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Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 11, 2017 3:49 pm

Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

But one of my favourite grounds to visit with Cardiff, " The OId Den " Millwall

Many a story to tell of our visits there and every Cardiff fan will have a tale to say about either inside or outside the Old Den.
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Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 11, 2017 4:00 pm

It hard that intimidating feel about it, Millwall always turned out for Cardiff
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Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:00 pm

I would say intimidating, very weary, eyes in the back of your head but not frightening.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:41 pm

1980s Bluebird wrote:I would say intimidating, very weary, eyes in the back of your head but not frightening.

I went when I was 15 in the mid 70s. I was frightened. I paid to go in the seats which was almost unheard of for me back then. It was a night game and not a lot of away fans had traveled which made it slightly easier. The season before, a train load of Villa had been battered as they walked unescorted past a pub that Millwall were waiting in. Next time we played them was in 1987 and it was completely different then and nowhere near as intimidating. By all accounts it's changed again but that was the last time I went.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 11, 2017 7:47 pm

I went there in March 1977, division 2, won 2-0 if my memory serves me right. It was a different world back then. Travelled on my own. Train to Paddington, tube to New Cross Gate, and then quite a long walk to the ground, (or it seemed like it). Was 19, and quite naive, to be honest, though I had enough sense to keep my head down. Got a few looks, but nobody bothered me, probably because I was on my own. No false bravery forty years later, I was frightened. Did not relax until I got back to Whitechapel on the tube, and was on my way back to Paddington.

Went to the New Den, on a supporters' club coach, in 2012, which was fine. That's the only way I'd go now.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:54 am

It was unique. Never was there a ground quite like it.glad to get in there in one piece and trepidation at the final whistle. One mad day there was when a car load of us went there after our friday night game at Colchester...Where we going to today then we said to each other on the Saturday. Millwall were home to Derby and it was one of last ever games at the Old Den.It took us a long time to find the ground and passed loads of pubs full of rough looking locals. We ended up in Millwall supporters club for a couple of hours before kickoff. Then on to the big side bank terrace .kept quiet and came away from it in one piece and a great experience.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:04 am

Went there three times in the 70s and 80s, always a lively day out. Especilyy getting chased around Woolworths and almost getting stabbed .... madness :bluebird:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 12, 2017 7:24 pm

4 of us went up in a Ford Capri I think in the mid 1980s. Parked up in a side street about 1/2 mile from the ground.

Stuck out like sore thumbs so decided to spilt up and walked to the ground individually. About 300 City in the away end.

Left about 10 minutes before the end and another dodgy walk back to the car, a small group of about 10 "lads" spotted the 4 of us in the car, but luckily we must have looked like a bunch of wimps because apart from one kick to the side of the car they let us go.

It was pretty scary and we could have come unstuck big style

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 12, 2017 8:17 pm

Worst place ive been by a country mile

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:09 pm

Woody CCFC wrote:Worst place ive been by a country mile



agree..only place ive ever been where the police { who were trying and failing miserably to keep the fans apart, well stopping them killing us is how it felt } encouraged us to fight.
the new ground is nowhere near as bad..

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:53 pm

First time I went there was back in 74/75 we pulled the van over and I asked a copper "where do the away fans park?" he looked at us and said "we don't get any away fans here" :lol:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Thu Jul 13, 2017 10:14 pm

frazier wrote:First time I went there was back in 74/75 we pulled the van over and I asked a copper "where do the away fans park?" he looked at us and said "we don't get any away fans here" :lol:


:lol: :lol:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Fri Jul 14, 2017 12:58 pm

FA Cup 1987 - all ticket match - we had no tickets but when you are young n dumb that didn't matter to us. Couldn't get in the ground ffs and it was probably only 5000 in there. Anyway, says to a copper Ive lost my ticket and he said go watch it on the mound outside the ground where you can see half the pitch, that is how shit that ground was, I looked over and there was like 100 Wall watching it from there. That was a quick no thanks from me.........eventually got in half time for a 0-0 freezing draw. Kept us in the ground, first time I had seen a chopper at a game, sent the dogs in, Cardiff were keen to get it on but afterwards passed without much incident other than a little run in with Arsenal at Paddington

