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Post by Smudge_SCFC on Apr 16, 2009 16:04:59 GMT
I remember that stenny they taunted us all the way through about getting battered at brum. They went 3-2 up and began to taunt us half way through the song Ware equalised straight from the kick off from about twenty odd yards.Then to complete a great night their skipper scored an own goal to win us the match,Happy Days ;D where u get the score 3-2 from? it ended 1-1. Read c*a*r*e*f*u*l*l*y.....
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Post by Anto1962 on Apr 16, 2009 16:08:30 GMT
Craig surely you read all the posts mate!
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Post by craig1974 on Apr 16, 2009 16:09:24 GMT
From the book, A Modern Era. All hell breaks loose when Barnes nets after Biggins pressurises Miller into dropping the ball. Fans run onto the pitch and a full scale invasion follows Sinclair's save which Blues claim crosses the line. The sides leave the pitch but return to end the game behind closed doors, A sad day ...
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Post by craig1974 on Apr 16, 2009 16:10:20 GMT
Craig surely you read all the posts mate! Yeah sorry
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Post by mickstupp on Apr 16, 2009 16:10:59 GMT
craig, the thread has moved on to the following game we had against Reading away a few days after the St Andrews ruck!!!!!!!!!
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Post by timmymallett on Apr 16, 2009 16:11:25 GMT
Didn't Biggins hit the post when the teams came back out ?
On a serious note, I was there that day as a 17 year old and some of the lads I went with were on the fence and even on the pitch defending against the Birmingham scum.
After the game my friend and I ran the gauntlet from the Zulu warriors. Thank god I was only 17 and able to run !!!!!
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Post by youngstenny on Apr 16, 2009 16:13:00 GMT
Craig, The game at St Andrews did end 1-1(not that any of us saw the last few minutes).We are now talking about our next game after St Andrews.The game at Elm Park.
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Post by craig1974 on Apr 16, 2009 16:13:36 GMT
craig, the thread has moved on to the following game we had against Reading away a few days after the St Andrews ruck!!!!!!!!! Ahh ok ;D
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Post by march4 on Apr 16, 2009 16:13:40 GMT
There are a few grounds where I have never felt comfortable. Cardiff, West Ham and Birmingham among them.
I kept a low profile with a couple of mates after this match. One had been to Uni in Brum and so knew his way around the place. We were parked in a secluded spot and didn't talk as we passed people because of our accents. We drove away in the 'wrong' direction to keep away from everyone else. We were nearly in Kidderminster before we doubled back.
Funnily enough I wasn't scared at the time, just thought we were being careful after the problems during and after the game. In hindsight though I am scared about what could have happened.
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Post by Anto1962 on Apr 16, 2009 16:16:42 GMT
I like the bit Biggins pressurised Miller into dropping the ball it should have read, Biggins booted miller Really 'ard forcing his broken and twisted arms to drop the ball and Barnes swept the ball home. Biggins didn't hit the post when they came back on ,nothing happened.
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Post by youngstenny on Apr 16, 2009 16:17:40 GMT
Mickstupp, Enjoyed our debate the other night on the Mick Mills thread,respect your views mate.Hope we can debate other Stoke City views again soon. Stenny.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 16:21:23 GMT
Went by train , sat in the upper seats ...but watched the game from the paddock seats below.After a group came in late with one sitting on the steps next to my aisle seat..OB told him to move and it was clear he'd get slung out at which time it'd go off with me right in the middle..so gave him my seat and went downstairs. Only about 20 Stokies down there intially, if that, certainly no 'lads'..had a great view of the game with room to stretch out..seemed a sensible decission at the time Then all hell broke out....Brum poured on the pitch and one of their firms started to come through the paddock ...not such a wise move after all Stoke dropped down into the paddock from the seats above to confront Brum coming through the Paddock....dodgy stuff Escort back to the station was nerve tingling but surprisingly trouble free once we'd cleared the imediate area of the ground. always seen Brum as an iffy day out..a place where Stoke's followings have varied greatly over the years
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Post by johnsmithsupper on Apr 16, 2009 16:21:58 GMT
I remember that game very well, I was 21 at the time and in the away end with my then girlfriend who happened to come from Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham. Little did I know how handy it was that day that we were together. I am grateful to those Stoke supporters who saved us and Ronnie Sinclair our goalkeeper at the time from serious injury. I am remember seeing the corner flag being thrown into our end. I think a supporter of ours lost an eye in that incident. It was all stupid resulting from a poor reffing decision re our goal and then i think Ian Cranson trapped the ball against our post and the goal line straight afterwards to stop a goal, queue the riot. I remember being very scared on leaving the ground and all I said to my girlfriend was if we get approached by Stoke fans i talk and if Birmingham fans approach us you talk. Fortunately we got back to our car unharmed and listened to Nigel Johnson commentating on the kick about after the ground had emptied. Very bad day for football that was. Thank god those days of mass disorder are long gone hopefully.
