Away days in lower leagues

[claretnproud]

I used to love those days. For me it was 80s and 90s. Just turn up with your cash and pay in. I remember when we played stafford in the cup. Me and my mates got their for 11am and all pubs were closed as not allowing burnley fans in. We knocked on door and landlord answered. He looked us over and let us in, 5 of us. We ordered drinks and had a pint or 2 and were playing darts when landlord turned up with a big tray of cheese and crackers which were well received.
more and more burnley fans tried to get in and he asked us whether to let them in or not. We said they looked ok. Anyway, within an hour it was rammers and for next hour we were helping him pull pints and everything. As we left he thanked us and said it was his best ever day for takings in the pub. happy days. good craic.

[Devils_Advocate]

And now we have to plan in advance, do battle with the clubs ticketing system, pay top dollar and sit down. And if all that isn't bad enough we have to spend 90 mins straining our necks watching our defenders hoof it forward until the other team finally beats us.

When you put it like that claretnproud you can sort of understand why we get all the whinging negative posts on here

[fidelcastro]

When you put it like that claretnproud you can sort of understand why we get all the whinging negative posts on here

No you can't.

[ElectroClaret]

I used to like the run over to Scunthorpe, when they were at the old Showground.
There's a village called Gunness (sp?) that had a few pubs which were always full
of Clarets when we played.

Lincoln and Walsall were favourites, too.
Happy days indeed.

Rather be playing Chelsea and United, etc, though

[TVC15]

Never liked going to Lincoln - awful view and fans always liked a bit of trouble.

I went to Scarborough 4 times I think and got beat every time. The first time I went we were 30 minutes late because of traffic and already 3 nil down.

I remember wearing an expensive new white coat i’d Just got from Oggi on St James street and somebody at the burger bar spilling red ketchup all over it (by mistake)

Happy Days !!

[claretnproud]

I used to like the run over to Scunthorpe, when they were at the old Showground.
There's a village called Gunness (sp?) that had a few pubs which were always full
of Clarets when we played.

Lincoln and Walsall were favourites, too.
Happy days indeed.

Rather be playing Chelsea and United, etc, though

not forgetting those friday nights at our old friends stockport. boy, they really hated us

[Vegas Claret]

loved the old away days, hated the football for the most part - nothing like trundling all the way down to Southend and being 3-0 down after 20 mins....oh ah Beresford lol

[Rileybobs]

And now we have to plan in advance, do battle with the clubs ticketing system, pay top dollar and sit down. And if all that isn't bad enough we have to spend 90 mins straining our necks watching our defenders hoof it forward until the other team finally beats us.

When you put it like that claretnproud you can sort of understand why we get all the whinging negative posts on here

If you followed us away from home last season you would only have seen us lose 5 times. Is it any wonder you aren’t taken seriously on here?

[Devils_Advocate]

It wasnt a serious comment and its a footy messageboard so try not to take things on here too seriously as you'll only upset yourself

[Rileybobs]

It wasnt a serious comment and its a footy messageboard so try not to take things on here too seriously as you'll only upset yourself

You make countless negative comments so you’ll forgive me for thinking that this was a serious one. As for taking things seriously on here, anything but. As you say it’s a football messageboard, I just like to call put unsubstantiated rubbish when I see it posted.

[Devils_Advocate]

You make countless negative comments so you’ll forgive me for thinking that this was a serious one. As for taking things seriously on here, anything but. As you say it’s a football messageboard, I just like to call put unsubstantiated rubbish when I see it posted.

No I dont, im hardly ever negative. I criticise the people who dont have an opinion and just have a go at the posters who like a whinge but I dont moan myself as I dont take supporting Burnley seriously as others.

I'll have an honest opinion on things and that might be critical of certain things but im not just plain negative and my feelings are backed with a desire for the team to improve and do better. Unfortunately on this board if you have any opinion that is outside the status Quo you are lazily labelled as something you are not

Fortunately as said previously I dont take myself or anyone else that seriously on here so it doesnt matter or make a difference to me

[piston broke]

And if all that isn't bad enough we have to spend 90 mins straining our necks watching our defenders hoof it forward until the other team finally beats us.

