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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2015 20:35:20 GMT
It was good to be seen at the match, especially the away days.You would drink in Hanley on a Thursday and Friday night till the early hours, discussing whether to go or not, then make a snap decision that you were all in at 2.30am. Van or train sorted in the morning. You were part of those that stood by the club and I bet there are plenty on here who still tip the nod at people they stood by in those days. Tips a nod...
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Nov 26, 2015 20:50:57 GMT
ID cards had a lot to do with it but I think the main reason for those away followings was how shit we'd been for the previous 10 years.
The 1980s were a terrible time for Stoke not just the Club but the City with the pottery industry..coalmines and steelworks decimated.
Under Lou thousands of supporters started to come back and at last we had something to cheer about. I went to about half these away games and the atmosphere was amazing. Never forget the mental at West From.
'We've got something you ain't got..We got Lou Macari'
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Post by manchesterpotter on Nov 26, 2015 20:57:32 GMT
I reckon another big thing that affects it are people's working hours.
There would have been far more people working a standard Monday-Friday shift pattern back in them days. These days it's almost impossible to find a job that is merely 9-5 shifts during the week.
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Post by Mcdanger on Nov 26, 2015 22:12:44 GMT
Great post Kev. I was 20 in '92 and went every one of those games (like i did for about 10 seasons). Wether it was by train, in a transit van or car there would always be a good number of us mates who travelled the country week in week out. For me without doubt the ID cards did for our away followings originally. Like it or not a good number of our away support back then were 'lads' who wouldnt have got an ID card anyway. This broke up many groups of travellers from all over Stoke on Trent and reduced them to dribs and drabs. As for why the young uns aren't flocking to away games now...well there's probably many reasons but its a shame. Looking back though, I feel blessed to have been part of that era and being among one of the best away supported teams in all 4 divisions.......
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Post by daviddunn on Nov 26, 2015 23:32:11 GMT
I'm from the North East followed Stoke from 70/71 aged 10 in the 90s was a regular home /away 28 games one season Macari days not bad 360 mile round trip to the Vic sometimes even made the night matches WBA Auto Glass ,Man utd home way any way used to get up sat morning set off at 8 visit club shop ,get some scran then into the Gardeners for a few and sit with Donk and Kev and his dad and a few more then off to the ground Boothen End met up with other mates great days now having been down to the Brit for over 10 years can't sit with mates don't even know how or if I could get a ticket lost touch with the lads even watching us play up here this Sat sitting with Sunderland fan again and believe me 20mins into the game everyone knows I'm Stoke the point is can't justify the costs anymore but if getting tickets was easier or possible I would love 2 get up and go on the spur of the moment a couple of games a season
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Post by OldStokie on Nov 26, 2015 23:36:08 GMT
ID cards had a lot to do with it but I think the main reason for those away followings was how shit we'd been for the previous 10 years. The 1980s were a terrible time for Stoke not just the Club but the City with the pottery industry..coalmines and steelworks decimated. Under Lou thousands of supporters started to come back and at last we had something to cheer about. I went to about half these away games and the atmosphere was amazing. Never forget the mental at West From. 'We've got something you ain't got..We got Lou Macari' I'm amazed that it got to the post from wizzard before we got the answer to why the away followings were high. I've suported Stoke since 1950 and leaving out the times when we went to Wembley under Pulis and got promotion to The Prem, there were two great times to be a Stoke supporter... when Waddo built his fabulous side of the 70's and when one Luigi Macari took the helm. Lou was adored by most of the fans and he created an atmosphere at the club that hasn't been replicated since. Only those around at the time can understand the fun we had back in those days. Yes, it was fun, with none of this falling out internet bollox between supporters that we have now. I went to many of those games away and I didn't need a fucking ID card. You got your tickets, jumped in the car, and a good day out was guaranteed. Who can ever forget dancing in the pouring rain at Bloomfield Road when Rooster scored a double and Steino got the other when we won 3-1, or losing to the Vale in the cup and beating them home and away in the league... not to mention celebrating with the Bolton fans when we lost there on the last away day of the season, which meant the Vale were shafted. Steino scored 23 goals in the league that season too. They were great times under Lou and supporters would give their high teeth to be at every game possible. That's why the attendances were up then, even though we were in the lower leagues. *Great thread kevkj.* OS.