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Post by Northy on Apr 16, 2009 16:26:32 GMT
I was there that day and in my late 20's, although in the forces did get into a bit of a ruck from time to time, used to go away with TJ, TG, MW etc. and must admit in going down to the fence instead of away from it. After the match was pretty rough getting back to new street station on foot, was just like the warriors film.
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Post by Anto1962 on Apr 16, 2009 16:28:29 GMT
I was there that day and in my late 20's, although in the forces did get into a bit of a ruck from time to time, used to go away with TJ, TG, MW etc. and must admit in going down to the fence instead of away from it. After the match was pretty rough getting back to new street station on foot, was just like the warriors film. Just like the Warriors film ;D ;D Stokies come out to play.
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Post by Mr Wheeze on Apr 16, 2009 16:31:31 GMT
I was 17 at the time and went with me best mate Tim. (stokie25 you know who i mean! ) We'd gone down Birmingham with my mum and dad who were spending the day visiting friends in Sutton Coldfield. My dads friend dropped us off outside the ground and arranged to pick us up on that main rd just close to where the stoke coaches were parked after the game. When their fans invaded the pitch and came over to the away end, i'll be honest, i shit mesen! I lost Tim in the confusion only to find him 10 mins later stood on those police cage things that ran down terracing. When we eventually left the ground we were stood by a copper on horseback outside the away end watching all the birmingham (scum) fans smashing the Stoke coaches to pieces. Really didnt know how my dads mate was going to pick us up. It really was scary. Eventually they did and we made it back to Sutton Coldfield to find my mum having kittens on seeing it all unfolding on TV! I still to this day cannot understand what possessed the police or BCFC to keep us locked in, only then to release both sets of fans at same time! Crazy bloody crazy!
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Post by youngstenny on Apr 16, 2009 16:34:55 GMT
I was there that day and in my late 20's, although in the forces did get into a bit of a ruck from time to time, used to go away with TJ, TG, MW etc. and must admit in going down to the fence instead of away from it. After the match was pretty rough getting back to new street station on foot, was just like the warriors film. Just like the Warriors film ;D ;D Stokies co Please stop mentioning the Warriors,most people on here don't like Stenhousemuir....although i do
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Post by Pottermr on Apr 16, 2009 16:52:54 GMT
Was a bit dafter in them days.Went on the fence got knocked off and couldn't get back on. They had the easier task fighting off the pitch and just knocking you off.They only backed off when the seat boys joined in as well. It was a great day up till then and one of the best atmosphere's at any match i've been to.
Macari said on radio stoke after that Biggins hit the post when the teams went back on. He was just joking.
