Blades fans causing havoc at Bristol in 1977

[Silent Blade]

Just unearthed a newpaper ariticle about the Blades fans causing havoc at Weston Super Mare on the day we played Bristol Rovers at Eastville. The last sentence amused me. Were any of you there?

UNTED FANS IN TRAIL OF TERROR AT WESTON.
Sheffield United club secretary Keith Walker denounced as ‘disgusting’ the behaviour
of fans who had smashed up a pub and a seafront zoo in Weston-super- Mare on a weekend trip to watch the Blades last match of the season, a 3-1 defeat against Bristol Rovers.
Nine people were arrested for offences ranging from assault to burglary.
Trouble first flared after Rovers fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game.
There was a fight and a stone throwing battle in a car park.
Many Blades fans had stayed in Weston on the Friday night before the game and went back to the resort after the match.
At the pub, fans in a group of 50 smashed windows and glasses, set off fire extinguishers and helped themselves to drinks.
At the zoo, fish tanks were smashed, and a monkey was released.
The monkey walked back into the zoo five hours later.

 

[Esablade]

..I forgot they had a zoo..

 

[Grecian2000]

I was at the match but not the party afterwards.

I believe Raul was there, says he's never been made so welcome simply walking into a zoo.

 

[Dkc]

What were they doing in the zoo and how did they manage to release the monkey? Did they put a Blades shirt on it before it went into the town? I think we need more details.

I do remember Blades fans untying the ropes connecting boats to the jetty at Torquay harbour, which meant the boats floated off unmanned. Some fans also released a pig outside Hillsborough once.

Can't see our young fans getting up to such antics today, they're too busy posting on social media to get up to much mischief

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

Can't see our young fans getting up to such antics today, they're too busy posting on social media to get up to much mischief

Thankfully. Sounds like progress to me.

 

[Lane Ender]

What were they doing in the zoo and how did they manage to release the monkey? Did they put a Blades shirt on it before it went into the town? I think we need more details.

I do remember Blades fans untying the ropes connecting boats to the jetty at Torquay harbour, which meant the boats floated off unmanned. Some fans also released a pig outside Hillsborough once.

Can't see our young fans getting up to such antics today, they're too busy posting on social media to get up to much mischief

There was a coach full from the Big Tree Woodseats stayed over at Weston they were all in fancy dress at least half a dozen in gorilla outfits.
They let the animals out.

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Just unearthed a newpaper ariticle about the Blades fans causing havoc at Weston Super Mare on the day we played Bristol Rovers at Eastville. The last sentence amused me. Were any of you there?

UNTED FANS IN TRAIL OF TERROR AT WESTON.
Sheffield United club secretary Keith Walker denounced as ‘disgusting’ the behaviour
of fans who had smashed up a pub and a seafront zoo in Weston-super- Mare on a weekend trip to watch the Blades last match of the season, a 3-1 defeat against Bristol Rovers.
Nine people were arrested for offences ranging from assault to burglary.
Trouble first flared after Rovers fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game.
There was a fight and a stone throwing battle in a car park.
Many Blades fans had stayed in Weston on the Friday night before the game and went back to the resort after the match.
At the pub, fans in a group of 50 smashed windows and glasses, set off fire extinguishers and helped themselves to drinks.
At the zoo, fish tanks were smashed, and a monkey was released.
The monkey walked back into the zoo five hours later.

Least we don't have to put up with too much shit like this anymore - even though things have taken a turn for the worst on the pitch.

 

[Pedro Verde]

I was there that night but did not partake in any of the vandalism etc
Think there were about 6 coaches stopped there that night

 

[sitwell]

I was there and to say that is exaggerated is an exaggeration Just a bit of high spirits , maybe a few glasses and a window migt have got smashed but nothing really. Coppers came from all over and found there was nothing to do but round Blades up and shepherd them out of the resort ,there was nowt there anyway in those days. This was early on in the night as I remember and we were staying in a B and B so couldn't really be run out of town. Ended up in a shit spit and sawdust pub and never saw a female all night, one of the worst away days ever. We always went to Worcester when we played in Bristol after that but never liked it there very much ,even ended up in a Black Mariah with Paul Heaton ,nonpatronwanker.

 

[Silent Blade]

What were they doing in the zoo and how did they manage to release the monkey? Did they put a Blades shirt on it before it went into the town? I think we need more details.

Looks like the zoo keepers took out the key lock from the cage during feeding time and this was spotted by the person/people who then released the monkey? wouldnt have happened nowadays

 

[vorpal blade]

Erm, anyone remember letting a couple of beavers out?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ear...-can-stay-in-Devon-rules-Natural-England.html

 

[DHeppenstall]

I was at the match but not the party afterwards.

I believe Raul was there, says he's never been made so welcome simply walking into a zoo.