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:02 pm

BEEP AHM wrote:FA Cup 1987 - all ticket match - we had no tickets but when you are young n dumb that didn't matter to us. Couldn't get in the ground ffs and it was probably only 5000 in there. Anyway, says to a copper Ive lost my ticket and he said go watch it on the mound outside the ground where you can see half the pitch, that is how shit that ground was, I looked over and there was like 100 Wall watching it from there. That was a quick no thanks from me.........eventually got in half time for a 0-0 freezing draw. Kept us in the ground, first time I had seen a chopper at a game, sent the dogs in, Cardiff were keen to get it on but afterwards passed without much incident other than a little run in with Arsenal at Paddington



I was there that day and very very eventful day for the 100 or so of us that went on the train.
Millwall prob had their lowest ever turn out of lads that day against us, but City lads on the train still had some trouble.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:41 pm

Went there once in the 70s & my first thought when I got home was "never again".

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:26 pm

dogfound wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:Worst place ive been by a country mile



agree..only place ive ever been where the police { who were trying and failing miserably to keep the fans apart, well stopping them killing us is how it felt } encouraged us to fight.
the new ground is nowhere near as bad..
]

When i saw the police shitting themselves i knew we was in trouble.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:10 pm

Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:10 pm

blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Sun Jul 16, 2017 8:36 pm

Woody CCFC wrote:
blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.


Really! I went to that one, it was the 2nd time I'd been there, very little trouble apart from the coaches getting bricked. Cardiff had more than enough there that day to have a go, you must have been with the pop and crisps crowd :lol:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 18, 2017 4:31 pm

Forever Blue wrote:
BEEP AHM wrote:FA Cup 1987 - all ticket match - we had no tickets but when you are young n dumb that didn't matter to us. Couldn't get in the ground ffs and it was probably only 5000 in there. Anyway, says to a copper Ive lost my ticket and he said go watch it on the mound outside the ground where you can see half the pitch, that is how shit that ground was, I looked over and there was like 100 Wall watching it from there. That was a quick no thanks from me.........eventually got in half time for a 0-0 freezing draw. Kept us in the ground, first time I had seen a chopper at a game, sent the dogs in, Cardiff were keen to get it on but afterwards passed without much incident other than a little run in with Arsenal at Paddington



I was there that day and very very eventful day for the 100 or so of us that went on the train.
Millwall prob had their lowest ever turn out of lads that day against us, but City lads on the train still had some trouble.


Me too. I remember something going on in the end opposite us. I don't know if Cardiff got in their end or they were fighting amongst themselves. THe weirdest part of thee day was City fans singing Caravan of Love at half time. Sounded weird down cold blow lane lol

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:26 pm

rhondda 1015 wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:
blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.


Really! I went to that one, it was the 2nd time I'd been there, very little trouble apart from the coaches getting bricked. Cardiff had more than enough there that day to have a go, you must have been with the pop and crisps crowd :lol:



was my 3rd time.. and up to that point our best showing in numbers up there.. .but it was still not the most comfortable of places.. and i fully believe the accounts of the other 2 posters..credit where its due mate ,they were always right up for it and it was the away fixture that there was the least interest in throughout the late 60s and 70s for that reason..even when we were taking thousands to places like charlton and palace in the same neck of the woods..

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 19, 2017 8:57 am

dogfound wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:Worst place ive been by a country mile



agree..only place ive ever been where the police { who were trying and failing miserably to keep the fans apart, well stopping them killing us is how it felt } encouraged us to fight.
the new ground is nowhere near as bad..


That's how I remember it. The Police were scared shitless by the thought of tangling with the locals. I remember one midweek game leaving the away end and the coppers all jumping into a Police van and shouting "you're on your own" before speeding off :lol:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:11 am

I went to Euro 2004 (booked when Wales couldn't possibly f**k it up :roll: ) and went into one pub packed full of England fans. Sat in the corner all on his own was the stereotypical Millwall fan bald head, big boots, Nazi tattoos and a face which had seen a million punches resulting in his eyeballs pointing in different directions.