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Nov 27, 2015 0:02:24 GMT
Spot on as usual OldStokie. Under Lou we had something to shout about after years of football famine.There was an atmosphere about the place that I'll never forget.Singing outside the ground before and after games..the phenomenal away followings. The 'Lou Macaris Red & White Army' chant in The Boothen that once went on continuously for about 30 minutes. Even though we're more successful now and average 27,000 per home game we're much more 'domesticated' given the ID card effect. We draw our support from a much wider catchment area and tend to have more 'middle class' supporters. In those Days we were still Ferral. That's why it felt so good !! And who can ever forget Amnesia House at Shelleys with the Stoke Tops...when football shirts began to be worn both inside and outside of games. We were Cultural Icons OldStokie...An Era I will never forget
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Post by tijuanabrass on Nov 27, 2015 1:08:05 GMT
Premier league pricing would obviously be a challenge but there's plenty that can manage an way day to Tel Aviv or the Ukraine if the stars are aligned. Without doubt the TS ID scheme took it's toll. It ticked the boxes when it came to removing an element that was embarrassing the club on the national footballing stage. Unfortunately the cards made the away day experience hard work for the majority of genuine supporters that found other things to do every second Saturday.
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thepom
Youth Player
Posts: 333
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Post by thepom on Nov 27, 2015 2:37:50 GMT
An amazing season to be a 22 year old Stoke fan. Booze, fags, drugs, dodgy tickets, violence and exciting football. That period had everything Don't discount the Vale effect on attendances. We had dropped to our lowest ebb and had suffered ridicule by them and Crewe. The only thing we could be proud of was our size in comparison (that and kicking the shit out of them on a regular basis). It was good to be seen at the match, especially the away days. You would drink in Hanley on a Thursday and Friday night till the early hours, discussing whether to go or not, then make a snap decision that you were all in at 2.30am. Van or train sorted in the morning. You were part of those that stood by the club and I bet there are plenty on here who still tip the nod at people they stood by in those days. Think I may have stood next to you on a couple of occasions
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2015 2:57:43 GMT
"Feral" - a suitable description of the times.
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jayscfc1863
Youth Player
Welcome To The Bear Pit
Posts: 268
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Post by jayscfc1863 on Nov 27, 2015 3:03:24 GMT
What has happened to the young men of S-O-T ?? I think a large part of it came down to working hours as well. A large portion of people work on shift patterns which often includes 1 of the weekend days meaning that you either have to hope you can swap shifts, or miss out on the game. Personally i had to work 2/3 weekends in my last job on a constant 3 week rotation (9-1, 9-4, Day off). Try getting to home games on that kind of job let alone the away! Had my season ticket in the same seat for years though, wouldn't give that up for the world!
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Post by partickpotter on Nov 27, 2015 7:39:27 GMT
Everything was better in the past. Just ask any Villa fan.
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Post by GeordieDave on Nov 27, 2015 11:12:11 GMT
My two penneth. Apologies if I am duplicating what has already been said. I cant read all the replies as my screen is minimised to avoid detection at work ...
The impact of the ID card scheme cannot be ignored. It dissuaded many from going to away games. It saw the end of many mini-buses, cars and buses. Lads who'd travelled together for years stopped travelling together. Lots of people who had never been in trouble were ideologically opposed to the scheme. My father and best pal didn't bother getting a card, I did, I got used to going on my own. Cost is obviously a major issue, it is delusional to think otherwise, as are limited ticket allocations which put an end to the large "local" followings. And I for one grew tired of away games under Pulis, and I wasn't alone, LOTS abandoned away days under him. I kept going, bu went to far fewer games towards the end of his tenure.
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Post by staffsvilla on Nov 27, 2015 11:17:58 GMT
Everything was better in the past. Just ask any Villa fan. Very true mate in our case, anyway back to the subject, I actually went to your home game with Chester, I think you won 3 or 4 nil, apart from a long 2nd half rendition of 'macari's red and white army' the place was like a morgue, when I asked my mate on the train home he explained you'd lost in the week to vale in the cup ??? , but for a third tier side the crowd was about 15k-ish which was great in 93,enjoyed the Boothen and the pre match tot in the glebe although I got a few shall we say disconcerting looks when my mate made it known I was Villa ??? Was a good day out how I'd love those days to return ! PS.that day utd won at anfield to go top of the Premier League replacing us
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2015 11:29:19 GMT
Everything was better in the past. Just ask any Villa fan. Very true mate in our case, anyway back to the subject, I actually went to your home game with Chester, I think you won 3 or 4 nil, apart from a long 2nd half rendition of 'macari's red and white army' the place was like a morgue, when I asked my mate on the train home he explained you'd lost in the week to vale in the cup ??? , but for a third tier side the crowd was about 15k-ish which was great in 93,enjoyed the Boothen and the pre match tot in the glebe although I got a few shall we say disconcerting looks when my mate made it known I was Villa ??? Was a good day out how I'd love those days to return ! PS.that day utd won at anfield to go top of the Premier League replacing us 4-0. The game after our 25 match unbeaten run was ended at Leyton Orient. Chester bought so few fans we put them in one little section of the Butler Street Paddock if I recall......
