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Dougal


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Anyone remember him, real name John Titheridge, I used to work with him at Caustons in Eastleigh.

He was the 'original Saints hooligan' way back in the 60s.

He wore a white builders helmet and was literally marched to the ground up Millton Road with about 50 mates with a police escort! True!

In those days at The Dell, the Saints fans stood right in the middle of Milton Road with Dougal right in the centre with his white helmet. Think that was is calling card!

The away fans were always there earlier towards the left at Milton Road.

Then Dougal would enter Milton Road and heaved in to the away supporters and it kicked off all through the game.

The crowd were chanting, 'Dougal, Dougal'!!!

It was pretty ugly at the time.

Then it all kicked off again after the game down Hill Lane.

Memories?

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I am still in contact with JT he and his wife have both retired and are both fit and well and enjoying life with their Old English Sheep Dog, although he no longer goes to football he still keeps an eye out for Saints results.

Edited by Toomer
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Too far back for me, but just asked my dad if he'd ever heard of the guy, he wrote back with "god yeah, Dougal is our leader!" :lol:

 

It's great romanticising hooliganism of the past, knowing full well that if the same things happened today my response would be "run away! run away!"

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I saw him in action and you would not want to cross him for sure but he never picked on anyone who wasn't also prepared to be involved. I don't want to glorify what went on but most young lads in that era got their kicks from a dust up on the terraces and then bragging about it at school on the Monday. It was a national past time then.

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Funny how people can go from going to all games and football being the centre of their life to just keeping an eye out for results. Not being judgemental, just seems odd. I can see how people go to less games as they get older, have kids, etc but would think not that many would lose interest to the just keeping an eye on results extent.

 

I guess the answer may be that the football aspect was not the thing that Dougal was obsessed with.

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I think that "honourable" mentions should go to other members of the gang:

  • Maurice the Mallet (I kid you not)
  • "Killer" Calloway
  • Bootsie
  • "Jimmer" Marshall

If I mention any more, it may give the impression that I was part of this group and used to run the away fans back to the station after the game, so I will leave the list at that...

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I think that "honourable" mentions should go to other members of the gang:

  • Maurice the Mallet (I kid you not)
  • "Killer" Calloway
  • Bootsie
  • "Jimmer" Marshall

If I mention any more, it may give the impression that I was part of this group and used to run the away fans back to the station after the game, so I will leave the list at that...

 

Great names.. they sound like characters from a new Guy Ritchie film! :lol:

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I think that "honourable" mentions should go to other members of the gang:

  • Maurice the Mallet (I kid you not)
  • "Killer" Calloway
  • Bootsie
  • "Jimmer" Marshall

If I mention any more, it may give the impression that I was part of this group and used to run the away fans back to the station after the game, so I will leave the list at that...

 

I'm 9 years younger than you, it wasn't till 73/74 season that I was "trusted" to go to games without my Dad. Aftermatch ritual was to hang around the Milton Rd/Hill Lane crossroads to get a glimpse of and "excitement" going on, but still young enough at 11/12 years old to justify running like buggary if anything kicked off :lol:

 

Like mrhafaji's Dad, I knew "Dougal was our leader" without having the foggiest who he - or any of the other recognisable names above - actually was (or even really existed such was his fabled reputation) I don't recall the white builders helmet but there was always a guy in the middle of the Milton, longish straight hair in a white warehousemans/ice cream mans coat. Was that him?

 

Also remember - probably a few years later - a huge guy curly hair and facial birthmark(?), often wearing just dungarees, hanging around outside away fans exit in Archers Rd after games always seemingly on his own. Again no idea who we was but didn't look like the sort to be messed with.

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It was a different world, but times were grim and you didnt have fans in replica kits and dressed like Pippo the clown. There was always a menace at away games and the gobby ****s ended up with a kick. Now you just get gobby ****s.

Im not wishing for a return to those days, but fans like Dougal were respected , had balls of steel when facing some large groups of opposition fans.

The world of football has been sanitised and now I am happy to take my children and grandchild, no way would the same then, it was predominently a mans territory and all that came with it.

