Originally Posted by
ncfcog
On the 23rd January 1900 some 20,000 British troops set out to take an opposition stronghold of 8,000 men entrenched on a hill along the banks of the Tugela River in Natal South Africa.
Despite their numerical advantage and superior fire power the Battle of Spion Kop resulted in a defeat for the British during the Second Boer War.
The South African troops profited from their positions high up on the peaks and banks of the steep hill and were able to use their artillery to fire down on to the British lines who tried in vain to make ground on their enemy’s lofty defences.
Some 250 British troops, from several Lancashire regiments lost their lives during this infamous battle. To commemorate their fallen upon returning home from the war, survivors named terrace stands at their local football grounds ‘The Kop’.
On Saturday 19th April 1975 Manchester United visited Meadow Lane in a league Division Two fixture needing just a point to secure the championship and promotion back to Division one.
The first half went well for the Red Devils going in at half time with a two goal advantage. Needless to say the Mancunian filled ‘Kop’ was in good voice. However in the second half Notts made a miraculous recovery replying with two goals of their own to force a memorable draw.
Having secured the point they needed the United fans went on a rampage of vandalism and violence with some of the worst scenes of crowd trouble ever witnessed at Meadow Lane. Steel railings, concrete bricks and advertisement hoardings were ripped from the terraces as fans invaded the pitch and set about terrorising Notts supporters in the main stand and outside the ground.
Bloody battles ensued between fans and police alike with around 40 arrests being made, and several people hospitalised.
75 years after the defeat of their ancestors on that infamous hill in South Africa these Lancastrian thugs had managed to conquer a ‘Spion Kop’ of their own.
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