For you older folk

[Shropshire Lad]

All injuries were cured with a cold wet sponge by a bloke in a cloth cap carrying a bucket.

[Southdowns White]

There was a lot wrong with football back in the bad old days, football violence, bad stadiums, terrible facilities. there did seem to be humour and fun though.
There was usually atmosphere at games,always when there was a local derby or cup game, people would try to get there on time. There is very little atmosphere at Fulham, one of the worst grounds anywhere, The singers at the back seem to have lost the ability to generate a noise at home games, mind you the football on the pitch has been generally dull despite us being third and the ridiculously loud music before the game and during half time stop most conversation, I think it's designed to make people go and buy a drink as the music isn't as loud by the bars although I think they have turned it down a bit in recent games.
The most annoying thing about football these days is the constant flow of people coming in late, going out to half time after 35, coming back 10 minutes into the second half and then people leaving at 80 minutes, it really can,t make that much of a difference to anyone's regular journey, All this I suppose is made worse by seating.
On the pitch the idea of passing the ball around at the back for most of the game to shorten the game time ( usually backfiring on Fulham)  and wasting time if you have a lead after 20 minutes. Look as us on Saturday trying to waste time for the whole second half, every game there is some meaningless brawl near the end with players being booked and feigning injury or cramp , again time wasting, get up off the floor and play football. See you next Saturday everyone.

[RaySmith]

I can remember when there were no substitutes and precious few spectators on the Thames side, then completely open, even when we were in the old first Division. One year we only just avoided relegation following a series of 0-1 losses at the Cottage to among others, Cardiff and for that game my dad, my uncle and I standing on the terrace had literally no one within five yards of us.

But my most powerful memory of those times was not about the football, but the - to me - wonderful smell of wood as one passed the Hammersmith end, with then a timber yard right next to the ground. 

That and the fact that my dad, who had a very ordinary job, could afford to take me every fortnight, such were the ticket prices. I doubt dads in comparable jobs now can afford the current prices for themselves and a kid. But there again, fish and chips for two, take away, last night was £16.40 from our local shop.

I used to stand on that terrace, right on the half way line was my spot, swinging my ratttle. Just loved it, the closeness to the pitch, the atmosphere, the banter with Tosh on the left wing. Also remember rushing up to the back during a game to see the boat race go past - a reserve game i think.

You're right about the prices, of course, but also the players also didn't earn much more than a bloke in an ordinary job- Johnny Haynes breaking the maximum wage cap of 20 quid a week, under the guidance of  PFA rep Jimmy Hill in 1961, and wages  slowly  began to rise, but  it was many years before the players earned what they do today, which is influenced by the money Sky brought into the game - which has  changed football so much.

The crowds were  big compared to to to today, even when the team wasn't doing so well, which was mostly in those 60's years- remember that series of 0-1 losses, followed by a 'Great Escape'?, and  massive when playing a top team, like Double winning Spurs, with the Cottage crammed above any modern health and safety considerations - nearly 40,000?, when  I couldn't even make it  round to the Riverside, and got jammed in the Putney End.

I always remember regularly  being lifted off of my feet and being carried along, exiting down the Hammy End steps.

[Mince n Tatties]

Fish n chips after game wrapped in newspaper.
Not in them plastic crap containers now,I'm sure you can taste the plastic.

[bog]

I don't exactly like becoming old but I am glad I lived in that era. 1950's for me as far as football. The teleprinter on Grandstand at 5-40 (pm) as the results began to come in was the only place to be. The focal point was each letter being typed before the score, very often the second score for the result would stop before telling so the fans of those two team's breathing was put on hold....  Now the corporate suits control the game.

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[Cambridge Pete]

Yes us old timers go back to the days when injured players stayed on as wingers as no substitutes. The walk to the ground from Disraeli Road in Putney with the tension growing. Hope and expectation. Now a drive to Cambridge and the train down. But still the tension and hope and expectation. I do remember being on bus one Saturday and Bobby Robson sat a couple of seats in front of us, highlight of my day. Much simpler then but its now big business. Clubs were owned by a local businessman not international Billionaires. But like everything in life things change and we have been lucky to have had good owners. Question to all. (Might get the name wrong) If McClelland were to come on the pitch with massive glasses on as a bit of sarcasm at referees would he be fined?

[Sir Alec of good Stock]

In my day, games kicked of at 3pm, all flans stood together, other teams were rivals, not enemies. Respect was the word.

For some unknown reason, Brentford home games always kicked off at 3.15.

[ffcne]

Waiting outside  theChancellors for my Dad, with a bottle of pepsi and a straw and Smiths Crisps
with little blue bag of salt.
Taking my rattle,scarf (home made by Mum) and little stool (so i could see)
And buying a bag of monkey nuts .
Stopping on way home to buy the classified paper at the station
to see all the results.
Happy Days.

[grandad]

Arriving back to Southfields & getting the Pink Classified, getting real fish & chips in newspaper, getting a block of Neapolitan & rushing home round the corner .

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

Ian Black coming out of goal with his arm strapped across his chest and having to play on the wing where he scored with a header.
Riding my bike to the ground and storing it through the side gate of one of the houses in the back garden for  1 or 3 old d.
Going by car was easy and more unusual and there was always someone who would offer to watch your car while you were at the match. They expected a tip after the game and one was always sharply out of the Johnny Haynes stand to be by the car as though he had been there all the time! Not sure why they needed minding anyway!
Someone will correct me on this one but in the 50s didn't Reg Lowe brother of Eddie break the record for the furthest ever headed goal?  Somewhere near the half way line one bounce into the goal!
I have modified the above . Reg Lowe scored with a 60 yard header in the semifinal of the London Challenge Cup year not stated but must have been 1950/53 and with a heavy leather ball!

