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Post by bristolpotter on Sept 17, 2014 17:05:18 GMT
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Post by Davef on Sept 17, 2014 17:12:54 GMT
Bizarre fact to that season 1st game of season Cambridge v Stoke ,Paul Richardson scored a diving header 2 mins from time to give Stoke a 1:0 victory Last game of the season Notts County v Stoke and guess who scored a diving header with 2 mins to go to give Stoke a 1:0 victory That season was great Remember to be sitting glued to the radio waiting for the result! What a feeling when the result came ticking in and we had secured the third place and promotion! Though we finished 3rd, we were actually second that night, Sunderland were third and Palace were fourth. Palace had their final game the following Friday and they beat Burnley at home. It was a foregone conclusion really and that's why the Sunderland fans knew they'd lost out at Wrexham.
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Post by elystokie on Sept 17, 2014 17:12:58 GMT
I got crushed behind the goal, moved to the paddock and was on the pitch at the end crying. I was only 10 and tears of happiness so in my book, that's allowed. In my book tears of happiness are ok at any age as far as Stoke are concerned. I was in floods at the Millenium Stadium (to name but one occasion) and I was quite a bit older than ten
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Post by march4 on Sept 17, 2014 17:42:36 GMT
I remember it as though it was yesterday. I went with my Dad in our bright orange Ford Escort and arrived ages before kick off. We walked around the ground and got talking to one of the gatemen who wouldn't believe how many Stokies were on their way. He reckoned the total attendance would be about 10,000!
We elected to stand on the terrace facing the players' tunnel. At one point, the police tried to move any Stokies from that area into the open terrace behind the goal. It was pointed out to them that this terrace was full and the police on that part of the ground were moving Stokies into our Paddock. Everyone seemed to be dressed in blue - mostly denim with the odd cagoule.
The phantom penalty taker deserves its place in our club's folklore. It was so funny and I don't know how the lad got away with it without being apprehended by the police. Someone must know who he is.
I don't remember much about the game - it flew by. I think there was a surprise omission in our line up (Crooks?, Randall?). There were Notts County fans mingled in with us who were convinced Big Bren wouldn't get a touch of the ball with Jeff Blockley marking him. I also don't recall knowing the Sunderland scoreline as our game progressed. What I do remember is that with us all looking at our watches, Durban leaped out of the dugouts opposite and was screaming at the players to urge them forwards. As a Stoke player went down the left wing (Randall??) Durban was almost running alongside him. As the cross came over, I was right behind Big Bren and for a split second I remember groaning that he hadn't headed the ball towards goal. I hadn't seen 'Vision' running into the box and the rest is history.
At the final whistle, like many others I ran onto the pitch and a patch of lawn at my Mum and Dad's house will be forever Meadow Lane. There was then a tannoy announcement saying Notts County had a youth game still to play on the pitch and we were chased off by the police with horses and dogs. The Stoke players came out into the stand opposite at some stage to celebrate with us.
The drive back home was amazing. It was bumper to bumper Stokies and the din we made as we slowly wove through Derby will always stick in my mind.
A brilliant day from a different Century.
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Post by pottersrule on Sept 17, 2014 18:03:39 GMT
What a day! Train from Longton. Massive Stoke following, really massive! And we didn't fuck it up although it was tense and from memory we were really quiet?? Most of the Stokies were on that open terrace so any singing just drifted off in to the ether and Delilah had not yet been adopted. In fact I couldn't tell you what was sung that day The strong sheet of the time mainly comprised songs with more than a hint of menace so they weren't really a good fit for genteel Notts County. I can remember in your Nottingham slums being sung that day,as well as running on the pitch after.A feat i repeated 30years later on promotion to the prem.Such good memories.
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Post by scfcno1fan on Sept 17, 2014 18:21:03 GMT
Reading about these memories always interests me.
I don't mind if people reply with brutal honesty, but does it make me a poor fan (please refrain from not no1 jokes) if I admit if a conversation with Stoke fans was to take place and they starting reminiscing about this game and such obvious huge event in our past, that I would not have a scooby doo what game or event they were referring to?