At least they had the good grace to build the new longside with the roof sloping up so the ball is never out of sight. It has the double benefit of allowing the locals the occasional shower.

[Dark Cloud]

Had some cracking trips. Plymouth (more than once), Orient, Northampton, Stockport, York, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Maidstone (at Dartford), Brentford, Hereford, Torquay, Carlisle....the list is almost endless and all great beer days, however bad the team were and whatever the result, but as mentioned above, going to Scarborough was just hell on earth as we were absolutely garbage every single time!!

[ten bellies]

Had some cracking trips. Plymouth (more than once), Orient, Northampton, Stockport, York, Scunthorpe, Grimsby, Maidstone (at Dartford), Brentford, Hereford, Torquay, Carlisle....the list is almost endless and all great beer days, however bad the team were and whatever the result, but as mentioned above, going to Scarborough was just hell on earth as we were absolutely garbage every single time!!

Add in Cambridge, Exeter, Swindon, Oxford, Bristol Rovers (Bath), Gillingham, Doncaster and Swansea. Great trips, **** football. "Morecambe Clarets"

[Dark Cloud]

Add in Cambridge, Exeter, Swindon, Oxford, Bristol Rovers (Bath), Gillingham, Doncaster and Swansea. Great trips, **** football. "Morecambe Clarets"

Yep, did the Bristol Rovers at Bath one. Great day out and awful football!! As was usual! Also did Swansea (Vetch) after work on a Friday night and only saw the second half, but got charged full price!!!

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

Two local ones to throw in the mix Halifax and Rochdale also going to Chesterfield especially the Easter Monday game in 82

[NL Claret]

there were a few tasty affairs. Mansfield away in the promotion season and Chesterfield away when Mumby scored in a one nil win. Burnden Park.

It seemed to a teenage lad that 2 things usually happened when Burnley came to town. The prices on the turnstiles had been covered up and replaced with a new inflated price and all the locals would turn up to say hi!!

[Herts Clarets]

Crikey, many of the games or grounds mentioned here were the scene of bother of some kind or another.

Stafford - wall collapsed at half time and on the way down had an issue with ******* fans in a Renault 5 Turbo which ended up with an empty ale can launched into the front of their car. Think they were away at WBA that day
Scunthorpe - 1989 FA cup, our van got surrounded by Police and due to amount of ale on board we were escorted back to the M62 without even getting into the ground
Stockport - 1988 well documented but I went there in 85/6 when it poured down. 5 of us went in the stand and at half time Stockport fans took exception. Bit of a skirmish and we were escorted into the open end where we got soaked
Chesterfield 1982 - I was only 13 but remember Norman Jones on the pitch, someone on the top of the pie stall and a copper's helmet being thrown around the away end. We started the game to the left of the goal as you looked from the pitch with my Dad and ended up over by the right corner flag at the end of the game
Scarborough - got pulled on the way in with another car and a van in convoy and had my car turned inside out by the Police. That morning I had put new door seals on the car and fortunately remembered to put the screwdriver and Stanley knife back in the tool box or I would have been in a spot of bother. Got to the ground and there was bother from half time onwards with the Police.
Add onto that Rochdale and Hereford, both places I got my car smashed up and there is nearly a full house.

[Dark Cloud]

Good shout for Halifax and Rochdale and we seemed to play Chesterfield about 6 times a season back then. Stayed the week end and got absolutely soaked at Exeter and lost 4-1 which was a sadly typical away trip. As said, Mansfield WAS hairy, especially in the '92 promotion season when we were both up at the top of the table and they turned out in force (bolstered by Forest fans as they had no game) and really laid into us after we won 1-0 (Conroy)
Also played some "big" clubs back then who had fallen down the ladder (some rather more temporary than us!!) Wolves, Bolton, Sheffield Utd, Stoke, WBA, Hull. There are others.

[durhamclaret]

"One night in York" say no more!

[claretnproud]

there were a few tasty affairs. Mansfield away in the promotion season and Chesterfield away when Mumby scored in a one nil win. Burnden Park.

