the sooner the better standing in seated areas is unsafe, I have fell over seats infront of me many times having a rail would stop my shins getting battered
Most supporters over 40 will remember the atmosphere generated at football matches back in the day when you could lite up a *** in public and not get sued. (I am a non smoker incidentally) Much like at live music clubs, the atmosphere became diluted when seats and no smoking arrived. I grew up associating Saturday afternoons with the sweet smell of tobacco and cigars, and in BCFC's case, the sweet smell of success. If I walk past a cigar in the street, its hard not to see Jimmy Mann blitzing Peter Shilton from 45 yards, or Keith Fear lobbing the Leeds Utd keeper, Joe Royal and Gert Meyer routing Middlesboro, or Clive Whitehead torturing the European Champions from Liverpool. And talking of Liverpool, an hour before kick off of the FA cup quarter against the mighty reds, gates locked on 37,000, with 5000 outside, You'll never walk alone being swayed to by both sets of fans, a sea of scarves festooning the open end that seemed to become one live, undulating entity, and the singing that brought a tear to the eye and made your blood pound through your veins. I hadnt seen anything like it before, and I havent since Yeah. Damned right...bring it all back. And Dicks too
Yeah, I guess Liverpool paid the ultimate price for that spectacle They were the best supporters around back in those days - intelligent, mostly peaceable, passionate but fair and sportsmanlike. A game against Liverpool was an experience you would never forget...and that was before you met Dalglish, Hansen, Keegan Hughes etc I'm just glad I got to see them in their pomp, along with many other legendary sides at AG. That was back at a time when football was pure, and real, and atmosphere played its part in making such a beautiful experience
