United’s Red Army / Ninian Park:

Sent to me..... Manchester United Red Army At Cardiff City 1974

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I was a 14 year old lad then, used to catch bus with my mate from Llanrumney to central station and walk down Tudor road to Ninian Park for every home game.

Never been so frightened going to or at a city game as that day - there were hoards of them walking together down Tudor Road with most terrorising walkers, residents, etc, literally throwing bricks through windows, overturning galvanised dustbins and chucking them at people, etc.

We held back and hid at side of Pub (lamb and flag ?). The aftermath was like a war zone.

Even in them Hooligan days that was something else.

Lovely Fans, No wonder most clubs know them as "MANURE" - Sh*theads.

Wasn’t there but I’m sure someone said that our lot gave them a bit of a thumping on the way back to the station.

Wasn’t there but I’m sure someone said that our lot gave them a bit of a thumping on the way back to the station.

I was there as a teenager and it was a feral day, mate...

Like a herd of Bay City Roller fans going to their annual convention with flared ankle-height turn up jeans and double scarves on their wrists...

Typical of the times though and they weren't the worst mob we encountered; those for me would have been Chelsea and Millwall...

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I wasn't yet a teenager & this was one of my first games, remember the tank tops well & a herd of Bay City Rollers is about right. Scary at my age then though.

Wasn’t there but I’m sure someone said that our lot gave them a bit of a thumping on the way back to the station.

I was there as a teenager and it was a feral day, mate...

Like a herd of Bay City Roller fans going to their annual convention with flared ankle-height turn up jeans and double scarves on their wrists...

Typical of the times though and they weren't the worst mob we encountered; those for me would have been Chelsea and Millwall...

Always wondered who’s who in that ‘famous’ pic. Difficult to tell with the B&W photo.

I was just a teenager and memories are a bit vague if I’m honest

I do remember spending most of the day hiding down side streets

People were just doing whatever they wanted smashing things up completely lawless

The era of British football hooliganism.
Was it any surprise that when Man United dropped into the old second division, all hell was going to let loose.
United had a massive following, even then, so obviously had so many more travelling trouble makers than most clubs.
The match was one of the first home games of the season in August when the weather was still good.
1-0 to United Gerry Daly 4th minute penalty.

Well before my time but was told stories about the Red Army striking fear into a lot of fan bases in England.

I suspect they ran away with their tail between their legs in Cardiff.

Like I say, a long way before my time but have my assumptions!

Good morning,,,,i was at the game...i been watching the city for 62 years....And i can tell you ..They came down in their thousands ,,And there was thousands waiting for them...They got battered everywhere that day....And the legend Frankie got thrown out that day and had to pay a second time to get in...And Frankie was a war machine ...trust me seen him in action many times......

Good morning,,,,i was at the game...i been watching the city for 62 years....And i can tell you ..They came down in their thousands ,,And there was thousands waiting for them...They got battered everywhere that day....And the legend Frankie got thrown out that day and had to pay a second time to get in...And Frankie was a war machine ...trust me seen him in action many times......

I well remember Frankie. And his sidekick in those days Peggy. I remember getting ambushed at Birmingham coming off the train. I was 14 at the time and ran along like most of us schooligans. Not Frankie. Peggy couldn't run anyway , so they and a few others stood there- massively outnumbered and fought them off. And the same season going to Pompey. It was about half an hour before kick off and there were only a few of us youngsters on the terrace-those who couldn't get in the pub- when a gang of much older Pompey fans started surrounding us. Frankie had just walked in, saw what was about to happen and strolled over had a word with one of them and they all went away. No fuss.

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

Football specials were brilliant days. Great excitement as 12 coaches- would pull into Cardiff GENERAL. Sometimes we would have two specials. We would all pile on to try and get a compartment for ourselves. In the early days there were no police waiting for us and marching us to the ground. My favourite was Oxford. Walk through the city past all the old buildings and up the hill to the Manor Ground. Great memories

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

Football specials were brilliant days. Great excitement as 12 coaches- would pull into Cardiff GENERAL. Sometimes we would have two specials. We would all pile on to try and get a compartment for ourselves. In the early days there were no police waiting for us and marching us to the ground. My favourite was Oxford. Walk through the city past all the old buildings and up the hill to the Manor Ground. Great memories

I was there when Frankie led a 3 man attack on the 'Oxford end' and was later led around the pitch minus his shoes!!

