I love then & now photos, I believe their coach parked just by the statue and took the photo in front of this building on or near where the pathway is in Albert Park Could be wrong but it’s the only building I could find with a similar chimney
Malcolm and Maureen Marshall two names from the past. See them now seating on rear seat of the coach. Believe Maureen was born on the Falklands Isles. Many names I know but the only one I have seen this year is Jack Parrott. Good old days of Lewis Coaches.
Ha - great pictures, not sure I've seen that before.
I think most know that Les was my Dad, Chris Slattery was my godfather
neither sadly are with us anymore
Judging by the pictures in the article and your profile pic on here you look just like your Dad (same as me, I am the mirror image of my Dad, also sadly no longer with us)
Recently departed Peter Ballie on that coach. 17.5 hours before the game, why so early?
Pete himself told me that they used to travel up overnight, and get to Boro about breakfast time. I think they played football in the park to fill up the time, probably an improvement on what the Reds were serving up in 1970.
A Bolton fan told me he'd done a similar overnighter to Portsmouth in the 70's, the motorway network wasn't as extensive as now, probably involved lot of grinding along back roads.
Between 1961 and 1971 the number of holidays taken abroad, a big part of which was air travel with the rise of the package holiday to Spain etc. increased from 4 million to 7 million.
Recently departed Peter Ballie on that coach. 17.5 hours before the game, why so early?
Pete himself told me that they used to travel up overnight, and get to Boro about breakfast time. I think they played football in the park to fill up the time, probably an improvement on what the Reds were serving up in 1970.
A Bolton fan told me he'd done a similar overnighter to Portsmouth in the 70's, the motorway network wasn't as extensive as now, probably involved lot of grinding along back roads.
Yes we played footie in the park but once their supporters club was open ( which was a converted house) we went in there for a couple of pints. When we left for the game there were a mob of skinheads waiting in the park but all the Boro "hairies" that we were with chased them off. In the return game (or possibly the game the following season) there was a bunch of the Boro hairies in the Covered End with Chris Slattery etc. Don't know how this "friendship" occurred but it certainly came in handy at Ayresome park.
Travelling overnight was a regular thing back then, 68/69 we went to Derby & left the Valley about midnight (crazy really) basically when the pubs had closed & everyone had been to the chippy, happy days.
Great story,forgot about the supporters clubs we use to visit.
No I'm not, possibly having breakfast somewhere or in the club. Not even sure if I was on the Lewis coach as blokes in the Covered End used to arrange their own coaches & I often went on those.
The Derby coach I mentioned earlier was one of those, problem was the guys on the "unofficial" coach always wanted to go on a piss up after the game. I was only 14/15 & looked about 12 & the pub they chose to go to had bouncers on the door & wouldn't let me in, had to sit outside for hours until everyone was ready to go.
Funny/sad the details you can remember from all those years ago & I can't even remember what day it is half the time now.
Recently departed Peter Ballie on that coach. 17.5 hours before the game, why so early?
Pete himself told me that they used to travel up overnight, and get to Boro about breakfast time. I think they played football in the park to fill up the time, probably an improvement on what the Reds were serving up in 1970.
A Bolton fan told me he'd done a similar overnighter to Portsmouth in the 70's, the motorway network wasn't as extensive as now, probably involved lot of grinding along back roads.
Jeez! Fair play.
I'd just assumed it was a typo and it really meant they left at 9.45am!
That takes me back, I remember sitting at the back of an away coach in the 70’s in Woolwich and we were presumably waiting for stragglers. Anyway, Maureen & Malcolm got on and she gave me an enormous bollocking because she thought the bus was going to leave without her and she thought I’d seen her running for the bus ( which I hadn’t) and not told the driver. It was a chastening experience for a young lad because she was significantly more frightening than Malcolm !!
Great story,forgot about the supporters clubs we use to visit.
No I'm not, possibly having breakfast somewhere or in the club. Not even sure if I was on the Lewis coach as blokes in the Covered End used to arrange their own coaches & I often went on those.
The Derby coach I mentioned earlier was one of those, problem was the guys on the "unofficial" coach always wanted to go on a piss up after the game. I was only 14/15 & looked about 12 & the pub they chose to go to had bouncers on the door & wouldn't let me in, had to sit outside for hours until everyone was ready to go.
Funny/sad the details you can remember from all those years ago & I can't even remember what day it is half the time now.
I used to do the same, not use the Lewis coach but go on the Covered End coach. Remember going up to Blackpool, Huddersfield and down to Cardiff. There were a few more but they slip my mind. Used to leave late Friday and get back early Sunday. I was only about 15 myself and used to sneak in at home when I got back so my mum wouldn’t know I’d been out all night the 2nd night. I think she was in denial though. The good ol’ days!
Haha yes remember going to Blackpool, it must of been 69 or 70, got up there about 6am parked in the car park behind the Kop, & we played footie in the car park. A big gap after that but remember walking along the seafront & going into the bowling alley as there was a bar that was open fairly early (for those days), of course I couldn't get served but a couple of the older lads got me a couple. Can't remember the score but I'm pretty certain we lost. I would have been still at school at this point (just about to leave) & I'm amazed that my parents who were pretty strict allowed me to be travelling all over the country The good old days indeed.
I think we lost that game 2-0. May be mistaken though. I really don’t remember much else about it except there was someone called Albert who was a bit of a hooligan. Nice fella though. I remember he was wearing a gaberdine suit with Doc Martens and he came back on the coach with a huge Union Jack draped around him that he’d acquired from somewhere. He was a bit of a nutter. Bliss. 🤣
One of the 53. I Just saw the photos of the Boro trip which I was on. Coach cost 26 shillings if I remember correctly. The Football in the park was great and had my first Newcastle Brown in the club. I was 16. Got separated from the good Boro good guys and got chased through Woolworths by skinhead. I think this was our 35th away game without a win and I saw most of them. We then went to Loftus Road and beat QPR 4-1.
Comments
I think most know that Les was my Dad, Chris Slattery was my godfather
neither sadly are with us anymore
Could be wrong but it’s the only building I could find with a similar chimney
Great photo with some unforgettable names in there.
Good old days of Lewis Coaches.
A Bolton fan told me he'd done a similar overnighter to Portsmouth in the 70's, the motorway network wasn't as extensive as now, probably involved lot of grinding along back roads.
Travelling overnight was a regular thing back then, 68/69 we went to Derby & left the Valley about midnight (crazy really) basically when the pubs had closed & everyone had been to the chippy, happy days.
Great story,forgot about the supporters clubs we use to visit.
The Derby coach I mentioned earlier was one of those, problem was the guys on the "unofficial" coach always wanted to go on a piss up after the game. I was only 14/15 & looked about 12
Funny/sad the details you can remember from all those years ago & I can't even remember what day it is half the time now.
I'd just assumed it was a typo and it really meant they left at 9.45am!
I bet those old strippers pubs on the A1 made a packet.
It was a chastening experience for a young lad because she was significantly more frightening than Malcolm !!