Worst soccer hooliganism seen in Brighton

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

BHA v spurs in 78 - pitch invasion, Spurs broke into the East stand, and someone broke their leg in the gamem which we won.
BHA v Chelsea 83 - ahhh memories of Tony Millard screeching over the PA for the police to come back inside the ground, they'd all scarprered into Hove Park waiting for the ruck to start ourtside, so it kicked off inside without them........

Spurs '78 was a bit frightening for little 10 year old me on the old south west terrace.

Had a luck escape at the Chelsea game as we stood on the East Terrace North (a fine high view) as for some reason my old man decided to leave a couple of minutes early, something he was loathed to do, but in the event was a good move as they came straight over where we had been standing.

Also remember the old games against Palace where I swear I broke the world sprinting records whilst legging it down towards Conway Street being chased by Palace!!!

 

[Kent Seagull]

One of the funniest was the first match in Division 1 against Arsenal. In those days I used to watch proceedings from the South Stand.

Anyway, some of the big tough schoolboys in the North Stand started a "we'll take the North Bank Highbury" chant. Within seconds the Arsenal fans who had infiltrated the North stand replied "We are the North Bank Highbury etc, etc, where upon most of the North Stand climbed over the fence and ran on to the pitch! You'll note that the Arsenal didn't dare come in the South Stand!

One of the worst was at Everton in the same year. Loads of scousers were on our bus and when we eventually kicked them off they smashed several of the windows with stones and bricks. not nice people. Lime Street station was a bit hairy that day too, the only time I've been arrested at a match.

 

[north stand falmer]

Oh, you make me so proud! I'd love to know how "keeping the police pinned back" furthers your endeavours. Or was it less about the cause and more about the riot, eh?

Was at work in the city (London) and went for a lunch break, Saw police in helcopters above and saw a comotion up ahead. thought i'd see what was going on. When I got outside canon street station I saw a battle and a half taken place. Thought sod going back to work, I wont some off this. Took a side street and ended up in the front line. I look back and think it was really stupid because of my job etc, But I will say it was a good buzz but wouldn't do it again.

 

[Seagulls over Lewes]

Was one to invade pitch in October against Lincoln in protest against the board... I know some people never liked all that but I still believe it was in the best interests.

Fortunately a fantastic lady, owning a house with views over the south-east terracing, used to let all banned fans into her garden - until after that Cardiff game!!! B'stards!!! - in truth, I seem to remember we went one up, and those of us (ignorant young 'uns) in the garden started taunting them, before they just left their seats exited the Goldstone and headed straight into the gardens!!! Oh shit, they were scary!

I must know you because I got banned for the same pitch invasion and went and watched games in someone garden behind the east terrace.

Do remember the Cardiff game and at half time we always use to go down the shop to get some drink, remember about 30 - 40 Cardiff came down the road (There was only 3 of us) and asked us where The Albion pub was as some sort of meet had been arranged. Well I know where this pub is but I wasn't going to spend the next five minute exsplaning so I said sorry I don't know and carried on walk. The guy who ask the question just said ok and we went on our way but some of this firm believed we was the warm up and hit out at us. Luckly the guy who asked the question shouted out leave them and we got away with only a few punches being thrown. When the Albion went two up the Cardiff fans I the ground started throwing a lot more abuse at us so we decided to book a taxi from the house to the Lord Nelson at twenty past four and get away from the area. Never saw the trouble afterwards but hear alot about it from the chaps when they came in the pub later.

 

[Eastleigh Seagull]

Definitely go with the Chelsea scum in 84 when they smashed up the goals and concussed a copper - eye opening for a seven year old.

 

[pigin stripes]

Can't remember the year but it was a cup game against Arsenal and I stood in the North East as a home end with the away in the East. It was the first and only time as far as I can remember the club doing this. I spent the whole game collecting coins that were being chucked between the North and the East stands. Remember after the game an almighty fight in Ellen Street and some bloke having both his legs broke.
Can remember standing on the bridge at Hove station watching it all go off on the platform and the lines below.
Hopefully all part of Footballs rotten Past

 

[Bognor Blue & White]

Worst violence I've seen has to be Spurs at home c1978. Used to go with father and always arrived 5 minutes late as he had to work 'til 2.30.
Took up our normal position in the north stand with me decked out in dirty old silk scarf tied as a tie around the neck, wooly scarf on each wrist and Celtic/Brighton "twat" hat (remember them).
I was a "hard as nails" 12 year old, still wearing shorts to school.
It didn't take long for us to suss out that the Spurs army, about 3,000 of them had stormed the North stand and we were on our lonesome.
Quick retrieval of scarfs and hat into pockets (made me look like some German porn star) and spent the entire game very sheepish, quiet and keeping my legs crossed in case i s..t myself.
When Paul Clarke broke that guys leg on the halfway line the entire North stand went mental, except us, which is when my old man took a smack on the kisser and a hasty retreat saw us end up on the West terrace with all the Albion "boys".
Very hairy indeed.

