Forum | Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans by Miaow

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Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans 16:14 - Dec 27 with 2356 views

How did the new (current) stands compare when you first went in them c. 25 years ago?

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Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:31 - Dec 28 with 423 views

witchdoctor

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 17:46 - Dec 27 by Blue_Moses
That's another change, used to be 18+ but there are kids in there now (my mate has been bringing his daughter since she was 10).

there certainly wasn’t a 18+ policy in the early 60’s when I started going..

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:33 - Dec 28 with 414 views

OldFart71

Started watching Town from half way up the old North Stand central behind the goal with my dad in the late fifties through the boover boys era where the stand had a cage in the middle to stop fans from doing each other serious damage.
Having sat a few times in the upper tier of the new stand of course the atmosphere isn't the same but I couldn't stand the length of time I used to. When we should have won the league in 1980-81 I'd be in the ground an hour before kick off.

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:39 - Dec 28 with 397 views

witchdoctor

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:33 - Dec 28 by OldFart71

can anyone remember that structure that was situated in the corner of the north and west stands that was occasionally used for t v coverage?…we used to regularly climb up there to watch the game but nearly came unstuck when I climbed up to find some Leicester fans already in there…

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 09:53 - Dec 28 with 359 views

billlm

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 16:32 - Dec 27 by north_stand77
I used to stand in the old one tier North Stand. The noise and atmosphere seemed incredible then. In comparison, the 'new' Upper and Lower stands don't re-create the same feel as there doesn't seem to be any unity (hard to hear each other). Blue Action do their best from the Cobbold to get North Stand going but it never seems as good as when it was just one packed tier

Was a great stand for atmosphere,
Was an older teen had many a good time but also scary ones, so much fighting with other teams getting in easily,

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 13:19 - Dec 28 with 321 views

mellowblue

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 23:34 - Dec 27 by Churchman

I first enjoyed the delights of Churchmans in the 70s when I was tall enough to stand and see. Behind the goal, half way up in line with the right hand goal post as you looked down on the pitch.

Warm in winter, fun and the best option, provided you could get in 1.30 to 2pm. War of the Worlds cherry picker plus loads of cables = MOTD: even better. We usually won. Then there was the brick shthouse. Sort of upturned half pipe always sodden. Stench beyond description summer or winter. Paddle in, breath held, wazz, dash out. Army assault course completed. Loved it.

We’d stood and sat all over the ground by the start of the 80s, including NS. My dad disliked NS - I didn’t and did 2000/01 there with an ST. Lucky me. It was brilliant.

Now, as a fossil, I sit with the other fossils in the section next to the great and the good in the West Stand. Full circle nearly as my first ever game was from the Directors Box. Great view, easy access in and out, happy memories of times with my dad towards the end of his time. Perfect.

But it cannot replace the fun we had standing in Churchmans and as I grew up the terrace in front of the East Stand where the boxes are now. I saw the ground record broken there. 38,010. I was there! And saw s0d all.

Remember it well. Though thankfully being seated in the West, personal space was not an issue. Ran into a load of Leeds fans after (plenty of jostling and elbowing but not much else) who thought they had got the hard part of the job done. Sod 'em

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 13:22 - Dec 28 with 319 views

mellowblue

From a Wst Stand perspective, i.e those receiving noise from the North and Churchmans. Apart form that Man U match and some of our more stellar days, the difference was a massive let down. The noise generated might have been similar buts omehow the noise evaporated on it's way.

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 14:04 - Dec 28 with 304 views

jontysnut

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 18:10 - Dec 27 by football
Started in Churchman's with the milk crate then moved to north when there was the divide between home and away fans. That was the best - went downhill when the stand went home only

East Stand Paddock on wooden stool, Churchman's then North, gradually getting nearer the action. My favourite time - a combination of youth, exuberance, Tolly bitter and a decent side. Nothing better than a night game in a packed North, the away fans other side of fence and a win. Even queuing to get in was an event.Leg it home and watch the highlights on Sports night. Marvellous, isn't it?

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 22:04 - Dec 28 with 238 views

eddiespearitt03

Around 1967-1971, myself and other school kids would be perched on the wooden disabled section in corner of East Stand and North Stand.
Can not remember exactly when that wooden structure was dismantled.
We used to trawl through the old East Stand after the game and collect any programmes left there and sell them at school on the Monday, half price.

Another little spot as a kid we used was a little concrete shelf which was part of the old West Stand, next to the steps. Only room for a couple of kids.
Also remember climbing up the ladder into the score board box in corner of West/North Stand.

In late / mid teens from 1974-1979 the north stand was dangerously exciting., before segregation, only a row of policemen. More memorable were the songs and crowd surges when a goal was scored. When the chant " Knees up mother brown" was sung and the jumping up and down you could feel the concrete stand vibrate.

Every housing estate and village were represented in the old north stand.The atmosphere was unlike anything today. The football was more exciting too.

The ball boys were regularly on tv, "match of the week" and MOTD.
I believe 3 of the ball boys were brothers.
I may he wrong, i think the darts player Keith Deller was a ball boy too.

Remember the young lads carrying the confectionary tray around the pitch . ( The plastic containers of squash, oxo & bovril crisps, spangles, juicy fruit gum etc )
Remember the St Johns Ambulance first aid fellas in their trench in corner of pitch area. ( Mr Cater, Mr Green and the little guy with specs)
The fella " Swede" used to walk around the pitch before the game with his knitted jumper and walking stick waving his wooden rattle.
After this , the dolly girls were introduced to warm the crowd up pre match.

By mid 1980,s much of this were memories signalling the end of an incredible era.

[Post edited 28 Dec 22:06]

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 07:57 - Dec 29 with 184 views

Blue_Heath

The North was never the same afterwards. People when moved back were not near previous STH's which killed the atmosphere to a degree. I could always get a chant started if I wanted in Old North but much harder in new one. The acoustics of the new stand are poor also. They sound OK if you are in it but the noise does not travel anywhere near as well. That said a much 'nicer' stand but they still can't sort out beer queues at half time!

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Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:07 - Dec 29 with 178 views

Wickets

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 21:19 - Dec 27 by ArnieM

Ive been standing in the "North Stand" as us old uns still to it, since 1969. Im sorry to say the atmosphere was absolutely destroyed when they created the two tier stand. The noise used to be deafening and physically bounce when we sang sings..eg " Knees up mother brown " and the fans would bounce up n down.... I think from memory the original NS had something like 9k fans, all under one roof, and if you were to stand in the new lower tier, those steps would go back roughly 4x the current level. It also helped the atmosphere because the away fans were also in the same stand, divided by the " think blue libe" of police. Just imagine the scum fans in that stand now!! The atmosphere would ramp up exponentially.

A thick layer of corrugated iron at the back of Sir Bobby lower would help as the back as it is leaks noise as it has a sort of wooden layer struts that leak and on cold windy weather it's a nightmare!

Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:13 - Dec 29 with 177 views

PioneerBlue

I have not been there for some years now but was ever present during the Burley era and into 00s. My understanding is the age profile has changed over the last ten years, it always seemed like a late teens to mid thirties type stand.

From the outside, but near in pioneer its become quieter this season, less vocally supportive.

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Those who were regulars in the North Stand/Churchmans on 08:46 - Dec 29 with 152 views

NthQldITFC

Sitting down to watch football is not natural, that's my main memory of going back to the North Stand. A season sitting down in the new Churchmans should probably have prepared me but the MDMA took the edge off that.

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