Things you don't miss about "old" football

[LS7]

A few years ago I’d have said that I really missed 70s/80s football but really there’s not much to miss (apart from not being young anymore). The decrepit and dangerous stadia, the racism and homophobia, the poor standard of football.
We might remember the atmospheres as being better but in reality I doubt they were, on average.

[houseboy]

Speak for yourself.

No I’m speaking for thousands of others who did. Wrongly but it happened. If you personally didn’t then that’s good but as a Longside regular in the 60s and 70s I can assure you that some of the stuff chanted was cringeworthy.

I’m not suggesting you did but I always find it strange that when something done by many (most?) people is eventually deemed to be wrong a whole host of people then say ‘it wasn’t me’ when it very much was. I prefer to be honest and say openly I was guilty but have seen long ago that I was wrong. I didn’t mean harm, nor did most I assume, it was just at the time seen as banter. It’s easy to criticise with the advantage of hindsight but, as the old saying goes, the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Parachutist on the Cricket Field stand.

[mikeS]

The state of the pitches played on.
Having said there was something entertaining playing on a flooded pitch where the ball held up. Steve Kindon seemed to adapt quite well.

[fidelcastro]

The chant for Winston White could now be seen as being “racist” and we all sang it

I genuinely don't know which song you're referring to.

[fidelcastro]

No I’m speaking for thousands of others who did. Wrongly but it happened. If you personally didn’t then that’s good but as a Longside regular in the 60s and 70s I can assure you that some of the stuff chanted was cringeworthy.

I’m not suggesting you did but I always find it strange that when something done by many (most?) people is eventually deemed to be wrong a whole host of people then say ‘it wasn’t me’ when it very much was. I prefer to be honest and say openly I was guilty but have seen long ago that I was wrong. I didn’t mean harm, nor did most I assume, it was just at the time seen as banter. It’s easy to criticise with the advantage of hindsight but, as the old saying goes, the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.

I wasn't watching in the 60's and 70's, largely due to not being old enough, but I'll take your word for it.

I can remember some rather unsavoury songs and chants in the 80's and 90's which I can honestly say I didn't join in with, as I could see it was wrong then. Thanks for your honesty in admitting you were wrong to though.

[lakedistrictclaret]

The main one is hooliganism.
Nowadays it is generally perfectly safe going to the football. In the sixties and seventies, particularly, you needed to be very wary, especially at away games.

[Stalbansclaret]

No I’m speaking for thousands of others who did. Wrongly but it happened. If you personally didn’t then that’s good but as a Longside regular in the 60s and 70s I can assure you that some of the stuff chanted was cringeworthy.

I’m not suggesting you did but I always find it strange that when something done by many (most?) people is eventually deemed to be wrong a whole host of people then say ‘it wasn’t me’ when it very much was. I prefer to be honest and say openly I was guilty but have seen long ago that I was wrong. I didn’t mean harm, nor did most I assume, it was just at the time seen as banter. It’s easy to criticise with the advantage of hindsight but, as the old saying goes, the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.

I remember a game v Luton in the 70s when Ricky Hill, Brian Stein and one or two other black players were subjected to horrendous racist abuse on the Turf . Even back then I remember feeling pretty terrible hearing it… I mean it was the late 70s when bands like The Clash were highlighting the Rock against Racism agenda and the Anti Nazi League was in the news. I’m 61 so no spring chicken and I’m certainly not a holier-than-thou person …I just don’t think everyone accepted racist chanting even back in the old unenlightened times. I do take your general point though and thank goodness those days are very largely behind us and we can enjoy our own brilliant multi-ethnic current team.

[wilks_bfc]

I genuinely don't know which song you're referring to.

He’s black
He’s white
He’s always on the right
Winston White, Winston White

[Stayingup]

Racism in the stands

The bad views

Getting rained on

I think racism has not gone away.

[MrTopTier]

Hooliganism

Fences

Uncovered away ends.

