Nottseagull
Well-known member
A year ago I was all set to do a 'charter train to Sunderland' thread, but the anniversary came and went (despite diarising it), so now I'll have to wait another 9 years to do it 
This trip had several memorable events, which I hope you can add to, expand on or even correct. It was one of those excursions that included the team, so we arrived fairly early in the afternoon and were greeted by the local police chief who informed us that the town was shut, and if we wanted to go to the cinema we'd have to travel to Accrington! Half-day closing seemed strictly adhered to oop North in those days, and the town centre resembled a ghost town. I don't recall even national chains (Woolies, C&A etc) being open, although I can't actually remember how I spent the afternoon. The bright point in the gloom was the fact that the pubs opened at 5.30pm, a full hour (I think) than they did in Worthing (I'm sure BG will be able to confirm this). I was a little taken aback by the hostile attitude of the young barman who served us, but I don't remember any other hassles. That is from the locals, because I have this memory of a charter train calling at Crewe on the return where the British Transport Police were summoned to remove an Albion fan. I'm not certain it was this trip, but I think we had one arrested during the day and (presumably through drink) was also causing trouble on the train.The BTP informed Stavros (or whoever was managing the train) that they didn't have the power to take him off; I expect this was because it was a private excursion. The person in question was a friend of a friend, but I won't name him because I'm sure he must be a perfectly reformed character by now so we don't want any current prospects that he may have being ruined by an internet search! However, for those of you familiar with the Clifton mob from Worthing, his name rhymed with Bill Pavey
I have no idea how I got home because the train couldn't possibly have arrived before the last train to West Worthing, which I think was never later than 01:32.
'BrunLea' were also in the Second Division, but we led 1-0 at HT and cruised through the tie (IIRC), 3-1. The team and scorers that night:
Steele, Cattlin, Williams, Nobby, Rollings, Lawro, Sayer, Wardy(2), Maybank(1), Clark, Sully. Att. 9056
This was the last match that I can remember us being allowed to take pints of beer onto the terraces.
This trip had several memorable events, which I hope you can add to, expand on or even correct. It was one of those excursions that included the team, so we arrived fairly early in the afternoon and were greeted by the local police chief who informed us that the town was shut, and if we wanted to go to the cinema we'd have to travel to Accrington! Half-day closing seemed strictly adhered to oop North in those days, and the town centre resembled a ghost town. I don't recall even national chains (Woolies, C&A etc) being open, although I can't actually remember how I spent the afternoon. The bright point in the gloom was the fact that the pubs opened at 5.30pm, a full hour (I think) than they did in Worthing (I'm sure BG will be able to confirm this). I was a little taken aback by the hostile attitude of the young barman who served us, but I don't remember any other hassles. That is from the locals, because I have this memory of a charter train calling at Crewe on the return where the British Transport Police were summoned to remove an Albion fan. I'm not certain it was this trip, but I think we had one arrested during the day and (presumably through drink) was also causing trouble on the train.The BTP informed Stavros (or whoever was managing the train) that they didn't have the power to take him off; I expect this was because it was a private excursion. The person in question was a friend of a friend, but I won't name him because I'm sure he must be a perfectly reformed character by now so we don't want any current prospects that he may have being ruined by an internet search! However, for those of you familiar with the Clifton mob from Worthing, his name rhymed with Bill Pavey
I have no idea how I got home because the train couldn't possibly have arrived before the last train to West Worthing, which I think was never later than 01:32.
'BrunLea' were also in the Second Division, but we led 1-0 at HT and cruised through the tie (IIRC), 3-1. The team and scorers that night:
Steele, Cattlin, Williams, Nobby, Rollings, Lawro, Sayer, Wardy(2), Maybank(1), Clark, Sully. Att. 9056
This was the last match that I can remember us being allowed to take pints of beer onto the terraces.
