[Albion] Any remember our very own pitch invader vs Leyton Orient March 97?

[Wozza]

One of my all time favourite games, that one. Had a bit of everything.

Here's the moment in question:

As Ray himself described it: "An unsavoury incident".

Ruddy brilliant match, though.

 

[herecomesaregular]

My last game at the Goldstone before flying out to Delhi at the beginning of a RTW backpacker trip. What a last game. Unforgettable, had it all. Brilliant atmosphere in the North.

 

[Hampster Gull]

One of the best matches I’ve seen. The team dug deep that day. I do remember them scoring straight from a kick off, straight down the middle, hardly a challenge along the way. We were desperate at times. But McGleish was such a dick that despite it being unacceptable at the time it was hard to feel too bad about the pitch invasion

 

[Grassman]

Apologies about not seeing you at Huddersfield mate - should have messaged you sooner. Next time

And yeah that match was ****ing great.

Nice to see that Ian ‘Shrinking violet’ Baird gets involved to protect the bloke! I remember that match like yesterday - it was truly us against the world.

 

[Acker79]

I don't know if I'm merging two matches, but I seem to remember the guy who ran on had got into an argument with other fans because he spent most of the game berating Nicky Rust.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

Was our late penalty also the softest ever given or was that a different game?

Yeah, remember thinking at the time, the ref had levelled it up cos he was worried about what might happen if we lose, even if that wasn't what he thought it definitely seemed a soft one.

As has been said, brilliant game, had it all.

 

[Bodian]

Can't find any highlights of the actual game though. I'm sure there used to be some on youtube.

It's in the middle of a longer video about the season as a whole. But I can't find it now either.

 

[timbha]

Nice to see that Ian ‘Shrinking violet’ Baird gets involved to protect the bloke! I remember that match like yesterday - it was truly us against the world.

A few weeks later that shrinking violet got sent off with Darren Moore for fighting in the last match at the Goldstone.

 

[timbha]

Didn't he try and attack both the late, great Butch Wilkins and the ref?

In the back of my mind I seem to recollect his name was Neil, owned a Butcher's shop in Brighton and was formerly a member of the Executive Club at the Goldstone.

Is he still an Amex regular?

Think he was referred to as “the Butcher of Coldean”. Didn’t he jump into the standing section below the West Stand only to be booted back out?

 

[Weststander]

One of my all time favourite games, that one. Had a bit of everything.

Here's the moment in question:



Can't find any highlights of the actual game though. I'm sure there used to be some on youtube.

He doubled up with accurate right hooks. Looked a better pugilist than the Brummie bloke yesterday.

 

[Weststander]

I have the dubious pleasure of having known two of the ‘attackers’. One of them was indeed Neil. Very passionate about the Albion, but he was pretty fearless and did like a scrap! I believe there was a picture in the paper of him standing over a surprised and prostrate Ray Wilkins as he clung onto a leg. The other was a younger lad who was dating a lass who lived across the road.

Do you still know the bloke who landed 2 punches on their no.8?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I have the dubious pleasure of having known two of the ‘attackers’. One of them was indeed Neil. Very passionate about the Albion, but he was pretty fearless and did like a scrap! I believe there was a picture in the paper of him standing over a surprised and prostrate Ray Wilkins as he clung onto a leg. The other was a younger lad who was dating a lass who lived across the road.

Went to school with Neil (now you have unmasked him). We went on bicycle rides togther. Last saw him at Sussex county when I bumped into him when visiting an infirm relation. A mutual friend told me recently his businesses have failed. If you're lurking on here, good luck to you.

 

[METALMICKY]

No, he didn't, but I know who did.

Is he still an idiot? Wound everyone up at Hereford by hanging off the fence an obstructing the view!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Think he was referred to as “the Butcher of Coldean”. Didn’t he jump into the standing section below the West Stand only to be booted back out?

He was eventually banned for an unsavoury incident on the terraces. We called him 'wreck' at school, mainly for ill-judged doomed-to-fail gestures. Actually, he was a nice, warm-hearted bloke, and I feel a bit wistful now....

 

[wigman]

Didn't he try and attack both the late, great Butch Wilkins and the ref?

In the back of my mind I seem to recollect his name was Neil, owned a Butcher's shop in Brighton and was formerly a member of the Executive Club at the Goldstone.

Is he still an Amex regular?

Last time I saw him was at the Hartlepool fans United game.
He paid his admission and went through the turnstile, only to open the gates and let hundreds storm in for free.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Wow, this Neil the butcher was obviously an ar$hole of the first order. Very much as much a dickhead as the three who caused all sorts of problems with their unacceptable behaviour over the weekend. Morons the lot of them. I hated the idiots then who might have made things worse and risked points deductions for our club and I feel the same about cockheads who feel bold enough to run on the pitch at The Amex, even in celebration. Grow up lads.

 

[The Gem]

Is he still an idiot? Wound everyone up at Hereford by hanging off the fence an obstructing the view!

Do get over it FFS, he's a great lad. Was on the fence for what 2 minutes max.

 

[jasetheace]

I went on 606 that night (David Mellor era) realising that we needed to muddy the waters AND QUICK! Zeroed in on them goading the North Stand. Barry Hearn got well narked and came on the radio shortly afterwards to defend his players. Sometimes, I yearn for those days of innocence!

 

[Giraffe]

I remember this match like it was yesterday. Such was the intensity of this match that the very mild mannered guy who regularly sat near us in the West Stand stood up and shouted abuse at Ray Wilkins questioning his parentage. I'd never heard him ever shout before. I was quite shocked.

 

[Gritt23]

Didn't he try and attack both the late, great Butch Wilkins and the ref?

My recollection was that he was heading for McGleish, and "butch" tried to intervene and stop him. I don't think he was heading for Wilkins.