Started my City adventure in 69/70 and Chillo and Waggy were and porbably still are my footballing heroes .. have briefly met the man when he was at the club training a very raw Billy Whitehurst and turning him into a priper centre forward. The man had time for everyone then and probably to this day is likely to be the same. A true sporting icon from those halcyon days .. I actually think I cried when he was sold to Coventry. Get well soon big man .. oh how we could do with you and Waggy now .. pretty decent defence in them days as well.
Beat Leeds U, 7-6, over 27,000 at Boothferry Park, a record for a testimonial that this city will never see again. May 3rd 1971. Great player, get well soon Chillo.
When you see how few turned out for Waggy's testimonial 3 years later, you're forced to conclude there were a lot of vermin in the crowd that night. All well and good got Chillo's benefit, with the added bonus that the Champions of Europe (sic) were allowed to finish the game early as Arsenal clinched the double at White Herz Lane that night and the vermin larkers threw the towel in.
Don't recall that many fans of TWS there. A mixture of Chillies popularity, Leeds being a big draw then and coming on the back of our most successful season for decades. Although getting more than the highest league gate of the season demonstrated once again the vagaries of the Hull public. As was about 34,000 turning up for the Watney Cup game against Man U but only 20,000 for the first league game against Boro a couple of weeks later.. Or over 34,000 turning up for a Cup game against Blackpool but only 27,000 for the round after. Waggy's testimonial crowd was disgraceful.
There weren't many though. I expected something might kick off on Bunkers given that there weremno barriers then but no sign of any. There were obviously a few folk from Hull who wanted to see what was one of the best teams around at the time, same as a lot were attracted because of Law, Best, Charlton etc...Both games illustrations that certain one off games could get a big crowd but the regular hard core support was not as big as some think it was and thought itvwould be if we vever had a bit of success.
It's been well documented but in case any one has forgotten this was also the night the 'kop' moved from Bunkers into the Kempton. It was a very popular move too and in the days before the internet and mobiles, quite an achievement for the brains behind the move because it completely caught the police and the club by surprise. We also had song sheets printed and handed out for the occasion.
Are you sure, mate? I thought it was after the barriervwas put up. I remember the police confiscating song sheets Dave D had printed and trying to fit him up on some ridiculous charge. Printing was an expensive thing then and they even got in contact withnhis employers thinking he would be in trouble and were disappointed to find he was highly regarded by them and had permission to print them. Assuming we are talking about the song sheet with "Don Revue said to Bill Shankly..." complete with instructions as to when to jump up and down. Dave D always wanted to have EastvStandcasxa Lop. Though the initial move didn't last long when large numbers of away fans were there and not after the barrier was built and police didn't want fans mixing if they could avoid it. First time I remember hearing "We are the Kempton" being sung loudly was at Charlton, first away game 1971/72 season. Dave, as he did now and again, had booked a couple of coaches and rounded up any likely looking lads on the Friday night as the pubs closed and set off. We were late rolling up from our coach which had dropped us off in London as it was my mate's, who you knew well, 21st birthday. Heard all this coming from their Kop end and "thought this is more like it" All went well, had taken over the area right behind the goal, always the aim in those days, but not one we achieved normally. All went well until half time.Then they opened the gates at half time and a load of West Hams rollled in...
It was definitely the Leeds game when the move to the Kempton was arranged. Your spot on with the song sheets. A snippet of the match was shown the next night on Look North and the singing from the East Stand was deafening. I dipped out on the Charlton away game because I couldn't afford to go but enjoyed several trips with the brains behind that particular movement, as you well know usually two thirds of a bus, sometimes it was even full ! Today if we take less then 1,000 away people are moaning.
You were on the bus to Norwich when Chillo got sent off and we were hauled in at Sleaford for the turn up inspection, weren't you? Me, my mate W, MF and GS had stay press on so went across to the pub and sank a few pints.A quick shout to get back on the bus after a rip off whip round paid off thge cafe owner the bacon sandwiches and cutlery (no cutlery as evidence as that had been lobbed out of the window at some passing greabos) had gone missing or we would get left behind meant an uncomfortable journey until a roadblock and another search meant we had the chance for a piss. Followed by 2 coppers in case we were throwing any weapons away. Me and W had some Gas Board denim jackets a mate had appropriated from work. This ked to a conversation between 2 coppers as to whethervwecwere part of a gang and should they check with Hull police. After all that the police made the bus pull up behind their Kop End.
