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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Aug 27, 2015 22:34:40 GMT
When you think of the sheer volume of pubs around the Vic, the Brit really is fucking wank.
Edit, not phrased that too well. The facilities around the Brit are fucking wank; the place has its own history and legacy as we all know; I just wish it was a) finished and b) not in the arse-end of nowhere.
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Post by Miles Offside on Aug 27, 2015 22:36:03 GMT
I've grown up with the Brit and I love it. And there must be plenty like you, which is great. This might sound daft, but for me it still feels a bit of a novelty going to the Brit and sitting down after years of standing on the Boothen at the Vic.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Aug 27, 2015 22:42:50 GMT
That's it for me. Bedtime. Remembering all the lost boozers on top of a wave of nostalgia for the Vic. I'll be in no fit state to face Benji's first post tomorrow morning at this rate.
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Post by poethebald on Aug 27, 2015 22:43:54 GMT
My dad's mate used to park on the street next to the old PMT club .They would ave a pint and in true 70s style we would ave a bottle of coke with the obligatory straw and packet of crisps. Then it would be off to the Vic. Night matches were always the most magical to me as a kid.The milling crowds before the game, the flood lights , the smell of burgers cooking and that wondrous moment when I would walk up the steps of the Boothen End like it was my own personal players tunnel to be greeted at the top by the inner sanctum of the cathedral that was the Victoria Ground.To a 7 year old boy there was nothing better in life.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2015 23:01:05 GMT
My dad's mate used to park on the street next to the old PMT club .They would ave a pint and in true 70s style we would ave a bottle of coke with the obligatory straw and packet of crisps. Then it would be off to the Vic. Night matches were always the most magical to me as a kid.The milling crowds before the game, the flood lights , the smell of burgers cooking and that wondrous moment when I would walk up the steps of the Boothen End like it was my own personal players tunnel to be greeted at the top by the inner sanctum of the cathedral that was the Victoria Ground.To a 7 year old boy there was nothing better in life. That was the moment wasn't it. You got through the turnstile, you might buy a beer or a pie, or go for a piss. You could hear the songs starting already .... eventually walked up those steps, and the pitch came into view. The volume of the songs hit you, and then you just joined in...... Loads of songs ...
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Post by pinoypotter on Aug 27, 2015 23:07:41 GMT
Used to park the car on Hill St; then go to The Staff of Life for a Bass or 3. Later years to Grays Corner. A short walk to the Vic, either cash or tickets it didn't matter we could all stand together on the Boothen. It was never as cold as the Brit can be.
Went through the broken fence the other week and walked down the path that was once the Boothen end. Almost brought a tear to my eye.
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Post by march4 on Aug 27, 2015 23:20:57 GMT
I also had hair. Come to think of it, when the Vic closed my hair was in as bad a state as the ground.
The parking was brill and you could get away pretty well. Always used to find a spot by the railway works or amongst the pot banks. Car did get broken into a few times, though.
Never realised how special the atmosphere was until we went to the Brit and it felt soulless.
Like many others, I will never forget my first game there as a kid. Dad lifted me over the turnstile into the Butler St Paddock. First impression was the greenness of the pitch. Then the smell of pipe tobacco. The players seemed to be giants and yet you could almost reach out and touch them. The puddles on the car park seemed big enough to drown a police horse. Like it is now, the camaraderie of the fans around you was special. At the Vic, families would have their own spots on the terraces. Fathers would bring their sons and eventually their grandsons and great grandsons. The older generations would sadly pass on, but the family remained represented in its spot.
I wish I could go back there on Saturday and watch a game of football with 30,000 other folk.
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Post by davethebass on Aug 27, 2015 23:37:11 GMT
Nice one OP, love these threads as I went to many many matches at the Vic but sadly only been the Brit once...
Pubs not mentioned yet: Wellington Inn (the wellie), Commercial Inn (ma's) and the Beehive up Honeywall, renowned for the best pint of Pedi for miles.
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Post by JoeinOz on Aug 28, 2015 2:44:37 GMT
It's all right to re-write history and get all nostaligic BUT the move to the Brit was absolutely the right thing to do.