Remember the helicopter outside never seen one so low above people before. Was glad to get home in one piece.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 17:05:12 GMT
"We've got something you ain't got" - Made me smile reading this thread (that's reading, as in reading ... not Reading, Craig!) I had come down from Manchester (I was at Uni - which shows you how long ago this is!), on me tod, by National Express coach. When we were finally let out the coppers marched us to the coach park (where the official coaches were located). I tried very hard to convince a couple in blue, in the marching cordon, that I needed to go the other way, to the contral coach station, but was told that wouldn't be possible ("shut the fuck up and walk this way"). When we got to the coaches the copper nearest me said, "Right, you can do what you want now" ... So, hopelessly lost - wearing only a T-Shirt, with me colours stuffed down the front of me Levis - I started to wander back down to the center of Brum. At one point - having legged it from two Brum fans - an old geezer was walking up one of the terraced streets in the opposite direction to me ... I asked him for directions to the central coach station and he helpfully pointed me back to the coach-park, the old bastard! After the match was pretty rough getting back to new street station on foot, was just like the warriors film. Yes it was - Getting to the central coach station was no walk in the park, either!. I remember ferverently wishing that I had a baseball bat with me. Never have I run so fast, for so long, with absolutely no idea where I was going ... And never has a two hour wait (I had missed the first coach) taken sooooooooooooo bloody long. Now, however, I always smile when someone brings up that game ... Stokies on tour. ah
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Post by wizzardofdribble on Apr 16, 2009 18:08:04 GMT
I can't help but look back on the day with some pride. The way the lads climbed the fences to protect their fellow Stokies, still brings a lump to my throat. When you talk about this season and our 'siege mentality'... fuck me this was it in all it's glory. If anyone on here was on those fences that day then all i can say is thankyou... Spot on mate This game/experience is an important part of our History and those who were there will never forget it It's in the blood Like Stoke City FC
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Post by boothenpaddock86 on Apr 16, 2009 18:18:22 GMT
never went to the game but heard at the time Birmingham got battered outside,don't know if its true of not ! seems like a lot on here got a lucky escape
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Post by knype on Apr 16, 2009 18:19:28 GMT
It was a surreal atmosphere, intimidating, frightening yet also in a weird way inspiring which is what made people climb the fence and save a lot of people from a beating! Thanks to all those that did!
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Post by Bowd1863 on Apr 16, 2009 18:23:53 GMT
Went by train , sat in the upper seats ...but watched the game from the paddock seats below.After a group came in late with one sitting on the steps next to my aisle seat..OB told him to move and it was clear he'd get slung out at which time it'd go off with me right in the middle..so gave him my seat and went downstairs. Only about 20 Stokies down there intially, if that, certainly no 'lads'..had a great view of the game with room to stretch out..seemed a sensible decission at the time Then all hell broke out....Brum poured on the pitch and one of their firms started to come through the paddock ...not such a wise move after all Stoke dropped down into the paddock from the seats above to confront Brum coming through the Paddock....dodgy stuff Escort back to the station was nerve tingling but surprisingly trouble free once we'd cleared the imediate area of the ground. always seen Brum as an iffy day out..a place where Stoke's followings have varied greatly over the years We arrived 20 minutes late and our seats 'upstairs' were taken, so we were told to sit in the lower tier. The mental when we equalised was fucking superb, but after that late incident it became dodgy as fuck around us. As soon as the lads started dropping down from the upper tier it felt safe again, i remember one familiar face flooring a Brummie with an open-handed slap...nearly took the cunters head off ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 18:26:37 GMT
I was in the Birmingham Kop that day, as for family reasons I had moved to the city and my Bro and many of my friends were Blue Noses. The foul by Biggins was a stunner and I remember the whole ground went silent as the ball went in, every one expecting a free kick,,,,then a roar from the 6000 stokies. I think the Blue noses could a have put up with this but then from the next attack they thought they had scored and the Ref played on .... then the unmistakable sound of VERY loud laughter from the Stokies...then absolute chaos as the the Blues invaded the pitch from all three sides. The fighting that followed was amongest the worst I have ever seen, and the Police decision to let every one out while THEY STAYED IN THE GROUND WAS LUNACY. there must have been 10,000 people fighting out side the ground I went home to Kings Norton a Blue Nose strong hold, and had a few pints and a chat, they didnt think it was nearly as bad as the riots against Leeds and West Ham, (where our own Noel Blake stayed on the pitch for the scrap.) Also as context we should remember thet there was history between the two clubs before this....I remember being on the Kop for a game in the early 1980s when Stoke came in to try and take it, a heroic failure, but something the Blue Noses never tried at Stoke
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 18:38:40 GMT
I can't help but look back on the day with some pride. The way the lads climbed the fences to protect their fellow Stokies, still brings a lump to my throat. When you talk about this season and our 'siege mentality'... fuck me this was it in all it's glory. If anyone on here was on those fences that day then all i can say is thankyou... Well said. The N40 were frowned upon by many and rightly so in most cases but you have to take your hat off to them that day. Without them defending the away end there would have been a lot more injuries to innocent Stokies. Cheers lads
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Post by dozintheseventees on Apr 16, 2009 18:41:26 GMT
I was on leave from the Army for that match and went with my best mate. St Andrews was a shithole and we'd often had problems there, but this day, with a 6,000 following and all the bad blood over Macari, it was bound to kick off. I still maintain that the pitch invasion was pre-planned and orchestrated (I've always thought so). That's because the poured onto the pitch from all sections of the ground at the same time. It was far too much of a coincidence. Any way, the pair of us were on the fence while the big brave Brummies pushed forward onto a target that struggled to fight back (But did) because of the crowd behind pressing forward. It really is a sad thought now when we are remembering those awful scenes at Hillsborough.