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Post by edinburghstoke on Nov 27, 2015 11:45:39 GMT
The ticket situation is a great call too Kernow We used to often just jump in the car on the morning of a game having decided in the pub to go Now its a military exercise, special points to 'earn' priveldges, all seater so you cant always sit with your mates Plus you knew the game would be 3pm on a Saturday or 7.45pm Tuesday or Wednesday so it was easy to plan your week around it, and easy for our wives and partners to 'get with the programme'. For those of us who travel distances, it's a nightmare these days trying to sort out trains and getting away from families..and that's on top of getting tickets. And all-seating is a pain. I don;t want to travel those distances and not even be able to sit/stand by my mates.
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Post by eddyclamp on Nov 27, 2015 13:19:47 GMT
The Stockport game, is that the same Saturday as the Grand National had to rerun due to a false start? The Chester game , that was played at the Diva , the new ground. I remember Stokies giving their centre half some right stick because he was shit.He came across in front of the Stokies to take a free kick and put it straight out for a throw in. Absolute pisser. Happy Days. Some good times
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Post by stayingupfor GermanStokie on Nov 27, 2015 13:21:36 GMT
Spot on as usual OldStokie. Under Lou we had something to shout about after years of football famine.There was an atmosphere about the place that I'll never forget.Singing outside the ground before and after games..the phenomenal away followings. The 'Lou Macaris Red & White Army' chant in The Boothen that once went on continuously for about 30 minutes. Even though we're more successful now and average 27,000 per home game we're much more 'domesticated' given the ID card effect. We draw our support from a much wider catchment area and tend to have more 'middle class' supporters. In those Days we were still Ferral. That's why it felt so good !! And who can ever forget Amnesia House at Shelleys with the Stoke Tops...when football shirts began to be worn both inside and outside of games. We were Cultural Icons OldStokie...An Era I will never forget Top shout to you both!! This was the period that I was introduced to Stoke (90/91) as a young German boy bewildered at the fanatical loud supporters in Red and White (Being a Bayern fan I naturally liked the colours lol).... It was also the the time of real excitement, you could feel it in the air (similar to our first season in the Prem but so much raw-er!). You could see the fire my step father's eyes when we spoke about Stoke, the grins across people I met.... and I met a hell of a lot of really good guys with SCFC in their hearts who took me in as "family" despite my odd accent at the time! Ahh the good days of fenetre and rivals, where no one didnt have pissy pants when we took the mickey out of each other! Including Mick and Tel who werent old enough at the time to have an excuse!
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Post by mark71 on Nov 27, 2015 15:30:19 GMT
We took far more to Bradford, we were all in the home end. Yep they were re-developing their ground at the time. About 10 of us from shelton were in the main stand, must of been about 200 in there total. there was quite a few on the terrace behind the goal as well.
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Post by outspaced on Nov 27, 2015 16:57:03 GMT
Was that the year we lost 1-0? Think they scored in the first minute (I missed it - was a midweek game with a mad dash across the M62!) Might have been the final season at (was it called Leeds Road?) - remember the season(s) after with the Kevin Keen own goal with Muggleton I think mis kicking the backpass - bobbled over his foot at the incomplete at that stage McAlpine Stadium. Was one of the first 'new' grounds I went to. Was at that game, it was at Leeds Road. The winning goal sticks in my mind as a Hudds player smacked a long ranger in and the ball stuck in the stanchion (remember them?!) in the goal. Some random memories from that season..... Graham Shaw charging down the Reading keepers clearance and scoring. Stigger Foley's hat-trick against Barnet in the Autoglass. Bertie's badge kiss at Mansfield, his last game before he left..... Rooster at Hull rounding the keeper......and hitting the post! Cranny's thunderbolt against Huddersfield, what a strike that was. The whole performance at Burnley, we took the piss that day. Remember Graham Harbey? Graham Shaw being the perfect foil for Steino, he was such an intelligent footballer. See his assist at Blackpool for Rooster's header. God, there's too many memories and these are just the one's on the pitch!