It seemed to a teenage lad that 2 things usually happened when Burnley came to town. The prices on the turnstiles had been covered up and replaced with a new inflated price and all the locals would turn up to say hi!!

mansfield away was like a war zone. Coaches nose to tail afterwards and battling in lumps between them. I came across an unconscious burnley fan who had been jumped by a group of around 40 mansfield thugs. I flipped and charged up the road to seek revenge. Eventually backed up by a larger group of clarets. It was a nasty game that and all my worst away days for trouble were at the lower league clubs in the midlands. Crewe, chesterfield,port vale, mansfield etc.. Of course Cardiff away was spicey in the car park after the game. policing at some games back then was a bit keystones cops.

[Lancasterclaret]

Rotherham away with that long alley from the away end to the road, with a scrapyard on the other side.

Getting police horses charging you as you are just trying to get out to get back to the station not fun.

Has to be said that anyone looking back on the days with a nostalgic chuckle for the bother probably needs to grow up a bit. I was frankly terrified whenever it kicked off, so god knows what it was like for the kids and everyone else who just wanted to watch their team lose....I mean play!

[claretnproud]

I personally went to follow the football and have a good day out. I was pretty incensed at mansfield and also had a lager too many. But the bother did add some spice back then when I was silly and stupid. I still think that those lower league days were great even though we were usually bobbins away from home.

[Lancasterclaret]

We were definitely bobbins both home and away!

[Sausage]

I remember going on the coach to Walsall in 1992. West Midlands plod boarded the coach at the Bescott to warn fans that no swearing or offensive gestures would be tolerated and fans would be ejected from the ground. As you can imagine, this was greeted with a chorus of "f**k off" and ****-hands.

Always loved the away end at Millmoor. Great acoustics. Never saw us take so much as a point there though. I also liked the Town End at Deepdale which was absolutely rocking that night in April 88.

The old Shay was terrific even though it was a complete dump. I can't remember what year it was (possibly 88 or 89) but Halifax had proudly refurbished the toilets in the away end shortly before the game. By the end of half time every bog was in a thousand pieces.

[boatshed bill]

I used to enjoy them. Now I don't like the cold. Also I've developed a PL style preference for vol au vents and prawn sandwiches over those industrial pies

[HiroshimaClaret]

The greatest of times when it felt like Claret was flowing through the veins!

Losing at Scarborough and fans wanting to be let out before half-time!
Peter Mumby`s `Van Basten` moment at the NEW and shiny Glanford Park
Walking to Rochdale
Leaving at half-time vs Bury 4- 0 down on Boxing Day?
All the way down to Exeter for it to be called off an hour before kick-off!
Showered with coin and rocks at Cardiff!
Losing to Gillingham on a Tuesday night then the coach breaking down in Crawshaw Booth around 2am.
"Paul Comstive!" in the Sherpa Van at Preston.
Losing 4-0 at Brighton (4-0) on New Years Day.
Throwing snowballs at the Shay.

York City away on a balmy spring evening...the greatest of away days

Wouldn`t change it for the world!

[claretnproud]

The greatest of times when it felt like Claret was flowing through the veins!

Losing at Scarborough and fans wanting to be let out before half-time!
Peter Mumby`s `Van Basten` moment at the NEW and shiny Glanford Park
Walking to Rochdale
Leaving at half-time vs Bury 4- 0 down on Boxing Day?
All the way down to Exeter for it to be called off an hour before kick-off!
Showered with coin and rocks at Cardiff!
Losing to Gillingham on a Tuesday night then the coach breaking down in Crawshaw Booth around 2am.
"Paul Comstive!" in the Sherpa Van at Preston.
Losing 4-0 at Brighton (4-0) on New Years Day.
Throwing snowballs at the Shay.

York City away on a balmy spring evening...the greatest of away days

Wouldn`t change it for the world!

remember all of that. I dont go away these days. I dont suppose transit vans are the prefered means of transport any more.

[NL Claret]

Who can forget our afternoon out in Moss Side in the division 2 days of October 1998.

The previous midweek city had played away at Millwall and had a bit of a to do as per. I think the locals were non too happy about getting a kicking down there so decided they would prove themselves against the clarets.

Sneaking a 2-2 draw in our cup final did nothing to improve the mood of the city fans. We were kept in for ages and eventually GMP decided it was safe. Coming out of the North stand I first noticed a number of smashed beer bottles and a line of GMP trying to keep a baying mob from getting to us. We're not talking 20-30 teenagers here. 100s of lunatics frothing at the mouth.

