What's it been like for Charlton when they've played around the county? I seem to recall that whenever you've played at Oakwell there's not been much in it, particularly in the 1980's, and matches at The Valley always ended with a home win. Even when we were 3-0 up early doors, we lost 5-3.
Back in 82/83 there was a nasty incident in a pub close to the bus station in which a local girl had to have stitches in her face prior to a Barnsley v Charlton fixture. Were there any similar incidents at places like Huddersfield and Bradford? What was it like going to Elland Road? It was always a hostil place back in those days. And what sort of numbers did you take away to these fixture?
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I made ten visits to Oakwell between 1983 and 1999. Only saw us win twice and get a couple of draws. Goal scorers over the years for you at Oakwell...Gordon Owen (free-kick) David Hirst, Owen Archdeacon, Brendan O'Connell, Andy Liddell, Andy Payton and Steve Chettle. For us, Mark Stuart, Kim Grant (brilliant solo goal), Alan Pardew (pen), Paul Mortimer, Shaun Newton, John Robinson and Keith Jones. Stood behind the goal (you could see the colliery winding gear and a bowls green(?) over the back), sat in the main stand once when a mate lent me his season ticket and sat in the new stand opposite a couple of times. Used to park in the bingo hall car park and drink in the pub that was through the level crossing towards town and on the right hand side. Favourite Barnsley players were probably Mick McCarthy, Ronnie Glavin and Steve Agnew and all three of them would have done well for Charlton...unlike Brendan O'Connell who didn't go so well for us! Does Tommy Tyke still have his say in the match programme?!
The rest of Yorkshire....not a great fan of going to Elland Road but never had any problems there. Seen lots of games at Wednesday, Sheff U, Huddersfield (both grounds) and Boro (both grounds). A couple of visits to Valley Parade too. All good memories, even when we've been thrashed (normally by Wednesday!). Never been to Donny or Rotherham.
PS: Next time I'm up your way, I'm going to visit the infamous Stairfoot Roundabout to see what all the fuss is about!
That certainly made me laugh when you mentioned the Stairfoot roundabout. What consternation that caused when they put some lights on it. Suddenly there were tail-backs in the traffic and numerous accidents :-) To be fair, it's not half as difficult to maneouvre as that one on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead but the locals hated change at the time.
Mick McCarthy and Steve Agnew are from the same village as me - Macca is a favourite of mine too. He once set up an interview session for me with the promotion team of 80/81 on the subject of football violence for my social studies project.
Brendan O'Connell did a great job for us at Oakwell - a very hard working midfielder - and many people were sorry to see him leave the club when he went. He was a bit of a bighead though - a mate of mine was going to clump him when they bumped into each other around town on the Friday night. My mate enquired if he was going to score 'for us termmorrer lad' to which O'Connell apparently replied "I don't give a @@@@".
Have you ever ventured over to Humberside with the Addicks lad? I've always found Grimsby/Cleethorpes to be an eventful place.
Eyup nolly. I used to drink in that social club that you mentioned. On matchdays you could do a deal with the landlord and he'd sneak you through the backdoor and into the ground for summat like half the price the club werre charging. And he'd also let you back in half-time with beers at the ready. Happy days indeed, and the club is sadly missed. I'm aged 45 so there's a possibility I'll know he Barnsley lad you're on about. What's your brother's name?
Reminds me of that Monty Python sketch, you know, "I used to dream of living in a corridor".
"You were lucky, we had to live in a brown paper bag/hole in the ground ...."
Is Barnsley still really like that?
;o)
It is indeed very much like that. :-) Apparently weeur one of the last places in Yorkshire ter kee-urp us original accent.
"luxury!.... Ar lived in a shoebox on fast lane of M1"
Would that be The Anchor and Hope I was drinking in last night?
Thank goodness - it must have been a very bad dream, and its not a real headache I have now !
Sutcliffe was known to drink in The Watermas Arms.
He was a lorry driver, Ads.
As Adam said.