Darlington 44 years ago!

[Bashambauer]

One of the best ever away days!

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Pigs would have taken more.

 

[radio]

15 May
1982 Darlington 0 Blades 2
2003 Blades 4 Forest 3

 

[Dkc]

Okay, who was there? I was. Went up in a removal van after the Limit. So a night on the piss beforehand and no sleep.

Can't really remember much about the game apart from pitch invasions, people throwing up, blokes dressed as gorillas, overcrowding on the terraces, people up the floodlights.

Do remember a spread being laid on for us at a pub in Attercliffe when we finally got back. One bloke walked into the room where the food was on display and immediately vomited on the floor.

Good times.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

There were way more than 10,000 Blades there. I was in the main stand chatting with an older Darlo fan and reckoned about 18,000 in the crowd. Also the entrance via the cricket pitch was just a bloke in a sentry box type thing and he just had a bowl on his little window to collect the money. Many people walking by just handed him the money and loads of others just walked past without paying. He had that much cash coming at him he was frantically trying to keep it all together.

 

[GodricBlade]

As a 14 year old kid I travelled up on the football special train with my mates Michael Aldred (Minky) & Jamie Smith (Smit).

Things I remember:-
The journeys up & back on the train were madness.
The walk down to the ground was chaos.
The run across the cricket pitch (some sort of field anyway) to the ground was like a big party. We saw Smit’s Uncle Steve with his mates.
Being stood at the back of the stand holding onto the hoardings.
I wore a purple tank top.
Going mad when the goals went in.
Being on the pitch at the end.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Went with a great group of lads from the Old Harrow at Grenoside. Our minibus broke down on the M1 at Barnsley and we were sent a box van / removal truck as a replacement.

We picked up some lads in fancy dress on the way home and also got stopped by the coppers and told to lower the door on the back of the van.

What a fuckin great day.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

I was in the United Dressing Room (briefly) after the game. Climbed into the Director's Box in the main stand, went down the stairs, walked along the corridor, until I found the right door, lots of coming and going, so I walked in.

Eventually, Tony Kenworthy "asked" me to leave.

 

[KenT]

As a 14 year old kid I travelled up on the football special train with my mates Michael Aldred (Minky) & Jamie Smith (Smit).

Things I remember:-
The journeys up & back on the train were madness.
The walk down to the ground was chaos.
The run across the cricket pitch (some sort of field anyway) to the ground was like a big party. We saw Smit’s Uncle Steve with his mates.
Being stood at the back of the stand holding onto the hoardings.
I wore a purple tank top.
Going mad when the goals went in.
Being on the pitch at the end.

My and my mate were 1st off that train so slipped the escort. Mad day.

 

[Dkc]

I can also remember that we had a big bag of white power in the removal van which might explain the 48 hours without sleep.

 

[djbaldken]

Brilliant day.
I remember walking across the cricket pitch. My mate had made a crown with the words King Jeff written on it. It just so happened the players arrived at the same time. Jeff King saw what he'd made and took it off him to wear it himself and walked along side of us with it on.
The game itself is a blur. The fancy dress in the centre of the pitch before the match. Gorillas, Superman and all manner of costumes.Was there at least three referees on the pitch at kick off or am I imagining that?
The pitch invasion at the end. Porterfield attempting to speak to us from the directors box and being drowned out by the chanting of his name.
Great memories.

 

[Aston max]

I went up in my battered old Bedford CF van ( engine converted to a rover 3.5 ) with my best mate and a young lady ( of dubious reputation) who kept us busy at times, plus 10 24 packs from the whitbread brewery ( my mate worked on delivery's there ) by the time we got there we were absolutely pissed and sexually spent
Someone might be able to confirm this cos it's fuzzy , my mate still says 6 Middlesborough fans got chucked off the back of the open air stand we were in .
One of my absolute memories that I will take to my grave . Was the joy of the day.

 

[FreePaulRodgers]

Sat holding the corner flag all game .
Ran on the pitch to Tony Kenworthy to introduce my teddy Tony to him.
Surprised I didn’t get arrested ….

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Okay, who was there? I was. Went up in a removal van after the Limit. So a night on the piss beforehand and no sleep.

Can't really remember much about the game apart from pitch invasions, people throwing up, blokes dressed as gorillas, overcrowding on the terraces, people up the floodlights.

Do remember a spread being laid on for us at a pub in Attercliffe when we finally got back. One bloke walked into the room where the food was on display and immediately vomited on the floor.

Good times.

I was, went with my Dad as a 10 year old sat leant against the goal station where both goals scored absolutely magic

 

[ghandi]

Okay, who was there? I was. Went up in a removal van after the Limit. So a night on the piss beforehand and no sleep.

