Question for our elders

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Hairy Mary Quite Canary

Hairy Mary Quite Canary

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2011
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Sydney Australia
Whilst most boards seem to be inundated by 12 yr olds, we seem to have a good portion of older (wiser if you'd prefer) contibutors on the Norwich board. I'm in my 30's and didn't go to Carrow Rd till the mid-eighties however, my question to our elders on here is how has going to Carrow Road changed since your visits in the 50s/60s? What do you look back on then in terms of atmosphere, songs, memories, away fans etc.
 
My first game was in the early 70's. The river end was an open bank terrace. My dad sat me on the wall at the back and I spent the whole game clinging on for dear life so I would fall the sixty feet or so into the turnstiles below - I was about three or four. I rememebr the game as being against York City, and we lost 4-3, the winning goal was a long range shot that went over keelan's head, hit the cross bar and bounced in off him. Trouble is that when I have looked online for the result it appears no such game happened - though the memory of falling was certainly real, as was having a humburger - a rare delicacy in those days.
 
I remember being passed down to the front of the South Stand with my home made stool, then being passed back up to my dad at half time and full time. Wooden rattles, now probably classed as deadly and dangerous.
My first game was against Bristol City in 1969, and when i got home, I proudly told my mum that we had won 1 - 1.

I also seem to remember David Cross wearing orange laces and standing out from the rest of the team.
I asked my dear old dad if we could go in the Barclay, and he said that I hadn't been brought up to pee up a bank in public!
 
Maestro said:
I remember being passed down to the front of the South Stand with my home made stool, then being passed back up to my dad at half time and full time. Wooden rattles, now probably classed as deadly and dangerous.
My first game was against Bristol City in 1969, and when i got home, I proudly told my mum that we had won 1 - 1.

I also seem to remember David Cross wearing orange laces and standing out from the rest of the team.
I asked my dear old dad if we could go in the Barclay, and he said that I hadn't been brought up to pee up a bank in public!
Click to expand...

Ay, decent folk didn't go in the Barclay.
During big games, when the ground was packed, I used to look at them crammed into the corner - that wasn't under the roof - and wonder why they didn't fall into the street.
 
I remember going in the late fifties to a game verses Sheffield United! I was in the middle of the South Stand with my Dad and we were completely surrounded by Sheffield fans who were very vocal in their support, but there was never a hint of trouble, in fact, when we scored, I was leaping around and yelling, and one of them grabbed me and said,"Calm down, boy, you'll do yourself a mischief!"
 
First game in 1959/60 standing at the River End, talk about Another Brick in the Wall, everyone adult male wearing a green gaberdine mac (belt compulsory) and a flat hat. Not too many women in those days. Not too many away supporters either. Then the 60's arrived and the Barclay Choir started and things changed completely.
Guys I had only hero worshipped from listening on the radio during the 59 cup run were now in front of me and that season of course we were promoted to the Second Division.
Didn't miss many games until 1974 when I went to live in NZ. And I used to go to Portman Road the other weekends to see First Division football. Not a traitor but it seemed a waste when ManU, Leeds, Spurs, Liverpool were 40 miles down the road not to go and see the Charltons, Moores of this world.
I could list many happy memories but two stand out. Returning from Leyton Orient after we had won promotion to the First Division and the 1985 Final when we finally won at Wembley. The First League Cup win was a two legged affair and we didn't really appreciate its future signifcance.
 
eeore said:
Ay, decent folk didn't go in the Barclay.
During big games, when the ground was packed, I used to look at them crammed into the corner - that wasn't under the roof - and wonder why they didn't fall into the street.
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Pardon me? ;) - I´ll have you know I only ever stood in the Barclay, only place to be for atmosphere in those (60´s) days, anyway didn´t fancy the thought of getting rained on. <laugh>
 
canary-dave said:
I remember going in the late fifties to a game verses Sheffield United! I was in the middle of the South Stand with my Dad and we were completely surrounded by Sheffield fans who were very vocal in their support, but there was never a hint of trouble, in fact, when we scored, I was leaping around and yelling, and one of them grabbed me and said,"Calm down, boy, you'll do yourself a mischief!"
Click to expand...

