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

[Simster]

Who was the muppet who snapped the cross bar at the first York "riot" game?

In fairness to superseagull, there was a certain amount of booing coming from the 30% or so of the North stand who remained on the terrace, and I remember people on the pitch throwing lumps of mud at those fans in response. But these were isolated incidents - the booing coming from people who were presumably unaware of what was really going on and the mud throwing from the usual minority of twats that tend to be part of the make up of the general public at large. And there must have been a fair few fans who didn't know what was going on - the gate was 10,000 at a time when crowds had dipped to 4,000 or so in the middle of that season.

 

[coventrygull]

I travelled down from Coventry with my son who was only 8. I knew there was going to be a pitch invasion. sat in the South Stand. When the pitch Invasion started by son wouldn't run on the pitch and started to cry. So I had to drag him on

On the way back we were congratulated by York fans and going across London we were getting weird looks from fans of other clubs. when I got home I got a massive bollocking from the Mrs

My Mrs came with me for the last game at the Goldstone. I wonder why?Ended up on the Goodbye to the Goldstone Video. Its was a very sad day.

Oh and Combat 18 were not there

 

[Mr Blobby]

Took part in quite a lot in that time. From the Lincoln pitch invasion, marching to Mellor, York pitch invasion, walk out v Hereford. The replayed York match was sureal, some time on a Thursday morning, very few made the game.

The last match v Doncaster was a brilliant and sad day all rolled into one. Left not long after the final whistle as we didnt want to stand around as people collected souvenirs, we went back to the pub and celebrated in style putting off thoughts of the trip to Hereford! I went back on the Sunday as lived just up the road from the Goldstone to have a final look round at the place I first visited in 1975!

Still fondly remember Bellotti being removed from the train on the way back from Swansea, we managed to get it headline news in the Argus. Also watching Bellotti scarper away at Wigan after about 5 mins of the game, to heckling him away at Doncaster but being ejected by the Police for being in the home stand!

I also remember the whistles at Steve Gritts first game in charge, the Ref basically did the game by hand signals.

Fans United was also rather special!

Pictures from the York Match
England Away: H v York 27.4.1996

Pictures from Wigan and march to Mellor
England Away: A v Wigan 5.10.1996 (and march to Mellor)

Pictures from the Doncaster game
England Away: H v Doncaster 26.4.1997 (Last game at the Goldstone)

 

[Storer68]

Hardly a pitch invasion? You are talking out of your arse mate.Goal posts were ripped down and the game called off.It certainly wasn't a riot like the NOTW said.

I might be but I was there and I strolled on to the pitch in the sunshine with my mum.

So the goalposts came down. hardly suprising as there were a lot of people swinging on the crossbar. hardly a riot

 

[wehatepalace]

Simster there was more than one "muppet" as you put it ! one person could not snap those cross bars trust me.

 

[supaseagull]

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.

 

[algie]

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.

You deserved every bit of abuse directed at you.To say those people weren't Brighton fans is f***ing stupid and no wonder you got a heated response.

 

[supaseagull]

You deserved every bit of abuse directed at you.To say those people weren't Brighton fans is f***ing stupid and no wonder you got a heated response.

yes - I apologise for that remark to those who were genuine fans..But then you've never said anything stupid on here have you?

 

[algie]

I might be but I was there and I strolled on to the pitch in the sunshine with my mum.

So the goalposts came down. hardly suprising as there were a lot of people swinging on the crossbar. hardly a riot

Can't you read? I said it wasn't a riot like the papers said and yes it was a decent pitch invasion.You probably strolled on after about a 1000 people got on there and already caused the damage.

 

[algie]

yes - I apologise for that remark to those who were genuine fans..But then you've never said anything stupid on here have you?

Like what?

 

[supaseagull]

Don't know - can't be bothered to trawl through your 50,000 posts but there must've been something I disagreed with somewhere

 

[Harold]

So many incredable highs & lows in such a short time, it really was emotionally draining. Watching those clips still fills me with emotion.

As for the guy who thought it was all wrong, there were many like that, like Liz costa and the supporters club, but they eventually realised that it was a bunch of crooks stealing our ground and trying to run the club out of business, and they joined the fight as much as anyone.

I honestly didn't believe there could be any real fan out there who thought the fight was all wrong. left to their own devices, we would have no club today. Also the FL and FA were not bothered. It took the abandonment of a crucial 'last day' fixture to mean they had to take notice.

The above sums up my feelings and makes important points. As part of a group of active protesters at the time, the attitude of some of the more passive 'balloon releasers' (as we used to call them) always frustrated us. You can only go so far with indirect action (and we had so little time left - or so we thought). Our club was dying in front of our eyes and York City was the culmination of massively increasing frustration. That direct action though turned our local problem into a story worthy of the national interest. Although a precise time for the invasion was circulated beforehand (by fans not political thugs), it was still largely spontaneous from many fans who participated. We turned a massive media spotlight on those responsible with our collective actions, and I have no doubt it played a pivotal part in our clubs survival. I think even the most passive fans acknowledged that (eventually) after the event.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I was at the replayed York game, my maths teacher drove me and a mate to it (from school which meant we missed her lesson and English which follwed) and picked us up afterwards AND made sure our English teacher didn't make a fuss out of missing his lesson. Proper nice of her that was. It was an 11:00am kick off wasn't it? Summat like that.

I took part in a few of the smaller pitch invasions, even got myself in 4-4-2 talking to Liam Brady on the pitch (Hiney has a copy of it and once threated to scan it and post it). Also was part of the hundred or so that broke it during the boycott (after standing outside the north pleading with folk not to go in, I cried a bit during that). Could answer some questions but all I'd come back with is that is was all very unreal and confusing. I still didn't believe, (naively) until the bulldozers went it, that we'd lose the Goldstone.

 

[algie]

Don't know - can't be bothered to trawl through your 50,000 posts but there must've been something I disagreed with somewhere

An assumption then?

There's no need to drag other people into this just because you have made a right prick of yourself.Oh thanks for the new sig

 

[Smythe]

The people that run onto the pitch were not Brighton fans just idiots who played into the hands of Archer & Bellotti. That was the first & only time I've ever been truly ashamed to be a Brighton fan and I can remember standing in the north stand with around 2/3rds still in there booing those on the pitch.

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.

What a load of crap....these events brought it out in to the open and made people outside our club finally realise what was going on. This is what we were forced to do to save our club!!!! And this made you ashamed to be a Brighton fan??.......it made me proud, not just this day but the other protests that all lead up to the last game at The Goldstone!!! It was fan power and people power against crooks trying to destroy our club. Unfortunatly we were left with no other choice.


Also i dont think there will ever be a better football clip than the celebrations behind the goal at Hereford when that goal went in closely followed by Storers goal against Donny.......has there ever been 2 more important and meaningfull goals scored?

 

[algie]

Well said that man

 

[Soul Finger]

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.

 

[algie]

Did he really say that?

 

[Soul Finger]

Did he really say that?

Yep.

 

[algie]

Yep.

Shame you didn't record the conversation.Then either give it to another paper or spread the news to football clubs nationwide to stop buying that paper.Alot of Liverpool fans boycott the sun newspaper and still do as you well know.