Can't really remember much about the game apart from pitch invasions, people throwing up, blokes dressed as gorillas, overcrowding on the terraces, people up the floodlights.

Do remember a spread being laid on for us at a pub in Attercliffe when we finally got back. One bloke walked into the room where the food was on display and immediately vomited on the floor.

Good times.

I was there but coudn't see anything had a great day out on the ale though.

 

[Cheets]

I was 12 and my mate's dad took us in the car. I was stood on the front row of the stand behind the goal with the roof and it was absolutely sweltering. I remember Darlington's players giving us a guard of honour. Can't remember seeing any Darlington fans. My mate's dad wouldn't let us invade the pitch as we'd got separated v Peterborough the week before. Every time I hear Kim Wilde's Kids In America it reminds me of that day as it was on in the car.

 

[Silent Blade]

Where was I?

My Norwich mate stayed at my house for the weekend and we bought North Stand tickets to watch Wendy v Norwich. Norwich needed a draw to clinch promotion as Leicester, six points behind, had two more games left. McCulloch gave Wendy the lead bit when Bertschin equalised, my mate jumped up from his seat and celebrated wildly despite that he made a promise not to cheer when Norwich score. We got looks from Wendy fans around us, one or two challenged him and I stepped in trying to calm things down!

At the end of the match Bannister scored the winner for Wendy which caused a big pitch invasion and one of the Wendy fans walked towards my Norwich mate challenging him for a fight. His mate pulled him away and I stepped in again asking him to calm down.

We then got news that Leicester drew 0-0 at home to Shrewsbury which confirmed promotion for Norwich but my Norwich mate was too traumatised to cheer or go back to his normal self. When we got back to his car, I told him that he could now celebrate but he was still too traumatised by Wendy's winner and the by the threats he got from the Wendy fans!

 

[S74Blade]

One of the best ever away days!

What a day that was. I lost my finger the week before against Peterborough at home. I jumped off the fence at the Kop end and my ring pulled it off by getting caught on the wire. I had it amputated at the Royal Hallamshire and discharged myself in midweek to ensure I could go to this game. I’m glad I did it was unreal

 

[Paisley Blade]

Went with a great group of lads from the Old Harrow at Grenoside. Our minibus broke down on the M1 at Barnsley and we were sent a box van / removal truck as a replacement.

We picked up some lads in fancy dress on the way home and also got stopped by the coppers and told to lower the door on the back of the van.

What a fuckin great day.

As a Greno lad I'd probs know some of your fellow travellers, although I'd just turned 17 at the time and was only just becoming a regular at pubs in the village. It was a source of great pride to me at the time that Tony, the landlord in the Harrow was a massive Blade and had a Blades crest behind the bar - behind enemy lines and all that!
I missed the Crewe/ Pboro(home) and Darlo games as I'd just broken in to the men's cricket team at my local club. Missing games due to to football attending was a big no no.
I did go to the Pboro away midweek game a few weeks earlier. That is still possibly the best away end I've ever been in.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

As a Greno lad I'd probs know some of your fellow travellers, although I'd just turned 17 at the time and was only just becoming a regular at pubs in the village. It was a source of great pride to me at the time that Tony, the landlord in the Harrow was a massive Blade and had a Blades crest behind the bar - behind enemy lines and all that!
I missed the Crewe/ Pboro(home) and Darlo games as I'd just broken in to the men's cricket team at my local club. Missing games due to to football attending was a big no no.
I did go to the Pboro away midweek game a few weeks earlier. That is still possibly the best away end I've ever been in.

Used to love it in the Old Harrow. I lived in Tinsley at that time and it was a really nice place to take my girlfriend for a drink. Tony was a great bloke and a really good landlord. I used to work with two regulars who went in the Harrow - Tony Bickers and Brian "Pearo" Pearson. I know Tony died many years ago but I lost touch with Pearo after I left my job. I also remember a bloke called John Smith who had the loudest voice I've ever heard at a football match. Another one of note was ex-Blade, Brian Richardson but I cant remember if he was on the trip to Darlington.
I was only 21 at that time and everyone made me feel very welcome as a fellow Blade. Great days.

 

[Paisley Blade]

Used to love it in the Old Harrow. I lived in Tinsley at that time and it was a really nice place to take my girlfriend for a drink. Tony was a great bloke and a really good landlord. I used to work with two regulars who went in the Harrow - Tony Bickers and Brian "Pearo" Pearson. I know Tony died many years ago but I lost touch with Pearo after I left my job. I also remember a bloke called John Smith who had the loudest voice I've ever heard at a football match. Another one of note was ex-Blade, Brian Richardson but I cant remember if he was on the trip to Darlington.
I was only 21 at that time and everyone made me feel very welcome as a fellow Blade. Great days.