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I'm 9 years younger than you, it wasn't till 73/74 season that I was "trusted" to go to games without my Dad. Aftermatch ritual was to hang around the Milton Rd/Hill Lane crossroads to get a glimpse of and "excitement" going on, but still young enough at 11/12 years old to justify running like buggary if anything kicked off :lol:

 

Like mrhafaji's Dad, I knew "Dougal was our leader" without having the foggiest who he - or any of the other recognisable names above - actually was (or even really existed such was his fabled reputation) I don't recall the white builders helmet but there was always a guy in the middle of the Milton, longish straight hair in a white warehousemans/ice cream mans coat. Was that him?

 

Also remember - probably a few years later - a huge guy curly hair and facial birthmark(?), often wearing just dungarees, hanging around outside away fans exit in Archers Rd after games always seemingly on his own. Again no idea who we was but didn't look like the sort to be messed with.

 

First Mush was mostly a Millwall fan, deaf Tony, it was the Millwall crest on his butchers coat, still around I think, last saw him a few years back in the 'Black Cat'.

 

The big guy with the birthmark (and usually cap-sleeve T-Shirt) came from New Milton. Always around back then, only seen him a few times over the years since.

 

I'm sure some of the old 'lads' wouldn't exactly appreciate their full names being plastered all over these days, many are probably (Great) Grandads by now!

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I think that "honourable" mentions should go to other members of the gang:

  • Maurice the Mallet (I kid you not)
  • "Killer" Calloway
  • Bootsie
  • "Jimmer" Marshall

If I mention any more, it may give the impression that I was part of this group and used to run the away fans back to the station after the game, so I will leave the list at that...

 

Killer Calloway still goes I saw him in the Kingsland recently

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Are we really expected, in the modern world, to show deference to such hooligans? Or is this more like looking back fondly on the Romans and judging them against the standards of their time, despite them being horrific by today's standards?

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Are we really expected, in the modern world, to show deference to such hooligans? Or is this more like looking back fondly on the Romans and judging them against the standards of their time, despite them being horrific by today's standards?

 

 

They weren't horrific and I wouldn't call them hooligans. Just teenagers who liked a punch up with their football. They stood under the Toomers sign in the Milton Rd so if you wanted to avoid them you went elsewhere but every young lad whether they were violent or not seemed to want to stand there.

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I used to go to games at home from the late 50's and started going away from the early 60's.

 

At that stage both home and away fans used to mix quite easily even at Fratton Park although I can remember one or two 'one on one' disagreements at Fratton.

 

From my perspective the hooliganism side started to rear its head around about the time we were first promoted from the 2nd to the 1st Division in 1966 and there were some dodgy incidents at Cardiff and Plymouth that season but mainly small fights involving three or four people and throwing coins and bits of food etc.

 

I think the first real problems I can remember was when Pompey fans came down to the Dell in relatively large numbers for John Hollowbread's testimonial at the end of 1966 season and the start of the following season when Chelsea fans came down in big numbers and invaded the Milton Road end.

 

You had to be very careful after that.

 

btw I remember Dougal well from around those times at the Dell with Roger Weedon and others.

 

Dougal never seemed to be overtly out to cause trouble but was never shy in fronting up if opposing fans wanted to have a go.

 

It always seemed a little odd that Saints never had a noticeable 'firm' but, as primarily a football fan who would rather engage with opposing fans rather than fight them, I prefer it that way.

 

However as FF says, it was a ritual for some young lads to look forward more to a dust up with rival fans that actually watching their team play

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Partial to a cruise too! His old sparring partner Malc Lovejoy still regularly goes to away games.

 

John hosts a cruise Facebook page Duncan as both John and I enjoy our cruises. I still see Bootsie in my local now and again with his wife, used to drink with him in the Shield and Dagger in the 70's.

Edited by Toomer
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I'm impressed all you old buggers can find your way round a computer[emoji3]

 

I for one need assistance with modern technology and often reflect that there should be a Forum for us 'oldies' where we could exchange correspondence using the vast numbers of biros and fountain pens plus reams of velum paper accumulated over many past Christmas and Birthdays and now gathering dust in the loft.

 

Your respectful and obedient servant,

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John hosts a cruise Facebook page Duncan as both John and I enjoy our cruises. I still see Bootsie in my local now and again with his wife, used to drink with him in the Shield and Dagger in the 70's.

