o/t Workington Reds

[Seasider9601]

Aye Frickley was always a real "rough hole" if ever there was one.

I seem to recall Keith telling a story of his car or van having its headlights smashed out on one evening visit there?

A real rundown ground with an old coalmine slag heap behind the stand on the far touchline and a shale stoney banking behind one goal.

Had one good trip there though. April 1995 and a 4-1 away win which was another step towards our promotion to the Vauxhall Conference.

[thedoc]

Holly Park:

https://www.google.com/search?q=holly+p ... 2GMlATM%25

[Gone_Shrimping]

I remember going on Battersbys coach to Canal Street , Runcorn for an NPL cup match.

Morecambe lost 6-2 and the coach was bricked by the locals !

[Seasider9601]

Only time I remember having a brick chucked at our (mini)bus was away at Droylsden in the 1990/91 season.

We'd won 1-0 with a VERY late goal by one season wonder Dave Windridge to upset the local yokels.

A brick was launched at our minibus as we edged away from The Butchers Arms.

Still, the actions of one of the passengers on our minibus taunting them didn't help matters......

[Phoenix Shrimp 2017]

I remember going on Battersbys coach to Canal Street , Runcorn for an NPL cup match.

Morecambe lost 6-2 and the coach was bricked by the locals !

Ah Runcorn, a delightful little Hamlet just south of Liverpool. Basically an overflow area/estate for the problem families Liverpool didn't want.

It would appear things haven't changed much then. My son playing for Nelson reserves at Canal Street had a sample of their hospitality about 3 years ago. A flare up during the game led to a Runcorn player threatening a Nelson player and then carrying this on after the game. It was apparently taken behind the stand and settled man to man in favour of the Nelson player. Said Scally not happy at having his ass whupped then made phone calls and rent a mob turned up from the local area and commenced smashing the windows of the Nelson bus.Threats were also made that 'Gangsters' were on their way from Liverpool with a firearm. The Nelson team tried to leave but faced by a baying mob had to retreat to the club house and wait for the arrival of Police and an escort out of town.Horrible place with some horrible/dangerous people.

[Seasider9601]

5 or 6 interesting photos of Runcorn FC on this link.

You'll need to click left and right to view them all.

Anyone remember that wall collapsing there in their FA Cup game v Hull City?
There's footage attached here also on the YouTube link.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/groundhop ... otostream/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08EMc9Kl6bc

[Keith]

Kenneth Gardner van Keith. Don't remember a mattress but was probably for Andy Hollins to have a kip on the way back after visiting the club house wherever we were playing.

Ah yeah, my dad's was Visionhire. Mattress was probably in the back of that van. Remember 'kidnapping' a girl at Burton Albion? She'd recently broken up with a guy, was very drunk, and decided that she was going to move to Morecambe for a 'new life'. For some reason, you, the only sober person, thought that wasn't a good idea!

Aye Frickley was always a real "rough hole" if ever there was one.

I seem to recall Keith telling a story of his car or van having its headlights smashed out on one evening visit there?

That WAS the Visionhire Van! It had a Morecambe address & phone number so stood out. Frickley had won! If we'd beaten them, they'd probably have torched the van!!!

[Freez]

Frickley Athletic!! Colliery town, decimated by Thatcher.
We played them in the trophy around 76/77, the cub ran a supporters coach, Battersbys.
We lost 4-0, maybe 4-1, Malcolm Darling was playing and Micky Parry, there were around 400 in the ground but by 4.30 that had nearly doubled as the gates were open to let people leave but around 200 collierymen came in to watch the last 20 minutes for free and stood by the main stand.
As we left, some young lads started chanting, as we got on the coach and pulled away, two windows were put through, the coach stopped, and numerous older lads jumped out of the emergency door at the back and gave chase.
It was a cold and miserable journey back!

[J.S.]

Kenneth Gardner van Keith. Don't remember a mattress but was probably for Andy Hollins to have a kip on the way back after visiting the club house wherever we were playing.

Ah yeah, my dad's was Visionhire. Mattress was probably in the back of that van. Remember 'kidnapping' a girl at Burton Albion? She'd recently broken up with a guy, was very drunk, and decided that she was going to move to Morecambe for a 'new life'. For some reason, you, the only sober person, thought that wasn't a good idea! :

Had some good trips to Burton and some very late drives back home.