I did once when we played Spurs in the cup, the intention was to sit in silence and enjoy the game from the inside! Well that went out out of the window when we scored after about a minute, Micah Hyde I believe! The spurs fans around us were not impressed and for a moment I feared for our safety, Lucky for us we lost 5 - 2 I think. Can anyone remember when this game was, I had indulged in 1 or 2 too many shandy's and it's all a bit hazy? I can also remember shouting "he's a gooner" whilst pointing out my best mate who was an avid Arsenal fan, he was not impressed but seemed funny at the time!:
Sat at the wrong end at highbury in 2001 was chuffed all game having a laugh untill the 90th when arsenal scored the only goal, not fun
Oh yes the Spuds game Jan 99. We were in the Park Lane hospitality area. A fine lunch and drinks. So we got to our seats at 2:59, the game kicks off and I'm just wondering what I'd do if we score ......... And then after 52 seconds Jonno slots home!!! "Yes, Yes, Get in there" shout us 3 and a few others in front. The man behind growls "Sit down", and we say "OK, allow us our moment of glory". With Ben Iroha at left back (dunno where Robbo was), we were 3-2 down at half time, before fading to lose 5-2! A very surreal day as the others were in the away end chanting throughout. I think our moment lasted 5 or 10mins. A strange afternoon, but we enjoyed 31st May, just a few hectic months later! Never a dull moment.
I was in amongst that lot. Barry Dyson made his debut that game and scored a couple, one from about 30 yards. I believe that one of our number was menaced by a police horse.......or at least its saliva!
The worst away ends in my experience were at the smaller clubs, where segregation and policing were at their worst. A prime case was at the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge one Tuesday night when we were hammered 4-1 in the old 4th Division. I was literally danced on by the locals for about 5 minutes every time they scored. Not nice..... But my prime memory of a Horns fan in the wrong end was at West Ham in the Cup in 78. There were quite a few Watford in the 'South Bank' of the Boleyn Ground before kick-off until a group of around 100 Hammers 'fans' (without scarves it has to be said) installed themselves behind us.......very quietly. Being vastly experienced in the ways of the footie world, we gradually melted away to the sides and to anonymity, leaving just one poor specimen. He stood there alone, with scarf, badges, hat and duffel bag, occasionally singing and chanting, quite oblivious to the 10 yard empty gap around him and to the menacing hoard stood above him. By this time, no Watford fan could give him any warning for fear of being set upon themselves. At last the inevitable happened and it seemed the whole 100 or so Hammers 'fans' swooped down on him. Sadly the last I saw was him being carried out by the St John's Ambulance brigade in a crumpled and bloody heap, minus scarf, badges, bag and half his clothing. I have asked myself many times over the years whether I should have warned him. Always the answer is, "no of course not!". Discretion was always the better part of valour on the terracing in the 60s and 70s.
I could never do it! I get very emotional when we score and i have to wear my shirt showing!! I wear my heart on my sleeve at a match and would definately end up being kicked out.
Back in the early nineties when Graham "God" Taylor was in charge of England I went to see Norway V England without a ticket and went with my mate and his girlfriend. Tickets were aquired outside but there was two together and one single. Being the Gent I had the single ticket and stated we would all meet up afterwards. I made my way into the stadium five minutes after kick off to be greeted by a large Norway section all blond and in Viking helmets. Having paid for my ticket I took my seat and when Norway scored I cheered with the rest of the Vikings. After the match and a 1-1 draw the bloke next to me said you are not from Norway are you. How did you know I enquired ? Well you have jet black hair and new none of the songs. He shook my hand and wished me the best of luck. Good job we wernt playing Germany.
Been to Portman Road with Mrs GG lots of times- stood on the old Churchman's Stand, and in more recent times sat in the east stand along from the away block. Always find it very weird, seeing the travelling 'Orns singing away and not being part of it. Ipswich supporters not particularly bothersome, but make it clear they're not happy to see me. Having the missus with her Town colours on gives me a bit of leeway, I think. I'm always careful to cover my scarf going in, and when going for a p**s. I used to enjoy watching their great side - Muhren, Thyssen, Wark etc. In my teens me and my mate had brief glory hunting spell watching Chelsea on weekends when the 'orns weren't home. Osgood, Hudson, Bonnetti etc the Cup winning side. So I went to watch them at Highbury with a Gooner friend, and stood on the North Bank with a blue and white scarf on. I shudder to remember it now. I must have been brave, or very very stupid. Got away with it though.
Three of us ended up in the West Ham end in about 1984 - Watford won 4-2 and i think Barnesy scored a couple. We had one Hammers fan who wanted to spend the whole match talking to us and us trying not to say anything that would give our allegiance away. It was also difficult trying not to look happy when we scored! Sheffield Wednesday away in 1978-79 on The Kop was a frightening afternoon.
A went to the West Ham v Watford game in 2004 with a West Ham mate and sat with his mates. We were humped 4-0 and had some great banter with everyone around me. I don't think i bought a drink for the rest of the day after that. I was also in Sunderland for work Dec 1998 when Sunderland were playing Luton in the league cup qtr final and managed to get a ticket through some workmates. After a heavy session in the pub before the game i was more than half cut by the time we got in the ground. The jobsworth steward heard my accent and thought i was going to start trouble so dragged me into the away end assuming i was a scummer. The scummers thought i was some sort of returning hero but i spent the rest of the game hoping no-one would recognise me. Sunderland won 3-0 and my hangover was epic. I'm teetotal now before anyone asks.
I was at that game but in the away end. From my memory i think you were safer where you were because we were bombarded with missiles throughout the match!
