WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO STAND ON THE NORTH BANK?

Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:26 pm

Watching McClair skying his penalty into the north bank.....ahhhhhh

My first game was the Sammy Nelson testimonial.....vs Celtic 0-0

I think it was his test....i was soooo young, but stood on the bank from 83 onwards...

Charlie! Charlie! · Post by **Charlie! Charlie!** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:29 pm

I used to love playing the scum when you knew you had to be in the ground by 1pm latest to get a good place to stand and the banter with the clock end would begin! Oh, and Peanuts, roasted peanuts!

Post by **flash gunner** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:57 pm

Cant add to the stories here, nice to hear them brings back some great memories of the North Bank

worthing gooner · Post by **worthing gooner** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:59 pm

And turning up at the gate, paying and in you go!!! Get in early though.

Post by **flash gunner** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:01 pm

Used to pay Â£4 to stand in the North Bank when i started going without my dad. I used to earn Â£96 as an apprentice at the time so to go football was a small percentage of your wages even for a 16 year old apprentice unlike today

Only One Tony Adams · Post by **Only One Tony Adams** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:03 pm

worthing gooner wrote:And turning up at the gate, paying and in you go!!! Get in early though.

That's the way football should be........

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:20 pm

SPUDMASHER wrote:Those were the days!

Standing in a pool of piss. Surging forward all the time. Keeping warm by jumping up and down. Bloody hell, what great times they were.
The North Bank existed in a time when football was the game of the working classes. Long before the prawn sandwich brigade ever appeared. The terraces were made up of life long supporters of all ages. There were a few women dotted around here and there but not on the scale that we see today. It was the time when a bloke got away from the family for a couple of hours on a Saturday and had a few beers with his mates.

Today of course the clubs are much more consumer savvy and have changed it into a family day out. It was around the time that this was introduced that the atmospheres started dying. Couple that with the influence of the corporate hospitality and you get what we have today. Before I get jumped on by the feminists on here I should point out that I have no issue with women and children going to games. Some are among the most hardcore of our supporters. Nobody can deny though that the atmosphere was much louder in the days of the terraces when it was much more affordable to go.

The refreshments counter was at the back of the terrace as were the toilets. Fucking dreadful to be honest! As you came in through the turnstiles on Avenall road you had to cross a very small courtyard and then climb the back of the terracing (Looked like a terrace in it's own right). I remember the very first time I did so and the inside of the ground came into view. Wow, what a sight that was.

Being a short arse (Not as short as DB10) I used to stand at the front of the top section. There was a drop of about 2-3ft in front with a lateral walkway before the front half of the terracing. Being there always meant I could see over the head of the guy in front of me.

I really miss that old terrace.

Great post. Takes me back even though I never really stood at the NB.
Was always a CE'der.
Once ended up at the NB when for some reason the club closed the CE in a game we played France in a warm up.

Like Basil's comments when I was younger I used to take a plastic stool/step to stand on propped up against a barrier. Happy days!

I partly blame Hilsborogh and Sky for the lack of atmosphere at grounds today.

Jumpers For Goalposts · Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:23 pm

THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST THREAD EVER STARTED ON HERE!!

I was a North Bank regular from the early 80's until it was knocked down and then I always sat right where I used to stand in the North Lower but it was never the same.

The best bit for me was that you could turn up and stand wherever you wanted, so the singing lads always used to clump together in the middle and most games we never stopped singing. I bloody loved it there and have so many memories both good and bad.

Bad = Spartak Moscow beating us 5-2 but most of us stayed til the bitter end and applauded them off as they were so good.

Losing 1-2 to Walsall was another dreadful night game as was the 2-6 against the Mancs.

The fighting was always a pain in the arse though, especially when West Ham or Sp*rs tried to annex our end. To my mind anyone that went to football for a bundle was a prat - all they did was spoil it for the rest of us.

My best memory is probably a night game in the mid 80's against Aston Villa when George Wood was sent off and Stewart Robson went in goal. For some reason this really fired the crowd up and we sang non-stop at a level I'd never heard before. We won 2-1 and I couldn't talk properly for days after.

Strange though that all my best memories are away from home (Anfield 89, WHL 87 / 04, OT 02, Copenhagen 94, Wembley 79 / 93 / 98 ) or after the terracing had gone (Tony Adams 4th goal against Everton!) BUT if I had a time machine I'd have to go back to the old North Bank!!

merson_is_god · Post by **merson_is_god** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:53 pm

BEST THREAD-aww thanks, you shouldnt have!!!

Does anyone have any pictures of them standing in the terrace or views from the North Bank?

I really enjoyed reading the posts and look forward to reading more...

Basil is a Gooner · Post by **Basil is a Gooner** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 2:59 pm

Boomer wrote:
Like Basil's comments when I was younger I used to take a plastic stool/step to stand on propped up against a barrier. Happy days!

The difference is Boomer - you still do!

(well someone had to say it.....

)

digger · Post by **digger** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:00 pm

I feel gutted reading this thread... if only I was 5 years older

Galasso · Post by **Galasso** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 3:23 pm

merson_is_god wrote:BEST THREAD-aww thanks, you shouldnt have!!!

Does anyone have any pictures of them standing in the terrace or views from the North Bank?

I really enjoyed reading the posts and look forward to reading more...

Could ask Basil if she has any polaroids?

If one day you are on a northern line tube train, standing up, packed, and the train is a "runaway" that is going down a hill, and someone beside you pisses themselves out of fright and people starting shouting....it was a bit like that.

Basil is a Gooner · Post by **Basil is a Gooner** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:40 pm

In those days I used to watch the game rather than photograph it!

Found a few, I do have more but no time to sort them at the moment....

East Stand

Marble Hall entrance

Gooner_Sam · Post by **Gooner_Sam** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:43 pm

Anyone got a picture of the tunnel leading through to your seat? It used to give me goose bumps!

Boomer · Post by **Boomer** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 4:48 pm

Basil is a Gooner wrote:
Boomer wrote:
Like Basil's comments when I was younger I used to take a plastic stool/step to stand on propped up against a barrier. Happy days!

The difference is Boomer - you still do! (well someone had to say it..... )

You should know there's no barriers at the Grove!
Besides had you come and join Dad and I (including Spuddy) I was concidered as 'High tower' compared to them!