Friends of Fulham

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: keith on October 03, 2012, 07:46:23 PM

Title: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: keith on October 03, 2012, 07:46:23 PM
One of my first away games was at Gillingham in 1971.Fulham were sitting in Second place in the old division Three and we fans expected promotion.I was 14 years of age,and lived with my parents in the Elephant and Castle inSouth London.It was Easter time with only about Six games left.A short walk to London Bridge station and i was on my way to Kent.On arriving at my destination i made my way to the ground,where i entered the "Home end"and kept my mouth shut in case i was spotted by a Gillingham fan.I needn`t have bothered,as Fulham fans took over Priestfield that day,there were loads of us.If i remember rightly,we were trailing 1-0 at half time,but came back to win 3-1 with goals from,i think,Les Barrett,Jimmy Conway and George Johnstone.It was quite a while ago so i may have the scorers wrong.Certain things i remember are.Our fans in the Gillingham end hiding their scarves until the first chant of "Fulham",and then they all come out from under their shirts and jumpers,me included.I was heavily in to Slade at the time,and i was probably wearing a Tank top like Noddy Holder,and i definately had Doctor Martins on,as that`s all i wore!!!!.Oh dear,i`d hate to see pictures of myself back the now.It was a great day out,in what proved to be the first year that i experienced promotion.I also remember the Gillingham DJ playing "Co Co"by the Sweet,and "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Middle of the road at half time.Strange the things you remember,eh?.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: LBNo11 on October 03, 2012, 08:22:23 PM
...ah the red socks in the promotion season! I was there, I remember it kicking off as a few of the locals objected to their end being taken and tried to pick some of us off in the toilets - cue their fans being chased around the ground, I can remember our fans swinging 'Tarzanesque' from pulley ropes under the scaffolding platform the TV cameras (probably under Gillingham supporting TV anchor Brian Moore) were on in pursuit of the prey at Priestfield.

Oh, and it was Les Barrett's 50th goal for Fuham...
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: keith on October 03, 2012, 08:39:51 PM
Blimey,i remember that now.Yes,it was on the Big Match next day.Oh,the Red socks,forgot about them.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Holders on October 03, 2012, 08:56:27 PM
I didn't think George Johnstone arrived till a year or so later, but I could be wrong...
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Burt on October 03, 2012, 09:28:22 PM
It wasn't that often we could lay claim to another team's home end.

Plough Lane was one I do remember quite distinctly.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: nose on October 03, 2012, 09:28:50 PM
it was the first match i ever saw us win away from home and I was supporting since the early 60s!
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: keith on October 03, 2012, 10:25:05 PM
Yes Burt,Plough Lane was another.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: bill taylors apprentice on October 03, 2012, 10:25:31 PM
Ah! the memories.
Jimmy Dunne's first season with us, a classy player, and I remember Stan Horne, he was rubbish.  
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Scrumpy on October 03, 2012, 10:36:54 PM
Quote from: keith on October 03, 2012, 10:25:05 PM
Yes Burt,Plough Lane was another.

Brentford too. QPR once?  093.gif

Let's face it, we've never been great at this 'hooligan' stuff. It's hardly a glorious list of conquests is it?
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Bertie Wooster on October 03, 2012, 11:11:36 PM
Thank you for sharing the memories mate!
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: keith on October 04, 2012, 12:06:13 AM
No probs BW.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: gerrys on October 04, 2012, 07:46:58 AM
Nice memories, I remember it too..............I was there and remember, above all, the drive back to London.............all the cars seemed to have black & white scarves fluttering from their windows...........
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Rupert on October 04, 2012, 08:39:38 AM
I can actually remember watching their goal on telly! Webster, our keeper, came racing off his line and I seem to recall their man put the ball past him far too easily.

I can't remember our goals at all. I must have been traumatised by their goal, even though I already knew the result, that's the only explanation.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: VB on October 04, 2012, 03:33:27 PM
(http://imageshack.us/a/img138/6818/13269693.jpg)

Found this Keith, Jog thee old memories 092.gif
Johnstone is the inset pic. (http://[url=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/138/13269693.jpg/)
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: keith on October 04, 2012, 07:18:11 PM
Thanks VB,nice one mate.My next venture on here is Newcastle away,League cup 74-75.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Holders on October 04, 2012, 08:37:42 PM
It was unusual that we could outscore Webster's mistakes.

Yes, you're right it was George Johnstone. Fred Callaghan, Barry Lloyd, Johnny Mitch - great memories.'
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Sir Alec of good Stock on October 04, 2012, 08:50:31 PM
Quote from: keith on October 04, 2012, 07:18:11 PM
Thanks VB,nice one mate.My next venture on here is Newcastle away,League cup 74-75.

3-0 defeat at St James's Park in the pouring rain as I remember with I think Super Mac scoring their last goal.

I don't think that we were really ever in the game, but the thing that I do remember is the incredible noise that the Leazes End made, but that was when it was a proper football ground rather than the all seater stadium that it is now.

Ended up sleeping for a few hours at St Pancras on the way back until the underground started running. A lot safer then than it would be now. Couldn't do it now, arthritic knees and all that!
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Sir Alec of good Stock on October 04, 2012, 08:52:42 PM
Quote from: Holders on October 04, 2012, 08:37:42 PM
It was unusual that we could outscore Webster's mistakes.

Yes, you're right it was George Johnstone. Fred Callaghan, Barry Lloyd, Johnny Mitch - great memories.'

Super Mitch didn't join until 72/3 but you can replace him with Les Barrett!
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Holders on October 04, 2012, 09:09:05 PM
Yes, so who was No 9 in the pic then? Can't remember who we had after Steve Earle and before Mitch.
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: LBNo11 on October 04, 2012, 09:12:05 PM
Quote from: Holders on October 04, 2012, 09:09:05 PM
Yes, so who was No 9 in the pic then? Can't remember who we had after Steve Earle and before Mitch.

...Vic Halom...
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: Holders on October 04, 2012, 09:26:30 PM
Great player but didn't he play No 8?
Title: Re: Gillingham Away 1971.
Post by: LBNo11 on October 04, 2012, 10:18:52 PM
Quote from: Holders on October 04, 2012, 09:26:30 PM
Great player but didn't he play No 8?


...usually he did, but for that game he was our number 9...