Going to away Games

I'm not sure when my first away game was. It was either Bramhall lane with my Dad in 1960 for a Fourth Round Tie which we lost thanks to a 'Doc' Pace hat-trick, or Goodison Park to see an Everton team inspired by 'The Golden Vision' beat us 6-1. Other early away trips were to Elland Road on the last day of that season, I cant remember the score but I know Leeds were relegated. And a trip to White Hart Lane in early '61 to see 'Spurs get a lucky 9-2 win (Greaves got 4)

About '63 I started going to away games with my mates on coach trips organised by Ernie Tutin which usuallt departed from The Cremorne Hotel in the Meadows. When Mr Tutin stopped organising the trips we transferred our allegiance to Jim Pownall who ran coaches for many years which departed from Huntingdon Street.

Eventually we all acquired cars and usually went in a convoy to away games although we would often hire coaches when there were enough of us, especially for our annual trip to Wembley. We would often stop in Northampton on the way back from Wembley at a club whose name I forget but I definitely remember a lot of shady goings on taking place there. (Don't ask. What happened in Northampton . . .).

There were eventually trips across Europe, but they were never as enjoyable as the early trips especially with Ernie Tutin.

I stopped going to away games in the early eighties as by then I had a young family. I was also put off by the tactics of the police in the late 80s and 90s who treated away fans like cattle and it became difficult to get a drink before games.

I went to a couple of away games on supporters coaches last season but it just wasn't the same. Oh well I'm sure that in 30 years time todays young supporters will be looking back with just as much nostalgia as I do and saying as I do 'Those were the days'