Were you there? Goldstone pitch invasions in 1996 and the final final game

[Barrel of Fun]

My ex-flatmate and good friend is a Walsall STH and has been since year zero. He relayed the story about the love in at the end. Bit sketchy now as he told me a long time ago. Was it the last game of the season? He said that Walsall always go on the pitch after the final game and that the police expected a riot to ensue. Only to be faced with Brighton chanting 'Walsall' and vice versa.

Mr Bluejuice. I could get him to write a little ditty if you wish? A view from an opposing fan.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Yes I was there, another of those truly emotional and unforgettable days to be an Albion supporter. The 'love in' at the end was incredible and I think from then on I knew we had the support of real football fans but, to underline the point, the Walsall fans would never have appreciated what was going on at our club if the York game hadn't have been abandoned and received the media attention it did.

Yup, remember that well. Didn't Stuart Myall bang one into the top corner that day?

 

[Jimbo26]

I was at the York City game for all 7 or 8 minutes of it. Remember watching in dismay as the North Stand crossbar was snapped and thinking what has happened to our club !!. Went up the Nevill pub after that and got slaughtered !!. Happy Days.

 

[Nottseagull]

It's also worth remembering that the trouble on the day was organised by Combat 18, the same group of thugs who caused the trouble at the Ireland V England game a couple of years after.

guys just regarding the Combat 18 side of things as others have said, I heard at the time that they were involved - don't shoot the messenger!

About the pitch invasion against York itself...We ended up with a point deduction the following season and nearly getting relegated to the Conference.

Even when you try to correct your posts, you end up posting mis-truths.
Let's get two things straight:
1. You were not the messenger - you presented this as fact. Otherwise, anyone on this board could justify posting lies by saying "oh I just heard it somewhere and was only passing it on".
2. There was no points deduction for the York invasion.

You clearly do not know what you are talking about, and I suggest you refrain from posting on similar threads in the future.

 

[supaseagull]

Even when you try to correct your posts, you end up posting mis-truths.
Let's get two things straight:
1. You were not the messenger - you presented this as fact. Otherwise, anyone on this board could justify posting lies by saying "oh I just heard it somewhere and was only passing it on".
2. There was no points deduction for the York invasion.

You clearly do not know what you are talking about, and I suggest you refrain from posting on similar threads in the future.

From Wikipedia :

Brighton's league form steadily improved under Gritt, although their improving chances of survival were put under further threat by a two-point deduction imposed as punishment for a pitch invasion by fans who were protesting against the sale of the Goldstone ground.

 

[The Spanish]

wikipedia! you dont do yourself any favours mate.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

To be fair, we did lose two points the following season.

From Clubs In Crisis - Welcome

"Rival consortium
On the day following the York City game, Liam Brady, who had felt unable to continue as manager, was introduced as the front man for a takeover consortium. Despite the intervention of the Football Association, the consortium’s approaches were rejected by Archer, the majority shareholder and chairman who had secured control for the sum of just £56.25. A second pitch invasion in October 1996, a direct result of Archer’s televised intransigence, was penalised by the deduction of two points, leaving Albion 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Football League."

But the pitch invasion DID (probably) save our club and the points deduction DID NOT relegate us.

 

[Skaville]

Yep, was there. I was at a mates place listening to Black Grape before the game and "Big day in the North" was my soundtrack to the whole experience. That song still takes me back to that day.

Our pitch invasion was somewhat leisurely, kind of an afternoon stroll. We were in Hove Place by what should have been half time watching the scores from around the country roll in. It was all very surreal and definitely didn't feel like the end, unlike the Doncaster game 12 months later.

My abiding memory though came on the Sunday. I took my dog out for a walk that morning and left him tied up outside the newsagents while I checked out the Sundays. I was litearally gobsmacked by the coverage, especially the shite the NOTW were spouting about hooliganism and the threat that our actions had on Euro '96 (f***ing shitrag). I bought several papers and walked home stunned. It was probably a full hour later when I realised that I had been totally immensed in the press reaction and had subsequently completely forgotten the dog! The newsagent thought he had been abandoned.