Surely he would have been at anfield or any of the other clubs he supports

 

[Pedro Verde]

The coppers lifted my mate that night when we were on the coach waiting to leave
A barmaid from the pub came on the coach and picked him out as being in the pub that night so it was good enough to get
him a night in the cells. Coppers let him go on the Sunday they didnt charge him as there was no evidence he had caused any damage, he wasnt even in the pub when the trouble started he had been in earlier

 

[Aston max]

I was there and to say that is exaggerated is an exaggeration Just a bit of high spirits , maybe a few glasses and a window migt have got smashed but nothing really. Coppers came from all over and found there was nothing to do but round Blades up and shepherd them out of the resort ,there was nowt there anyway in those days. This was early on in the night as I remember and we were staying in a B and B so couldn't really be run out of town. Ended up in a shit spit and sawdust pub and never saw a female all night, one of the worst away days ever. We always went to Worcester when we played in Bristol after that but never liked it there very much ,even ended up in a Black Mariah with Paul Heaton ,nonpatronwanker.

sorry best away days 70 s n early 80s still blackpool 200 a side footie on the beach can anyone remember some blades chasing rangers fans on the beach from middle pier to north pier my mate says it happened but as usual I would have been pissed (make love not war that was my motto back then )

 

[Dkc]

I'm sure Weston Super Mare has been visited by unruly Blades on more than one occasion when we've played in Bristol

 

[dublin 10 blade]

sorry best away days 70 s n early 80s still blackpool 200 a side footie on the beach can anyone remember some blades chasing rangers fans on the beach from middle pier to north pier my mate says it happened but as usual I would have been pissed (make love not war that was my motto back then )

If it was in the 4th was a few Sunderland , and Derby fans that got clipped , got my collar felt at that game .
It's a long walk from manor top to Mosboro when you've had a few .

 

[Aston max]

Erm, anyone remember letting a couple of beavers out?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ear...-can-stay-in-Devon-rules-Natural-England.html

had a few beavers out back of pond street baths

 

[Aston max]

The coppers lifted my mate that night when we were on the coach waiting to leave
A barmaid from the pub came on the coach and picked him out as being in the pub that night so it was good enough to get
him a night in the cells. Coppers let him go on the Sunday they didnt charge him as there was no evidence he had caused any damage, he wasnt even in the pub when the trouble started he had been in earlier

I have just been reminded of Bristol games we once went to bath after a game full of students

 

[BladeFisher]

There was a coach full from the Big Tree Woodseats stayed over at Weston they were all in fancy dress at least half a dozen in gorilla outfits.
They let the animals out.

Perhaps the monkey thought it was on a date!

 

[Bladesman]

Erm, anyone remember letting a couple of beavers out?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ear...-can-stay-in-Devon-rules-Natural-England.html

 

[Phantom]

I was born in 1974 and lived in Weston-super-Mare all my life, have to admit I never knew we had a zoo in the town???

Was it actually a zoo?

 

[Bladeloyal]

I was born in 1974 and lived in Weston-super-Mare all my life, have to admit I never knew we had a zoo in the town???

Was it actually a zoo?

Bristol zoo ,them were the days lol

 

[Rusty view]

I do remember Blades fans untying the ropes connecting boats to the jetty at Torquay harbour, which meant the boats floated off unmanned.

My dad has told me this story so many times. He obviously denies any involvement.

 

[bristolboy]

Just unearthed a newpaper ariticle about the Blades fans causing havoc at Weston Super Mare on the day we played Bristol Rovers at Eastville. The last sentence amused me. Were any of you there?

UNTED FANS IN TRAIL OF TERROR AT WESTON.
Sheffield United club secretary Keith Walker denounced as ‘disgusting’ the behaviour
of fans who had smashed up a pub and a seafront zoo in Weston-super- Mare on a weekend trip to watch the Blades last match of the season, a 3-1 defeat against Bristol Rovers.
Nine people were arrested for offences ranging from assault to burglary.
Trouble first flared after Rovers fans invaded the pitch at the end of the game.
There was a fight and a stone throwing battle in a car park.
Many Blades fans had stayed in Weston on the Friday night before the game and went back to the resort after the match.
At the pub, fans in a group of 50 smashed windows and glasses, set off fire extinguishers and helped themselves to drinks.
At the zoo, fish tanks were smashed, and a monkey was released.
The monkey walked back into the zoo five hours later.

Would that "monkey" by any chance have been wearing a donkey jacket, flares, "bovver boots" and a blue and white scarf tied round his, sorry, it's wrist?

 

[Silent Blade]

Would that "monkey" by any chance have been wearing a donkey jacket, flares, "bovver boots" and a blue and white scarf tied round his, sorry, it's wrist?

The monkey was a Bristol City fan coming back home from Middlesbrough (I have just checked that Bristol City were playing at Ayresome Park on 14/5/77) which explains why he came back to his cage 5 hours later!

 

[bristolboy]

The monkey was a Bristol City fan coming back home from Middlesbrough (I have just checked that Bristol City were playing at Ayresome Park on 14/5/77) which explains why he came back to his cage 5 hours later!

Would a monkey make it to Middlesboro AND back?

 

[bristolboy]

Or is that just Hartlepools??

 

[dn5 shaun]

sorry best away days 70 s n early 80s still blackpool 200 a side footie on the beach can anyone remember some blades chasing rangers fans on the beach from middle pier to north pier my mate says it happened but as usual I would have been pissed (make love not war that was my motto back then )

I remember Blackpool well always loved it, i thought it was donkeys they were chasing on the beach and 200 a side? more like 400 a side, i never saw ball never mind kicked it. Went once 87ish on the 6 am train when we got to ground after a few drinks they only had one turnstile open didnt get in till 15:40 think it was Dane Whitehouses debut could be wrong thought as i usually am.. just ask the wife

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I remember Blackpool well always loved it, i thought it was donkeys they were chasing on the beach and 200 a side? more like 400 a side, i never saw ball never mind kicked it. Went once 87ish on the 6 am train when we got to ground after a few drinks they only had one turnstile open didnt get in till 15:40 think it was Dane Whitehouses debut could be wrong thought as i usually am.. just ask the wife

Year later 1988, October time, and yes Dane Whitehouse did make his debut that day if i remember correctly. Ditto got into the game late, possibly 15:20

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Or is that just Hartlepools??

Wouldn't have made it back. He'd have hung around ...