You Won't See These Again

[el punal]

Having watched the Albion since the mid 1960s it's interesting to see how many "traditions" in football, especially those at the Goldstone, have disappeared.

Anyone remember these :

Leather Seat Cushions - to stop you getting bum ache when sitting in the West Stand. I think you paid 1/- (5 pence) for a game. Brilliant missiles for throwing at the end of the match if the ref was crap.

Transfer Gate - depending on which end the Albion were attacking you could move from the North to the South Stand (and vice versa) by going through a gate at the north end of the East Terrace. Can't remember if you had to pay extra.

Half-Time Entrance - situated at the south-east corner for those fans who could only watch the second half! Seriously, I had to work Saturdays so the only way to watch the boys was on my very late lunch hour.

Rossettes - At every game there were a number of blokes with cardboard stands selling rossettes of all the clubs, including the Albion. Does anyone wear a rossette anymore?

Shirt Numbers - 1 to 11/12. Never see the like again.

Crowd Packers - Early form of stewards. For the really big games, they squeezed you in until it was impossible to move. Health and Safety - pah!

There must be loads more - anyone with any favourites?

 

[madinthehead]

Dunno if they still sell those blue sponge hands with the pointing finger pointing upwards...

 

[catfish]

The bloke walking around the perimeter at the Goldstone selling hats, scarves, rosettes etc. out of a tray. Not forgetting the old boardman as well.

 

[mune ni kamome]

Rattles

 

[mona]

The Boxing Day Match with a bumper crowd.
Think of a game v Watford in 1965 with a Christmas whiff of cigar smoke and a home win.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Rattles

I've still got a wooden rattle and my FA cup rosette which has turned from blue to a sort of purple now.

 

[Ernest]

Westlers hot dog carts outside the ground

 

[Rogero]

A box to stand on.

 

[pipkin112]

Rattles

There's an old guy in the North Stand with a rattle.

 

[ofco8]

Before my time but A B C D etc. boards for half time results.

 

[bn1&bn3 Albion]

Rattles

There is still a bloke in the North stand with one of these.

 

[ofco8]

There is still a bloke in the North stand with one of these.

Have heard one in WSU at one time.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

There's an old guy in the North Stand with a rattle.

Yep, and he always sat in H Block at Withdean.

 

[ofco8]

Am I dreaming or was there PC or Sergeant "Beard" patrolling at Goldstone?

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Boxing Day Games

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

The gates being opened ten minutes before full time? I can remember playing football in Hove Park then rushing over to see the last few minutes!

 

[Titus]

The Percy Dalton's peanut man. You threw your shilling towards the pitch and he'd throw you a packet of nuts. Amazing aim he had too.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Rattles

 

[skipper734]

Bovril in the West. I didn't think it was possible to get water hotter than 100 degrees celsius, somehow the catering achieved it.

 

[SIMMO SAYS]

'For the really big games, they squeezed you in until it was impossible to move. Health and Safety - pah!'

I remember being so packed into the 'Chicken Run' that my feet didn't touch the ground at times. You could surge foreward despite the barriers-fun at the time-now Im older-frightening!