FOOTBALL SPECIAL TRAINS

Who can remember them, now I'm the first to admit that times and dates blur into one with me so don't know how accurate my recollections are.
First remember them from about 1970, reason being I got nabbed for travelling on a child's ticket when I was sixteen,and that was around 1971, had traveled on a good few before that time, so 1970 seems about right.

What was mad was the policing, there just wasn't any, we would get somewhere with sometimes 7-800 pouring off a train, and you wouldn't see a copper anywhere, total madness and mob rule, places would get looted etc and you'd be miles away before the police came,

Can't remember when they stopped, or why, it may have been that we stopped traveling in big numbers so the demand wasn't there, but I'm sure for some big games they would still lay the occasional one on.

Wish they would do it again, but the policing and logistics would be mental in some ways, but possibly easier to manage in others.

Remember once coming back from a night match I think it was one of the Bristol games, and the communication cord must have been pulled ten times in the Severn Tunnel and by the time we got back to Central station we had missed the last bus or train back to Aberdare, twats.

Many a laff on those trains.

Gwyn, when i was travel officer for the supporters club (late 70's) i used to arrange the football specials, (both bristol clubs, arsenal, southend etc) they were the only way to go to games, the feeling you would get when the train arrived at the station and about 700-800 city fans poured off was tremendous, britisn rail pulled the plug on them because of the damage done to the trains and the cost of them having to supply transport police, but you're right, they were great days.

I remember going to Man City on one to an FA Cup game. mayhem at manchester, but they had double decker buses to take us to Maine Road. Bristol Rvrs away (eastville) on a sat was brill and after the game.

Did you read about them Gwyn or were you actually on one?

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

I was on the man city train,kicked us all off at Manchester after the game due to the emergency brake being pulled,they soon got another train to get us back to Cardiff,when man utd trains were due to arrive later that evening

I remember the one to Shrewsbury in the League Cup mayhem when we got there before and after the game. Coppers at every station we passed through on the way back and a welcome committee at Cardiff Central when we finally got home

Did you read about them Gwyn or were you actually on one?

Still got the transport police caution here somewhere, but perhaps it was mistaken identity.

And while i'm reminiscing, that was the game where a Cardiff fan was shooting at Watford fans on the other platform with an airgun, mad watching a few hundred Watford fans all trying to hide behind the same post.

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

If the events of that Leeds trip -(2 specials that day, lots of coaches and we must have had 4000 fans up there)-had been captured and replayed on film today people would just sit there in amazement.
Which pub are we having? hahahahaha

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

Leeds away was the worst of the lot on the football specials with the old bill using horses to segregate and isolate us into small groups so Leeds could get at us.
I seem to remember a special taking us to Pompey and the game was called off halfway there. On the way back someone pulled the cord at Stapleton road and most of the train went to east vile to the rovers Hereford game I think.

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

Leeds away was the worst of the lot on the football specials with the old bill using horses to segregate and isolate us into small groups so Leeds could get at us.
I seem to remember a special taking us to Pompey and the game was called off halfway there. On the way back someone pulled the cord at Stapleton road and most of the train went to east vile to the rovers Hereford game I think.

I remember going to Swindon, we were on the third special train, that's how busy it was, and as we pulled into Swindon the Guards were waving us back out and telling us the game was off, and ironically we also went thru Eastville stadium where my mate Needs pulled the cord and we all jumped off, I remember this one distinctly because I was the first one off the train, my fault for standing by the door and getting pushed, twats

At one time it looked like i may have been the only one, standing there on the tracks on my lonesome, mind you it was quite a jump off the train onto the tracks.

Rovers were playing York that day and having close on five hundred of us turning up there unexpected wasn't in their plans.

None of us got in mind, they rounded us up and herded us back to the station and laid on another train and took us back to Cardiff, they must have loved us back in the day.

Loved the specials, especially to places like Eastville, then coming of the small train station in our hundreds and taking over towns.

