New book on the Owls' Darkest Times 73-76

[dorian gray]

On 24/01/2020 at 18:49, Owl247 said:

1973 was when I started going to games, what a year to start!, would definitely be interested in getting a copy of the book 

haven't you had enough?

try poking a hair clip in the plug socket.

[dorian gray]

8 hours ago, qantas said:

 

I remember a night game at Mansfield...me & a mate had driven there & after the game turned down a street where we thought the car was...turned out it wasn't & we'd entered a Cul-de-Sac

When we turned to go back a group of around 6 or 7 Mansfield lads had followed us...we had no choice but to face it down...we gave our best in what basically just a fist fight, no weapons, no sticking the boot in or owt like that...we got a black eye apiece and a bit of a mauling but we were basically OK, lucky I guess could have been a lot worse.

 

 

I remember some years after going there and whilst traffic was stood it was getting bricked by scumbags who disappeared down side streets.

mummy scumbag would have been short of some lil' scumbags if we'd caught the shitters.

[sheriwozgod]

On 27/01/2020 at 21:12, owlthorpe said:

Went to Chesterfield away in September 1975 ,a night match in our first season in the 3rd Division , think it was the first time we had played them for many a year. We had just beaten Grimsby 4 -0 the previous Saturday and out of a crowd of 13,000 there must have been around 8,000 Wednesdayites. We were watching from a side terrace and just before kick off the packed away end full of Owls surged forward and hundreds steamed straight across the pitch and onto their kop, the Chesterfield fans legged it to the sides. Their were various pitch invasions throughout the game which of course we lost 1-0. Remember one of the fans coming off the pitch and standing near us saying  , we might be losing but at least we have took all 4 sides of the ground.

 

My first away game (for ages i wrongly thought it was Lincoln but having checked the dates it was this one)

 

Went with my old man, i was only 13 and not allowed to got to away games without him because of the hooliganism, and having seen the carnage of this night he had a point !!!

 

We parked up and walked to ground and it was like the first 30 mins of Saving Private Ryan, we can laugh now but it was really bad.............i dont think the younger fans now realise just HOW bad it was in the 70,s.

 

I recall we played in a yellow and green "Norwich" away kit and throughout a forgettable game we marveled at our support, but this mood didnt last with my dad when we got back to the car and he discovered someone had snapped his aerial off !!

 

My own personal low point came a few months later.   We were playing Port Vale at home and none of my mates fancied going on a miserable day and my dad was working but i persuaded him to let me go on my own..................was stood on the Kop in the drizzle, crowd around 8,000 and we lost 3 - 0.

 

Remember the trapdoor game well as Eric Potts got the vital second and he was always a bit of a favourite of mine as when he first came to Wednesday he actually lodged with another Wednesday Junior player who was the brother of my dads best mate and i sometimes used to sit with Eric at the Northern Intermediate games at Hillsborough when we all went together.

 

Despite all this i will echo what everyone has said, there was a real sense of belonging at this time and we seemed strangely optimistic as if we knew the good times were only around the corner.

[Bearwood Owl1]

14 minutes ago, sheriwozgod said:

 

Remember the trapdoor game well as Eric Potts got the vital second and he was always a bit of a favourite of mine as when he first came to Wednesday he actually lodged with another Wednesday Junior player who was the brother of my dads best mate and i sometimes used to sit with Eric at the Northern Intermediate games at Hillsborough when we all went together.

 

 

There's something in the players seeming more "real" I think also. Lots of stories of people knowing them in some way, players lodging with families etc. Great stories - thank you :)

[daveyboy66]

31 minutes ago, Bearwood Owl1 said:

There's something in the players seeming more "real" I think also. Lots of stories of people knowing them in some way, players lodging with families etc. Great stories - thank you :)

Like having a pint in the Buccaneer with Willie Henderson on match days before he left for the ground in a taxi at 2pm 

[Nut]

1 hour ago, sheriwozgod said:

 

My first away game (for ages i wrongly thought it was Lincoln but having checked the dates it was this one)

 

Went with my old man, i was only 13 and not allowed to got to away games without him because of the hooliganism, and having seen the carnage of this night he had a point !!!

 

We parked up and walked to ground and it was like the first 30 mins of Saving Private Ryan, we can laugh now but it was really bad.............i dont think the younger fans now realise just HOW bad it was in the 70,s.

 

I recall we played in a yellow and green "Norwich" away kit and throughout a forgettable game we marveled at our support, but this mood didnt last with my dad when we got back to the car and he discovered someone had snapped his aerial off !!

 

My own personal low point came a few months later.   We were playing Port Vale at home and none of my mates fancied going on a miserable day and my dad was working but i persuaded him to let me go on my own..................was stood on the Kop in the drizzle, crowd around 8,000 and we lost 3 - 0.

 

Remember the trapdoor game well as Eric Potts got the vital second and he was always a bit of a favourite of mine as when he first came to Wednesday he actually lodged with another Wednesday Junior player who was the brother of my dads best mate and i sometimes used to sit with Eric at the Northern Intermediate games at Hillsborough when we all went together.

