As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
I always wish I could have stood on the North Bank or at least seen it. My Dad took me to my first game in the mural season
Can anyone tell me what was at the back of the terrace? What was to the left and right of the roof? What were the facilities like?
How long did it take to get in on a matchday when queuing and what was in the North Bank when you went through the turnstiles but not inside of the pitch? Does anyone have any photos or know anywhere that I could view some on the internet?
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.
Last edited by SPUDMASHER on Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Just reading this post makes me feel sad...
I stood on the North Bank for many a year. The beat place i've ever watched football from. So wish those days were back, all standing having a good old sing song, the odd err, pliff going around... Peanut seller pushing his way through crowd yelling "PEANUTS", The smell of beer, and of course a fantastic veiw of The Arsenal.
OMG!!! standing on the North Bank was like being in Heaven.
I used to stand in one of the corners.
As i entered the stadium i used to stand just on the left above the Big step.
THAT was at about 1 oclock after Q'ing up for an hour outside the ground.
i once remember paying just 60p to get into the lower tier seats.
I was too small to see anything and stood on a milkcrate, I lost my dad in the crowd every time we scored in the surge forward, I fell in love with Arsenal there....................................
One of the most annoying things for me was that my Mum went to watch Arsenal and stood on the North Bank once with my Dad and she thinks nothing of it. In fact she hates football as it has taken over the household!
As I was too young to remember the old North Bank, I want to get a real understanding of just what it was like to stand there and Dad gets bored of telling me.
Its great hearing from other fans too. I've read The End by Tom Watt at least 10 times!
It was fantastic in there. The pre match singing would start around 2.20ish and then if you were really lucky the ICF or Chelsea Headhunters would steam in at around 2.50 to try and take the end!!
Any football fan would tell you that standing in your home end during a big match, not having any say where you were going due to the swaying and surging was just the best thing as a teenager. As I got older I moved over to the Clock End but great memories!!
Oh those were the days............football as it was meant to be.
We always made sure we got a spot with a crash barrier just behind us so we didn't get hit by a surge when we scored.
I always stood in the middle of The Noprth Bank and we would try to out sing the top (top side) guys up at that back as weel as The North Bank and The Clockend singing to each other.
Football always had more adrenalin with it then, quite a lot of adrenalin actually when you realise you have a load of West Ham or Millwall in with you.
Only stood on it once, FA cup v utd 2-1 to the arse mc clair missed a pen right at the end.
I have to say I didn't find it a pleasant experience, I seen very little of the game, such was the view and the huge numbers crammed in that day.
If I am honest I preferred sitting in the North Stand.
This was in the days before the refreshment bar at the back of the NB. There was a small bit of terracing on which we stood. In front of that was a walkway and in the middle was a police viewing step.
We used to chuck things at them.
The Green Shed was the original refreshment bar underneath the NB, basically sold McEwans Export, Ready Salted crips and wagon wheels.
The back of the NB had sliding doors to allow the wind to blow-dry the pitch.
Also under the NB was the cage where the more boisterous of us would often end up before being sent on our way with a kick up the arse by plod.
A sound that will stay with me for a long time was the sound of several hundred Doc Marten's running across an empty terrace.
One of the best days I had up there was in 1980, home to ManU. The cockney reds always came in the NB, make a noise, then get escorted up the CE. This year we decided to make out we were CR. A shout went up and we made our way down to the West Stand Paddock ready to be escorted. Some lads on the NB who were not ITK came down to have a pop anda few whacks were handed out before someone sussed who we were.
We were marched right into the middle of the manc support and as the teams came out, we gave it to them. Funny as fuck as they were applauding us during teh escort.
I always stood right behind the goal 3/4 way back, i was a bit out of my depth there as it seemed to be lads but i still enjoyed it. Sit down protests angry about the North bank being knocked down and replaced. Anders Limpar chipping Mike Hooper from the halfway line in a 4.0 win against the mousers. The brawl v Norwich...Man utd beating us 6.2 in the Rumbelows cup ( Lee Sharpe hat trick) with Les Sealy goading the North Bank and West Stand about the score.
And EVERY player had their name sung before Kick off. Progress cant hide the memories good or bad.
Peanut seller pushing his way through crowd yelling "PEANUTS", The smell of beer, and of course a fantastic veiw of The Arsenal.