Being born in 1990 and having a father who was (and still is in all honesty) a fairweather fan at best and did not talk about momentous occasions in our past means I have never really pored through our history. I know we won the League Cup in 1972, but that really is about it.
I have to admit, I do feel ashamed sometimes and it is something I need to remedy and quickly. Does anybody know of any good books to read that reflect on our history post 1960s?
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Post by werrington on Sept 17, 2014 18:24:33 GMT
Remember to be sitting glued to the radio waiting for the result! What a feeling when the result came ticking in and we had secured the third place and promotion! Though we finished 3rd, we were actually second that night, Sunderland were third and Palace were fourth. Palace had their final game the following Friday and they beat Burnley at home. It was a foregone conclusion really and that's why the Sunderland fans knew they'd lost out at Wrexham. 51k at Selhurst that night mate
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Post by armitagestokie on Sept 17, 2014 18:40:38 GMT
This match will always be etched in my heart and reminds me why I support my beloved STOKE CITY.
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Post by bunnyscfc on Sept 17, 2014 19:06:40 GMT
as a 10 year old, my abiding memory was seeing Stoke fans actually thinking they could swim back home down the Trent. Any number were in there after the game, amazed no one drowned
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Post by redstriper on Sept 17, 2014 19:09:22 GMT
I went from Penkridge with my next door neighbours, I was 17, we somehow got lost in Nottingham but still made the kick off. One of only three times I've been on the pitch after a game.
A simply great day.
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Sept 17, 2014 19:12:01 GMT
We went on the train and I was 14..from Stoke station on a 'special'. In the ground on the open terrace just below the scoreboard..with Stokies everywhere..especially to the stand to our right in the paddock.
When we scored a mini pitch invasion..back onto the terrace and a few minutes later a full blown invasion.
That season was something special in away games. Legendary.
Mansfield Mansfield Hows yer Town?
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Post by stokerstayinup on Sept 17, 2014 19:28:32 GMT
Reading about these memories always interests me. I don't mind if people reply with brutal honesty, but does it make me a poor fan (please refrain from not no1 jokes) if I admit if a conversation with Stoke fans was to take place and they starting reminiscing about this game and such obvious huge event in our past, that I would not have a scooby doo what game or event they were referring to? Being born in 1990 and having a father who was (and still is in all honesty) a fairweather fan at best and did not talk about momentous occasions in our past means I have never really pored through our history. I know we won the League Cup in 1972, but that really is about it. I have to admit, I do feel ashamed sometimes and it is something I need to remedy and quickly. Does anybody know of any good books to read that reflect on our history post 1960s? Stoke City-The Modern Era-A complete record by Simon Lowe. Covers 1970-2000,including line ups from every game.
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Post by alsagerjollypotter on Sept 17, 2014 19:40:21 GMT
Went by train like so many others, fantastic atmosphere . Can't remember details of the game but remember the crush to get on the pitch at the end and going mental when the players came out in the main stand . For some reason I took a big "sod" of grass home from the centre circle in my pocket and planted it in my mum and dad's garden the following morning ( sixteen at the time ) -- it's still by far the greenest part of thier back lawn!
And the bacon previously mentioned was at the Blackpool away game when the food hut got turned over and the contents thrown into the crowd ( I think ? )
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Post by towraytek on Sept 17, 2014 19:42:37 GMT
I was working in Dubai 1977-79 (i.e.before it became flashy) and Meadow Lane was the only game I saw that season. I got back (after 14 months away) the week before, and my brother got me a ticket. Prior to that I had followed Stoke's progress to promotion on BBC World Service (crackelly short wave; no bloody internet then!)so it was only about numbers and Paddy Feeney followed by James Alexander Gordon.
I went back to the Middle East in July 1979 before we kicked a ball in the First Division and by the time I got back from there and elsewhere in 1986 we were back in the second division again.
