.

84 ( i was 30) was still probably the most charged atmosphere game i have ever been to ( 36000 with 9000 saints) Skates singing "Southampton, Southampton here we come" then Armstrong to Moran and sheer joy, 3 minutes later all over, best thing was they were dominating the game, but Lawrie had us set up not to lose in those days and we nicked it.

For those who have never experienced a derby win at Fratton, all i can say is it sticks with you for years, as does a defeat

what a great post, us olde`s have seen it when it was fun to go to pratton.

[Toomer]

what a great post, us olde`s have seen it when it was fun to go to pratton.

 

I think you have sat in the luggage rack a few times back in the day as well Stan.

[Toadhall Saint]

84 for me - dodgy ticket for the Fratton end - mini buses/Luton vans from the Wagon. The OB ousted us on Eastern Road and we walked to the ground. Didn't get into the Fratton end as we were hearded into the Milton end. Skates made a bit of an effort but TBH they would have come off a lot worse if it wasn't for the OB. I thought we would lose the match as they played well but we made it count when it mattered. The atmos was fantastic and when the ball went in in front of the Saintly hordes the whole end just errupted - one of the best moments of my Saints following life!! I now have a copy of the Portsmouth News back page - puts a big smile on my face every time I see it. Been to most since then but none of them comes anywhere near to 84.

[diggers]

In 84 (I was about 17) we all turned up at the Wagon before setting off in a convoy of hired luton vans. A certain Mr Todd had been to Shatton and purchased 200 tickets for the Shatton end. Unfortunately our thirst got the better of us and we stopped off in Wickham. 200 Saints fans don't exactly go unnoticed so by the time we got to the Eastern Road we were swamped by OB. Everybody out, lined up, searched and escorted to the ground. About a hundred meters from the last turn into Milton Road there was a desperate charge to break the escort lines (which resulted in my best mate at the time spending a couple of months in Winch ) then we were all thrown in the fire escape doors of the Saints end.

During the game I can remember huge human waves of fans tightly packed into right side of the Saints end and massive surges of skates in their side, occasionally stopping the game as they ended up on the pitch.

I don't think I've ever celebrated a goal so much as Morans winner. What a feeling!

Then we were all escorted back to the football special trains with only the occasional brick to dodge. No game I've been to since has matched that as a total example of what the OB now term "disorder" at the time it was just a way of life, now it would make national TV news.

[mattyg]

That goal:

[Norm]

1956/57 season, my dad took me to see Pompey for the first time. They were in the First Div. We lived yards from the Dell but my Dad knew very little about football, other than the fact that Pompey had a few England players in their team (Jimmy Dickinson and Peter Harris). We were in Div 3 (South) at that time and the fixtures seemed to fall that we were home one Saturday and they home the following one. We did that for the whole season before I plucked up courage to tell him that I hated going down there as Saints were the only team I wanted to go and see. He replied, "Why the hell didn't you tell me before! I only went because I thought you liked it." I have only been back 3 times since then. '84 being one of them. I don't remember the rivalary then anywhere as hostile as it is now.

[Give it to Ron]

My first away game was the 5-2 game where Norman Dean scored the hat-trick. My dad and me were sat in the stand amongst the unwashed and celebrated every Saints goal - no segregation then.

I also watched them a few times when Saints were away and there was no reserve game at The Dell, they had a few decent players in Piper, Pointer and Hiron but Saints were my team always was always will be same for my kids.

[The Majestic Channon]

Was there in 84 and 88

We parked by the good companion in 84 about 3 hours before kick off and had a mooch about fratton , the reception commitee were already waiting.

stvince66 was in the fratton end, but he has always been a loon !

 

went by train via the tanners in swaythling in 88 with every nutter in soton , was nothing compared with 84 although goldsmith avenue was a war zone for a while after our train got in. Remember a skate got his face slashed ... nasty.

[Toadhall Saint]

Was there in 84 and 88

We parked by the good companion in 84 about 3 hours before kick off and had a mooch about fratton , the reception commitee were already waiting.

stvince66 was in the fratton end, but he has always been a loon !

 

went by train via the tanners in swaythling in 88 with every nutter in soton , was nothing compared with 84 although goldsmith avenue was a war zone for a while after our train got in. Remember a skate got his face slashed ... nasty.

 

I remember seeing that - wasn't pretty.

[The Majestic Channon]

What were the police tactics for the ones in 84 and 88? Given this was at the height of FV and the 657 crew were at their peak in this era? Did they escort to and from the station?

 

They tried but failed in 88,saints burst out of the escort after about 20 seconds of coming out of farton station. There was an escort in 84 too but i went by road.