PS - if any of you ever buy the NOTW check out the preposterous story that they wrote on that Sunday. They are liars who would write any old shite to sell newspapers, regardless of the facts. They victimise people every week. That day it was us. SCUM.

 

[supaseagull]

To be fair, we did lose two points the following season.

From Clubs In Crisis - Welcome

"Rival consortium
On the day following the York City game, Liam Brady, who had felt unable to continue as manager, was introduced as the front man for a takeover consortium. Despite the intervention of the Football Association, the consortium’s approaches were rejected by Archer, the majority shareholder and chairman who had secured control for the sum of just £56.25. A second pitch invasion in October 1996, a direct result of Archer’s televised intransigence, was penalised by the deduction of two points, leaving Albion 11 points adrift at the bottom of the Football League."

But the pitch invasion DID (probably) save our club and the points deduction DID NOT relegate us.

I just remember the FA & the Football League at the time done absolutely nothing for us and just didn't appear half interested. It was only until we started making the national news that people finally sat up and realised what was going on down here...

For all the stuff about the York game and the Doncaster game at the GOldstone, for me I can remember standing in the North Stand against Hartlepool the following year and it was then that I thought that despite what was happening to the club, Archer & Bellotti could not win.

I know alot say about the Doncaster game, but that was just an emotional rollercoaster and like the 90 minutes against Hereford it was just unbearable tenseness; but for me the Hartlepool game stands out as just a brilliant day!

 

[Skaville]

I was in town the night before the York game and bumped into a group of Albion fans. They explained that something would happen at 3.16pm. I was obviously intruiged but they just said "we have to do something".

They were proper, diehard fans who were desperate. I stood at the back of the North that day as the pitch invasion unravelled totally shellshocked. I didn't know what to think.

I remember strolling around the pitch after things had subsided and nearly getting into a scrap with a group of teenagers who were kicking the crap out of the hoardings at the front of the North Stand.

The following day the News of the World screamed 'SCUM' across their main sports page. Incensed, I called the sports editor and asked if he was at the game.

"No" was his response.

"Well how can you call me and my fellow Albion fans 'scum' then?" I replied.

"Er, because you are. You snapped the crossbars."

"Do you know anything about what's been going on at the Goldstone," I explained.

"Er, no." was his considered response. "As far as I'm concerned, all Brighton fans are scum."

"So you tarnish us all with the same brush when you know absolutely nothing about our plight and the amazing efforts of some people to get their club back? Well, sir, that makes you a f****** c***."

And then I hung up.

I just saw this post. That, my friend, is GREAT work.

 

[Taybha]

If im not mistaken when the pitch invasion started to peiter out,the york fans in the south stand were applauding said scum even though the game could not go any further and they had basicly wasted the time and money on the trip. Takes a football fan to understand football not some twat in a news room who sees the end product but little understanding of how it was made.

 

[algie]

A couple of York fans came onto the pitch as well.

 

[Nottseagull]

From Wikipedia :

Brighton's league form steadily improved under Gritt, although their improving chances of survival were put under further threat by a two-point deduction imposed as punishment for a pitch invasion by fans who were protesting against the sale of the Goldstone ground.

Your posting of this demonstrates that you only know of one pitch invasion, as you assume the points deduction was for the York incident. Your knowledge is sadly lacking, yet you continue to post on this thread despite being advised not to. I suggest again that you don't.

 

[Jam The Man]

guys just regarding the Combat 18 side of things as others have said, I heard at the time that they were involved - don't shoot the messenger!

About the pitch invasion against York itself...We ended up with a point deduction the following season and nearly getting relegated to the Conference. If it weren't for that last 45 minutes against Hereford, we'd have been relegated and therefore playing right into the hands of Archer & Bellotti. Now I'm sorry that some of you appear to think that was a good thing, but I don't and so far as mainstream non-footballing media publicity is concerned...It didn't make a difference and that's why we got a point deduction and if I remember rightly and a fine and a suspended sentance.

