Wasted journeys

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:48 pm

We have all had them , worst are away games when they are postponed or abandoned, same at home when you hear the news just as you get to the pub etc. Queuing for tickets only to miss out ( in the old days before on line ) but nothing beats what this poor sod went through.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58128773

Bosscat · Post by **Bosscat** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:54 pm

This reminded me of the Python sketch in the Travel agents

https://youtu.be/to22rRnK7gE

duncandisorderly · Post by **duncandisorderly** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:56 pm

Cats are *****.

Loyalclaret · Post by **Loyalclaret** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 1:59 pm

I'm not sure at least he wasn't at Watford or Reading in the rain...
.

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:24 pm

going on the transfer thread !

Guller Bull · Post by **Guller Bull** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:31 pm

Liverpool midweek night cup match a few year ago? Torrential rain.

Got all the way from Scotland and parked up. walking to towards the ground near the 100 Club and a policewoman said "Games Off!"

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:32 pm

Grosicki on that jet

This dude, maybe it was bat Dignitas

aclaretinstevenage · Post by **aclaretinstevenage** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:55 pm

Guller Bull wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:31 pm
Liverpool midweek night cup match a few year ago? Torrential rain.

Got all the way from Scotland and parked up. walking to towards the ground near the 100 Club and a policewoman said "Games Off!"

Same game - 240 miles from home just coming off the M65 and the radio saying the game was in doubt. Got to the stadium game off, FML!!

Jimi Traore own goal in the rescheduled match wasn't it? So funny i've no idea what he was trying to do.

Les Lawrence · Post by **Les Lawrence** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 2:59 pm

Exeter away

Devils_Advocate · Post by **Devils_Advocate** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 3:33 pm

There were a fair few under Cotterill when the game went ahead

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 3:38 pm

Liverpool at home in the cup when the Bod Lord roof was overflowing where the groundsman was attempting to mark the line, it was about 4 foot wide !

Taffy on the wing · Post by **Taffy on the wing** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 3:54 pm

Getting out of bed to check the Transfer thread on here.

diamondpocket · Post by **diamondpocket** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 3:58 pm

Remember Watford away one year in The Championship. That was a killer, think we were actually in the ground too when it was announced as being off

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:21 pm

Chelsea away FA cup late 1970s, postponed due to waterlogged pitch.
Didn't go to the rearranged match, just as well, we got stuffed 6 -1.

aclaretinstevenage · Post by **aclaretinstevenage** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:22 pm

We were, the heavens opened then the Ref came out to do the old roll the ball around a bit trick and it was evident he was going to call it off at that point. Quite local to me but for the hordes who travelled from the North it must have been a real pain!

Top Claret · Post by **Top Claret** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:36 pm

Barnsley and Rotherham away back in the bad old days.

Newcastle and the Chelsea Cup game in the 70s both away

HahaYeah · Post by **HahaYeah** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:40 pm

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:21 pm
Chelsea away FA cup late 1970s, postponed due to waterlogged pitch.
Didn't go to the rearranged match, just as well, we got stuffed 6 -1.

Was 6-2.

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:42 pm

my daily visits to the Summer 2021 Transfer Window Rumours - Links - Discussion thread on here.

gawthorpe_view · Post by **gawthorpe_view** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:43 pm

HahaYeah wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:40 pm
Was 6-2.

Correct, would have edited but not quick enough.

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:51 pm

Set off to Stoke once and never made it due to problems on the M6. Think it was the promotion season under Ternent when Payton scored.

NickBFC · Post by **NickBFC** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:52 pm

Travelled from W Sussex to Burnley against Norwich I think, called off not long before kick off with torrential rain. Same happened for another home game, that was longer notice so went to watch another game on the way home.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:57 pm

Hull at home, late70s/early80s. Travelled up from London. Snow everywhere but assured by the club that every thing's fine in Burnley. Got there, game still on, even Hull fans present. Then the game's called off because the Hull team coach couldn't get across the Pennines. They'd left too late. Were we happy!

XDS · Post by **XDS** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:20 pm

Chesterfield away think it was new years day, we were sat in their supporters club bar when a bloke just stuck a piece of paper on door saying cancelled

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 5:50 pm

I think the Hull game I referred to above was the 1983/84 John Bond season.

This is a Sheffield United perspective of the match when finally played:

https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/bur ... ies.29459/

I sat in the Bob Lord stand for the one and only time. Think Alan Taylor played for Hull that night and possibly Tony Norman too.

Fenwick · Post by **Fenwick** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:19 pm

Don't know if it's true, but didn't a young 'famous' socialite get a taxi across London to go to a Chelsea game but ended up at the wrong Stamford Bridge ? The one near York !

Peter Loo · Post by **Peter Loo** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:27 pm

HahaYeah wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:40 pm
Was 6-2.

Yes and if my memory serves me right we scored 1st and last.

edlass · Post by **edlass** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:33 pm

I definitely can't call this a wasted journey due to the circumstances but it might fit here.

