In the 85/86 season . Suspect almost every club has a higher average now . Guess this really was the height of the hooliganism era of football which maybe didn’t help .
You really had to be there to know just how bad the violence was. Penned in cages like animals, which a large portion was, police escorts to and from the station to the ground (God help you if you took your own transport) and a certain number of grounds where you just wouldn't dare go to..
Birmingham were promoted from the old 2nd division in 1985. This is a video from the WM police of our last game of the season against Leeds. I was at this game, safe at the back of the Kop (halfway line). It was almost normal by then..
1985/86 was my first season at City, never noticed football violence till around 1988 when Liverpool came for FA cup in 1988.
Yeah, a 15 year old getting in the car to go home. The wall flattened a few cars, he ws unlucky to be getting in one of them. I'm sure a Leeds fan was killed on the way to the ground as well..
My uncle used to follow Sunderland throughout the 80s and told me all about how rough and rowdy it used to get. I’m pleased it’s not like that these days, despite some of the numbskulls thinking they’re hard cases.
Roker Park was friendly compared to a lot of grounds. Nice pre match pint in the hotel on the front where the players used to stay, then stand on the freezing cold terraces as the wind off the coast tore you in half.