It all had a knock-on effect for us when they next came to the Vic because (young dick-heads that we were) we sought retribution and my mate spent the afternoon in the cells.
Thank God those awful days of cages and thuggery have all but gone.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 18:51:54 GMT
Funnily enough that was the first game I ever took my missus to. Being considerate I decided to take her into the seats rather than the usual standing behind the goal.
When it kicked off she was standing on her seat trying to get a better view. I felt helpless not being down there helping me mates out.
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Post by swampySCFC on Apr 16, 2009 18:52:34 GMT
I remember that game well. we had travelled to the game with the then "Cheshire Supporters Club" on a battered old coach.
I was on the fence. Wankers but the worst violence was outside when they could get stuff to throw.
I went the Reading game too. The OG was by a black bloke with a Scottish name I think.
Whilst talking about similar incidents lets not forget Grimsby around the sametime. Their fans invaded the pitch and came up to the away end. Sheer weight of Stokies surging forward burst the gates open and we were all at toe to toe.
Worst violence I have seen was at Blackpool. Caused by a massive following of Stokies. The coppers took a right pasting trapped ionside the away end by the fence.
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Post by knype on Apr 16, 2009 18:55:02 GMT
Grimsby was another strange day! I can see now the faces of the Grimsby fans when the gates burst open and Stokies got onto the pitch....
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Post by sansomonhisarse on Apr 16, 2009 18:59:26 GMT
Id just like to add my two penneth, as it was me who lost his eye at that game on the fateful day of feb 29th.
My memories of that day allthough obviously tainted and then spending the next six weeks of my life in Birmingham hospital as the doctors and nurses tried so hard to save my sight with numerous operations etc were of a really memorable day. At that time travelling away with Stoke was such an adventure for me and my mates, we had been all over England to various grounds and being 18 at the time it was such good fun to drive to a new city, have a few beers, whatever, and then catch the game. Sadly I havent been to an away match since, apart from the autoglass final, something which I hope to put right now that I am a father and to take my son.
Ill never forget the merryment at half time as the brummie girls were asking their loved ones to marry them (as it was a leap year) but I have to agree about the comments about the heroic fighting that most of the stokies did that day. Coming from Chess I know some of the lads first hand and respect everyone of them, that is how we grew up in Chess and its a fact of life that some of us like a rumble more than others. I however have never been to a Stoke match looking for or creating any trouble. Ironic how it is I suppose I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and that is how I judge my injury. It could have happened anywhere.
I have never ever before spoke about this time of my life publicly, always reading (especially on the old rivals website) about this incident. I can state though that even I do not know what hit me that day. No evidence was found at the time or after. It could have been a Stokie who threw the missile as the chaos that was surrounding us outside the ground that day was a war zone as re-iterated in this thread again.
I would like to take this opportunity now that water has long gone under the bridge to thank everybody again for their love and support during that time and since. Especially the lads from Chess / Crackley and all from SCFC.
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