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Post by jonnybravo on Nov 27, 2015 18:23:02 GMT
The pointless ID card system destroyed our away support hardly anybody went when they were around , then the pulis away tactics drove support away from travelling to games,I remember them brilliant away days of the 90's, it's going take awhile get people back into the routine of travelling to away games.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Nov 27, 2015 18:58:25 GMT
Everything was better in the past. Just ask any Villa fan. Very true mate in our case, anyway back to the subject, I actually went to your home game with Chester, I think you won 3 or 4 nil, apart from a long 2nd half rendition of 'macari's red and white army' the place was like a morgue, when I asked my mate on the train home he explained you'd lost in the week to vale in the cup ??? , but for a third tier side the crowd was about 15k-ish which was great in 93,enjoyed the Boothen and the pre match tot in the glebe although I got a few shall we say disconcerting looks when my mate made it known I was Villa ??? Was a good day out how I'd love those days to return ! PS.that day utd won at anfield to go top of the Premier League replacing us Try turning up at the Brunswick Tavern just off Manchester Piccadilly cause 20 of you decided it would be a good day out watching Villa at Man City when our game against Leicester was called off. You lot were quite friendly till we got inside Maine Road
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Post by mozzer on Nov 27, 2015 18:58:40 GMT
Been reading how some people think our away followings are poor ,some think average and some think half decent. Found these facts in a old oatcake fanzine. I will take you back to 1992-93 season when we got promotion under Lou .some may surprise you ,some not. West brom 7500 Vale 7200 Bolton 5610 B,pool 4875 Rotherham 4546 Burnley 4485 Orient 3800 Hull 3297 Mansfield 3260 Hudds 3243 Preston 3212 stockport 2900 Chester 2400 wigan 2278 reading 2100 B,mouth 2065 Brighton 1700 Fulham 1300 Hartlepool 1275 Swansea 1200 Bradford 1055 Plymouth 945 Exeter 935 In my view taking over 3000 to 11 away games was very good and the followings above 4000 superb.i don't know why Bradford was so small or Plymouth and Exeter maybe small allocations ,some of the followings around 2500-3000 were definite full allocations at places like Chester,Stockport. All in all our followings back then were superb as home attendances were around 15000. So 30% of our home support travelled away on average. Compare that to now,no wonder the divorce rate was high lol. Loved that season Kev, those 6-7 years were the best football period of my life, made some top mates and had some fantastic days out with some right scrapes, I think that I only missed 4 away games that season and they are the bottom 4, the difference now is that the game has evolved in to something that is all about crap, its to sanitized and politically correct, they have tried to make it like the rich mans ballet rather than the poor mans ballet, I just can not be bothered anymore so I only do 3-4 away games a season now, believe it or not I had less money in them days so found even the cheaper prices a harder task than these inflated prices of the modern age......Bournemouth away, what a day out that was in winter and all, will I go this year even if we were guaranteed a win......would I fuck, just cant be bothered
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Post by mozzer on Nov 27, 2015 19:01:58 GMT
Back in 1992 I reckon 75% of the away following would be male 17- 35 so a lot had disposable income .Todays kids pay more for property and all run cars. They just don't fancy spending so much on a day at the footy. away I would say 95% were male....with the majority at the age you suggested, the majority of women turned up at the same time as the JCL's post prem
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Post by mozzer on Nov 27, 2015 19:10:28 GMT
Remember some of them trips on the football special trains yes it was a lot cheaper then you didn't have to buy your tkts weeks before the game you could be out on Friday night and decided to go the away game the following day And didn't the ID cards kill this too? As said earlier it would be interesting to know how many away fans we lost to the ID cards and ones who no longer go who made the decision on the day. Anyone remeber the West Brom home match, was it Lou returning? It was chaos trying to get in and lots didn't. Cost is all relative and I think most young uns would find the money if you didn't have to plane ahead reference tickets. A packed care with everyone chipping in is cheaper than any way of getting there, except the free transport, of course. Thats me to a ticket.........I refused to buy the ID card and got out of the HABIT of going away, if I didnt go I used to sit thinking about what was happening and what I was missing,I would'nt go any more often than I do now if it was free to get in.