 

Despite all this i will echo what everyone has said, there was a real sense of belonging at this time and we seemed strangely optimistic as if we knew the good times were only around the corner.

The hooliganism probably helped with that. Instead of everyone falling out over the crapon the pitch, you had to stick together and look after each other or you could get a real good hiding. As you say, hard to believe how bad it was at times. 

[Owl Capone]

6 hours ago, Bearwood Owl1 said:

There's something in the players seeming more "real" I think also. Lots of stories of people knowing them in some way, players lodging with families etc. Great stories - thank you :)

Eric Potts, when married, lived in Chapeltown and used to jump on the chap supporters coach at 1.45. We parked up in Law brothers car park and Eric would sprint round with his carrier bag to the ground. The Port Vale 0-3 game we had the joys of watching the home debut of the worst keeper to ever pull on a Wednesday shirt. (he made Ola Tidman look like Lev Yashin) the legend known as Barry Watling. Vales first shot a tame 25 yarder head high went straight through his hands

[Weshallovercome]

On 28/01/2020 at 19:33, asteener1867 said:

Ridiculous game

That terrace was miles behind the goal we got in late and thought Wednesday were knocking it about OK until I recognised Wylde in the yellow away kit

It was Wylde I think mate pulled up for offside 

Thr was an owls fan walking about with a length of scaffolding ffs!

 

 

In my defence, I have no idea how I ended up with that.

 

One minute I was being crushed against the barrier, the next I was warding off 2 copper with a scaffold pole in me hand.

 

Luckily they were as shocked as I was, as we were tousling with it I let go and ran off leaving them both holding it.

 

wow......I'm just amazed the things people can remember.....

 

which begs the question......why didn't you bloody help me?!

 

 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2020 by Weshallovercome

[Dick_Turpin]

I was in my mid teens during the mid 70s and watched the trouble from afar. I didn’t see it close enough to be shocked by it - it seemed almost comic book.

 

For example I remember being at Blackpool on the big end and there was the usual waving going on so you could see Wednesday fans on the other end. I may be imagining this but you could tell it was Fat Sid from 100 yards away. Him and his mates walked undetected into the middle of the Blackpool fans who then scattered when it all kicked off. They charged back and then were repelled until the police stopped it and escorted the Wednesday fans to our bit where they got a hero’s welcome. As a young impressionable kid it seemed like such a ballsy thing to do - literally fighting for your team. I can still picture Sid in a white shirt, sleeves rolled up grinning from ear to ear as he milked the cheers. 

 

During that period I don’t remember anyone who actually went to the games - certainly of my age - who felt repelled and shocked by the violence. In fact when the scrapping inevitably started there was a huge roar went up urging the Wednesday fans on. Very different times. I wouldn’t want them back but amazing camaraderie and atmosphere amongst the fans - especially when you feared for your life until the train mob turned up. 
 

[dorian gray]

On 28/01/2020 at 10:52, ffs owl said:

Came with the nickname ( the white pele ) , never really lived up to that

he was a right player, used his head to play instead of running about like a fool, but at the end of his career.

[dorian gray]

11 hours ago, rickygoo said:

I was in my mid teens during the mid 70s and watched the trouble from afar. I didn’t see it close enough to be shocked by it - it seemed almost comic book.

 

For example I remember being at Blackpool on the big end and there was the usual waving going on so you could see Wednesday fans on the other end. I may be imagining this but you could tell it was Fat Sid from 100 yards away. Him and his mates walked undetected into the middle of the Blackpool fans who then scattered when it all kicked off. They charged back and then were repelled until the police stopped it and escorted the Wednesday fans to our bit where they got a hero’s welcome. As a young impressionable kid it seemed like such a ballsy thing to do - literally fighting for your team. I can still picture Sid in a white shirt, sleeves rolled up grinning from ear to ear as he milked the cheers. 

 

During that period I don’t remember anyone who actually went to the games - certainly of my age - who felt repelled and shocked by the violence. In fact when the scrapping inevitably started there was a huge roar went up urging the Wednesday fans on. Very different times. I wouldn’t want them back but amazing camaraderie and atmosphere amongst the fans - especially when you feared for your life until the train mob turned up. 
 

the vast majority of the away games were attended for the sake of showing wednesday as a well supported club.

our team may have been utter shyte, and the club run down, but the support was the best in the division, and at times it got a wee bit nawty.

it took me years to be able to walk past away fans in their colours on the Penistone road, without clenching my fist ready to let somebody have one if anything kicked off.

I remember coming out of the kop after the 'massacre' (people all over the place, everybody trying to get home, thrilled with the outcome) when 'everything just stopped' and people stood back forming a circle of maybe 5/6 yards diameter. in that circle were two male (boars) well dressed pig fans, everything just stopped (as though time stood still) for a few seconds, when someone started laughing, and everyone joined in with a bit of pointing two, the pigs lower their head (red in the face) and scurried off to lick their wounds in their respective sty's.