It was clear all the other England fans were shit scared of him hence the wide berth but as soon as we walked in wearing our Cardiff shirts/hats he came straight across and 'invited' us to sit with him. Cut a long story short after some very long bloody stories he stated that he couldn't stand the other England fans but was more than happy to share his time with 'Cardiff' the only other real club in his opinion. Charming fella :lol:

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 19, 2017 5:14 pm

dogfound wrote:
rhondda 1015 wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:
blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.


Really! I went to that one, it was the 2nd time I'd been there, very little trouble apart from the coaches getting bricked. Cardiff had more than enough there that day to have a go, you must have been with the pop and crisps crowd :lol:



was my 3rd time.. and up to that point our best showing in numbers up there.. .but it was still not the most comfortable of places.. and i fully believe the accounts of the other 2 posters..credit where its due mate ,they were always right up for it and it was the away fixture that there was the least interest in throughout the late 60s and 70s for that reason..even when we were taking thousands to places like charlton and palace in the same neck of the woods..


Not disagreeing with you, they were right up there with the most feared in the land, but that day? Anyone can throw bricks at coaches, then run away, I personally didn't see anything apart from that.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:25 pm

rhondda 1015 wrote:
dogfound wrote:
rhondda 1015 wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:
blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.


Really! I went to that one, it was the 2nd time I'd been there, very little trouble apart from the coaches getting bricked. Cardiff had more than enough there that day to have a go, you must have been with the pop and crisps crowd :lol:



was my 3rd time.. and up to that point our best showing in numbers up there.. .but it was still not the most comfortable of places.. and i fully believe the accounts of the other 2 posters..credit where its due mate ,they were always right up for it and it was the away fixture that there was the least interest in throughout the late 60s and 70s for that reason..even when we were taking thousands to places like charlton and palace in the same neck of the woods..


Not disagreeing with you, they were right up there with the most feared in the land, but that day? Anyone can throw bricks at coaches, then run away, I personally didn't see anything apart from that.


If you was on the first coach in, you might have a different opinion,there's not to many who would stand their ground when confronted with someone waving a kitchen knife around.

Re: Quite Frightening in the 70's & 80's

Thu Jul 20, 2017 12:26 pm

Woody CCFC wrote:
rhondda 1015 wrote:
dogfound wrote:
rhondda 1015 wrote:
Woody CCFC wrote:
blueheaven wrote:Went there 3 times I am pretty sure we played them on a Sunday and beat them 4-1. On the way in the coppers were telling us to watch our heads because Millwall were hurling half bricks and stones. When the 4th goal went in we were taking the piss. There was a fence and a line of coppers separating us from Millwall but they were still trying to get at us. One particular nasty looking specimen was giving us the cut throat sign and we were giving him the wanker sign back. He then went into his crombie coat and showed us the handle and blade of a machete! Absolutely shit ourselves then because we really didn't want to meet this guy outside and fortunately we didn't and lived to tell the tale :D


The match on the Sunday was the one i went to, we won 4.0, we took ten coachloads i was on the second coach in as i got off the fans on the first coach came flying past,some running through brambles to get away.apparently Millwall were waiting
carrying kitchen knives.Ididnt see any knives but their fans who past me were laughing all over their face.


Really! I went to that one, it was the 2nd time I'd been there, very little trouble apart from the coaches getting bricked. Cardiff had more than enough there that day to have a go, you must have been with the pop and crisps crowd :lol:



was my 3rd time.. and up to that point our best showing in numbers up there.. .but it was still not the most comfortable of places.. and i fully believe the accounts of the other 2 posters..credit where its due mate ,they were always right up for it and it was the away fixture that there was the least interest in throughout the late 60s and 70s for that reason..even when we were taking thousands to places like charlton and palace in the same neck of the woods..


Not disagreeing with you, they were right up there with the most feared in the land, but that day? Anyone can throw bricks at coaches, then run away, I personally didn't see anything apart from that.


If you was on the first coach in, you might have a different opinion,there's not to many who would stand their ground when confronted with someone waving a kitchen knife around.


Fair enough, like I said I saw very little that day, unlike other times!