The ‘choice’ to sit or stand.

Empty stadia.

[MancunianClaret]

I've not heard any racism recently at the Turf and if I did I expect I'd give whoever was giving it an earful, and I'd expect others around to back me up. No place at all in our club, or any club - but especially ours.

[Hipper]

- standing behind a 7 foot tall chap with a banner.

- the toilets

- hiding your scarf under your coat

.... often smoking 'old socks' and usually turning up just before kick off after you've been there half hour or more thinking this is a good view.

'Roasted Peanuts'. Sellers of these walking through the terraces - at Arsenal at least.

The state of the pitches.

[AmbleClaret]

Ah The Shay - sadly I recall that shithole - not a place I'd previously associated with the word "stadia".

Had more fun at places like that though.

[Rowls]

I think racism has not gone away.

No but it's significantly decreased.

[Stalbansclaret]

'Roasted Peanuts'. Sellers of these walking through the terraces - at Arsenal at least.

Yes !! I used to go and stand on the North Bank and watch Arsenal a bit in the early/mid '80s and there were a couple of blokes who used to walk around the terrace shouting "Peanaaaaaaaatttts" and selling little white paper bags of peanuts. I assume they have gone to the great food-hall in the sky alongside "Mr Cockle" who used to come round the pubs on a Friday night.

[AlargeClaret]

Not heard racism on the turf for literally donkeys years , possibly still a few bits in early /mid 90’s though ,but noughties I can’t recall anything .

Don’t miss the old bogs

[Chobulous]

Setting fire to Jimmy Mullen’s wife

[Loyal Supporter]

Not heard racism on the turf for literally donkeys years , possibly still a few bits in early /mid 90’s though ,but noughties I can’t recall anything .

Try being in the JHU near the JMc stand. Every game earlier this season.

[AlargeClaret]

Try being in the JHU near the JMc stand. Every game earlier this season.

Seriously ? I’m genuinely suprised , surely even the most knuckled headed ignoramus knows he’ll be nicked, banned and prosecuted if caught . Hopefully they were identified.

[Shappie]

He’s black
He’s white
He’s always on the right
Winston White, Winston White

Don’t remember that

I do remember

He’s quick, he’s black, that’s why we got him back
Johnny Francis, Johnny Francis

[keith1879]

Racism in the stands

The bad views

Getting rained on

Sadly the racism is alive and "well" around where I sit. Embarassing in the extreme.

[keith1879]

Not heard racism on the turf for literally donkeys years , possibly still a few bits in early /mid 90’s though ,but noughties I can’t recall anything .

Don’t miss the old bogs

How about this gem "I'm not a racist; I won't integrate with them and I won't make friends with them". From autumn 2021.

[basil6345789]

Alf Thornton

Followed by Jack Holden - both Rovers bigots.

[basil6345789]

Alf Thornton

Followed by Jack Holden - both Rovers bigots.

[Rowls]

How about this gem "I'm not a racist; I won't integrate with them and I won't make friends with them". From autumn 2021.

It intransigent but it’s not overt racism.

How harshly you judge a statement (presuming he is talking about an ethnic group) will depend on a lot of factors.

Imagine I lived in the Deep South of America and didn’t want anything to do with an evangelical Christian sect, despite living next door to them. I could easily say similar words in those circumstance and it wouldn’t be anything to do with race.

You really don’t give us much to go on, but it is nothing like, for example, Home Park making monkey noises in unison at John Francis or the away end at Ewood singing “town full of ****s”.

[Rowls]

If we knew the reasons why said person “won’t make friends with them” then we’d be in a better position to judge if racism is (or isn’t) a motivating factor is the proclamation.

[Stayingup]

Sadly the racism is alive and "well" around where I sit. Embarassing in the extreme.

Really? How is it expressed?