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Post by elystokie on Aug 28, 2015 4:34:19 GMT
Either train from Kidsgrove or taxi from Hanley or somewhere where I was, so could have a few beers around various watering holes around Stoke, memory isn't great and some of them may have been the same building but changed names, there was the sea lion, greys corner? the wheatsheaf, the glebe, the one at the end of the town hall car park next to where greenhoffs is now, uncle toms, but always ending up in the Vic pub opposite the old Stoke end by about 2.00 - 2.15, I bumped into one guy in Cologne who I hadn't seen in nearly 20 years mainly because of the ground move, all the guys I grew up with always use to stand in the same place in the boothen, you could go away for 3 months and then go to the match and see a lot of familiar faces, now I hardly see them. It seemed warmer because the corners were filled in :D The one on the Kingsway, now the White Star, used to be The Gordon. The Sea Lion used to be my college watering hole. I think its new incarnation may have recently closed - I may be mistaken though. We had a spell of using the Cliffe Vale on Shelton Old Rd at one time, a good pint of pedi in there! Gone for a good while now that one. This thread has given me pause for some reflection this evening and I don't half miss the Vic. The Sea Lions incarnation Grays Corner was closed but I'm sure I read somewhere that it had been taken over and was re-opening, I drove past a few weeks ago and there seemed to be signs of life so maybe it is or even has opened, think I'll check tomorrow. I spent more time in there when it was The Sea Lion than I did at home, loved the place, full of characters, I'd be back in every time I was on leave from the Navy. If give a lot for another night match at The Vic after a few pints in there.
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Post by redandwhitetundra on Aug 28, 2015 5:50:29 GMT
Anyone got photos of the entrance to the Boothen End, and concourse..? I remember being in there numerous times, but the stand details escape me..!
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Post by dutchstokie on Aug 28, 2015 6:31:39 GMT
was it as cold as the brit in winter? and what was parking like? It was a tropical paradise...think hanging gardens of babylon. Just echoing a few sentiments already shared, but for me, running up the steps after paying, going from very dark to brilliant sunshine as you look out over the sunbathed pitch from the back of the Boothen on a glorious Saturday afternoon is something to truly treasure....chatting to your mates about how many you reckon the oppo have brought, thumbing through the programme, singing (at the right tempo I might add). No one can ever take those moments and memories away from me
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Post by poethebald on Aug 28, 2015 6:49:11 GMT
My dad's mate used to park on the street next to the old PMT club .They would ave a pint and in true 70s style we would ave a bottle of coke with the obligatory straw and packet of crisps. Then it would be off to the Vic. Night matches were always the most magical to me as a kid.The milling crowds before the game, the flood lights , the smell of burgers cooking and that wondrous moment when I would walk up the steps of the Boothen End like it was my own personal players tunnel to be greeted at the top by the inner sanctum of the cathedral that was the Victoria Ground.To a 7 year old boy there was nothing better in life. That was the moment wasn't it.  You got through the turnstile, you might buy a beer or a pie, or go for a piss.  You could hear the songs starting already ....  eventually walked up those steps, and the pitch came into view. The volume of the songs hit you, and then you just joined in...... Loads of songs ... Spot on mate, I've so many happy memories from the Vic....and of course like any Stoke Supporter a few nightmares too....lol. Â
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Post by daveinoz on Aug 28, 2015 6:56:41 GMT
I well remember a cold January day standing in my usual spot in the Boothen end. The fog started to roll in at half time and for the rest of the game couldn't see past halfway!! Only knew something was happening at the Stoke end by the crowd noise.. Even the floodlight generator noise at the back was muffled.....Happy days.
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Post by LGH87 on Aug 28, 2015 7:00:08 GMT
The one on the Kingsway, now the White Star, used to be The Gordon. The Sea Lion used to be my college watering hole. I think its new incarnation may have recently closed - I may be mistaken though. We had a spell of using the Cliffe Vale on Shelton Old Rd at one time, a good pint of pedi in there! Gone for a good while now that one. This thread has given me pause for some reflection this evening and I don't half miss the Vic. The Sea Lions incarnation Grays Corner was closed but I'm sure I read somewhere that it had been taken over and was re-opening, I drove past a few weeks ago and there seemed to be signs of life so maybe it is or even has opened, think I'll check tomorrow. I spent more time in there when it was The Sea Lion than I did at home, loved the place, full of characters, I'd be back in every time I was on leave from the Navy. If give a lot for another night match at The Vic after a few pints in there. Correct about Greys Corner mate, the couple who own my local the Bench & Bar have recently bought it
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Post by crapslinger on Aug 28, 2015 9:53:36 GMT
was it as cold as the brit in winter? and what was parking like? It was a tropical paradise...think hanging gardens of babylon. Just echoing a few sentiments already shared, but for me, running up the steps after paying, going from very dark to brilliant sunshine as you look out over the sunbathed pitch from the back of the Boothen on a glorious Saturday afternoon is something to truly treasure....chatting to your mates about how many you reckon the oppo have brought, thumbing through the programme, singing (at the right tempo I might add). No one can ever take those moments and memories away from me The hair standing up on the back of your neck when you reached the top of the steps, the songs many and varied as you say sung at the right tempo, the sight of pot bank workers in white overalls covered in white dust, miners covered in black dust all finished the Saturday morning shift into the pub for a few then straight to the ground, the atmosphere generated the surges been crushed against the barriers. The Brit compared is a soulless mecano kit stuck in the middle of nowhere, for me we lost a lot of our identity when we relocated.