Every time City played in the FACUP 3rd Rd away, Specials were put on to places like Leicester etc
Man City away in the FA CUP, we must of had a 1,000 fans on it.

I remember the 50s and early 60s, steam trains galore, from valleys and vales, dropping us off at The Halt, we scattered and scurried like ants heading for a kilo of spilt Tate and Lyle.

We could smell the burning coal and the steam as we alighted the trains and a now, 21st century, unimaginable smell of a match day would tease your olfactory system as the aforementioned smells mixed gloriously with those of the Sloper Road hot dogs, toffee apples, candy floss, pies full of the finest meats encrusted in post war pastry that tasted as divine as and angels moist flaps, and all other manner of match day goodies that were on offer before Mr Tesco/Asda/Sainsburys etc ruined our fair country and match days forever.

You could spend most of the match if you wanted at the back of the Bob Bank watching the Steam Engines being fed with coal, watered and re-arranged for our return journeys and without fail, there they would be at the end of the match, nose to tail, queuing up from as far as the eye could see, steam billowing in the capitals evening sky, backing up to The General Station and probably Llandaff in the opposite direction, driver and fireman enjoying a Billy Can of tea on the footplate before their arduous journey to wherever.

A couple of porters, a green flag and a whistle saw us safely on board and off home as the next train drew up to take the next load safely home.

Away matches were even better, if you were in the know, you could share the same train as the team, non of this mincing on to an Executive Coach with en-suite crapper and massage tables, no, the team mixed with us one and all, autographs, belly laughs and banter to die for, as the poor driver and fireman worked their nads off getting the steam driven beast back safely to Wales from wherever. If any player needed a massage there were plenty of willing ladies willing to soothe the odd calf or quadricep in the creaking old corridors, or for more serious injuries there was always lavatorial treatment rooms, well if not occupied by an army of fare dodgers that is?

Arriva Trains should hang their heads in shame and all the busy body elf and safety mob who've ruined lots of traditions (along with our Neanderthal scum) over the years by over reacting to non existent problems.

Ah yes, I remember the Matchday Special Trains very, very well and some were more special than others?

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

Leeds away was the worst of the lot on the football specials with the old bill using horses to segregate and isolate us into small groups so Leeds could get at us.
I seem to remember a special taking us to Pompey and the game was called off halfway there. On the way back someone pulled the cord at Stapleton road and most of the train went to east vile to the rovers Hereford game I think.

Yes, that's what happened to me, i lost my mates and ended up getting a few thumps, i'm sure we took 3-4 special trains to the leeds cup game??? and nobody has mentioned the mass brawl on the pitch at half time after the Cardiff fans went over to the Leeds end.

I can't recall any half time mass brawl on the pitch at half time ? A city fan ran on the pitch at half time with a Welsh flag and an attempted drop kick was made by a Leeds fan.

I can't recall any half time mass brawl on the pitch at half time ? A city fan ran on the pitch at half time with a Welsh flag and an attempted drop kick was made by a Leeds fan.

Two city fans went to the gellderd end with the welsh flag, just about on the 18 yard line they put the flag down and bowed to it, after picking it up and starting to return to our end about 6-8 leeds fans ran on the pitch and attacked them, then about 20-30 fans from both sets of fans started fighting on the pitch, (i'm sure about 20 were arrested) i remember when the second half kicked off the police were still taking fans handcuffed around the side of the pitch and out of the ground, the mass brawl was slightly tongue in cheek

Trips that come to mind:
Leeds away FA Cup
Swindon away - game postponed

I somehow don't think they'd be fun in this day and age

Leeds away was mental, one of our crowd was arrested on the platform as we got off the train, he was the lucky one, because most of us in our group had a right slap.
That walk back to the station surrounded by thousands of Yorkshire in breds was uncomfortable to say the least.

Leeds away was the worst of the lot on the football specials with the old bill using horses to segregate and isolate us into small groups so Leeds could get at us.
I seem to remember a special taking us to Pompey and the game was called off halfway there. On the way back someone pulled the cord at Stapleton road and most of the train went to east vile to the rovers Hereford game I think.

