SDKFZ 222
3:39 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Yes, it poured down throughout.
Those from my train were marched by the police from the station to the ground in pouring rain. I had an Evening News with me which I put on top of my head, but the rain quickly soaked through it and it turned into a papier-mâché helmet around my head in next to no time.
Once at the open terrace away end it also continued to pour, we even let one in during the first minute straight after kick off. It also continued raining on the way back to the station after the match had finished.
I was wearing a brand new black leather jacket that evening but the rain soaked into it and totally ruined it.
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gph
1:42 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Decidedly moist
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bruuuno
1:25 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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What was the weather like gph?
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gph
1:21 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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I was living in Manchester at the time.
Insanely, I decided to cycle to Oldham for the match.
It rained heavily all the fucking way there. It rained all the time I was on the open terrace waiting for the game to start (the kick off was delayed, wasn't it, because of problems on the trains bringing in the majority of the away supporters - I bet they were grateful to see every dismal minute...).
It rained heavily all the way through the match (I'm sure this affected the result, with their long shots bouncing oddly).
It then rained heavily all the way back to Manchester (thanks to Asbach brandy for keeping me alive)
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bruuuno
1:05 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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I’m pretty sure we played them up there st Easter that season. Might have been an early Easter
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mallard
12:55 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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I remember drawing 1-1 up there, and that was considered a result !
Bishop scored a pernalty and gave one away at the end.
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cholo
12:36 Fri Feb 15
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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That fucking potato headed cunt Andy Ritchie springs mind. Didn't we go there in the league a while later and got robbed of a win by a dodgy ref decision? I think it was Dowie's debut?
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Eastside surge
11:23 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Any old iron, I do remember it getting a bit heated towards the old bill on the gate maybe once the numbers increased they thought sod it let em out. No such luck for me though as journied up on the special which wasn’t leaving anytime early unfortunately!
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Any Old Iron
11:17 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Eastside, we must have been the first because the gates were well and truly locked until they let us through. But I wouldn't be surprised if hundreds followed.
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Eastside surge
11:10 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Any old iron, remember going for a piss at halftime and it looked like hundreds were trying to leave that early
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Any Old Iron
10:57 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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And don't forget we were in the same division as Oldham at the time.
Torquay were 4th div, and Wimbledon 3rd tier, soon to be 4th. For me that Wimbledon fiasco was the biggest humiliation I've ever seen.
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Any Old Iron
10:50 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Me and a mate left at half time. I think we were 0-4 down at the time. The funny thing was that the stewards and plod wouldn't let us out until I told them I'd had a call telling me that my mum had been taken ill. Well, they all laughed and said how the fuck could I have had a call in the ground. I then pulled out my enormous Motorola 'brick' mobile, which shut 'em up.
Anyway, went to a local boozer and continued the torture as they had it on the radio.
But remember that in 1990 we also crashed out of the FA cup to fourth division Torquay. Unfortunately I went to that as well and not only saw a pathetic West Ham performance but got soaked again for my pains.
Both those results were horrific but not in my mind as bad as losing to Wimbledon, which at least I managed to avoid going to.
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South Woodhammer
10:43 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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I remember a very long journey back down the M6 stopping in some service station north of Birmingham and several coachloads of very pissed off Hammers in a long queue for food and drink... in walked Phil Parkes who was a legend but lets face it had a terrible game that night as he couldn't get to terms with the plastic pitch. It all went pretty quiet before someone shouted over ' Oi Parkesy…you were shit tonight... you should fuck off and take that cunt Kelly with you'... just as David Kelly walked in the door after him. Apparently they both lived somewhere near Walsall and shared a car to away games together... lets just say that they did not stay to queue for hot drinks and snacks. Thing I also remember that night was that we were in seats two rows in front of the Capital Gold commentary team of a very vocal Jonathan Pearce and a guy hunched up in a sheepskin coat and a flat cap...who turned out to be Bobby Moore we only found out at the end of the game... who to be honest looked as ill as he soon turned out to be. Looking back it was one of the worst nights I can recall as a West Ham fan...although the Wimbledon fiasco a few weeks ago I must say wouldn't have been much better had I been there. At least there was an excuse for the plastic pitch at Oldham which was a massive advantage for the home team in those days with the erratic bounce.
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Jasnik
10:43 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Did we ever play 3 at the back then.
I thought it was always 4-4-2
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Alex Bunbury
10:33 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Strange looking team nevertheless. I assume three at the back or did Strodder play right back?
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SDKFZ 222
10:15 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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I count this as my worst ever away match, for numerous reasons.
The football special being shunted into the sidings at Stockport on the way home just added insult to injury. We must have been stuck there for a good few hours! I remember getting back to Euston at about 6am the next morning.
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Eastside surge
9:36 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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You can’t count David Kelly as an attacking player surely??
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mallard
9:10 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Ok, fair enough, but I remember there was issues that he changed the formation around by playing a lone striker
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Dan M
8:45 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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mallard
1 Phil Parkes
2 Stewart Robson
3 Julian Dicks
4 George Parris
5 Alvin Martin
6 Tony Gale
7 Liam Brady
8 Stuart Slater
9 Gary Strodder
10 David Kelly
11 Kevin Keen
12 Alan Devonshire
I'd say there were five very attacking players in that line up.
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North Bank
8:00 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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That scoreboard still doesn't work and did we ever find out who the naturist in the stands was
Surreal day that one
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lab
8:00 Thu Feb 14
Re: 29 Years Ago Today - The Valentines Day Massacre
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Lato 1:40 , yep a cracking day .
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