Coincidences aplenty. My Dad was a Tinsley lad; 49 Newmarch Street. I used to love going to Granddad's and sitting in his old Anderson shelter in the back garden.
Granddad was a Tinsley club stalwart, and the reason why our family is red and white.He was best mates with one of our players, Albert Nightingale in the forties/fifties. He got me and my 3 brothers our membership and CIU cards on our 18th birthdays. This involved donning a suit and tie and rocking up in front of the Committee.

' No swearin and no feytin' were their orders, job done and here's your card!

 

[Silent Blade]

What a day that was. I lost my finger the week before against Peterborough at home. I jumped off the fence at the Kop end and my ring pulled it off by getting caught on the wire. I had it amputated at the Royal Hallamshire and discharged myself in midweek to ensure I could go to this game. I’m glad I did it was unreal

I remember reading in the Star on the following Monday about a Blade losing his finger climbing over the fence.

 

[Kenilworth]

I went with the official supporters club coaches. I still have my ticket for the coach in a box, somewhere. I have very sketchy memories of the event but it was a great day out. Seems very tame to others recollections

 

[djbaldken]

Brilliant day.
I remember walking across the cricket pitch. My mate had made a crown with the words King Jeff written on it. It just so happened the players arrived at the same time. Jeff King saw what he'd made and took it off him to wear it himself and walked along side of us with it on.
The game itself is a blur. The fancy dress in the centre of the pitch before the match. Gorillas, Superman and all manner of costumes.Was there at least three referees on the pitch at kick off or am I imagining that?
The pitch invasion at the end. Porterfield attempting to speak to us from the directors box and being drowned out by the chanting of his name.
Great memories.

Just been out for a meal with above mate. Mentioned about his King Jeff crown. Apparently he's STILL got it up in his loft somewhere.!!!

 

[dingledog]

Okay, who was there? I was. Went up in a removal van after the Limit. So a night on the piss beforehand and no sleep.

Can't really remember much about the game apart from pitch invasions, people throwing up, blokes dressed as gorillas, overcrowding on the terraces, people up the floodlights.

Do remember a spread being laid on for us at a pub in Attercliffe when we finally got back. One bloke walked into the room where the food was on display and immediately vomited on the floor.

Good times.

I was there.

 

[Bell4]

I didn’t go

I was on a promise from a receptionist at a hotel in Huntingdon I’d met in a Cambridge club after the 4-0 away win at Peterborough. Nice girl .

Nearly broke her back (remember she had hair like Jeff King )

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I was 13 & went up on the football special with my mates , just incredible scenes near the ground with thousands of Blades converging on Feethams .
Word went round that the police were gonna close the turnstiles & loads were climbing over the walls . I was sat on the pitch next to the goalpost constantly mithering Keith Waugh asking if he’d give me his keepers gloves after the game ..the test never did .
Inside the ground I was pissing myself at the lads in fancy dress . At the the end the inevitable mass pitch invasion & celebrations & the football special back home was carnage . For lads my age it was the first bit of success I’d seen Utd have & it’s still probably my fav Blades day out . Great times & scenes you’ll never see again

 

[The Fox]

I was 15 , and one of those on the pic at pitchside . A great day .

I remember going through the turnstile to be confronted by a cricket pitch with a football ground in the far corner .

Mad day with no apparent crowd restrictions or ticket allocation, for that reason will never be repeated.

 

[djbaldken]

I didn’t go

I was on a promise from a receptionist at a hotel in Huntingdon I’d met in a Cambridge club after the 4-0 away win at Peterborough. Nice girl .

Nearly broke her back (remember she had hair like Jeff King )

I went to the four nil away at Peterborough match too. Took as long to get off their car park after the match as the match lasted. Got down A1 to Ram Jam inn just in time for last orders. It was ram jam full of blades!
As I recall there had been a lot of talk in press pre match from their manager about how they were gonna slaughter us. He obviously didn't realise how much Morris and Edwards were going to tear them apart.

Sounds like you didn't even have to come from behind with the receptionist.

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

I went to the four nil away at Peterborough match too. Took as long to get off their car park after the match as the match lasted. Got down A1 to Ram Jam inn just in time for last orders. It was ram jam full of blades!
As I recall there had been a lot of talk in press pre match from their manager about how they were gonna slaughter us. He obviously didn't realise how much Morris and Edwards were going to tear them apart.

Sounds like you didn't even have to come from behind with the receptionist.

We had a Christmas biscuit tin with pub signs on it and I remember the Ram Jam Inn being on it. I was quite excited when we actually drove past it, not sure which match I was going to though.