[Croydon Claret]

Not knowing how much injury time has been added, prompting whistles throughout the entire period

[4:20]

Not being able to watch nearly every Burnley game via streaming.

[ashtonlongsider]

Paying in cash at the turnstiles.

[Quickenthetempo]

Sadly the racism is alive and "well" around where I sit. Embarassing in the extreme.

Have you reported it? Filmed it? Had a word?

[Quickenthetempo]

Try being in the JHU near the JMc stand. Every game earlier this season.

I presume you reported it and the club took action by you saying earlier in the season?

[claretinkorea]

Standing outside Dixons watching the vidiprinter at 4:45pm. Especially when it paused for what seemed like an eternity.

And taking this one step further, actually going into Dixons and changing the channel to BBC1 because the TV screens were set to another channel...

[Tribesmen]

Running up the back of the Bee hole end to get the first view of the pitch at the start of a new season and knowing it will be like a bog out there within a few months .

[AlargeClaret]

Sadly the racism is alive and "well" around where I sit. Embarassing in the extreme.

While I’ve genuinely no reason to doubt you Keith , are you sure you’re watching games on the turf ?and not a boozer hosting a BNP meeting at 3pm ??

[rufus lumley]

Ninian Park.

[Ptangyangkipperbang]

And taking this one step further, actually going into Dixons and changing the channel to BBC1 because the TV screens were set to another channel...

Watching the scores through the window downtown all the TV screens shut off just before division 2 results came on with the lady working shutting shop up.To much dismay to me and my mate not knowing how the mighty Clarets had fared so a bus ride home back to Padiham to get through the door to my Dad telling me Sunderland beat us 5-0 with Stan Cummings scoring 4.

[dougcollins]

Ninian Park.

Oh we've had some great trips there.

I remember once outside the ground asking a fine member of the Welsh constabulary where was safe to park, and his reply was 'England'.

[martin_p]

Getting beat by them down t’road.

[keith1879]

Have you reported it? Filmed it? Had a word?

It's tricky when it's the guy I have sat next to for god knows how long. Nevertheless we did have some words when he was complaining about taking the knee....I made my point but I don't think I have changed anyone's mind. As to reporting/filming etc....no. I don't pretend to have a solution but there's no way I am going to deny it is happening.

[keith1879]

While I’ve genuinely no reason to doubt you Keith , are you sure you’re watching games on the turf ?and not a boozer hosting a BNP meeting at 3pm ??

I find that slightly insulting. I watch from the James Hargreaves stand upper tier and am stone cold sober. I am in possession of all my faculties thank you very much and I know racism when I hear it - whether it is individuals telling me how they treat black people differently from white or large numbers of peoiple booing anti-racist gestures.

[Culmclaret]

Watching the scores through the window downtown all the TV screens shut off just before division 2 results came on with the lady working shutting shop up.To much dismay to me and my mate not knowing how the mighty Clarets had fared so a bus ride home back to Padiham to get through the door to my Dad telling me Sunderland beat us 5-0 with Stan Cummings scoring 4.

Remember seeing that come up on the vidiprinter. Was round a mate’s house being really risqué and drinking TopDec!

[keith1879]

Finding the Division 4 scores more interesting than those in the higher leagues.

The toilets behind the Longside.

Cold pies.

Standing up (used to like it but advancing years have their effect).

[keith1879]

"Crowds" that are so sparse you can pick exactly where you want to stand/sit just 5 minutes before kick-off.

[AlargeClaret]

I find that slightly insulting. I watch from the James Hargreaves stand upper tier and am stone cold sober. I am in possession of all my faculties thank you very much and I know racism when I hear it - whether it is individuals telling me how they treat black people differently from white or large numbers of peoiple booing anti-racist gestures.

Fair enough , though booing the knee cannot be classed as racism . Though if your sitting next to people who openly discuss their dislike of black people , I’d sit elsewhere . I go on with my mate and kids and my mixed race nephew and thankfully not had a bad experience.