Such is life. Happy ST holder since 1992.
Ek
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Post by Okie Stokie. on Sept 17, 2014 19:43:19 GMT
I was there with me Dad who is no longer with us. So it holds some fantastic memories. We were sitting on planks of wood that was the best bit seating at the time.
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Post by NassauDave on Sept 17, 2014 19:48:46 GMT
Bizarre fact to that season 1st game of season Cambridge v Stoke ,Paul Richardson scored a diving header 2 mins from time to give Stoke a 1:0 victory Last game of the season Notts County v Stoke and guess who scored a diving header with 2 mins to go to give Stoke a 1:0 victory That season was great I was at both games :-)
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Post by Sergeant Muttley on Sept 17, 2014 19:51:17 GMT
Is that the same season were we hardly played in January and February because of the weather?and then when we started up again we lost a massive game in early March to Sunderland?
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Post by werrington on Sept 17, 2014 19:52:41 GMT
Is that the same season were we hardly played in January and February because of the weather?and then when we started up again we lost a massive game in early March to Sunderland? 0-1 with a goal by the boy wonder Gary Rpwell mate The original game was postponed because they were apparently stuck in snow In Buxton although they did have an injury crisis
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Post by Gods on Sept 17, 2014 19:55:44 GMT
I was there with me Dad who is no longer with us. So it holds some fantastic memories. We were sitting on planks of wood that was the best bit seating at the time. Sounds like an earlier runner for the prawn sandwich experience which followed on later, a trailblazer as ever Okie
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Post by Gods on Sept 17, 2014 19:57:54 GMT
By the way folks there is already a thread "this long" on this subject on the "Those were the days" board More Meadow Lane memories
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Post by Sergeant Muttley on Sept 17, 2014 19:59:40 GMT
Is that the same season were we hardly played in January and February because of the weather?and then when we started up again we lost a massive game in early March to Sunderland? 0-1 with a goal by the boy wonder Gary Rpwell mate The original game was postponed because they were apparently stuck in snow In Buxton although they did have an injury crisis Thats it mate and the other game that sticks out for me was against Cambridge at home i think when we lost 3-1 and to this day i've never seen the goals even though i was there because of the Fog.Pretty sure Biley was up front for them as well?
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Post by Okie Stokie. on Sept 17, 2014 20:02:42 GMT
I was there with me Dad who is no longer with us. So it holds some fantastic memories. We were sitting on planks of wood that was the best bit seating at the time. Sounds like an earlier runner for the prawn sandwich experience which followed on later, a trailblazer as ever Okie ..
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Post by enuntio on Sept 17, 2014 20:23:20 GMT
I went with my cousin on the train and as a very slim 15 year old the two of us got in for the price of one through the turnstile. I remember if being a tense game and the joy and relief on the final whistle. The walk back to the train station was roughly policed :-)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 20:29:23 GMT
My favourite day as a Stokie Have supported them since 1970, didnt go go Wembley '72 (it was a phase my dad thought [hoped]) But as a 16 year old was very lucky to be introduced by my brother to two Stokies at the start of 78/79 season (1st Match PNE away - missed Howards Goal) What a fantastic season to start being a regular supporter ! For all the excitement of the modern era i have never felt as much excitement as i did over 78/79, perhaps it was my youth ? I too remember the amazing site of the journey to Notts, the feeling of having blown it, Alan D running down the touchline Paul Randall Big Bren Paul R full time pitch invasion ! Its quite spooky this thread has appeared now but in April i was in Nottingham for the Elite League Ice Hockey play off weekend I had Sunday Morning free and decided to revisit Meadow Lane, the funny thing was the sign outside the ground "Spion Kop - Home Supporters Only" Yup but not Saturday May 5 1979 Happy happy day
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Post by Brist_AL on Sept 17, 2014 21:13:51 GMT
A great day. I was there with my Brother, His Girlfriend and a mate. On the pitch after the police moved us all away saying tee team were coming out around the front soon, but me and my mate stayed. After every one else was off the pitch we walked up he players tunnel into Stoke Dressing room, Garth Crooks there naked with a bottle of Champagne. We got a swig and ended up getting chucked out of the front door into the Stokies. Great memories.