[asteener1867]

22 hours ago, daveyboy66 said:

Like having a pint in the Buccaneer with Willie Henderson on match days before he left for the ground in a taxi at 2pm 

Think it was Tommy craig who told a story about a Wednesday golf day out...They couldn't find Willie Henderson all afternoon, til they opened the back of the van and he was holding a bottle of Vodka singin' Elvis songs into a 9 iron....

[torryowl]

16 hours ago, Owl Capone said:

Eric Potts, when married, lived in Chapeltown and used to jump on the chap supporters coach at 1.45. We parked up in Law brothers car park and Eric would sprint round with his carrier bag to the ground. The Port Vale 0-3 game we had the joys of watching the home debut of the worst keeper to ever pull on a Wednesday shirt. (he made Ola Tidman look like Lev Yashin) the legend known as Barry Watling. Vales first shot a tame 25 yarder head high went straight through his hands

think your getting your games mixed up Watlings only game was against Swindon when he let in that goal ....... ,ramsbottom was keeper for the vale game .....

[Mr. Tom]

On 24/01/2020 at 18:44, Shot down in flames. said:

Volume 2 - Darker Still Blackburn at home!

 

i didn't spot the 73-76 in thread title and thought 'christ, he's written that quick'

[Nut]

1 hour ago, dorian gray said:

the vast majority of the away games were attended for the sake of showing wednesday as a well supported club.

our team may have been utter shyte, and the club run down, but the support was the best in the division, and at times it got a wee bit nawty.

it took me years to be able to walk past away fans in their colours on the Penistone road, without clenching my fist ready to let somebody have one if anything kicked off.

I remember coming out of the kop after the 'massacre' (people all over the place, everybody trying to get home, thrilled with the outcome) when 'everything just stopped' and people stood back forming a circle of maybe 5/6 yards diameter. in that circle were two male (boars) well dressed pig fans, everything just stopped (as though time stood still) for a few seconds, when someone started laughing, and everyone joined in with a bit of pointing two, the pigs lower their head (red in the face) and scurried off to lick their wounds in their respective sty's.

Same here. Still doesn't sit right with me even now being friendly with away fans. I'm not violent but football is tribal to me and  I  hate every club except for Wednesday, often for different reasons. I cant think of another team I have a 'soft spot' for. I'm not even that keen on the England team as it's made up of non Wednesday players. 

[Bearwood Owl1]

I'll publicise this more a little closer to the time - but the book is out on 28 June, first available at Owls in the Park. It is now available for pre-order though - I'll happily sign or dedicate it (within reason!) if ordered in advance. I'm very grateful for the support of lots of people on this page. Hopefully it'll be something that many of you find interesting and enjoyable
 

https://ourlowestebb.bigcartel.com/

Edited February 27, 2020 by Bearwood Owl1

[Bearwood Owl1]

Reyt. Corona has caused hassle and difficulties in all sorts of places. I have no idea if Owls in the Park will go ahead. 

 

So, we've managed to bring the publication of this forward. So if anyone is stuck at home, and needs something to read to lighten the mood - it'll be available in early May.

 

Pre-orders will be sent first - which are available from me at: 

 

https://ourlowestebb.bigcartel.com/products

 

Or on the publisher Vertical Editions site 

 

When life (hopefully) returns to normal, it will also be available from Amazon, Waterstones, WH Smith's, and the SWFC megastore.

 

I really appreciate the support and info I've had from lots of people on here. Hopefully many of you will also enjoy the book.

 

Cheers and UTO

 

John

[@owlstalk]

 

 

Looking forward to reading it!

[Hughdowd]

Loved following Wednesday in the late 70s/80s...used to go to away games with the Ball Inn(ecclesfield)/Timbertop (shirecliffe) !!!!!!!!!...Legendary away days ....The raffle prize on the coach was what had been nicked from the pub we’d stopped at on the way down ...Oxford away ...I won a brass shire horse  !!!......Not glorifying the violence but fat sid ..sammy...Tommo .. bathtub where just as popular as the players then !!!!.....Stocksbridge supporters coach use to arrive like Brad Pitts mob in the film Troy..take the home end on its own !!!.....The fans were as one ... never fought amongst themselves like they do now.....”Never mind the testicles ..Here comes the Wednesday “...

[Nut]

9 minutes ago, Hughdowd said:

Loved following Wednesday in the late 70s/80s...used to go to away games with the Ball Inn(ecclesfield)/Timbertop (shirecliffe) !!!!!!!!!...Legendary away days ....The raffle prize on the coach was what had been nicked from the pub we’d stopped at on the way down ...Oxford away ...I won a brass shire horse  !!!......Not glorifying the violence but fat sid ..sammy...Tommo .. bathtub where just as popular as the players then !!!!.....Stocksbridge supporters coach use to arrive like Brad Pitts mob in the film Troy..take the home end on its own !!!.....The fans were as one ... never fought amongst themselves like they do now.....”Never mind the testicles ..Here comes the Wednesday “...

Used to go on that coach myself 'The Wino Express'. Was only 14 when i first started going but absolutely loved it. Some great characters.