Originally Posted by Craig in Nottingham To be honest I would just like to see more stories appearing on here before anything else happens. There's over 1200 registered City supporters on this site so surely some of you saw at least one good match. What about the Wagstaff, Chilton, Houghton era? I keep hearing good things about that period in our history but what were the Classic games and what happened? The classiest part of game against Gillingham, ( don't know when) was the three pass goal. Mckecknie(?)goalie, kicked to Houghton left of penalty area, he gave a great ball to Waggy on the corner of their penalty area, Waggy volleyed it in around 10 minutes into the game.We thought we were in for a cricket score but to no avail. Final score 1-0.
I think that Gillingham match was mid-week in early March 1966. I was living in Leeds and decided to hitch-hike to the game at B.P. It took about 4 hours to get there because it was quite a foggy day & evening ( and no M62 in those days, or is it the M63 ?)). My parents lived in Hessle at the time, so I at least didn't need to hitch-hike back after the game. Sat in the N stand, getting in about 5 mins after k.o. You could hardly see the halfway line because of the foggy/misty conditions, so can't comment on the McKechnie/Houghton build up play. All I remember is seeing Waggy vaguely appear on the City's right, just 10-15 yards into their half, and walloping the ball low along the ground towards their goal. Just shows you the brilliance of the man, realizing that if I he could barely see the Gillingham goal, there would be a fair chance that their goalie would be surprised by a shot out of the fog from that distance. Magic, their goalie saw it too late and it rocketed into the corner. The conditions were not conducive to good football, but Waggy's genius was enough to get us the 2 points. What a season that was, will never forget it
I think you are right, I was always on railway side near half way line so I could see most of the play.that team was a pleasure to watch that season and the few that team were together.I listed the grounds, for my young grand kids. for that season we went to watch city away. Halifax Mansfield, Chesterfield, Stockport, Wrexham, Chester, Donny, Bury, Crew,and so - on. what a difference to a couple or more seasons ago. I can't moan because we are only 4th (now 2nd) in the Championship.
It's always difficult to compare teams from different eras - but you're right, they were a very together bunch of lads. Brilliant attacking side, somewhat porous defence, but hell, talk about exciting. They low point of that season for me was hitching from Leeds to watch York trounce us 1-4 at BP...devastating. But they bounced back well, and the rest is history. I think today's team looks like they work for each other very well too...better defensively, not so potent up front - just that the game's so different now.But they also seem capable of bouncing back and forgetting previous results. So here's hoping it'll end up with the same outcome with automatic promotion. I'm certainly confident after yesterdays result against Derby.
I remember Roy Shiner's first game at B.P. I think he was signed from Sheff Wednesday and was an ex-England international, but at the end of his career. He scored 2 goals in the match...can't remember the final score but City must have won because the headlines that night in the green sports mail read " This Roy's a real Shiner !!!". Great stuff.
I was also at both the Chelsea games, hitch-hiking from Leeds. Brilliant experience. I remember at Stamford Bridge it took forever to line up at the turnstiles, we didn't have tickets, but what surprised me the most was why would so many people come to watch a top flight team play a lowly third division team. One of the Chelsea supporters answered that question for me...because Hull City are going to be a second division team at the end of the season, and anything can happen in the cup. Waggy's two late goals proved his point, but I was surprised about his appreciation of City's potential. You're right about Osgood making the difference - he didn't play in the first game, but set up 2 of their goals in the replay. Simmo's goal was a stunner...he didn't score very often, but every time he did they were Bobby Charltonesque ! Tough player he was too.
Originally Posted by Craig in Nottingham HULL FOREVER: That does bring back wonderful memories. I was at Stamford Bridge for the 2-2 draw. We scored two goals in the last ten minutes against the superstars. Wonderful! OK we were beaten in the return but Simpkin's goal has always stayed in my memory as superb. Posted by me I was at the 2-2 Chelsea game, some-one told me before I left work to go to the match that if you stand at Lyons corner for an hour and you will meet some-one you know, well I stood there waiting for my mate who never came but met hundreds of people I knew, I picked up with my mate later and went to the best away game I'd ever been to. I know they were two great goals late in the game but at the time I felt that City were robbed by the Ref. Simpkins goal in the replay was fantastic. (It gets better as I get older.)