[fanimal]

And only 8 days to go to the next instalment. I wonder what the blue few will be dreaming up to try and get at us?

[View From The Top]

Was there in 84 and 88

We parked by the good companion in 84 about 3 hours before kick off and had a mooch about fratton , the reception commitee were already waiting.

stvince66 was in the fratton end, but he has always been a loon !

 

went by train via the tanners in swaythling in 88 with every nutter in soton , was nothing compared with 84 although goldsmith avenue was a war zone for a while after our train got in. Remember a skate got his face slashed ... nasty.

 

I actually think '88 was nastier than '84 due to our reduced allocation but extra % of total loons. Perhaps being a few years older and wiser just made it seem that way but if either match happen today with the trouble there was then it would make headline news for days!

 

I really don't think I have ever experienced a Saints game like 84. The place went mental in a way that those who weren't there could never understand.

Edited 9 December, 2011 by View From The Top

[Turkish]

So in 84 and 88 who had the upper hand? Most Skates i know or have discussed this with claim Saints have never shown at Fratton when that's obviously not the case.

[diggers]

If we hadn't stopped in Wickham I'm sure we would of got in the Fratton End. Then there would of been deaths or serious injury for sure. My mate and I were the youngest there and only cos his elder brothers were both Warrens and Lord Louis regulars.

[70's Mike]

So in 84 and 88 who had the upper hand? Most Skates i know or have discussed this with claim Saints have never shown at Fratton when that's obviously not the case.

 

84 is recorded on various media forms

[Window Cleaner]

Ahh what a shame that football has descended to these quasi sectarian depths. When I was a young man on Uni vacs I used to drink of a saturday lunchtime in the BP hotel,if Saints were far away it was by no means inhabitual for someone to say at about 1.30 that Skates had a decent game or Ted + Phil would score a shedload at Dean Court and we'd all pile into the cars and go to

Nottarf and Dean Court just to watch the football on offer. It was affordable and passed the time until Dr Who.Think they even talked me into going to Aldershot once.

[The Majestic Channon]

Slide show of the 84 game i posted in the iconic saints photos thread

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/1984-FA-Cup-fourth-round-Portsmouth-0-1-Southampton-special-unseen-pictures-of-Alan-Biley-Steve-Williams-Steve-Moran-and-co-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-match-reports-and-features-from-our-archive-article320745.html#

[The9]

I went to Fratton a few times in 1991/2 when I was still a naive student with no club but quickly worked out who I wanted to follow.

 

Went to Skates v Millwall and endured TCWTB about 5 yards away, thereby qualifying for a ticket to their 1992 FA Cup semi (massive club)...

 

Also went to see them against Newcastle the season Newcastle were running away with this league under Keegan, and having picked my team by then also pitched up in the away end for their games against Cambridge and Bristol City, who my student mates supported. We used to go all over to loads of daft games including Plymouth v Bristol City on a Tuesday night.

 

First Skates v Saints was Knight's Testimonial, they played 13 players at one point, we had Beasant up front and still stuffed them. Coins and concrete ahoy, hid behind a bush at one point on the way back to the car to avoid some nobbers.

 

The other two times weren't worth talking about, the police cordons guaranteeing we missed kick off both times but I got there soon enough to see the goals blahblahblah still in denial about the second game even existing.

[Tamesaint]

I really don't think I have ever experienced a Saints game like 84. The place went mental in a way that those who weren't there could never understand.

 

I know what you mean.

 

We got there well before kick off and had had chants of Scummers thrown at us as soon as we had got in. The sheer hatred from them was amazing. The game was rubbish and they should have scored. In the end it was the team's will power and belief in itself that led to the last minute goal. The celebrations were fantastic.

 

We were kept behind for ages after the match. In those days MotD player interviews were often conducted on the edge of the pitch. Steve Moran came out to be interviewed and was greeted with a roar that made the response to Camara's goal against Norwich a few years ago seem like a whisper!!!

Edited 10 December, 2011 by Tamesaint

[Toadhall Saint]

So in 84 and 88 who had the upper hand? Most Skates i know or have discussed this with claim Saints have never shown at Fratton when that's obviously not the case.

 

They also say they are the greatest football fans in the world...........

[Amazing Hangover]

That is great.

 

 

What a team.

 

Alan Biley's hair deserves a slideshow of it's own.

[spyinthesky]

I went to my first derby at Fratton in 1962 as a callow youth.

 

Cant remember any segregation then but do recollect that both teams has mascots

 

Pompey's was a man in sailor suit

 

Saints had a young lad who used to run round the pitch with an old ARP rattle displaying team colours.