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Post by maninasuitcase on Aug 28, 2015 10:14:09 GMT
It was a tropical paradise...think hanging gardens of babylon. Just echoing a few sentiments already shared, but for me, running up the steps after paying, going from very dark to brilliant sunshine as you look out over the sunbathed pitch from the back of the Boothen on a glorious Saturday afternoon is something to truly treasure....chatting to your mates about how many you reckon the oppo have brought, thumbing through the programme, singing (at the right tempo I might add). No one can ever take those moments and memories away from me The hair standing up on the back of your neck when you reached the top of the steps, the songs many and varied as you say sung at the right tempo, the sight of pot bank workers in white overalls covered in white dust, miners covered in black dust all finished the Saturday morning shift into the pub for a few then straight to the ground, the atmosphere generated the surges been crushed against the barriers. The Brit compared is a soulless mecano kit stuck in the middle of nowhere, for me we lost a lot of our identity when we relocated. It killed the town as well.
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Post by dutchpeter72 on Aug 28, 2015 10:22:58 GMT
Anyone got photos of the entrance to the Boothen End, and concourse..? I remember being in there numerous times, but the stand details escape me..! I took loads of photos of the Vic from the last game, and through the various stages of its demolition. So I've pics of the Boothen End concourse, bogs, urinals, turnstiles, steps, terracing - the lot. One day I'll have to get them uploaded.
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Post by Skankmonkey on Aug 28, 2015 10:42:44 GMT
It's all right to re-write history and get all nostaligic BUT the move to the Brit was absolutely the right thing to do. Bloody Grinch! Nostalgia ain't what it used to be eh?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I can't help fantasising about an alternate history where the Club wasn't almost broken by the cost of moving to a new ground. I suppose I'd have missed out on the likes of Big(gest) Nev, Paul Stewart, Kofi Nyamah and O'Neill Donaldson though. Oh hang on...
Oh well at least I had a wide choice of seats to watch them from.
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Post by Pretty Little Boother on Aug 28, 2015 10:43:14 GMT
Anyone got photos of the entrance to the Boothen End, and concourse..? I remember being in there numerous times, but the stand details escape me..! I took loads of photos of the Vic from the last game, and through the various stages of its demolition. So I've pics of the Boothen End concourse, bogs, urinals, turnstiles, steps, terracing - the lot. One day I'll have to get them uploaded. Job for you tonight then!
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Post by elystokie on Aug 28, 2015 10:44:49 GMT
Anyone got photos of the entrance to the Boothen End, and concourse..? I remember being in there numerous times, but the stand details escape me..! I took loads of photos of the Vic from the last game, and through the various stages of its demolition. So I've pics of the Boothen End concourse, bogs, urinals, turnstiles, steps, terracing - the lot. One day I'll have to get them uploaded. Yes, today, get on with it :D
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Post by roostershair on Aug 28, 2015 10:51:44 GMT
It was GREAT!!!!!! Uncle Toms for a pre-match pint then chips in that chippy further down (cant remember what it was called) then going into the toilets in the concourse under the Boothen. Standing ankle deep in piss, and thrilling at the volume of noise when you walked up the steps and standing by that pillar with number 13 on it. When you were part of the crowd on matchdays ( I loved night games) you were part of a family. Shit bogs, shit food, shit conditions but it was OUR shit and I LOVED it!
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Aug 28, 2015 10:54:08 GMT
Lived about 100yards from the Vic pub,on match days nip down to the pub about 11am on a Sat.to be sure of getting a seat, down a few pints untill 3pm, then over to the Boothen end before the 3-15 KO. After the game, nip home for tea, then get ready for a Sat. night out in the Red Lion Stoke.Happy days.
