Feels Like Blackpool '78

[Seagull]

Blackpool, end of season crunch match, top division beckoning, school friend and I missed the first goal, looking for concrete blocks behind the east terrace, to stand on, we were small! 33,000 packed in to the Goldstone ... Saw the winner though. Could it be 2-1 on Sat? Will we have to wait another year coz Saints draw with Spurs? I mean Forest draw with Leicester?

 

[wellquickwoody]

Aah,remember it well. I rarely got taken to Saturday games back then, but that day I remember approaching the ground from Hove Station, and as we walked past the south end of Golstone Lane I looked across to see the North Stand packed and in full voice about 40 minutes before kick off! I remember the smoke bombs from the North Stand, the elation of the Chinese whispers going around the ground via trannies (oooer), and the despair when the correct result came through from The Dell.

The difference right now is that our destiny is in our own hands, as far as reaching the play offs is concerned. Fingers crossed!

 

[Moshe Gariani]

I was 9 years old and also on the East Terrace.

Can't remember much about the day. I know that we originally tried to get in the North at about 1.30pm but the queue for U16s was so long we didn't get in before they shut the gates. Unfortunately our Mum, obviously in the "Adult" queue, did - for her one and only game (until Blackpool at The Amex last year)..!!! So she was in a heaving North Stand on her own for 3 and a half hours while we had to run round to the East and get in there... I'm fairly sure she enjoyed that afternoon a lot less than most others in the NS.

 

[Was not Was]

Was that the match when there was a couple rolling around kissing so vigorously that it was frankly foreplay on the steps up to the terrace in the Northwest? They got arrested and were fined for indecent behaviour or something like that.

It was definitely that season but not 100% sure it was the Blackpool game ...

 

[World of Sport]

Was Peter Suddaby playing for us or them?

 

[smudge]

North was so packed, couldn't get in. Went in the East instead, mayhem as the goals went in, desperate when we heard the Stains result. Even more so when I saw the highlights & realized they fixed it.

 

[HenryC]

Wardy's goal after halftime is still giving me goosebumps all these years later. I was In the NS which was in full voice that day. I can't remember euphoria on such a large scale before or since. Amazing day followed by ultimate disappointment.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Was Peter Suddaby playing for us or them?

He was playing for them. Ward outpaced him for the first goal.

 

[kevo]

Was Peter Suddaby playing for us or them?

Them. If I'm not mistaken, the front cover of the programme for the following season featured a pic of Wardy beating him for skill.

I was also at the game - was it one of the ones where they locked the gates at 1.30pm?!

I remember watching the Saints v Spurs highlights on the telly, and seeing the two managers, Burkinshaw and McMenemy, walk out together before the game, holding their hands aloft and waving to the crowd. So obvious it was a fix - they were celebrating before kick-off FFS! Neither team tried to win. I seem to remember there was only one clear-cut chance in the whole game - a Stains player was suddenly clean through and pathetically shot well wide.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Aah,remember it well. I rarely got taken to Saturday games back then, but that day I remember approaching the ground from Hove Station, and as we walked past the south end of Golstone Lane I looked across to see the North Stand packed and in full voice about 40 minutes before kick off! I remember the smoke bombs from thenorth stand, the elation of the Chinese whispers going around the ground via trannies (oooer), and the despair when the correct result came through from The Dell.

The difference right now is that our destiny is in our own hands, as far as reaching the play offs is concerned. Fingers crossed!

SOUTH I THINKS

 

[oldboyroy]

my god I remember that very well it was on itv big match on the sunday and my brothers and i were the opening picture of the match we had a pillow case with Mullery,s marvels painted on it,hanging on the north east floodlight which we climbed up oh the memories........

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Is this the game? No sign of the smoke bomb.

Brighton v Blackpool highlights 1977/78 - YouTube

 

[Papa Lazarou]

This is the game before - V Blackburn

Smoke bomb

Brighton 2-1 Blackburn 1978/79 - YouTube

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

This is the game before - V Blackburn

Smoke bomb

Brighton 2-1 Blackburn 1978/79 - YouTube

Smokebomb game of April 1979 was about a year after the Blackpool match.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Smokebomb game of April 1979 was about a year after the Blackpool match.

Oh goodness, the following season. It felt the same, but with a very different outcome

 

[raymondbriggs]

Some of us South stand boys had graduated to the south west terrace in front of the bar,we had surprised Spurs fans in there earlier that season and it seemed the place to be.My memory is the false reports of the score from the Dell and Mullery telling us what he though of the fix at full time.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I did wonder why the for the Blackpool game (77/78) I can remember watching from the South Terrace, whereas the Blackburn game (78/79) I watched from the North... it was a different season! I clearly made the transition from South to North during the promotion season 78/79

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

Them. If I'm not mistaken, the front cover of the programme for the following season featured a pic of Wardy beating him for skill.

I was also at the game - was it one of the ones where they locked the gates at 1.30pm?!

I remember watching the Saints v Spurs highlights on the telly, and seeing the two managers, Burkinshaw and McMenemy, walk out together before the game, holding their hands aloft and waving to the crowd. So obvious it was a fix - they were celebrating before kick-off FFS! Neither team tried to win. I seem to remember there was only one clear-cut chance in the whole game - a Stains player was suddenly clean through and pathetically shot well wide.

I think the player that missed there chance was Funnell,a lad from Eastbourne!

 

[lawros left foot]

I seem to remember that the smoke bombs were against PNE, I was stood just in front off the ginger headed bloke who threw them. Was this the game we won 5-2 and one their CB scored 2 own goals?

 

[LamieRobertson]

Is this the game? No sign of the smoke bomb.

Brighton v Blackpool highlights 1977/78 - YouTube

I see we made Backpool ŵelcome with a sandy beach on the halfway line...I was in the south that day