I know most of you don't agree with what I've said and I'm sorry...I meant no offence. I don't think I deserved the comments I got...I was there at every home game and most away games that season, unlike some of those, who I know weren't even old enough to go who have slated me so I do (most of the time) know what I'm talking about.

In fairness to Supaseagull, I also heard at the time (as did many mates who were also there) that Combat 18 were at the game.. whether they were actually there or not, i have no idea, but it was absolutely a strong rumour going about ahead of kick off.

 

[supaseagull]

Your posting of this demonstrates that you only know of one pitch invasion, as you assume the points deduction was for the York incident. Your knowledge is sadly lacking, yet you continue to post on this thread despite being advised not to. I suggest again that you don't.

Isn't it past your bedtime ?

 

[Jam The Man]

At the risk of more abuse..my submitted piece to the thread starter was:

1. Descriptions of the York City game at the end of the 95/96 season / the big ruck next season when we were docked points...

My memories of the York game are very clear even today. It was a diabolical season and was coming to a climax with the knowledge that we were already relegated and no light at the end of the tunnel. I honestly think at the time of the York game the vast majority of fans were still unaware of just how bad things were. Personally I could see on the face of it that something awful was brewing, but we just didn’t know exactly what was really going on. It was only through the continued efforts of fans like Paul Samrah, Liz Costa, Sarah Watts, the Gulls Eye team and a few others that kept us in touch with the horror that was about to unravel.

Walking along to the York game I didn’t for a second think it would be the last game at the Goldstone, as I was optimistically convinced the board surely wouldn’t ultimately sell us down the road. In ‘The Stadium’ pub, we heard rumours that Combat 18 and some London club’s hooligans were coming down to enjoy a punch up, and that on the 15 minute mark the game would end.

Upon arrival, the ground seemed quite full and the atmosphere was buzzing...and sure enough after about 15 minutes, some people from the South West terrace entered the playing area and within 5 minutes another couple of thousand had joined them. It did seem to be a bit hairy at first, and although I had gone on the pitch at the end of the previous game against Carlisle, I personally did not go on this time – mainly because the overall view of what was going on was far better from halfway up the North Stand!

Rather naively I expected the match to resume sooner rather than later once people had made their point. But when the crossbar snapped we all conceded that was not going to happen. Even more naively, at that exact moment I didn’t consider the events to be that big a deal – if anything I was more annoyed that it would probably mean Steve Foster’s testimonial, scheduled for the following week, would be cancelled! At about 4pm I left the ground, and went back to the pub and were amazed to see the national media referring to what had happened as a ‘riot’, which it never was. I remember seeing a family in front of us on the pitch eating strawberries and cream from a picnic basket, whilst sitting on a rug. That was not the scene of a riot.

The pub was full and jovial, almost as if ‘mission was accomplished’ and we were all watching the scenes on the TV as it was the main story on the news. This was primarily because in just five weeks from this game, England was to stage the European Championships, and the nation was suddenly overwhelmed with the fear of a return of hooliganism. Over time it became very evident that hooliganism was not alive and well in England again, and that Brighton’s fans protests had absolutely been a cry for help. Our club was being ravaged by money-men and wrong doers, and we were caring for it in a very animated way. Even so, I still don’t feel the true reasons for such actions had dawned on most fans.

The club received a suspended punishment that was eventually served during the following season when another mini pitch invasion took place against Lincoln City in October. Again I didn’t go on the pitch as I knew how costly the actions could be in terms of lost points. Which is exactly what happened, but fortunately it didn’t come down to being an issue for the Hereford game at the end of the season. It seemed a very half hearted effort in any case, though I supported the basic reasons why those fans chose to do that.