The walk back to the car included me and my brother both holding hands at the same time with my mates girlfriend whilst talking in broad mancunian accents once well way from the burnley coaches.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Who can forget our afternoon out in Moss Side in the division 2 days of October 1998.

The previous midweek city had played away at Millwall and had a bit of a to do as per. I think the locals were non too happy about getting a kicking down there so decided they would prove themselves against the clarets.

Sneaking a 2-2 draw in our cup final did nothing to improve the mood of the city fans. We were kept in for ages and eventually GMP decided it was safe. Coming out of the North stand I first noticed a number of smashed beer bottles and a line of GMP trying to keep a baying mob from getting to us. We're not talking 20-30 teenagers here. 100s of lunatics frothing at the mouth.

The walk back to the car included me and my brother both holding hands at the same time with my mates girlfriend whilst talking in broad mancunian accents once well way from the burnley coaches.

City read out a thank you letter from the Met police before the game which was met with ‘you soft b@stards’ by the clarets contingent certainly riled the home fans!!!!

Some great memories above thank god messageboards weren’t around then!

[South West Claret.]

On the question of always losing at Scarborough I do recall a very satisfying 1-0 win in midweek when John Francis score in the 1st minute I think, and remember worrying that we couldn’t possibly hang on till the end but of course we did.

I also think it was the rearranged game following the original one being postponed because of Scarborough hosting a Young Conservatives conference. The local police force couldn’t handle that and our game on the same day apparently

[cricketfieldclarets]

Remember Shrewsbury away... I watched it on teletext

[Dark Cloud]

mansfield away was like a war zone. Coaches nose to tail afterwards and battling in lumps between them. I came across an unconscious burnley fan who had been jumped by a group of around 40 mansfield thugs. I flipped and charged up the road to seek revenge. Eventually backed up by a larger group of clarets. It was a nasty game that and all my worst away days for trouble were at the lower league clubs in the midlands. Crewe, chesterfield,port vale, mansfield etc.. Of course Cardiff away was spicey in the car park after the game. policing at some games back then was a bit keystones cops.

Mansfield '92 we'd unusually gone in the car (me and Mrs). We made our way back to it after the match, which was bit hairy in itself, but were then stuck in the car park unable to move. A massive mob of Mansfield suddenly appeared ,thumping Burnley fans and moving from car to car and attacking any Burnley they could find. We were properly stuck and just feared the worst as they got closer when suddenly ONE lone copper rode onto the car park on a massive white horse. He yelled at the mob and charged them and they scattered. Weird and all rather dream like now, but very true!!

[claretnproud]

Mansfield '92 we'd unusually gone in the car (me and Mrs). We made our way back to it after the match, which was bit hairy in itself, but were then stuck in the car park unable to move. A massive mob of Mansfield suddenly appeared ,thumping Burnley fans and moving from car to car and attacking any Burnley they could find. We were properly stuck and just feared the worst as they got closer when suddenly ONE lone copper rode onto the car park on a massive white horse. He yelled at the mob and charged them and they scattered. Weird and all rather dream like now, but very true!!

fairly sure that would have been the mob I charged at. They were mainly teenagers but loads of them. I couldnt see how many as they were right across the road. They ended up running off but that Burnley fan they jumped was a mess.

[bfcjg]

Fantastic days terrible matches.

[NL Claret]

Was it called Quarry Lane behind the away end?

We were walking back to the car having passed a few bloody noses next to the coaches. There was a mob of them on a grass bank on the other side of the road, angry coal miner looking types. You were just waiting for the charge, bit of a quick retreat to find some snidy little Mansfield took a swing from behind me that I ducked. Could see a Claret about 100 yards ahead getting a good hiding with a massive road cone.

The Claret masses weren't far behind and joined a lone copper (maybe with a dog) in scattering the locals back over the field.

These are my vague memories as well as a lad at work on the Monday said it was going off before and after in the town centre and he spent the night in the cells!

[Dark Cloud]

We went into the town centre before the game and somebody had put "Clarets" stickers on all the bins and lamp posts. No wonder the locals were angry!