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Post by dutchpeter72 on Aug 28, 2015 10:56:37 GMT
I took loads of photos of the Vic from the last game, and through the various stages of its demolition. So I've pics of the Boothen End concourse, bogs, urinals, turnstiles, steps, terracing - the lot. One day I'll have to get them uploaded. Yes, today, get on with it I must have over a 100 photos from all angles. I even got Gerry McMahons goal as it stretched the net. Some are rubbish wether its composition, too much light etc. but some with the passage of time look good. I seem to have a weakness for floodlights haha. I'll consult with a mate who knows how to do this kinda thing as I'm a techno twat. My saddest pic is of the Boothen End roof crumpled on the terracing below.
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Post by stokeharry on Aug 28, 2015 11:53:54 GMT
It was a tropical paradise...think hanging gardens of babylon. Just echoing a few sentiments already shared, but for me, running up the steps after paying, going from very dark to brilliant sunshine as you look out over the sunbathed pitch from the back of the Boothen on a glorious Saturday afternoon is something to truly treasure....chatting to your mates about how many you reckon the oppo have brought, thumbing through the programme, singing (at the right tempo I might add). No one can ever take those moments and memories away from me The hair standing up on the back of your neck when you reached the top of the steps, the songs many and varied as you say sung at the right tempo, the sight of pot bank workers in white overalls covered in white dust, miners covered in black dust all finished the Saturday morning shift into the pub for a few then straight to the ground, the atmosphere generated the surges been crushed against the barriers. The Brit compared is a soulless mecano kit stuck in the middle of nowhere, for me we lost a lot of our identity when we relocated.
FACT.
Proper working class Stoke blokes as well, not like the softy PC types that we get on here ;-)
"those were the days my friend we took the Stretford end"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2015 13:11:54 GMT
Wasn't the Sea Lion run by an ex boxer? I can't just remember his name, but it will come to me. EDIT: Larry Parks?
This thread has certainly brought a few memories back. I remember one game when as I was queuing to get in through the season ticket turnstyle (Boothen End) a guy came up to me and asked me to take his son into the ground. He said that it was ok, he did it every game - he would crawl under the turnstyle. I was a bit concerned doing this but agreed to. The trouble was that the kid had grown and couldn't get under the turnstyle, so he started trying to climb over the top of the turnstyle. A steward started walking towards us, and I thought "shit, we've been caught". The steward just caught hold of the lad and lifted him over the turnstyle. I said "Thanks mate". All a bit different to today.
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Post by thestatusquo on Aug 28, 2015 13:36:42 GMT
Parked up by the old Swan. Home in minutes. Walking up the steps onto the Boothen was always special as already mentioned.
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Post by rednwhite43 on Aug 28, 2015 13:55:09 GMT
Special place it will always be in my heart, all the pubs were on the doorstep and the atmosphere was amazing, i have always said that we should have built the brit on the old vic site,
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Post by rednwhite43 on Aug 28, 2015 13:57:24 GMT
It's all right to re-write history and get all nostaligic BUT the move to the Brit was absolutely the right thing to do. We should of demolished the vic and built the brit on that site .
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Post by lastoftheldk on Aug 28, 2015 14:33:03 GMT
Wasn't the Sea Lion run by an ex boxer? I can't just remember his name, but it will come to me. EDIT: Larry Parks? This thread has certainly brought a few memories back. I remember one game when as I was queuing to get in through the season ticket turnstyle (Boothen End) a guy came up to me and asked me to take his son into the ground. He said that it was ok, he did it every game - he would crawl under the turnstyle. I was a bit concerned doing this but agreed to. The trouble was that the kid had grown and couldn't get under the turnstyle, so he started trying to climb over the top of the turnstyle. A steward started walking towards us, and I thought "shit, we've been caught". The steward just caught hold of the lad and lifted him over the turnstyle. I said "Thanks mate". All a bit different to today. Larry Parks, we were in the club opposite the ground, a gang of man city fans where in there (which was unuasul for away supporters)and had kept quite till one of them threw one of those glass dimpled ashtrays which hit Larry on the back off the head, Larry stood up walked over to them and said, who threw that ?, the lad who threw it said nothing but his bigger mate said , me, why what are yooooo,, but was knocked out with one punch from Larry before he could finish his sentence, and the rest got the same treatment. Allegedly,,,
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