Lato
3:35 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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My first game October 1971 1-1 draw with Leicester. Pushed my way down to the front of the South Bank I was only 9 Mum would have killed me if she found out. Started going regularly with my Uncle and Cousin 1976ish, always went in the West Side Lower. A couple of years later started going with my mates in the North Bank then moved to the South Bank until its last day. Always seemed more raucous in there with the abuse hurled at the opposition fans. The Hokey Cokey, Knees up Mother Brown, fantastic memories. Also stood and sat in every stand pre Hillsborough.After redevelopment got a season ticket in the Bobby Moore Upper, sat in every tier of all the other stands except the Trevor Brooking Upper. Regret that to this day, a magical place the Boleyn Ground with so many happy memories (and a few bad ones). I will never forgive those greedy b@stards for taking it away from us!
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Mike Oxsaw
1:04 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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I, too was "all over" - started in the West stand, by the player's tunnel, but felt obliged to try the other areas. Ended up with a season ticked above the Chicken Run.
Some of the comment and humour in the Chicken Run itself was absolutely vicious, but I never felt it vindictive; just Englishmen using English in a manner that would have made Chaucer and/or Shakespeare nod in approval.
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Last Gasp
12:51 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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A bit like Northern went all over. But the best of times was the chicken run. Loved it so much got season ticket when it was still terraced. You met the same faces each week. The crowd that would pick numbers out of a hat for the first scorer. The cries from the crowd, 'come on Lampard, my gran can run faster than you'. Watching the West side, sway to 'Bubbles'.
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Northern Sold
12:34 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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Loved it all over… went in every part when it was all terracing and in every part when it was seating… Chicken Run deffo fav… Season ticket in there when terrace for 4 years before all going in the BML… great gang around us there so we stayed there for the next 15-20 seasons or whatever it was… first started off in the NB with old man and Uncle… would have been around 4 years old… next ten years all over the ground really with me Dad, Unc and Cousin and sometimes me Auntie… when I got old enough (13-14) started getting train up from Southend with school mates… CR or West Side lower… after that it was just pile in wherever… be very rare we could not get in the ground even with 5 or 10 mins ago… well until 1986 that was… got locked out a few that season … towards the end of the season funnily enough… few more lock outs the year after so we decided to bite bullet and get ST’s so we could spend the time we wanted in the boozer in the safe knowledge we could see the game.
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Russ of the BML
11:29 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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When I first started going was in South Bank. Absolutely mental times. Probably only watched 20% of a game and the other 80% was either singing and chanting at away fans, couldn't see or trying to prevent myself being crushed. I used to stand in front of those metal posts so the bloke behind got squashed but couldn't always guarantee it. Great memories.
As I got a bit older we used to go in Chicken Run. I loved it in their. All the faces and proper blokes. You used to feel invincible. Had some of my best times in there when you used to spend most of the game either singing or laughing at something or other. Great days.
Then I went back to South Bank which then became Bobby Moore stand and then spent most time in the BML. Wonderful days.
Odd occasion went North Bank or West Upper but wasn't the same as South Bank or Chicken Run. They were special.
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yngwies Cat
10:59 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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Not so much the ground which I loved all.
It was the "Don't Kill Your Wife, let us do it" Clock on Green Street.
Always raised a smile
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southbankbornnbred
10:57 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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I think we all know where I STAND on this one.
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wd40
10:56 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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70's -early 80's
unofficial rules
under 12 -north bank
under 22 south bank
becoming a man- west -side
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GreenStreetPlayer
10:45 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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I suppose it depends what age you are and what side of the development and changes to the ground made during the late eighties/90’s you were.
For the ‘older ones’ I expect they preferred the ground before any changes being closer to the pitch and more standing and atmosphere.
I enjoyed all areas of the ground, but that rainy night in the chicken run against Eintracht Frankfurt in ‘76 tops it for me.
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Chinkey Weasel
10:35 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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South Bank (LET'S ALL FORM A CIRCLE!) initially, then the Chicken Run.
Sorely missed.
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smartypants
10:12 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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Never forget walking up the steps into the west upper for the first time with my dad, looking down on it all, but I loved the south bank when I got into my teens, with toilets the size of a 3 bed semi and sink overflowing with piss.
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goose
9:56 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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North bank almost exclusively.
Great memories of Ince destroying Liverpool in the league cup, Slater playing like Maradona, the promotion season to the PL, first season in the PL beating Man City on a Monday night, Sheffield Wednesday on the mid week - I think Clive Allen scored? Etc etc.
Usually stood to the right of the goal and half way back. That cigarette smell mixed with beer takes me right back.
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Gary Strodders shank
5:55 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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North bank mostly in the late 80s & 90s
West Upper mostly later.
Some great cup nights particularly watching Stuart Slater destroy Martin Keown in the fa cup quarter final & Martin Allen's screamer to beat Wimbledon in the league cup
The amount of coins that were lobbed at the Dons players at corners was diabolical but well warranted as they were up to every trick in the book.
Devonshire played thst night and was outstanding.
Upton Park under the lights was a very special place. .
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Manuel
5:25 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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South Bank initially, then West Lower. Was never a big North bank man, and didn't stand in the chicken run too often. Always thought East Upper near the front was prime location and was jealous of anyone that had a ST there.
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Steady
2:41 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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West upper because it’s where I saw my first ever game or standing in the east stand lower/chicken run where I watched most matches
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Nutsin
1:06 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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Burnsey I know, would have been embarrassing for you to get run all over the North bank, don’t blame you!
Slag!
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62Hammer
1:05 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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The old West Stand, towards the south end, because that's where my Dad would take me the first few years I went, through the 60s. He used to give a one-armed bloke half a crown to let him park in a private road belonging to flats just off Boundary Road (there was a bloke with one leg, too, on the way to the ground, playing a penny whistle or something for money). Then it would be the Chicken Run (new) which is where I watched for many years subsequently, including the 1986 season.
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Takashi Miike
12:45 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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why? the atmosphere, the pisstaking and the unity of the fans. the old bill would regularly march up to get heavy handed with a fan and leave empty handed
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SDKFZ 222
12:45 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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I forgot to add, my first match was in the Chicken Run 🤦🏼♂️
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Takashi Miike
12:43 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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south bank, standing next to the away fans. great times :.)
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SDKFZ 222
12:41 Tue Sep 14
Re: Boleyn Ground
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My very first match at the Boleyn was in 1972. My own dad, a lifelong Hammer, had passed away two years previously and that’s where he used to stand. However, a schoolmate and his dad took me to that match and I was hooked forever.
After that, I alternated between both the North and South Banks until I bought a season ticket in the West Lower in 1985. I stayed in the West Lower until the final match in 2016. I’ve had a season ticket in the Billy Bonds stand at the LS ever since we moved.
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