But did start the chant for next couple of seasons of "Clarkey's evil".

 

[Dandyman]

Expanding the thread slightly - does anyone remember the "tennis matches" that used to take place with fag butts between the North Stand and the away enclosure in the North-east corner ?

Also the way the not at all camp leather clad motorbike cops used to line up at the back of the away section ?

 

[Jack Straw]

I was working in the Old Steine on the morning of '84 and all the benches were draped with hung-over and punch drunk Chelsea "fans".
Fearing a kicking, I engaged one of the more hard looking ones in conversation.
"Did you know, that on national news today, the trouble you've caused over night is being reported second, only to the Boeing jet crash disaster in Russia", I told them.
"Don't worry", he replied, "By two o'clock, we'll be first!"
The rest is well documented above.

 

[rigton70]

arsenal cup game or the southampton cup game both very nasty

 

[Blackadder]

Also the way the not at all camp leather clad motorbike cops used to line up at the back of the away section ?

Ah yes the "PIGS IN SPACE"!

 

[Charlies Shinpad]

West ham at Home when they stormed the South Stand,Spurs at home and Leeds at home,when they got a load of us out of The Eclipse to chase them down the road,not knowing there were about 50 of them up a side street waiting to ambush us!!

Happy days

 

[Curious Orange]

I really have led a sheltered life it seems, as I don't recall ever having seen any fighting whilst watching the Albion - Except when Wilkins and Codner started clobbering each other in one game!!!! I guess my Dad was very selective about which games he took me to see - for instance the first time I saw Palace was in the Simod Cup when I was in my late teens. I always remember him being very nervous about going to some away games, and him quietly telling me to hide my scarf under my coat when we went to West Ham in 90/91 - I remember that game particularly because having been kept in the ground for 15 minutes after it had finished we were then marched by the old bill past thousands of smug West Ham fans to the Underground Station. To top it all when we got to Victoria (I think) we were right next to loads of Palace fans who'd been playing at QPR that day. There was a scary amount of 'banter' going on between both sets of supporters. Fortunately I wasn't on the same train as the Palace mob, but our boys going back to Brighton were!!

 

[Skintagain 1983]

I was at the Aberdeen v Liverpool pre-season match and could not believe my eyes....

A distress flare fired from the Aberdeen fans alongside us .... aimed at Neil "Spider" Mellor.... missed him by less than a yard, bounced off the turf and flew into the opposite stand... and burst into flames.

Luckily it didn't hit anyone and there was a fire extinguisher in the press box or we could have had another Bradford fire!!

Didn't see anyone arrested either!!

Scum!!

 

[Skintagain 1983]

Aberdeen Casuals!

BHAlba's are

 

[berkshire seagull]

Piss off you jock

 

[Dave the OAP]

Brighton Tottenham late 70's
Brighton West ham Late 70's
Brighton Arsenal Early Eighties
Brighton Chelsea Early Eighties

Chesterfield Brighton Middle 70's - we "took" the Chesterfield end and it was carnage!

Brighton Wolverhampton Wanderers Cup game 70's absolute mahem at Hove station

worst ever

Brighton v Millwall 1975/6ish.....we were 2-0 down and ended up winning 3-2 with Steve Piper scoring 2. The scum came down in surgical masks and hit anything moving!!!

 

[The Wookiee]

Topical bounce of this old thread

 

[sydney]

west ham , arsenal , west brom ....saturday games at the goldstone early 80's , spurs , citeh midweek games and i think the arsenal game the following season when they were waiting on the northbound platform at Hove station when a train load of Norwich came in on the way back from Pormpey.....all pretty mental.

 

[Pretty Plnk Fairy]

Thanks chaps I'm totally spent now, anyone got a spare tissue?

Regards

DF