2. Can you tell me when you, personally, learned that we'd have another final season at the Goldstone?

I remember exactly where I was when I heard about the decision to stay at the Goldstone for another year. I was right outside the ground! I was due to start work on a late shift and decided to drive down to see what was going on...so much had happened in the past few days what with the aftermath of the York match, and the heart-warming impromptu gathering with Liam Brady in Hove Park (which I had also attended) so I thought if the club was to depart there and then I wanted to be around when it happened. I wasn’t alone as a small gathering of fans had also showed up and were milling around desperately hoping to hear some news. A few of us made our way over to a parking space right opposite the North Stand in Hove Park and huddled round to listen to Paul Samrah’s car radio. The relief was immense when the decision was announced, though it was quickly replaced by anger that the club – and by that I mean Messrs Archer and Bellotti – had performed utter brinkmanship by leaving it to the very last minute to thrash out a ‘deal’, and then have the audacity to hail themselves as saviours!

It didn’t end there though as we got wind that Bellotti was driving to the ground so we decided to hang around the club car park gates. In fact we went in and had chat with Steve Foster who was obviously peeved that the events had cost him a spectacular testimonial which would have included the chance to see players like Paul Gascoigne and Matt Le Tissier play at the Goldstone. Eventually Bellotti arrived and a few fans started throwing some mild abuse at him as he drove in. I’ll never forget his smirking face as he drove past and looked straight at me...all I could do was shake my head in disbelief. The security staff closed the gates and we slowly made our way home, knowing that this was nowhere near the end of the story.



3. Also, were you ever involved in any of the occasions in which Bellotti was chased out of the ground, or do you have any recollections of what people said or did to him at all?

I was at the ground on all the occasions when Bellotti was chased out. It was incredibly amusing, and even more atmosphere charging. All the momentum of the previous season carried on into 96/97, and indeed it built up even further as the existing directors of the club were forced out of the ground and made unable to watch games due to the fear of their own safety. On the field it was very hard to get behind the team with such aggravation going on, but once Bellotti had left the scene, the focus and atmosphere at the home games in particular was spectacularly good, as we fought for our very existence. The home match against Darlington was when he lasted less than a minute. How he even dared to brave the hatred was astonishing, and seeing the back of his long coat jump up and leg it back down the tunnel so soon was extremely satisfying. I think that was possibly the last time he showed up, The atmosphere was incredible throughout that season – starting with the anger directed towards Bellotti, and merging eventually into the support we started giving to Steve Gritt and the players come mid December. I doubt the club will ever have such vociferous backing again in their history as they had between December 1996 and May 1997.
After protests, walkouts and fireworks the battle actually looked winnable if the current directors would only play ball and sensibly discuss matters with the consortium fronted by local businessman Dick Knight. On the field though, the miracle recovery was well and truly on. The team were at least six wins adrift at one stage and looked certain to be heading towards non-league football or maybe the worst fate of oblivion and out of business.
The home form saved us and it all culminated with the emotional last home game against Doncaster Rovers...

 

[Return of the Rev]

I Met Several National Socialist On The Way To The Ground

It has not been mentioned that the scenes at the York match were relayed live on TV nationally. I was watching the Saturday afternoon sports coverage at home in Mansfield oblivious of the planned action and was amazed and delighted when it came on. My gf at the time was aghast at me apparently encouraging hooliganism!
Maybe we should also spare a thought for the decent following of York City fans who had come a long way for 16 minutes of football. And for the replay, they had to get up at an unearthly hour to make the morning kick-off.

PS My post #44 should have read "gates in the north-west corner"

AFTER GOING ON THE PITCH FROM THE SOUTH WEST IN THE FIRST WAVE FOR GLORY OF THE FATHERLAND I JOINED THE YORK CITY FANS WHO SEEMED TO ACCEPT THE GOINGS ON! WELL PLAYED THE JORVIK REDS!

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Look guys, i think some on here are taking my remarks completely out of context and I'm sorry if anyone is upset or I've caused offence, I really am.

If I could take back the post I wrote then I would.

 

[supaseagull]

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

do one you plank