[Spijed]

Anyone remember St. James Park, Exeter?

Sitting far enough back in the stand and you couldn't even see one of the goals as it didn't go the full length of the pitch!

[RocketLawnChair]

Blackpool away was always a belting day out back then.

[claretnproud]

trying to remember the year. Wigan away. got train around 10 am. police said they were escorting us to the ground and they ended up hearding us in to ground around noon. me and my mate saw it coming and broke away from main group and found a pub. presuming a few reading this ended up in ground early. what a liberty by the police.

[Shappie]

Anyone remember St. James Park, Exeter?

Sitting far enough back in the stand and you couldn't even see one of the goals as it didn't go the full length of the pitch!

I was mascot there in 89!

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

trying to remember the year. Wigan away. got train around 10 am. police said they were escorting us to the ground and they ended up hearding us in to ground around noon. me and my mate saw it coming and broke away from main group and found a pub. presuming a few reading this ended up in ground early. what a liberty by the police.

February 84 it was blood freezing and it was the days when wearing a coat wasn't fashionable.

[Dark Cloud]

I know we did have some successes at Tranmere over the years, but every time I went we were utter bobbins!! That's a fixture I really don't miss!!!

[NL Claret]

Anyone remember St. James Park, Exeter?

Sitting far enough back in the stand and you couldn't even see one of the goals as it didn't go the full length of the pitch!

Springfield Park, Wigan was the same and another town with friendly locals. Awful afternoon there losing 5-1 under Waddle. Pies were decent.

And who could forget the first visit t'DW / JJB in 1999. That was an interesting afternoon, full of incident and somehow remained unscathed!

[expoultryboy]

Reading all the posts above bring back good and bad memories . I'm quite proud to have done 107 league grounds watching the clarets . Apart from york , Southend and them down the road , my favourite away day was Torquay .

[Spijed]

Springfield Park, Wigan was the same and another town with friendly locals. Awful afternoon there losing 5-1 under Waddle. Pies were decent.

And who could forget the first visit t'DW / JJB in 1999. That was an interesting afternoon, full of incident and somehow remained unscathed!

Who can forget going to Cardiff in the promotion season? A bit like standing on the Gaza strip, with fans being allowed onto the pitch after the game had finished.

I think Adrian Randall scored that game.

[HiroshimaClaret]

Who can forget going to Cardiff in the promotion season? A bit like standing on the Gaza strip, with fans being allowed onto the pitch after the game had finished.

I think Adrian Randall scored that game.

The greatest player ever to don a Burnley strip!!!!

Pre the game at Cardiff our coach was attacked after the driver took a wrong turn and we went past loads of pubs just as the local leek munchers were leaving. I think Randall put us 1 up and I remember the concensus being "OK, that`s enough. Don`t score another and really **** off the locals!" Up popped Conroy (?) to make it 2-0 and the home ends EMPTIED right behind our end and as you say, it was Gaza Strip esque. Scary stuff but we all knew after that game we were going up

[claretnproud]

The greatest player ever to don a Burnley strip!!!!

Pre the game at Cardiff our coach was attacked after the driver took a wrong turn and we went past loads of pubs just as the local leek munchers were leaving. I think Randall put us 1 up and I remember the concensus being "OK, that`s enough. Don`t score another and really **** off the locals!" Up popped Conroy (?) to make it 2-0 and the home ends EMPTIED right behind our end and as you say, it was Gaza Strip esque. Scary stuff but we all knew after that game we were going up

I was in the stand that day to your left as you looked at the pitch. Even old blokes and kids were throwing stuff at us in the stand. It was every man for themselves outside and I think our mini bus was one of the few that didnt get a window or 2 smashed.

[HiroshimaClaret]

I was in the stand that day to your left as you looked at the pitch. Even old blokes and kids were throwing stuff at us in the stand. It was every man for themselves outside and I think our mini bus was one of the few that didnt get a window or 2 smashed.

Was it St.David`s Day as well and they were on a good unbeaten run. The attendance that day was double their average, if memory serves.

p.s. just checked and there`s nowt wrong with my memory tonight!!!!!! That game was held on February 29th (leap year) and the leek men remember the death of David on March 1st.

[claretonthecoast1882]

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