 

Toomer

 

I don't suppose you ever studied part time for an ONC in the buildings in St Mary St and Bugle Street back in the late 60's?

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No not me I only use the name Toomer because of where I stood on The Milton.

 

Remember Dougal well , had some great times away at Spurs one midweek cup game , also away at Ipswich and home to Chelsea to name a few , naughty times.

 

Also remember Bootsie and Jimmer Marshall who got seriously done at Ipswich if I remember rightly .

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I am still in contact with JT he and his wife have both retired and are both fit and well and enjoying life with their Old English Sheepy Dog, although he no longer goes to football he still keeps an eye out for Saints results.

 

Being a mere slip of a lad in '66 when I watched the action below from the Chocolate box, I remember the white hard hat well. I seem to recall being confronted by Dougal after an Arsenal game and being lifted off my feet by my coat lapels before my accent convinced him I was no Gooner. He'd struggle lifting me now!

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I remember Dougal(not personally) when he was on The Milton Road End.

Saints had a firm around that time called The Warrens, not as notorious as some but you wouldn't want to take too many liberties with them.

Dougal was a big guy with as big a personality. He did wear a helmet in the early days.

He had a close group of mates who he usually stood with and they knew how to look after themselves,believe me.

I never saw him run from any action and had a big reputation because of.

As I said I didn't know him personally but as a skinny youth in those days who stood on those terraces which could be scary places in those days you felt safe in his company.

Bootsie was a character,one of the first skinheads I ever saw at the Dell.My abiding memory of him was when two fat,red faced Arsenal fans ran past me in Commercial Road being chased by him,he could look terrifying.

Rhino and the guy who wore the butchers coat who was a Millwall fan,I think his name was Tony,big character's. Tony tagged on to our group one New Years Eve in town, that was eventful.

I wouldn't trade those days for any other,the Dell was like a family, still hurts when I pass the old site.So many memories.

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Dougal broke down in his Del Boy 3 wheeler on the way home from a Liverpool match. I took him back to the Reliant and managed to "wedge"(with more mate's help) his car into the back of my Transit 6 wheeler.

As it was looking a bit precarious(sticking out too far), Dougal "helped" it in so it was firmly wedged. We could then tie up the doors.

When we got home, he was very grateful and seemed a perfectly nice chap outside of the Footy scenario. It did need a bit of persuasion when offloading.

 

 

Anyone remember him, real name John Titheridge, I used to work with him at Caustons in Eastleigh.

He was the 'original Saints hooligan' way back in the 60s.

He wore a white builders helmet and was literally marched to the ground up Millton Road with about 50 mates with a police escort! True!

In those days at The Dell, the Saints fans stood right in the middle of Milton Road with Dougal right in the centre with his white helmet. Think that was is calling card!

The away fans were always there earlier towards the left at Milton Road.

Then Dougal would enter Milton Road and heaved in to the away supporters and it kicked off all through the game.

The crowd were chanting, 'Dougal, Dougal'!!!

It was pretty ugly at the time.

Then it all kicked off again after the game down Hill Lane.

Memories?

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I'm 9 years younger than you, it wasn't till 73/74 season that I was "trusted" to go to games without my Dad. Aftermatch ritual was to hang around the Milton Rd/Hill Lane crossroads to get a glimpse of and "excitement" going on, but still young enough at 11/12 years old to justify running like buggary if anything kicked off :lol:

 

Like mrhafaji's Dad, I knew "Dougal was our leader" without having the foggiest who he - or any of the other recognisable names above - actually was (or even really existed such was his fabled reputation) I don't recall the white builders helmet but there was always a guy in the middle of the Milton, longish straight hair in a white warehousemans/ice cream mans coat. Was that him?

 

Also remember - probably a few years later - a huge guy curly hair and facial birthmark(?), often wearing just dungarees, hanging around outside away fans exit in Archers Rd after games always seemingly on his own. Again no idea who we was but didn't look like the sort to be messed with.

 

First Mush was mostly a Millwall fan, deaf Tony, it was the Millwall crest on his butchers coat, still around I think, last saw him a few years back in the 'Black Cat'.

 

The big guy with the birthmark (and usually cap-sleeve T-Shirt) came from New Milton. Always around back then, only seen him a few times over the years since.