The ironic thing of course is at the time you don't think its something special, back in the 60's there was none of this Tweet, internet, mobile phone, none of the things you take for granted these days so what you actually saw was when you were actually at the match. Just occasionally you might be lucky to see the match on TV, but not often, Anglia Television was the best back in those days. [SIZE=3]So to see Waggy[SIZE=3], Chilton, Houghton, Butler, Mck[SIZE=3]ecknie, Davidson etc was just [SIZE=3]you saw every week[SIZE=3], you didn't see [SIZE=3]as s[SIZE=3]pecial at the[SIZE=3] t[SIZE=3]ime as they turned out week after week. There wa[SIZE=3]s a[SIZE=3] feeling in those day [SIZE=3]that e[SIZE=3]very time City went forward, which was more often than not, a goal would ensue, you actu[SIZE=3]ally expected it, e[SIZE=3]sp[SIZE=3]ecially on [SIZE=3]Bunker Hill/South Stand. And so it was week after week[SIZE=3], and away as well[SIZE=3], but we come unst[SIZE=3]uck away from home and from teams there wer[SIZE=3]e no[SIZE=3] bette[SIZE=3]r or worse than us[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE] I[SIZE=3]pswich and Wolverhampton Wan[SIZE=3]derers stick in my mind as were were undon[SIZE=3]e by 2 old time[SIZE=3]rs, Ray Cr[SIZE=3]awford and Derek [SIZE=3]Dougan. [SIZE=3]But we had some great times, esp[SIZE=3]e[SIZE=3]c[/SIZE]ially in London where we use to meet up with Man Utd [SIZE=3], and even Leeds Utd supporte[SIZE=3]rs a[SIZE=3]nd meet in the pub. Being all nor[SIZE=3]thern teams we had a[SIZE=3]t least something in c[SIZE=3]ommon against the southerners[SIZE=3],[SIZE=3] even though privatel[SIZE=3]y we may have detested ea[SIZE=3]ch other. In tho[SIZE=3]se days i would travel far and wide, hitch hiking most of the way and being only about 17 it was a hell of an [SIZE=3]adventure. Of course things are not so easy today, I could hitch hike the lean[SIZE=3]gth and [SIZE=3]breadth of the coun[SIZE=3]try in a weekend, and often did, [SIZE=3][SIZE=3]hitch-hiking to Newcastle to [SIZE=3]see Best[SIZE=3], Law and [SIZE=3]Charlton and company only to h[SIZE=3]itch hike back again st[SIZE=3]raight after the mat[SIZE=3]ch. Then at times I would really strike lucky and on one [SIZE=3]occasion got a [SIZE=3]lift from [SIZE=3]Huddersfield[/SIZE] direct to Old Trafford and then got [SIZE=3]gi[SIZE=3]ven tick[SIZE=3]ets for the match standing on the Stretford End of the g[SIZE=3]round and agains[SIZE=3]t [SIZE=3]Manchester [SIZE=3]City, Franny Lee, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee etc[SIZE=3], magic. [SIZE=3]The Tigers [SIZE=3]played some good stuff on many occasions but the [SIZE=3]reserves were not bad in tho[SIZE=3]se day either and I was often at[SIZE=3] [SIZE=3]Boothferry Park wi[SIZE=3]th only about 300 ther[SIZE=3]e but it was blac[SIZE=3]k and amber so what the hell[SIZE=3]. I could go on but where do you stop, in my case [SIZE=3]in the mid 80[SIZE=3]'s when I rea[SIZE=3]lised that[SIZE=3] football was chang[SIZE=3]ing and not for the better how [SIZE=3]can it when e[SIZE=3]ven Brian Clough pays a millon for a player when I was use to the likes of Jimmy Greaves costing [SIZE=3]£[SIZE=3]99,[SIZE=3]999[SIZE=3], and now its even worse for players not wort[SIZE=3]h toilet pa[SIZE=3]per[SIZE=3] never mind millions.[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE] [/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]
Dammit I missed this actual game as parents wouldn't let me go as I didn't have enough money, even though I had paper jobs to help pay for the trip, and to be honest they couldn't afford to pay for me. But I did get to the replay queuing for about 3hrs to get in and that was in as much to sympathetic blokes letting this youngster nearer the front of the queue. I got to the North Stand end right up against the barrier around the pitch but if I has wanted a pee it would been right there in front of me as there was no way I could have got to the toilets. The main difference in the return match for me, I saw the first match on the TV, was Peter Osgood, he was awesome, a class centre forward and with Bobby Tambling they gave City a right old time, but it was to be, shame, but all glory days to us lads.
Cheers for them Jock. It reminded me of a question a friend asked. They wondered if anyone had a picture or any information on a Scottish relative of theirs, Willam Higgins Blantyre who played for City in about 1934?
Only 2 clubs, ourselves and Grimsby, had permission to play on a Christmas Day because of the fishing fleets. City actually sold 55,000 for the Rotherham match ( some sources use that as the highest figure for that level of football, and it is possibly the highest ever the dance for a third level anywhere. Cardiff City had 52,000 for a Division 3 South game), and had 72,000 postal applications for tickets. The reason for the less than 55,000 crowd was that there was a bus strike. Amazing to think that in those days when very few had cars that so many made it there. They must have been made of sterner stuff than our current fans who have to leave early, even when the result is in doubt, as they have to travel all the way to Hessle in a car after the game.
And here's me thinking that the 55,000 attendance was only achieved when City played Manchester Utd back in 1949, video courtesy of British Pathe who have copyright. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/hull-city-v-manchester-united
City used to play away games on a Christmas Day- so presumably plenty of other clubs could play on that day.