That must have been the game in our famous Cup run as at that time Sheff Utd were 2 leagues above us. In those days there was no chanting but most Clubs had their own songs - On The Ball City, Keep Right on to the end of the road, Blaydon Races etc etc. Most kids and some adults carried old wooden rattles as used on the railways to attract attention over the noise. I never thought about it at the time but looking back on it you find it difficult to understand why. The only seating was in the Main Stand which was a wooden construction with wooden benches to sit on - you could hire a cushion if you wanted. My Dad was disabled so if I went with him we used to sit in the main stand. In front of the main stand there was what I can only describe as a pit which was a standing area between the running track and the front of the main stand. My Grandad used to take me in there in the 50's and it was quite popular with families. The kids were put at the front and your eyes were then at pitch level with the adults standing behind - if my memory serves me correctly it was about 5 deep. The other 3 sides were just plain terracing with only the Barclay end being under cover and for that pleasure you paid an extra 6 old pence - about 2p in new currency. I cannot really remember the exact years but I can recall that for many years it never changed from 3 shillings ( 15p ) for the River End and South Stand. In 1960 when I turned 15 my Mum agreed that I was old enough to go on my own and I went to what was the most popular bit of the ground in the 60's - behind the River End goal. In the 60's they increased the capacity of the South Stand and put a roof over it which increased the overall capacity from 38000 to 44000. In the 70's they put seats in the South Stand and then built the new stand behind the River End - the rest is modern history. Us old codgers love talking about years gone by so fire away if you have any specific questions - I am sure one of us will know the answer.
 
redruthyella said:
First game in 1959/60 standing at the River End, talk about Another Brick in the Wall, everyone adult male wearing a green gaberdine mac (belt compulsory) and a flat hat. Not too many women in those days. Not too many away supporters either. Then the 60's arrived and the Barclay Choir started and things changed completely.
Guys I had only hero worshipped from listening on the radio during the 59 cup run were now in front of me and that season of course we were promoted to the Second Division.
Didn't miss many games until 1974 when I went to live in NZ. And I used to go to Portman Road the other weekends to see First Division football. Not a traitor but it seemed a waste when ManU, Leeds, Spurs, Liverpool were 40 miles down the road not to go and see the Charltons, Moores of this world.
I could list many happy memories but two stand out. Returning from Leyton Orient after we had won promotion to the First Division and the 1985 Final when we finally won at Wembley. The First League Cup win was a two legged affair and we didn't really appreciate its future signifcance.
Click to expand...

That reminds me of something else There was no great animosity between supporters in the 50's/early60's and there were a lot of people, especially if they lived in areas such as Diss or Lowestoft, who would go to Ipswich one week and Norwich the next. You only had to choose your ' true love ' when they played each other. This applied all over the Country. A mate of mine used to go to Everton one week and Liverpool the next. The tribalism only crept in around the mid 60's.
 
Memories Memories! Winning the first running of the League Cup - a 2 legged affair - We beat Rochdale in the final. I went to both legs and I seem to recall only 3 coachloads of us making the horrendous journey to Rochdale. Bear in mind that in those days the roads were so bad that the A11 out of Norwich went over the little bridge at Cringleford, through the village at Hethersett and straight through the middle of Wymondham etc etc. The subsequent failures in the finals against Spurs - a lot of their supporters dressed like something out of Clockwork Orange. I have never been so worried at a match in my life - and Villa. When we did win the bloody thing I was in hospital!!! The Orient match in 1972 when we went up to the top tier for the first time. My first wife was 10 days overdue with our first child but I still went - she never really forgave me - I'm sure that was the main reason she divorced me 20 years later.
 
The first time I went to Carrow Road was 1973 for the final of the old Texaco Cup! I was only knee high to a grasshopper back then and I don't remember much about the game only that Town won over 2 legs!
 
1950canary said:
That reminds me of something else There was no great animosity between supporters in the 50's/early60's and there were a lot of people, especially if they lived in areas such as Diss or Lowestoft, who would go to Ipswich one week and Norwich the next. You only had to choose your ' true love ' when they played each other. This applied all over the Country. A mate of mine used to go to Everton one week and Liverpool the next. The tribalism only crept in around the mid 60's.
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Have to disagree to a point! In Ray Crawford's book he describes how the Ipswich team in the early 60's went up to Carrow Road for a cup game and were met outside the ground by Norwich fans carrying coffins with banners reading "Your all gorna die today!"
 
At 43 im starting to feel quite young !<laugh>
Wooden stools & rattles were just before my time, but dad always took us in the old main stand with the wood seats <yikes> like thats not going to catch fire <doh>
 
johnnywarksmoustache said:
The first time I went to Carrow Road was 1973 for the final of the old Texaco Cup! I was only knee high to a grasshopper back then and I don't remember much about the game only that Town won over 2 legs!
Click to expand...

I went to both those legs. Didn't it piddle down for the second leg? And I'm certain the game at Portman Road was on a Friday night of all things. I remember that no-one gave a toss about trophy but NCFC v ITFC was full house both games.
 
redruthyella said:
I went to both those legs. Didn't it piddle down for the second leg? And I'm certain the game at Portman Road was on a Friday night of all things. I remember that no-one gave a toss about trophy but NCFC v ITFC was full house both games.
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It certainly proved to be a great spring board for us at the time. We won the FA Youth Cup in 1973 with the likes of Warky and Gates in the youth team. Shame I don't remember too much about that season as I was only a small kid at the time and I didn't appreciate the giant strides we were taking with that amazing team. I do remember getting Trevor Whymark's autoghraph and Kevin Keelan signed my program!
 
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