I lived in Salford and one typical Saturday myself and my Dad set off like we always did into Manchester to get the x43 to watch us at home vs QPR. We found out when we arrived in town that the buses had been cancelled from deansgate due to mardi gras or some big event. We didn't know any other method so we spoke to a taxi driver who ummd and aahd and said 60 quid so we decided not to go and headed home. It was only once we had arrived home we found out a young Qpr player had died and the match had been cancelled. It was a strange day and certainly put our journey into perspective.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:44 pm

I remember when we were due to play Wimbledon (?) at the Turf and it was called off due to high winds, the speakers in the Jimmy Mac were deemed a risk as they were swaying a bit.

Goodclaret · Post by **Goodclaret** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:15 pm

As mentioned above, Exeter away was a killer. I was on a supporters bus and I'm sure we were only half an hour away when it filtered through on t'wireless that the game was off.

Plenty of other wasted journeys in the "good old days" but that was due to the games going ahead

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:33 pm

Oxford away in the FA Cup. Must have been in the late 60s. Got to the ground in time for them to call it off

The pitch was frozen and it should have been called off the day before IMHO.
We lost the match 3-0 eventually.

Herts Clarets · Post by **Herts Clarets** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:23 pm

2 already mentioned, Watford away in 2000 though the saving grace was I didn't have too far to drive home. And Liverpool in the cup when I was in the Centre Spot for a pre match pint when the game was called off.

IanMcL · Post by **IanMcL** » Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:19 pm

Exeter and Watford def there. Went up for an Easter weekend match away to Rochdale and that was waterlogged and off when I got to the ground, from Skipton B&B.

Then there was the long trip to Derby in the fog...abandoned. Repeat.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:13 am

NickBFC wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 4:52 pm
Travelled from W Sussex to Burnley against Norwich I think, called off not long before kick off with torrential rain. Same happened for another home game, that was longer notice so went to watch another game on the way home.

I think that might have been the one that was very late. We'd left the pub and were walking up to the ground when it was called off.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:14 am

CaptJohn wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:33 pm
Oxford away in the FA Cup. Must have been in the late 60s. Got to the ground in time for them to call it off
The pitch was frozen and it should have been called off the day before IMHO.
We lost the match 3-0 eventually.

1971 at Oxford. We went by coach and Jimmy Adamson flagged us down going through Banbury where the team were staying.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:20 am

Any trip to the Etihad......most memorable though quarter final cup game at Watford. Abysmal......

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:42 am

Fenwick wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 6:19 pm
Don't know if it's true, but didn't a young 'famous' socialite get a taxi across London to go to a Chelsea game but ended up at the wrong Stamford Bridge ? The one near York !

A less famous, perhaps infamous, member of the London Clarets told us in his early days he went to see Tottenham against Burnley somewhere near Tottenham Court Road tube station (which is in the West End of London).

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:56 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 12:14 am
1971 at Oxford. We went by coach and Jimmy Adamson flagged us down going through Banbury where the team were staying.

Saw a bit Of Jimmy Adamson managing Sunderland in their game at Spurs on a recent Big Match Revisited (season 3 episode 16). He was sitting in the stands smoking. Don't remember seeing him smoking before but that might just be that it was not uncommon therefore unremarkable.

Lots of Burnley interest in this game - Docherty and Waldron playing, Collins their sub, Merrington coaching on the bench, and Coates playing for Spurs. Other games had Nulty playing for Newcastle, Alan Taylor for West Ham, Reeves for Norwich (managed by Bond), Gow for Bristol City (hit the post with a super shot) - former or future Burnley players for every team!

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:13 am

Derby in the fog...a wasted Journey....but it wasn't really fantastic atmosphere " Come on you Fog"....set us up for one of the best away games I have ever been to watching us away,the atmosphere was brilliant that day and our support got national acclaim...I loved the Mullen era.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:15 am

Hipper wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 7:56 am
Saw a bit Of Jimmy Adamson managing Sunderland in their game at Spurs on a recent Big Match Revisited (season 3 episode 16). He was sitting in the stands smoking. Don't remember seeing him smoking before but that might just be that it was not uncommon therefore unremarkable.

Lots of Burnley interest in this game - Docherty and Waldron playing, Collins their sub, Merrington coaching on the bench, and Coates playing for Spurs. Other games had Nulty playing for Newcastle, Alan Taylor for West Ham, Reeves for Norwich (managed by Bond), Gow for Bristol City (hit the post with a super shot) - former or future Burnley players for every team!

I don't think Adamson taking Docherty, Waldron and Collins to Sunderland did him any favours to be honest. Unpopular at Sunderland and then loathed at Leeds. In that Adamson team at Burnley I think Keith Newton was the heaviest smoker but it wasn't uncommon to see footballers smoking then.

I always enjoy watching Big Match Revisited if there are any ex-Clarets playing.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:19 am

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:15 am
I don't think Adamson taking Docherty, Waldron and Collins to Sunderland did him any favours to be honest. Unpopular at Sunderland and then loathed at Leeds. In that Adamson team at Burnley I think Keith Newton was the heaviest smoker but it wasn't uncommon to see footballers smoking then.

