My first match was in 1970, a reserve game played in glorious sunshine so I seem to remember.
the opposition escapes me, I was only eight years old. My first full season was 1971-72 and what
a season that was. Promoted as Champions to the old First Division for the first time.
Dad was and still is City through and through although he rarely visits Carrow Road these days he's
getting on a bit now at 83. They were great days, me and Dad standing on the River End Terrace and
if we thought we could get a better view in the South Stand, for a small fee you could get a 'transfer'
through a small turnstile. Does anyone else remember that ?
Games that stand out for me from that period are:
Beating Orient at Brisbane Road to secure promotion in 1971-72
Being part of the Yellow army that descended on Vicarage Road on the last day of that season.
Dave Stringer's goal against Crystal Palace in our last game in 72-73 to secure safety in our inaugral
season in the top flight, sending Palace down at the same time.
'Chelsea in the fog', the League Cup sem-final in 1973 when we were 3-1 up I believe with about 3 minutes
to go, the fog came down and the match abandoned. Heatbreak at the time but we did eventually win
the tie.
My first trip to Wembley for the 1973 League Cup final against Spurs, the match was a disappointment
and so was the stadium, it was a bloody dump then !
Things I miss about those days are:
1. Standing on the Terraces, It's a shame you young 'uns have never experienced the atmosphere of
standing on the terraces' especially at a midweek night game.
2. The little man with the hot oxo drinks wheeling his trolley around the outside of the pitch.
3. MacKintosh's Munchies Dad always used to buy me upon entering the ground.
4. Being able to get a 'transfer' to a different part of the ground as per earlier comment.
5. Senior players sitting in the main stand watching the reserves who would chat to you and sign your
autograph book, no problem.
6. John Bond's TV interviews; "You know Gerry, we were so good today it frightened me"
(that's Gerry Harrison, remember him?)
7. Turning up at the ground with no ticket (tickets were for big cup games only), and paying at the turnstile.
8. The F.A. Cup being regarded as THE trophy to win.
Things I DO NOT miss:
1. Hooliganism, the absolute fear when Millwall, Leeds, Chelsea, Man Utd, West Ham came to town.
2. The 'toilets', pissing up against a slimy green wall !
3. The acceptance of racist chanting, the call of 'trigger, trigger, trigger' from the back of the stand
and then practically the whole of the Barclay yelling 'Shoot that n****r!
4. Being searched by the Police for weapons as you entered the ground.
5. Being 'fenced in' like cattle to prevent pitch invasions and all out war with the opposition fans.
Given more time, I'm sure I could come up with a lot more 'likes' but not so many more 'dislikes'.
One more thing, who else remembers the A,B,C scoreboards where a liitle man would hang numbers
to denote the half-time scores around the country ?
OTBC
the opposition escapes me, I was only eight years old. My first full season was 1971-72 and what
a season that was. Promoted as Champions to the old First Division for the first time.
Dad was and still is City through and through although he rarely visits Carrow Road these days he's
getting on a bit now at 83. They were great days, me and Dad standing on the River End Terrace and
if we thought we could get a better view in the South Stand, for a small fee you could get a 'transfer'
through a small turnstile. Does anyone else remember that ?
Games that stand out for me from that period are:
Beating Orient at Brisbane Road to secure promotion in 1971-72
Being part of the Yellow army that descended on Vicarage Road on the last day of that season.
Dave Stringer's goal against Crystal Palace in our last game in 72-73 to secure safety in our inaugral
season in the top flight, sending Palace down at the same time.
'Chelsea in the fog', the League Cup sem-final in 1973 when we were 3-1 up I believe with about 3 minutes
to go, the fog came down and the match abandoned. Heatbreak at the time but we did eventually win
the tie.
My first trip to Wembley for the 1973 League Cup final against Spurs, the match was a disappointment
and so was the stadium, it was a bloody dump then !
Things I miss about those days are:
1. Standing on the Terraces, It's a shame you young 'uns have never experienced the atmosphere of
standing on the terraces' especially at a midweek night game.
2. The little man with the hot oxo drinks wheeling his trolley around the outside of the pitch.
3. MacKintosh's Munchies Dad always used to buy me upon entering the ground.
4. Being able to get a 'transfer' to a different part of the ground as per earlier comment.
5. Senior players sitting in the main stand watching the reserves who would chat to you and sign your
autograph book, no problem.
6. John Bond's TV interviews; "You know Gerry, we were so good today it frightened me"
(that's Gerry Harrison, remember him?)
7. Turning up at the ground with no ticket (tickets were for big cup games only), and paying at the turnstile.
8. The F.A. Cup being regarded as THE trophy to win.
Things I DO NOT miss:
1. Hooliganism, the absolute fear when Millwall, Leeds, Chelsea, Man Utd, West Ham came to town.
2. The 'toilets', pissing up against a slimy green wall !
3. The acceptance of racist chanting, the call of 'trigger, trigger, trigger' from the back of the stand
and then practically the whole of the Barclay yelling 'Shoot that n****r!
4. Being searched by the Police for weapons as you entered the ground.
5. Being 'fenced in' like cattle to prevent pitch invasions and all out war with the opposition fans.
Given more time, I'm sure I could come up with a lot more 'likes' but not so many more 'dislikes'.
One more thing, who else remembers the A,B,C scoreboards where a liitle man would hang numbers
to denote the half-time scores around the country ?
OTBC
