Bolton, Bury and Macclesfield to do one...

The one I was in was rammed. Next to an attractive pond. Great sat outside in the sunshine.

 

Are we going to feel sorry for Derby, Forest or any of the other club throwing ridiculous amounts of money at it when this happens to then some time over the next few years?

Their fans know full well what is going on and have always lorded it as if promotion is their divine right.

 

A Bury fan nearly killed one of my mates at Gigg Lane 1968. Called themselves 'Comptons Mob'. The leader of which had a huge knife. It was an eye opener for me as a school lad along with my mates who had travelled on the one bus. It chucked it down all day and the game ended up 0-0. McKechnie famously carried Waggy off the pitch after he'd been poleaxed, the photo of which appeared in the Sports Mail.
One of my mates left the game early to go and sit on the bus, he was drenched and not feeling great. Comptons mob, or some of them, ambushed him on their huge car park and kicked ten bells of **** out him, poor lad.
No police involved, no CCTV, no drama, it was all seen as a part of the day out in those days.

 

Sounds awful. Nuts that people still glamourise this in films.

I find that Villa Park and its surrounding area is always an incredibly hostile place to be an away fan. Despite it being an easy ground for me to reach, I'm always reluctant to go when City play there.

 

Really
I’ve never found that
Went on my own once as I was in Birmingham anyway so just jumped on the train from the central train station. No hassle at all

 

But were you in full replica kit or civvies?

 

Anyone in a full replica kit deserves what happens to them, inflicting the sight of their pasty white legs on everyone.

 

I think this was January 1969. It was my first away game. I was 13. I think we went on an East Yorkshire coach. We were in the 'Boys' Stand', which was a small wooden shack. It was packed with supporters of both teams and literally bounced as people jumped up and down. I didn't see any violence or knives. Maybe I was too naïve.

 

Civvies, but I spoke to people (well the ones I could understand anyway)

 

The Silver Cod lot used to fawn all over Wilby? What are you talking about? Yes we welcomed him and Lloyd with open arms, same as every other City fan as I remember it.
Though obviously you knew better?

 

Rings a bell, could have been the 68/69 season ? I know the weather was dreadful. Also remember the little wooden shack at the top of the hill behind the goal. It's where we were until 'Comptons Mob' turned up. Sure it was before kick off because we wouldn't have been in the pub at that age.

 

I have been in the Cod when Wilby breezed in and saw what happened.

 

On SKY this morning that the combined debts of Championship clubs are over £900million.

 

Luckily we have sensible owners.

 

I remember seeing Wilby once sat with the lads in Cod pre kick off enjoying the steak and chips special they did for a bit. Thought it was odd at the time seeing the chairman of the club in the local pub half an hour before kick off. Think he was sent on his 'scouting mission to Australia ' before we played at home again, the one he never returned from.

 

We have the best owners blessing us with the best run club in the country.
I don’t think sensible is the right word to describe owners who have decreased the fan base by over 50%.
Others might think differently.

 

It may have been the same time as when I saw one of the Cod lads order a steak and say to a supposedly undercover cop, who stuck out like a sore thumb, that he wouldn't Be able to afford things like steak and he might leave him a bit. The cops were after them in regard to a couple of cars which had been nicked and used to get to an away game.

 

City fans are fickle and the crowds are **** unlike so many clubs as you rightfully point out on a daily basis.
I have grown to appreciate the owners.

 

55% is rather impressive don't you think?