 

A Pompey fan picked up some cinders from ther running track and threw it in the lads face

 

This was before crowd violence between rival factions started at football matches but remember being shocked at the occurrence as football crowds were generally very well behaved in those days

[lil 1]

went down there for a hampshire cup match about 81ish.freckin freezing crowd about 6000,no more than 100 saints there.they were throwing bannanas at danny wallace and invaded the pitch at the end of the match and started throwing stuff at us.if i remember rightly i collected £4.87 in change.the skates have never had any class.

[OVER THE HILL]

76 after cup semi final was an evening game, i believe, and Channon scored in last few minutes(did Steve Williams make his debut that night)

 

1976 was my only visit for a derby game.I was standing at the back and didn't see Channon's goal or very much of the game .The only other thing I can remember was the missiles the scum keep throwing at us.

[Amesbury Saint]

August 87 2-2 was in the Fratton end.

Alan Knights match. With the Saints fans. Mate took is new girlfriend to her first (and last match) match.

[Clash City Saint]

1976 was my only visit for a derby game.I was standing at the back and didn't see Channon's goal or very much of the game .The only other thing I can remember was the missiles the scum keep throwing at us.

 

'76 and '88 for me.

 

After going to the semi-final on the Saturday, My Day, his Brother and their best mate, all Southampton Docks Stevedores took me (13) to Krap Notarf for my first time. A cold Tuesday night I think. We drove down and even though we were all decked out in our FA Cup Beenie hats and Saints scarfs I don't recall seeing any trouble as we made our way to the ground. When we got there we found ourselves right by their main entrance with these sort of zig-zag barriers leading to the turnstiles. I remember my Dad asking a copper where we had to go and he said ' you can go in here if you want' So we did........I remember walking out onto the terrace, the green, wet pitch glistening under the floodlight, then I noticed the crowd..and they noticed us. The whole of their end surged in our direction, each with an arm rhythmically moving back and forth, 'Scummer, Scummer, Scummer' rang out from the Farton End. There we were, all decked out in our red and white, completely at the wrong end of the ground. We were in the terrace that ran along the left hand side the pitch looking from the Saints end but right near the corner flag. After being told that if we left we would have to pay again, my uncle and his mate, a right couple of hard bas tards, decided we would make our way the length of the terrace, but not remove our colours. This we did without them hitting anyone even though quite a few words were exchanged and we joined our compatriots in the away section.

 

I remember little of the game although I do remember Stevie Williams playing well on his debut as we were looking out for him having been impressed by him in the ressies. But I do remember Mickey Channon breaking through and finishing in the bottom corner at the Farton End and continuing his run right along in front of them with his trademark windmill arm celebration. Not that they needed any excuse but being in the last minute of a game they couldn't afford to lose as they fought relegation they didn't take it very well. Their whole end emptied, I asked my old man where they were going, 'round here I expect' was his reply. The game was still playing as they arrived at the back of us (the gates having been opened early), 'Pee-orts-muff' clap-clap-clap, the repeated over and over as they stood at the top about ten yards away from the Saints fans who had just turned and faced them. They didn't come any nearer, they just stood there chanting, then as the full-time whistle blew my dad's mate who was stood beside me, said 'right' and just walked up towards them and said 'Come on then you f***ers'. This encouraged more Saints fans to move up towards them causing them to back away and retreat down the stairs.

 

The only actual violence I saw with my own eyes was women and kids being hit and kicked (honestly) as we walked a gauntlet of Skates as we made our way back to our car but three grown men and a kid.....they didn't want to know.

[The Majestic Channon]

I actually think '88 was nastier than '84 due to our reduced allocation but extra % of total loons. Perhaps being a few years older and wiser just made it seem that way but if either match happen today with the trouble there was then it would make headline news for days!

 

I really don't think I have ever experienced a Saints game like 84. The place went mental in a way that those who weren't there could never understand.

 

Don't agree more loons were there in 87 ( thought at first it was 88 but that was the home game) it might have looked more with just half the milton but in 84 the whole of the milton end terracing was rammed and i think they were just more spread out. Is my memory going or not? could have sworn we also had the terracing from the milton end to the half way line ( dug out side) in 84?

[Saints Warrior]

84 was fantastic, couldnt get a ticket for Saints end so got one in Skate side , other Saints in there too. I was half way up in the middle and not far from the git with the bell. Even though not in with the Saints it was well worth it as the Skates really thought they would win it all through the game, untill that Steve Moran gem. Did the Skates moan...I can still here them now. Also went the last few times we lost and missed 20 mins of the first half. Been to Frutton a few times 73 to 75 to see the likes of Tranmere and other 4th div teams beat the Skates in a packed ground of 5-7K. Its just great watching them lose when you go a a Saints fan!!

[Golden Balls]

Only been twice. The less said, the better