A trip down memory lane

Ninian Park and The CCS!

I can’t remember the year, but I think it was the early 2000’s when whilst on my way to Ninian Park, I seen a guy with a white hoodie and the letters SCFC in a large font on the back and blood streaming from his nose. Upon entering the standing section of the Lower Bob Bank, I immediately told the guys around my area of the crazy Swansea fan; before he coincidently (honestly) joined me in the stadium about 5 minutes later.

The guys behind confirmed with myself that it was the person I’d seen earlier, before asking him what the f*** he was doing inside Ninian Park to which he responded “just watching the game”. They continued with a constant and heated barrage of abuse as word of his presence spread like wild fire. Before long, the entire Bob Bank were chanting “you Jack Bar Steward” - or words to that effect - whilst pointing their index fingers in his direction, their faced etched with hatred.

As me and my newly appointed “Jack friend” we’re both on our own, he tried to engage in conversation with me several times, but I blanked him for my own safety. Eventually, he said “I feel as if everyone is having a go at me today!” I said what do you expect coming in here with a Swansea City hoodie on?”

“Oh my God, I’m so thick” he replied as his face turned to panic, concurrently thrusting the small Sully Colts Football Club badge on the front of the hoodie into my face whilst explaining they were a local team based in Cardiff. When asked about the nose bleed, he said he always got them in the Summer and it quickly transpired that I’d put two and two together and got five!

I recommended he put his jacket on over the top, despite the warm weather.

Does anyone remember this incident?

Has anyone got their own unique memories of Ninian Park or the CCS?

Oh yes mid 70s Chelsea I'm sorry to say took the Grangend had hell of a kicking under the stand but you live by the sword you die by the sword, all in a day's work, but too many memories to list on here, i still think they were better days than now, what do the old heads think???

I used your play for Sully Colts in my younger days many years ago. Fantastic club.
Whenever we weren't playing I used to watch Cardiff play but never understood why I'd get a beating every time I went. Then one day some stranger lent me his jacket and I never got smashed up again.

Chelsea never took the Grange end they had the better of quite a few exchanges that day but most definitely did not take the Grange end.

I saw Eddie score.

Oh yes mid 70s Chelsea I'm sorry to say took the Grangend had hell of a kicking under the stand but you live by the sword you die by the sword, all in a day's work, but too many memories to list on here, i still think they were better days than now, what do the old heads think???

Are you sure they took the Grsnge Enf mate?
I remember about a dozen or so Chelsea sneaking in the Bob bank and congregating at the corner by the Grange (uncovered then) and getting a right kicking after making themselves known. 1979 I think?

I also remember (same year I believe) a young skinhead West Ham fan of around 16 coming into the middle of the Bob just before kick off saying to everyone “Come on, I’m West Ham”. Suddenly a ‘ring’ appeared around him and 1 guy entered and kicked lumps into him.

Memories as you say.

I was lucky enough not to attend the CCFC v Man U match (1974) but one thing that I’d like to know that nobody seems to know the answer to. There’s an infamous black and white photo of a guy in platformed heels and a black jacked booting some poor guy in the head outside Ninian Park - Ive always been curious to know if he was a city or Man U fan.
Anybody know the picture or person or story behind it.

Oh yes mid 70s Chelsea I'm sorry to say took the Grangend had hell of a kicking under the stand but you live by the sword you die by the sword, all in a day's work, but too many memories to list on here, i still think they were better days than now, what do the old heads think???

just no

The only teams supporters who I can recall taking the Grangend were Portsmouth about 1974 ish

The only teams supporters who I can recall taking the Grangend were Portsmouth about 1974 ish

yes Pompey did...Chelsea were GIVEN the opn concrete grange end in 79/80..but didnt come on it let alone take it in the 76/77 game when it actually was our end..

Oh yes mid 70s Chelsea I'm sorry to say took the Grangend had hell of a kicking under the stand but you live by the sword you die by the sword, all in a day's work, but too many memories to list on here, i still think they were better days than now, what do the old heads think???

Are you sure they took the Grsnge Enf mate?
I remember about a dozen or so Chelsea sneaking in the Bob bank and congregating at the corner by the Grange (uncovered then) and getting a right kicking after making themselves known. 1979 I think?

I also remember (same year I believe) a young skinhead West Ham fan of around 16 coming into the middle of the Bob just before kick off saying to everyone “Come on, I’m West Ham”. Suddenly a ‘ring’ appeared around him and 1 guy entered and kicked lumps into him.

Memories as you say.

I was lucky enough not to attend the CCFC v Man U match (1974) but one thing that I’d like to know that nobody seems to know the answer to. There’s an infamous black and white photo of a guy in platformed heels and a black jacked booting some poor guy in the head outside Ninian Park - Ive always been curious to know if he was a city or Man U fan.
Anybody know the picture or person or story behind it.

there is a second photo taken shortly after with the guy whose been booted still on the floor and the platformed shoe bloke being arrested.
amazing how we could be hammered and run around getting into allsorts wearing those shoes...

Pompey took the grange end first game of the season, remember walking up thinking Cardiff had stole a large Union Jack at the back of the grange with Portsmouth across itit until they started chanting,,,p orts mouth. Lol, I remember Lenny Lovelace booting some Man Utd fan shouting send him back to Manchester, show them what we can do. Crazy days. Lol

Porstmouth 'took' the GrangeEnd by getting in there at 1 o'clock or whatever it was when there was no-one else in the ground.
I think by 3.45 they probably had 25%of it nearest the turnstiles.

It was Oct 81 when Chelsea came on to the corner of the bob bank and they took a severe beating.
The west ham fan leapt out of the grange marched across the pitch got on to the bob bank fence where he proceeded to take a right beating.

It was Oct 81 when Chelsea came on to the corner of the bob bank and they took a severe beating.
The west ham fan leapt out of the grange marched across the pitch got on to the bob bank fence where he proceeded to take a right beating.

That was the right match (West Ham) but there was another incident when a young cockney was already in the centre of the Bob bank calling on any takers before one city fan approached him and decked him.

The trip down memory lane has turned into a reunion for the 70’s and 80’s hooligans, which is ironic as I couldn’t be less of a football hooligan if I tried.

Whilst on the subject, the only time I’ve ever been approached by hooligans was when Bristol City took over the Ivor Davies pub in Canton two years ago. A middle aged man and his enthusiastic “dogs of war” came up to me and despite the fact I was wearing a Cardiff top, they asked if I supported Cardiff.

Having listened to a plethora of stories from the mindset of the modern day football hooligan, I explained that I thought football hooliganism was pathetic and that if people wanted a bit of violence they should go and tear it up with the Taliban or get in the ring.

As I couldn’t see any other Cardiff fans, I asked them was I going to be alright in the pub to which the middle aged man (who probably wouldn’t have approached me on his own) looked me up and down wearing my football shirt, with scarf donned and said “don’t worry, we don’t hit people like you”.

The cheeky git was lucky I didn’t hit him with my flask! True story.