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Post by bathstoke on Nov 27, 2015 19:26:56 GMT
Was that the year we lost 1-0? Think they scored in the first minute (I missed it - was a midweek game with a mad dash across the M62!) Might have been the final season at (was it called Leeds Road?) - remember the season(s) after with the Kevin Keen own goal with Muggleton I think mis kicking the backpass - bobbled over his foot at the incomplete at that stage McAlpine Stadium. Was one of the first 'new' grounds I went to. Was at that game, it was at Leeds Road. The winning goal sticks in my mind as a Hudds player smacked a long ranger in and the ball stuck in the stanchion (remember them?!) in the goal. Some random memories from that season..... Graham Shaw charging down the Reading keepers clearance and scoring. Stigger Foley's hat-trick against Barnet in the Autoglass. Bertie's badge kiss at Mansfield, his last game before he left..... Rooster at Hull rounding the keeper......and hitting the post! Cranny's thunderbolt against Huddersfield, what a strike that was. The whole performance at Burnley, we took the piss that day. Remember Graham Harbey? Graham Shaw being the perfect foil for Steino, he was such an intelligent footballer. See his assist at Blackpool for Rooster's header. God, there's too many memories and these are just the one's on the pitch! You'll not get Alzheimer's
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Post by mozzer on Nov 27, 2015 19:41:17 GMT
Great post Kev. I was 20 in '92 and went every one of those games (like i did for about 10 seasons). Wether it was by train, in a transit van or car there would always be a good number of us mates who travelled the country week in week out. For me without doubt the ID cards did for our away followings originally. Like it or not a good number of our away support back then were 'lads' who wouldnt have got an ID card anyway. This broke up many groups of travellers from all over Stoke on Trent and reduced them to dribs and drabs. As for why the young uns aren't flocking to away games now...well there's probably many reasons but its a shame. Looking back though, I feel blessed to have been part of that era and being among one of the best away supported teams in all 4 divisions....... Top post Ditto although I was 27 in 92
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Post by santy on Nov 27, 2015 19:48:12 GMT
Me and my old man were talking along the lines of money between now and then and he said that even in the early 90's working on the pot banks like he was you'd usually be picking up over £200 a week. Some jobs still aren't paying much more than that now around Stoke.
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Post by mozzer on Nov 27, 2015 20:13:35 GMT
Top thread this is Kev, brought back some of the best memories ever as a Stoke fan, I seem to have taken over the thread but in all honesty I dont come on every day and have only just found it...... The reasons that I see for the changes in attitude are as follows.... Away tickets were not required for every away game so last minute decisions were order of the day back then there were hardly any season ticket holders so away tickets if required were a breeze to obtain No point system was in place to obtain tickets all Kick offs were 3pm on a Saturday Stoke was not fashionable so the JCL's had not arrived and the away matches were for the die hards which consisted of mainly mobs of young males every mob of lads hired a van....for fishing trips of course trains were used but coaches and Vans were the most popular Stoke support was in a younger bracket with the majority being 17-30 year old "feral" youth...love that one Football casuals were a trend of the times like mods and rockers were in the 60's, it was a scene for clothes, music, hair styles, camaraderie & loyalty and a certain age and gender wanted to be involved in the overall scene. the habit of attending was stronger before the ID cards decimated the support and heavy handed policing became the norm. We were relatively successful for that lower league and expectations were high We had some good local rivalries with Stockport, Birmingham, West Brom & Vale Standing was the order of the day so friends were always close by and group decisions were easier to make Due to the standing the allocation of tickets seemed to be higher, West Brom away 7K whereas now we get around 2K Police attention on football fans was much lower and people were a lot more free to go about their planning than in todays climate....all coaches not run by the club have to now book in with the police prior to leaving Stoke. Money is always an issue but them days it was cheaper (my circumstances were harder then so I find it easier now to be fair) the whole match day experience was different at home and people spoke to each other in the packed pubs around Stoke, word soon got around of "important" away games that you were expected to attend, and you made sure that you did........you never hear that "every ones going, its a big day out" anymore......other than Leicester last year of course when the attendance resembled the class of 92. People have lost touch of life long acquaintances due to the seated nature of todays game, they have lost touch due to the ground being in the middle of nowhere so as people now have their own match day destination other than Stoke town centre Although we are a better known club due to the premier league we have lost our Stoke identity of who we were, we have become diluted with our new found fame Following Stoke was actually fun and you wanted to be there, you wanted to turn up and let every one know that Stoke were in town, the songs and atmosphere was fantastic and made your hairs on your neck stand up, rather than the sterile bubble atmosphere of today that the authorities think we prefer.
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Post by kevkj on Nov 27, 2015 20:27:52 GMT
Know what you mean Mozzer,i hardly do any aways nowadays nor the majority of my mates,we had vans and coaches going everwhere under lou from every edge of the city and surrounds.All knew each other inside out.It all had an an edge and I loved it. Now its so expensive and family ties pull on me as a third generation of young Kevs want there share of granddad. Had a couple of episodes with the law and a divorce through putting mates and SCFC first and it takes the wind out your sails.Now the craic is still the same at home in town but in a more mature way and im not sure how we would react to a bunch of pissed kids throwing ale on us at ht lol. 29 in 92 so I was more mature than you then Mozzer ,not.
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