Looking at the photos of the Covered End and the Jimmy Seed - it was lucky the Millwall fans didn't turn up for their regular Saturday fun ripping out all those rows of fading red seats.
The pitch has been well cared for by then and the old grandstand levelled - not like the late 80's Valley I remember with all the bushes and scrub over the pitch area - so maybe it was about early 1991?
That went around 1990. The old west stand was damaged by fire, caused by various vandals, thugs & 'travelling people' in our time away. As the stand was largely a wooden structure, it was too badly damaged for it to be restored/re-used.
The old West Stand - or the Grandstand as it used to be known when I first went down The Valley.
Wasn't it bought second-hand from Aldershot or someone about 1933 ..... .?
I remember the old 4-gabled roof, with the letters CAFC on each gable facing the pitch.
Yes, LittleSis, for many years before and after my mis-spent Covered End days, stood in the same spot half-way up near the half-way line with Dad, Uncles, mates, etc - proper knot of us every single match.
Once or twice, sat at the very top (plenty of room, lol) - and to use the old cliche, the view from the top was awesome.
At least we thought so as kids!
Comments
Ill dig it out and scan it
The pitch has been well cared for by then and the old grandstand levelled - not like the late 80's Valley I remember with all the bushes and scrub over the pitch area - so maybe it was about early 1991?
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5621451409608521680
quite nice with the sound too
Nah mate its still in the same place ;-)
That video footage is excellent.....that was my Valley
To build the new 'temporary' west stand, of course . ;o)
Oh right, when did they knock down the old one?
Wasn't it bought second-hand from Aldershot or someone about 1933 ..... .?
I remember the old 4-gabled roof, with the letters CAFC on each gable facing the pitch.
Played there when it was like that and have played there recently.
Standing on it, amongst the monkey nut shells, it felt like it went on forever.
And remembering the hoards of Spurs fans who appeared from nowhere like blood thirsty zombies!!!!!
Those were the days eh ;-)
Once or twice, sat at the very top (plenty of room, lol) - and to use the old cliche, the view from the top was awesome.
At least we thought so as kids!
"Peanuts, tanner a bag!"
1979 was the year they built the Jimmy Seed stand - and re-roofed the old Grandstand.
So the film commemorated what must have then been the first major ground improvements since between the Wars,
for around 45 years.