 

I'm sure some of the old 'lads' wouldn't exactly appreciate their full names being plastered all over these days, many are probably (Great) Grandads by now!

 

I remember seeing that character on the Archers Rd terraces in the late 70's/early 80's. Always looked capable and prepared to lump an opposition supporter if the need arose. I recall one incident c 1985or6, home to Millwall in the FA Cup. We were coming out from The Dell and saw a lot of charging and activity up Milton Rd after some Millwall fans came round from the Archers away end. Police separated the fans, and pushed the Saints fans back. Saw him and another, a maturing, probably one of the original 1960's skinheads in the middle of the fray. Skinhead seemed to fall after a bit of a 'push', only to get up and say to matey "cor, this is a bit like the good ol'days...".

 

Last saw bloke with birthmark at semi-final at Villa Park, complete with what looked like wife and family in tow. Mid-life respectability comes to us all.

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I remember seeing that character on the Archers Rd terraces in the late 70's/early 80's. Always looked capable and prepared to lump an opposition supporter if the need arose. I recall one incident c 1985or6, home to Millwall in the FA Cup. We were coming out from The Dell and saw a lot of charging and activity up Milton Rd after some Millwall fans came round from the Archers away end. Police separated the fans, and pushed the Saints fans back. Saw him and another, a maturing, probably one of the original 1960's skinheads in the middle of the fray. Skinhead seemed to fall after a bit of a 'push', only to get up and say to matey "cor, this is a bit like the good ol'days...".

 

Last saw bloke with birthmark at semi-final at Villa Park, complete with what looked like wife and family in tow. Mid-life respectability comes to us all.

 

He used to go in the pig & whistle in the last few seasons before the move to sms. He was friendly with Sam Voges dad. I've seen his daughter at a few games and saw him last season, so he still goes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I remember a mate pointing him out to me in Milton Rd. I didn't respect what he stood for then, and I don't respect anything about him now, no matter how many sheepdogs he has. He and his ilk were a terrible stain on society and the game.

 

I have better and more important people to think about.

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I remember a mate pointing him out to me in Milton Rd. I didn't respect what he stood for then, and I don't respect anything about him now, no matter how many sheepdogs he has. He and his ilk were a terrible stain on society and the game.

 

I have better and more important people to think about.

 

Yet you make the effort to post on a thread purely about him.

 

You pompous ar se.

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Great memories to thread.

I worked with John Titheridge briefly at Caustons, a printing company in Eastleigh, opposite the old Pirellis factory in Leigh Road.

Could not believe seeing him walk in on his first day!

Would love to catch up with him if anyone knows where he is.

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Great memories to thread.

I worked with John Titheridge briefly at Caustons, a printing company in Eastleigh, opposite the old Pirellis factory in Leigh Road.

Could not believe seeing him walk in on his first day!

Would love to catch up with him if anyone knows where he is.

 

I'm in contact with JT if you PM me your details I will pass them on to him, I would not give out his details.

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I remember seeing that character on the Archers Rd terraces in the late 70's/early 80's. Always looked capable and prepared to lump an opposition supporter if the need arose. I recall one incident c 1985or6, home to Millwall in the FA Cup. We were coming out from The Dell and saw a lot of charging and activity up Milton Rd after some Millwall fans came round from the Archers away end. Police separated the fans, and pushed the Saints fans back. Saw him and another, a maturing, probably one of the original 1960's skinheads in the middle of the fray. Skinhead seemed to fall after a bit of a 'push', only to get up and say to matey "cor, this is a bit like the good ol'days...".

 

Last saw bloke with birthmark at semi-final at Villa Park, complete with what looked like wife and family in tow. Mid-life respectability comes to us all.

 

He still goes regularly, most home games in block 3 and a few aways too.

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Remember the Dougal Dougal chant when he arrived on Milton Road when I was early teens when first started going on my own. Also Deaf Tony and his Millwall butchers coat. My main recollections of that time were on the coach to home games from Fordingbridge where we went via Andover ffs. There was a a fat guy, name began with P (wannabe skinhead) who would basically torment us younger lads, who ran like a baby when it kicked off on Hill Lane after we lost to Birmingham City in March 74. Now that was wild.

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