41 years ago today saw the coffin march to BP, it seems like just a few weeks ago, where does the time go? The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
The battle of Dock Street actually made the national news on radio the Monday after, and was described as skinheads vs greasers. I can't remember the year, so I'll take your word it was 72. I was 15 at the time and definitely not ITK. I've been informed since, that the gang waiting outside of Malcolms (cnr George St and Dock St) included an element of off-duty OB. Whatever, the years that followed were dangerous for city fans of a certain age even at home games, until the Psychos took up the baton in the late 70s..
It started in Malcolm’s club, a strange place where skins frequented up or downstairs and the rockers were in the other, it just kicked off at closing time, whoever thought it was a good idea to have that arrangement must have been very naive
Ah right, sounds like an insane arrangement, very naive. Didn’t the grebos also use Brickhouse - which was in Baker St or thereabouts? Perhaps that had closed by 1972.
I’m not 100% sure but the skins were in the club because Desmond Decker was appearing, so there were 100’s in there, but yes a crazy decision given the rivalry
Just a matter of interest, according to the map North stand is actually north west (and so on with others). Is that correct? Not suggesting they should rename them.
The description was wrong but just goes to show to what extent the authorities went too to turn it into a gang warfare battle. I don't recall ever seeing a greaser in Malcolm's and the skinhead trend had all but died out by the winter of 72. The heavy rock nights were held in The Georgian pub, next door to Malcolms and the bikers used to congregate there, usually midweek, from memory. I can well believe the story about 'off duty OB' being outside the disco at closing time on this particular night. I was there in the middle of it and the lads I was with had all been to Burnley that day to watch City. Most of the same lads, myself included, were victim of a police set up the Friday before. We used to drink in Star and Garter and this particular Friday night as we all left at closing time, 'someone' had placed a row of empty milk bottles across the doorway, meaning as we all tumbled out the glass bottles were kicked all over the street, by accident. Across the road from the pub were a row of derelict houses in those days and as the glass bottles shattered a posse of police suddenly appeared from the derelict houses and rounded us all up. Loads of us spent the night in the cells yet no-one was charged with an offence, instead they had every one of us now on record, names, address, mug shots etc.
Strictly speaking you are right, I guess it was done for simplicity if you say there is an NW stand then you might expect there to be a West stand which would be in the corner, so just easier to say North/South/East & West.
Simpkin looks well,Waggy looks his usual (dare I say it)'grumpy' self Both City legends back in the day,nice to see them enjoying a night out,so many others no longer with us...
Thought there'd be more 'ladies' at his table. The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
Waggy was the best inside forward (Old Money) in my 65 years of supporting City. Hernadez and Edwards come close, but Waggy should have really played at a higher level.