[I Ronic]

Hardly ever saw a trainer run on to treat a player. They'd throw a sponge  at you or if it looked more serious lob a stretcher on so you could carry yourself off.
The aforementioned Wagon Wheels were as big as your face back then as well.

[toshes mate]

Thanks to the OP and all who have contributed to this thread for the evocative thoughts, tastes, feelings and memories of my childhood and youth.  I can still recall my walk through Fulham from almost the top end of North End Road most often through Baron's Court, St Dunstans Road, and onto the Fulham Palace Road. I used to allow half an hour to get to the Cottage.  I have never enjoyed such a walk more than that one through a Fulham so very different to the one it has become.   The terraces were my open territory until I found classmates at secondary school who were also Fulham supporters.  Then my family relocated to a house off the Munster Road in my early teens and it felt like I was virtually living on the doorstep of Craven Cottage.

I noted the commentary on referees above and can vividly recall matches ending with the referee needing a police escort to avoid the protesting hordes outside the Cottage.  Also remember the early kick offs at 2.15pm around the Solstice slowly changing to 2.30, 2.45 and then 3pm as the Equinox came and went.  No floodlights then.  Can still smell the wood from the timber yard behind the Hammersmith End.  Vividly recall Rodney Marsh in goal when Tony Macedo was injured in a match against Villa and his elaborate slow-mo dives much to the distaste of the Maestro.  So much to hope you never forget.   
 

[ffcne]

Thanks to the OP and all who have contributed to this thread for the evocative thoughts, tastes, feelings and memories of my childhood and youth.  I can still recall my walk through Fulham from almost the top end of North End Road most often through Baron's Court, St Dunstans Road, and onto the Fulham Palace Road. I used to allow half an hour to get to the Cottage.  I have never enjoyed such a walk more than that one through a Fulham so very different to the one it has become.   The terraces were my open territory until I found classmates at secondary school who were also Fulham supporters.  Then my family relocated to a house off the Munster Road in my early teens and it felt like I was virtually living on the doorstep of Craven Cottage.

I noted the commentary on referees above and can vividly recall matches ending with the referee needing a police escort to avoid the protesting hordes outside the Cottage.  Also remember the early kick offs at 2.15pm around the Solstice slowly changing to 2.30, 2.45 and then 3pm as the Equinox came and went.  No floodlights then.  Can still smell the wood from the timber yard behind the Hammersmith End.  Vividly recall Rodney Marsh in goal when Tony Macedo was injured in a match against Villa and his elaborate slow-mo dives much to the distaste of the Maestro.  So much to hope you never forget.   

Duckhams oil refinery also along the river near Hammersmith End.

[Sir Alec of good Stock]

Ealing Broadway Station with my grandfather on a Saturday evening waiting for the Evening News and Evening Standard Classifieds to arrive.
Half time scores on boards around Craven Cottage to be followed by the high tech electronic scoreboard at the Hammersmith End.

[HV71]

Thanks also  to the OP and everyone .......the tele printer stuttering and mention of the football pink brought back lots of fantastic memories. Brilliant !!!

[Southdowns White]

Who remembers the coloured light system to reveal the scores in the Hammersmith end. Basically you needed to correspond the games printed in the programme to the five or six different coloured lights located on the green boxes where just the goals would come up.

[bog]

Ealing Broadway Station with my grandfather on a Saturday evening waiting for the Evening News and Evening Standard Classifieds to arrive.
Half time scores on boards around Craven Cottage to be followed by the high tech electronic scoreboard at the Hammersmith End.

I was at Hanwell back then Sir, was that paper not coloured pink? 

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[Logicalman]

The ref always wore black,and was likely a bit tubby and slow, holding down a full-time job, and  just reffing to be involved in the game.

There certainly wasn't the controversy about decisions there is now, with every call endlessly replayed for tv. Players used to accept the ref's decision, and didn't go down all the time  feigning  they'd been fouled and rolling about holding their head - this would have been frowned upon by teammates, as well as fans.

The game was comparatively very cheap compared to today - cost was seldom a factor as to whether you went to a game or not, as it is now for many  folk.

An old timer from then wouldn't recognise the game today, but then  society  generally would seem completely alien to them.

The difference now is that players have no respect for the ref, or his decisions. Look at Rugby, the officials still demand, and get, the respect to their decisions, rightly or wrongly, as it's all swings and roundabouts.

Also we used to hang around the Hammy End gates, when we couldn't afford the entry price, and by half time one of the guys would open them up and let us in. There was always a discarded program to be found.

Who remembers the coloured light system to reveal the scores in the Hammersmith end. Basically you needed to correspond the games printed in the programme to the five or six different coloured lights located on the green boxes where just the goals would come up.

If I recall correctly, there were 6 sets of scores, A-F, and 6 coloured lights at the top, so allowing for up to 36 scores to be shown in all. I'd have to get out one of the old progs to verify that though. I used to fill them in, sitting on the cold concrete steps.

[bobbo]

There was a fella walking around in the ground selling the early edition of the evening news and standard with the early racing results. Another selling Percy dalton peanuts., sitting on top of the tea hut at the Hammersmith end good Friday 1959 to watch us beat Sheffield wed 6-2 . I remember it all with great affection , probably why I'm still going.

[Cornishnick]

Aah replays, loved em.  I'm sure someone knows the truth of this question: Did we hold the record at one time, for the most amount of minutes played to reach a final - or even a semi final. If it's true, it will never be broken now.