38 Years ago today

[Ark Royal]

We lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the 4th round of the FA Cup. We scored all three goals. 25,000 plus shoe horned into Elm Park for a game that was the main feature on the following day's The Big Match on ITV. I didn't go the the game. I went to a shitty family wedding in Dagenham

Plastic.

[LUX]

I was at the Saints game. Biggst crowd I ever saw at EP( 24K?)

Keegan had been due to play and did not. He played in the replay iirc.

[SHORT AND CURLY]

I was at the Arsenal game and stood right at the front behind the town end goal (no real segregation then)
My abiding memory is Frank Mclintock and Bob Wilson ffing and Blinding at each other over a corner.
Even saw myself on the Big match on the Sunday waving my Blue and white scarf around like an idiot

[Broxroyal]

I was at the Arsenal game and my abiding memory, apart from how well we played, is of Frank McClintock slicing a clearance and looking to blame the state of the pitch.

[The Cube]

We lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal in the 4th round of the FA Cup. We scored all three goals. 25,000 plus shoe horned into Elm Park for a game that was the main feature on the following day's The Big Match on ITV. I didn't go the the game. I went to a shitty family wedding in Dagenham :oops:

I missed it too - would have been my fifth game, but it clashed with a District Cub Scout drama competition and I was playing the lead role of St George in my pack's contribution. I wanted to go to the game but was over-ruled by my mum. My dad wanted to go to the game and did so. However, Tadley Tuesday did gloriously win the drama competition - the other title role (with the unfortunate name of Bold Slasher) was filled by another future RFC season-ticket holder. Obviously I killed him in the play.

[Ark Royal]

Was the biggest crowd I have been in at Elm Park.

Yes me to and as far as I can remember EP was filled to capacity (it was a very tight squeeze on the South Bank) which I think was 25,000 at the time - reduced dramtically after a certain stadium disaster.

Didn't we get 27,500 for a Leageu cup replay v Saints in about 78 or 79?

Now that was jam packed on the South Bank.

Official attendance was 24046.

[Fox Talbot]

I was at the Arsenal game and stood right at the front behind the town end goal (no real segregation then)

The Arsenal fans were gievn the Tilehurst End (only time I recall the visitors standing there) but doubtless there were Gooner infiltrators elsewhere. Has anyone ever found a video record of the match?

[Fox Talbot]

Was the biggest crowd I have been in at Elm Park.

Yes me to and as far as I can remember EP was filled to capacity (it was a very tight squeeze on the South Bank) which I think was 25,000 at the time - reduced dramtically after a certain stadium disaster.

I seem to remember a rainy night at home to Luton was pretty full too.

Bloody MacDonald.

The South Bank was so rammed because it was raining so hard everyone tried to get under the roof. The Luton mob were in there too. No room inside for little me that night - I got soaked and totally gutted at the end and running for me life down the Tilehurst Road when it all kicked off afterwards.

[Ark Royal]

The South Bank was so rammed because it was raining so hard everyone tried to get under the roof. The Luton mob were in there too. No room inside for little me that night - I got soaked and totally gutted at the end and running for me life down the Tilehurst Road when it all kicked off afterwards.

Official crowd for Luton was 18929 and most of them seemed to be under the South Bank. It was pissing down and there were not many standing on the Town End.

The biggest crowds at Elm Park for me were:

5/2/72 Arsenal 25756
31/1/68 Man City 25659
8/11/78 Southampton 24046

There are many instances of post-war crowds of 20000+ and some 25000+. Best-ever league gate of 29091 against Notts County (Tommy Lawton and all) 24/9/49. Where the fu ck did they put them all?

[Dirk Gently]

There are many instances of post-war crowds of 20000+ and some 25000+. Best-ever league gate of 29091 against Notts County (Tommy Lawton and all) 24/9/49. Where the fu ck did they put them all?

The health and safety nazis weren't around then.

[royal madrid]

I was at the Saints game. Biggst crowd I ever saw at EP( 24K?)

Keegan had been due to play and did not. He played in the replay iirc.

That would have been tricky as he was still playing for Hamburg at that point.

I do remember Alan Ball coming under constant fire from the South Bank- that would be 1979 Ball rather than the 1972 example - for demanding the ball back from a youth in his high-pitched squeek.

Precious days indeed.

[friday fan]

remember it well was at Tilehurst rd end gutted by the result and that as well as Man U in Watney Cup in about 1970 were the biggest crowds i was in at EP migrated to OZ in 74

[Fox Talbot]

There are many instances of post-war crowds of 20000+ and some 25000+. Best-ever league gate of 29091 against Notts County (Tommy Lawton and all) 24/9/49. Where the fu ck did they put them all?

The health and safety nazis weren't around then.

There's a great picture of about 30 men sat on top of the Laundry Board, that is about 20-30 feet above the terrace. Probably some of them had just fought the real Nazis.

For those under 40 the Laundry Board was a huge advertising hoarding behind the Town End that lasted from at least 1949 til the mid-70s. The company it advertised was owned by the chairman - thus rather similar to the Autotrader hoarding that later appeared at a different place behind the goal in the 90s.

[Royal Lady]

Also mentioned in "Fever Pitch" - Nick Hornby queuing to get tickets and his experience of the match.

Except I'm 99% certain he stood on the South Bank and it was my ex-husband who got him the tickets and it was, indeed, he who introduced him to "live" football matches.