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Post by lordb on Sept 17, 2014 21:25:12 GMT
A Sunderland perspective www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/wrexham-away-1979.569411/IIRC it was the Wrexham club tannoy announcer who let us all know that Stoke had scored late on and we were, in fact, not promoted. He did it in a smarmy, vindictive way too, which did nothing for the sense of anger that disappointment that spread through the Sunderland fans. Fuckin wanker :neutral: Brilliant...... Well done Tannoy Man I've always had a soft spot for Wrexham!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 22:27:31 GMT
A Sunderland perspective www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/wrexham-away-1979.569411/IIRC it was the Wrexham club tannoy announcer who let us all know that Stoke had scored late on and we were, in fact, not promoted. He did it in a smarmy, vindictive way too, which did nothing for the sense of anger that disappointment that spread through the Sunderland fans. Fuckin wanker :neutral: Brilliant...... Well done Tannoy Man I've always had a soft spot for Wrexham! Only live a few miles from Wrexham and know loads of Robins fans and without exception they all love Stoke Nice really given everybody else hates us !
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Post by sheltonstokie on Sept 17, 2014 23:31:17 GMT
A surreal &memorable day. Me an exiled" Stokie living in Folkestone. A young lad who conviced two footie fans from Folkestone to join me on a magical trip with the London & South Eastern Stokies. Cockney Ted, Steve Heath & Monica etc joining us on the train at Euston.
One hour later the Virgin train stopping in the middle of nowhere with our carriage being attacked, including women & children, by Millwall fans on route to Leicester. A typical 70's football experience. Both my friends were badly injured one suffering a broken nose & ribs.
We got to Meadow Lane - my friends in a state of shock & me absolutely buzzing surrounded by thousands of fellow fans......amazing.
The last 10 minutes truly incrediable.....forever being recalled.
At least an hour to kill before getting the train back. What can we do? With fellow Stokies on the pitch i led my Folkestone mates to the back of the main stand. No security.....all on the pitch. I opened a wooden door & walked in to the Stoke dressing room to be confronted by a naked Garth Crooks - i beat a hasty retreat, not a pleasant recollection! Walking on.....another wooden door. Blagged it & entered the players/managers. Spent an hour sat at a table talking footie with Howard Kendall & Jimmy Sirrell the Notts County manager. Bizarre.
As a 21 year old i arrived back in Folkestone at 11pm clad in my silk scarf & danced the night away to 70's music.
As i stated above.....i will finish with the same comment - a surreal & memorable experience like so many days from that era. Anyone else recall that frightening train journey - who in their wisdom put posters on the two reserved carriages broadcasting that we we Stokies. With dozens of Millwall fans seeing an easy prey.....women, children & two inexperienced football fans from The hotbed of football violence.....Folkestone
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2014 4:29:25 GMT
Bizarre fact to that season 1st game of season Cambridge v Stoke ,Paul Richardson scored a diving header 2 mins from time to give Stoke a 1:0 victory Last game of the season Notts County v Stoke and guess who scored a diving header with 2 mins to go to give Stoke a 1:0 victory That season was great Kyle Lightbourne?
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Post by robwahlmann on Sept 18, 2014 7:48:03 GMT
Remember to be sitting glued to the radio waiting for the result! What a feeling when the result came ticking in and we had secured the third place and promotion! Though we finished 3rd, we were actually second that night, Sunderland were third and Palace were fourth. Palace had their final game the following Friday and they beat Burnley at home. It was a foregone conclusion really and that's why the Sunderland fans knew they'd lost out at Wrexham. You might be right as this was a long time ago, but I'm sure it secured our promotion!? At least I must have thought so because it was a nerve wrecking moment for me I remember, and a relief when I heard the result!
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