I always enjoy watching Big Match Revisited if there are any ex-Clarets playing.

Was it true Jimmy fell out with Mr Lord ?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:25 am

joey13 wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:19 am
Was it true Jimmy fell out with Mr Lord ?

Very much so

Bfc · Post by **Bfc** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 10:39 am

Setting off for WHU away in the 60s, on Central Motors coach. Burnley was covered in snow, but if memory is right, we got as far as the Central garage at Whitegate Padiham, where it was decided, we couldn't go any further. A few including Dennis Orr, got a train and saw the match. He later said to me, there was no snow past Padiham.

RammyClaret61 · Post by **RammyClaret61** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 10:49 am

Another for West Ham. 70’s. Viscount Central coach on a bloody cold morning. Arrived Upton Park about 2:40, just as they were hanging the “MATCH POSTPONED” sign on the gate. Coach didn’t stop, just carried on past and headed home. We tried to get the drivers to let us go to Arsenal v Forest I think it was. After stopping at a phone box for permission. He told us we couldn’t. Straight home it was.

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:00 am

A few years ago in Belgrade Serbia v Ireland , now the day before the sun was beating down then on match day the hevans opened and poured it down for most of the day . Now the word was the game was off and they were to play the game the day after but had flights booked and had to be back at work so was going to miss it .
Then and hour before kick off time word came in that the game was to go ahead as it stopped raining we drew 2-2 and Mr Hendrick opened the scoring .

Claret Till I Die · Post by **Claret Till I Die** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:03 am

Everton on Boxing day 2018......

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:22 am

The Sunderland FA cup match at the Turf, postponed a number of times due to snow, I think one was after volunteers cleared the pitch of snow then the frost got to it.
One I wish was abandoned was the City game at the Turf when we went 5 down and it was absolutely p1ssing it down.

Hipper · Post by **Hipper** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 2:48 pm

Tribesmen wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:00 am
A few years ago in Belgrade Serbia v Ireland , now the day before the sun was beating down then on match day the hevans opened and poured it down for most of the day . Now the word was the game was off and they were to play the game the day after but had flights booked and had to be back at work so was going to miss it .
Then and hour before kick off time word came in that the game was to go ahead as it stopped raining we drew 2-2 and Mr Hendrick opened the scoring .

There was a game at Preston, perhaps 1984-85, 3rd November. It poured down. We got to Preston station, no buses or taxis could be found so walked. Got in the ground soaked to the skin. Bought some Bovril and looked at the pitch - water everywhere. Surely the game would be postponed. No! Rumour was there were already so many people in the ground that authorities were scared to call it off. Whatever the reason the game was farcical and it ended honours even, 3-3. By then I was just about dried out but we then had to get back to the station. Another soaking. On the train our drying out caused all the carriage windows to get steamed up. The wettest I've ever been watching a game. Of course I've played and refereed in just as bad conditions.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:56 pm

Goodclaret wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:15 pm
As mentioned above, Exeter away was a killer. I was on a supporters bus and I'm sure we were only half an hour away when it filtered through on t'wireless that the game was off.

Plenty of other wasted journeys in the "good old days" but that was due to the games going ahead

We went on the train with Beeky and even made it to the ground. There was a gate open so we wandered in and walked on the (perfectly playable, in my opinion as a 13-year old) pitch. While we were stood there cursing, some bloke came over shouting at us to get off the pitch. "Who are you?" asked Beeky "i'm the referee" came the ill-advised reply. Beeky let him have it, both barrels, it was hilarious.

I know I have posted this tale before on here but it always makes me smile, even more so since his sad passing.

I also remember getting home and FA Cup games were on MOTD. I'm pretty sure West Brom were on, getting beat by a non-league side and the pitch was an absolute quagmire, much worse than Exeter had been.

FCBurnley · Post by **FCBurnley** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:59 pm

Sheff Utd away 60/70s. Around xmas time. Went on train. Game called off during the journey. Had to hang around the station area. Remember there was a fun fair on. Met some local lasses so not altogether a wasted day wink wink

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Wed Aug 11, 2021 4:07 pm

Hipper wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 11, 2021 2:48 pm
There was a game at Preston, perhaps 1984-85, 3rd November. It poured down. We got to Preston station, no buses or taxis could be found so walked. Got in the ground soaked to the skin. Bought some Bovril and looked at the pitch - water everywhere. Surely the game would be postponed. No! Rumour was there were already so many people in the ground that authorities were scared to call it off. Whatever the reason the game was farcical and it ended honours even, 3-3. By then I was just about dried out but we then had to get back to the station. Another soaking. On the train our drying out caused all the carriage windows to get steamed up. The wettest I've ever been watching a game. Of course I've played and refereed in just as bad conditions.

Absolutely farcical conditions, almost as bad as when we played at Macclesfield on a flooded pitch in 1998.