40 years ago today

[60YearsAPie]

Interesting to see John Bond was City’s manager (he’d taken over from Malcolm Allison), bringing back memories of the rivalry between Notts and his Bournemouth side, a decade earlier.

[SmiffyPie]

As a kid first game 1959. Lived at the place, played and grew up at The Lane. Never missed a home game and went to as many away as I could afford. Joined t'Army in '70 and was posted to Germany. Apart from a weeks leave here and there stayed in Germany until '92. Missed all the Div1 years ffs!!! A lifetime supporting Notts and never got to watch them at the top. Makes you want to cry.

[nw6pie]

I can remember getting to the ground quite early and standing on the Kop. In my mind’s recollection of events, TC scored a bullet header in front of us. Not sure if that’s accurate or not - or just how I remember all of his goals. We went on to beat Coventry 2-1 on the Saturday, and I seem to recall Raddy saving a penalty in that game.

Crazy to think it was 40 years ago (I was 14 at the time), though one thing I do remember is Dunnett moaning about the crowd size. God, what we’d give for 14,500 at Meadow Lane once more.

[SmiffyPie]

Dunnett moaning about the crowd size. God, what we’d give for 14,500 at Meadow Lane once more.

He was right though wasn't he. Support base as committed and vocal as any other team but with gates like that a poor second best to NFFC.

[LaxtonLad]

He was right though wasn't he. Support base as committed and vocal as any other team but with gates like that a poor second best to NFFC.

Forest had won the Eurovision Cup a couple of years before and the younger fans had jumped on the bandwagon.

The Meadows was the the traditional fanbase for Notts County but was being demolished, scattering the loyal fans hither and yon, few returned.

[i961pie]

Forest had won the Eurovision Cup a couple of years before and the younger fans had jumped on the bandwagon.

The Meadows was the the traditional fanbase for Notts County but was being demolished, scattering the loyal fans hither and yon, few returned.

Since the 50s though Forest have had bigger crowds than us consistently (apart from the odd season). That is one reason I loved going to Notts as a 8 year old kid, my dad at first took me to watch both teams but I struggled to see at Forest but was on the front row at Notts.

[Another one]

Forest had won the Eurovision Cup a couple of years before and the younger fans had jumped on the bandwagon.

Having been lifted in to the European Cup for a photo op with the red side of the family I am pleased to say I think watched this game from the County Road stand. The team name in the OP is the team that just about matches the sheet of A4 I had with a black and white rosette on it and all the signatures.

The earliest days of my time down Meadow Lane. Thanks for posting.

[Bushwacka]

He was right though wasn't he. Support base as committed and vocal as any other team but with gates like that a poor second best to NFFC.

That season was the start of a big decline overall in English attendances, probably as it coincided with a big rise in hooliganism across all clubs, not just the big ones.

Forest only averaged 20k that season (to Notts 11+k), with the average in the First Division 22k

https://www.worldfootball.net/attend...e-1981-1982/1/

[upthemaggies]

That season was the start of a big decline overall in English attendances, probably as it coincided with a big rise in hooliganism across all clubs, not just the big ones.

Forest only averaged 20k that season (to Notts 11+k), with the average in the First Division 22k

https://www.worldfootball.net/attend...e-1981-1982/1/

Mass unemployment in the early 1980s wouldn't have helped either. There were a lot of factors involved and I think hooliganism, to the point it became a serious problem, was largely a symptom of those factors rather than it landing in the middle of the football world from out of nowhere or it being an inevitable consequence of the game itself as a spectator sport.

Run down estates or industrial areas with broken windows etc. tend to attract trouble. In that sense, football didn't help itself with the state of disrepair the grounds were allowed to fall into. Erecting metal cages everywhere only made things worse and literally ended up killing people en masse which ultimately brought about changes that, whilst making it safer, have ruined much of what was great about going to a football match.

Anything that gets taken over by the middle class tends to become soulless, bland, insipid and just plain boring over time and that's what the football experience has become for the most part. A lot of hype but not a lot of substance anymore. I've had more than my fill of Cruyff turns thank you very much, I'd never tire of seeing a dirty great crunching tackle though.

In light of what is about to happen with 'Safe standing', I anticipate that we might be asking "Why the hell didn't they think of this idea back in the late 1960s early 1970s?" It could have saved the game from ruin in the 1980s and then falling into the hands of those who have smothered and exploited it for all it's worth ever since. Maybe 'it still can.

[Iremongersrighthand]

Great post