Yes, that's what happened to me, i lost my mates and ended up getting a few thumps, i'm sure we took 3-4 special trains to the leeds cup game??? and nobody has mentioned the mass brawl on the pitch at half time after the Cardiff fans went over to the Leeds end.

Actually the ones on the pitch first off were my mates from Aberdare, and dat de troof, the day before the game we had acquired the biggest Welsh flag you have seen, can't say where from, but Aberdare people may know

Some of our boys ran on the pitch with it, and a few more joined them, then Leeds came on and it kicked off.

There were so many of our fans called back up to Court the following week, British Rail arranged a special train, I think the police thought it may be a good idea.

My mate Needs or was one of them was sentenced to Usk DC for 3 months after that case.

Hanged man < Jim is in regular contact with Needs now who lives in London, but is still as mad as a box of frogs, the old Rhondda Tool Hire Van crew will vouch for that. Bomber was his apprentice, so that says it all.

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

yes there was atrain rented out to clubs especially modified! I know city had use at least once! :

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

yes there was atrain rented out to clubs especially modified! I know city had use at least once! :

Allan, Your right British Rail did rent out certain trains to Clubs for their fans.

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

yes there was atrain rented out to clubs especially modified! I know city had use at least once! :

Allan, Your right British Rail did rent out certain trains to Clubs for their fans.

they also put on specials especially to Bristol extra to ordinary services, best was to templemeads and walking to ashton gate! after they closed ashton gate stop.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I remember going to Leeds away in the FA Cup on a special from Pontypridd Station. Also remember going to Bristol City, Rovers a few times and Portsmouth. I was also on a Special to Bristol when a guy from Newport fell from the train to his death. That caused a lot of chaos back at Cardiff Central.

Sadly that was my mate Paul Gladwin. Really great guy and sad to lose your life so young.

Hundreds of City fans turned up at his funeral, scarfs draped over his coffin.

From Cwmbran. RIP never forgotten.

Got arrested at Cardiff Central after the Rovers game and City fan falling from a train after being searched and found with tablets to stop the shits and a Marker Pen. Ended up in Newport County Cort for allegedly wrecking the train. Got fined for having a half fare ticket

Loved the Footie special trains to far flung places like Southend Utd, Man City, Leicester City, Bristol Rovers and City, great trips

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

yes there was atrain rented out to clubs especially modified! I know city had use at least once! :

Allan, Your right British Rail did rent out certain trains to Clubs for their fans.

they also put on specials especially to Bristol extra to ordinary services, best was to templemeads and walking to ashton gate! after they closed ashton gate stop.

They certainly were some of the best days

back in the early/mid 1970s...i'm pretty sure the football league had their own train, that they'd hire out to clubs....it had a disco on board with a d.j.....i seem to remember it stopped after coventry took it apart to every nut and bolt

i think it was called the "league liner"...a mention of it might be online somewhere

yes there was atrain rented out to clubs especially modified! I know city had use at least once! :

Allan, Your right British Rail did rent out certain trains to Clubs for their fans.

they also put on specials especially to Bristol extra to ordinary services, best was to templemeads and walking to ashton gate! after they closed ashton gate stop.

They certainly were some of the best days

yes until Bristol city game, when over a hundred were arrested for basically being at game! that was end of the fun for me ! bully boy tactics by police at other away games made me stop going as to much hassle, now go very rarely as to expensive over £100 just for me to go away! stoke over 200miles away for eg

I was on the man city train,kicked us all off at Manchester after the game due to the emergency brake being pulled,they soon got another train to get us back to Cardiff,when man utd trains were due to arrive later that evening

And wasnt I glad they couldnt wait to get us home - straight through to Cardiff - because my mate got locked up with my train ticket in his pocket, I was 15 and thinking 'how it got to this?' lol. And how those double deckers didnt topple over is another
mystery, great days