Life B.C. (Before Computers)

[trevdi9]

In the days before the internet, the only way Wednesday fans could share their opinion on the club was via a cork noticeboard in Hillsborough Park. Due to the unreliable nature of the postal system, messages could only be sent by carrier pigeon. It seems that this, in itself, was not ideal, as messages which were critical of the club never seemed to get through. Pictured here is the gentleman (name unfortunately lost in the mists of time) who was in charge of collecting the messages and pinning them on the board - their equivalent of Neil, I suppose.

is that a young DA ,not the bloke the pidgeon

[trevdi9]

where have you been taxi ,did you take obama home

[mirodo]

is that a young DA ,not the bloke the pidgeon

Well spotted, Trev!

[SimonJ]

There was also the teleprinter / vidiprinter on grandstand's final score. It was a bit rubbish - often getting stuck - think it only did the final scores - none of the goal updates, sendings off, not even sure it said what division either - just the score....

When we were playing away from home, I'd listen on radio up to about 5 mins before full time, and then get final score on - in late 70s and early 80s I seem to remember final score didn't start till about 4:40.

My favourite was where we were winning away from home, and so when the home team's score came first, if it was still lower than what we had, then I knew we'd won even before our score came up....

I remember in 79/80 season, we were near the top and were away at Swindon (also near the top at the time - I think that this game was on MOTD too - highly unusual for Div 3). Glued to the radio all afternoon (and would only go round the grounds every 10 mins or so) - winning 2-1 with a few mins to go, and then put final score on.

The teleprinter thing seemed to take forever to bring our score up.....then finally, gets to "Swindon Town 1 " - and then got stuck, and didn't bring our score up for ages, but it didn't matter, cos I knew that we'd won........ :-)

It sounds really sad now, with the information at our finger tips - but the tension of not knowing the score and being desperate to find out, was all part and parcel of being a fan......

Right, can someone post up the MOTD clip of us winning at Swindon in 79/80.......?

[dunsbyowl]

The cause of many a heated argument in households (when phone bills arrived) between fans and parents/spouses/partners (did they call them that in the 1990s?) round the country as Wednesdayites rang this rip off line to glean the laest managerial change or player signing !

 

Imagine the cost this close season????

 

[Taximark]

Edited June 20, 2015 by TaxiMark

[Taximark]

 

Those were the days eh?

[Whelan's Wonderland]

Used to follow the same ritual if not at the game. Load ceefax at 3pm and then spend 2 hours scrolling through 303, 5/7/8 etc for the scores and wait with heart beating faster just before the page with the Wednesday score.

Always pressed hold twice. Also used to use the update/reveal function in midweek evening games

[Guest minsk owl]

 

Those were the days eh?

wonderful sight !! , and such a pity that Bright was the Palace man to spoil the potential party