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

Football specials were brilliant days. Great excitement as 12 coaches- would pull into Cardiff GENERAL. Sometimes we would have two specials. We would all pile on to try and get a compartment for ourselves. In the early days there were no police waiting for us and marching us to the ground. My favourite was Oxford. Walk through the city past all the old buildings and up the hill to the Manor Ground. Great memories

I was there when Frankie led a 3 man attack on the 'Oxford end' and was later led around the pitch minus his shoes!!

I cant remember that one but I do remember when most of us were on the open end but there were a couple of hundred in their end. It was just before Kick off. I went to the toilet and when I got back the terrace was virtually empty. Everyone had run across the pitch and got into the Oxford end. Oh to be young again. These days i would be having a grizzle about kids ruining the game.

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

Football specials were brilliant days. Great excitement as 12 coaches- would pull into Cardiff GENERAL. Sometimes we would have two specials. We would all pile on to try and get a compartment for ourselves. In the early days there were no police waiting for us and marching us to the ground. My favourite was Oxford. Walk through the city past all the old buildings and up the hill to the Manor Ground. Great memories

I was there when Frankie led a 3 man attack on the 'Oxford end' and was later led around the pitch minus his shoes!!

I cant remember that one but I do remember when most of us were on the open end but there were a couple of hundred in their end. It was just before Kick off. I went to the toilet and when I got back the terrace was virtually empty. Everyone had run across the pitch and got into the Oxford end. Oh to be young again. These days i would be having a grizzle about kids ruining the game.

Think your incident may be earlier. Mine was under Ashurst, 1982 I think. We drew 2-2 with Jimmy Mullen getting the late equalise.
Ha ha. Agree re youngsters.

I wont speak about jock,,because sad things happened...i would give you another one,,Reggie..ha great days went every week home and away...Saw some stuff....And we would cause havoc in jackland...The special trains that used to go where brilliant fun....Big,Big change now,,some better,,,some worse....

Football specials were brilliant days. Great excitement as 12 coaches- would pull into Cardiff GENERAL. Sometimes we would have two specials. We would all pile on to try and get a compartment for ourselves. In the early days there were no police waiting for us and marching us to the ground. My favourite was Oxford. Walk through the city past all the old buildings and up the hill to the Manor Ground. Great memories

I was there when Frankie led a 3 man attack on the 'Oxford end' and was later led around the pitch minus his shoes!!

I cant remember that one but I do remember when most of us were on the open end but there were a couple of hundred in their end. It was just before Kick off. I went to the toilet and when I got back the terrace was virtually empty. Everyone had run across the pitch and got into the Oxford end. Oh to be young again. These days i would be having a grizzle about kids ruining the game.

Think your incident may be earlier. Mine was under Ashurst, 1982 I think. We drew 2-2 with Jimmy Mullen getting the late equalise.
Ha ha. Agree re youngsters.

Yes the running across the pitch incident was mid 70's I think. I was also there in 82. It pissed down and we got soaked. And yes I remember the equaliser and Jimmy Mullen. He climbed on the fence out our end to celebrate.Remember all this clearly but cant remember anything of recent games

A great one was Swindon away...we got there early..and everybody was pay on the turnstiles....Took all their end..ha ha..the swindon fans could not get in to their end..it was full of Cardiff.They didnt like it....We where everywhere....

A great one was Swindon away...we got there early..and everybody was pay on the turnstiles....Took all their end..ha ha..the swindon fans could not get in to their end..it was full of Cardiff.They didnt like it....We where everywhere....

Was that early seventies when we were chasing promotion? We had most of the one side as well. I think it was the most i have seen at an away game. It was packed behind the goal- scary at times.

Funnily enough just read a post elsewhere about a Man U v Rangers “friendly” in 1974. When Rangers attacked the Stretford end. Mental decade the 70s.
The trouble at the Cardiff v Man United game even made the Scottish Press, the main difference between here and Scotland was how games were policed, Glasgow Police used to steam in whereas down here you could get away with a lot more. CCTV means mass battles are a thing of the past.