I don't know whether any of you veterans of early campaigns appreciate this, but us relatively recent supporters read about the Golden Raich Carter era and other periods of the club's history in a quite matter-of-fact / colourless way. Maybe you chaps could tell us some details of your matchday experience which were typical of the time (and very different to today) to help paint a picture for us. For example did you all wear cloth caps, did you have a pint before the game and what was the atmosphere in the ground like (loud with organised singing or just a general swell of noise peaking at high points in the game)? What was it like having one of those rattles going off in your ear and how did you react after a goal (did everyone leap around or did you all act in a very stiff upper lipped English way with a satisfied nod and a contented puff on your pipe)?
If you specifically mean the Raich Carter period then it was before my time but otherwise I first went to Boothferry Park in the 1958/59 season, I was allowed to go by my parents then being 9 years old. Use to stand on the Bunkers Hill end, later of course South Stand. Can't remember the actual entry fee but something in the region of 6d to a shilling (2 1/2pm to 5p in today's equivalent) which seem ludicrous was still a fortune then to a young lad. The manager was Bob Brocklebank and several of the then City players lived not far from me, Jimmy Lodge was a physio I think and Gus McClean the trainer if I remember right, Stan Coombes the groundsman. During school holidays I use to sneak in BP and watch them train and later on they went off to the old Cricket Circle, ironically these days KC. Then Cliff Briton arrived, a respected figure in the game and things that had been slowly plodding along suddenly took a new meaning, Harold Needler spread a bit of his money about and there was a buzz around BP. Things gathered momentum with signings and ground improvements and most of my spare time was either at a match or watching City training, I also travelled to away matches and when I couldn't afford to pay I hitched hiked, I even got my picture on the front page of the York local rag The Press. Also in those heady days I attended Ainthorpe Youth Club who's team reach the cup final and had my first trip to the Capital and the Crystal Palace sports stadium which also gave me my first taste of how unsporting football supporters could be. As the Ainthorpe captain went to collect the trophy the home supporters booed obviously they thought it was a foregone conclusion that they would win, we came straight home after the match. And so I followed City all the way through the 60's/70's and part of the 80' by which time I had a family of my own and nets were being put in place around the pitch, something which I hated. But football in general was changing, Terry Neil had arrived, in an E-Type jag and departed back to Highbury, City never did make it to the old Div 1, that glory was belonging to the KC generation. Steve Daley, Trevor Francis were costing money unheard of in football and to pay for it prices were going up, fast. Along the way England had won the World Cup and nothing since, always nearly, and English teams dominated Europe for many a year. Manchester United, Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa all won major European trophies and football, instead of being occasionally on TV, was now nearly every day. But back at BP things were sinking fast, managers came and went and so did chairmen, until the padlocks went on the gates to keep everyone out, sad time. The former club house on the car park had long gone to make way for the supermarket and so was lost also was the sight of City players enjoying a pint, and a chat to us supporters after the match, Terry Neil had put a stop to that straight away anyway. I can't remember all the grounds I visited but I do remember a few, Old Trafford, Brunton Park (Carlisle), St James Park (Newcastle), Gigg Lane (Bury), Northampton, St Andrews (Birmingham), Derby County, Watford, Charlton Athletic (Valley Parade ?) Peterborough, York (Bootham Cresent), Coventry City, Cardiff City, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Molineux), Ipswich (Portman Road), but some of the stadiums have changed now and the list is far from complete. As for today I have been to KC several times but as modern as it is it lacks the total football atmosphere of BP where I could stand not 10ft from the pitch and see the likes of Chris Chilton, Waggy, and the rest hurtling towards me towards goal. Where I could see the oranges rain down on Ian McKecknie, and catch a couple myself, and when City were awarded a penalty there would be a mad scramble to get behind the goal and see whoever was taking it belt the ball into the net, or not as on some occasions. And if it was an opponent taking a penalty then try every distraction possible to put him off and jump in jubilation if we did, happy days LOL.
Sounds good C'r. It's funny how all the depressing defeats, relegations, **** performances and useless owners / managers and players don't seem to diminish supporters nostalgic memories. When I think how crap I feel after every defeat it isn't logical to put up with it, but the wins just lift you more than the result of a sports event have any right to. When I look back only the elation of the victories still lingers and all those defeats tend to fade away. Without being too profound I think being a City supporter is like one big adventure (complete with heroes and villains) that never ends.
I quite agree Craig, there were some depressing defeats during some night time matches when it was cold, wet or both. The lay off during the summer was a depressing time as well as there was not the wall to wall football like now, the FA Cup Final was literally the final match and all you could look forward too was kickabouts with your mates. As you got older other distractions took place during a summer so it wasn't too bad, but when very young football was a big deal back then. Those rattle things that would be swung around your head were lethal as well as noisy I had one for a while but never really liked it they were just too irritating and having nearly been clobbered a couple of times with one I got rid. It wasn't always fun either as sometimes when stood high up on the South Stand some idiot would think it good fun to nudge the person in front and so set off a chain reaction of people falling forward causing chaos all the way down, on a couple of occasions we would point out the perpetrators when the Police arrived on the scene as the practice was downright dangerous, especially for dad's holding their children in their arms.
