Seem to remember it was a two fold thing, firstly because gates were low at that time it was felt there might be some floating support that might come along on a Friday night that would go elsewhere in London on a Saturday.Secondley it was reported that the players much prefered playing under lights as the wide open spaces of The Valley were not so visable therefore there seemed a better atmosphere in the ground on night games.
Datewise think it was mid to late seventies.
Worked for me as I played on a Saturday at that time.
We had a lot of Friday night games for the 2 seasons after we got promoted (1975) with Andy Nelson, probably about 7 or 8 a season, it wasn't all of them by any means. Some of them were real thrillers as well, there used to be a bit of atmosphere at the night games, particularly under the covered end. I think we went about 3 or 4 years without losing a night game at home, got a feeling that run ended in spectacular fashion, getting done 5-1 by Luton.
I remember a game in 97/98 beating a team 3-1, mendonca scoring the last i think.
We beat Tranmere 3-1 on a Friday night in 96/97, think Lisbie and Leaburn were amongst the goals. 97/98 I think we beat Swindon 3-0 on a Sky TV Friday night game, Mendonca definitely got 1, maybe even 2.
Amazing the useless information about football that I can remember, particularly considering I went to Sainsburys earlier and couldn't remember one of the two things Ineeded to buy!
Swindon on Sky: Mendonca gor two of them - one a dodgy penalty and Keith Jones got a rare goal too. The crowd was above the average for the season despite being a Friday game and also being televised. Two weeks later, a Tuesday game was the lowest crowd of the season (4000 less). On that basis we'd still play on Fridays.
Tranmere the season before: Kinsella, Leaburn and a penalty. It wasn't Lisbie who scored it but he earned it. Again the crowd was slightly above average. In the previous game a certain Clive Mendonca scored against us and was instrumental in Richard Rufus getting sent off. Earlier that season I remember watching Mendonca playing for Grimsby at the Valley (he scored twice) and wishing we had a srtiker that good! Rufus was booked for fouling him then too!
@Bryan_Kinsie I salute your supreme memory. Think Pat Nevin might have been sent off in the Tranmere game, possibly in relation to the penalty that Lisbie earned.
Comments
Seem to remember it was a two fold thing, firstly because gates were low at that time it was felt there might be some floating support that might come along on a Friday night that would go elsewhere in London on a Saturday.Secondley it was reported that the players much prefered playing under lights as the wide open spaces of The Valley were not so visable therefore there seemed a better atmosphere in the ground on night games.
Datewise think it was mid to late seventies.
Worked for me as I played on a Saturday at that time.
We beat Tranmere 3-1 on a Friday night in 96/97, think Lisbie and Leaburn were amongst the goals. 97/98 I think we beat Swindon 3-0 on a Sky TV Friday night game, Mendonca definitely got 1, maybe even 2.
Amazing the useless information about football that I can remember, particularly considering I went to Sainsburys earlier and couldn't remember one of the two things Ineeded to buy!
Swindon on Sky: Mendonca gor two of them - one a dodgy penalty and Keith Jones got a rare goal too. The crowd was above the average for the season despite being a Friday game and also being televised. Two weeks later, a Tuesday game was the lowest crowd of the season (4000 less). On that basis we'd still play on Fridays.
Tranmere the season before: Kinsella, Leaburn and a penalty. It wasn't Lisbie who scored it but he earned it. Again the crowd was slightly above average. In the previous game a certain Clive Mendonca scored against us and was instrumental in Richard Rufus getting sent off. Earlier that season I remember watching Mendonca playing for Grimsby at the Valley (he scored twice) and wishing we had a srtiker that good! Rufus was booked for fouling him then too!