1985

[philsky]

Was there in 1985. Will be there this time.

Can’t believe it’s the thick end of 40 years ago.

I wonder if Animal fancies a run out

[Filo]

Was there in 1985. Will be there this time.

Can’t believe it’s the thick end of 40 years ago.

I wonder if Animal fancies a run out

He didn’t play in 85, he was long gone by then

[craigdrfc]

Missed 85 and it still wrangles me to this day!!!

[Silkscarf]

I missed it too. Still pains me. I can’t even remember why. Post-6th form dolite poverty I expect.

Like all the gigs I didn’t go to in the 1980s and 1990s when I could have done. Nowadays when I think ‘should I go?’ I try hard to be there.

Other than this game how often have we played at Goodison in a proper match? Can’t be many.

[donnievic]

Was 10 when went in 85 one of my 1st away games as started going in 83/84 season,deffo gave good account that day against one of best sides in Europe if English clubs wasn’t banned

[normal rules]

I missed it too. Still pains me. I can’t even remember why. Post-6th form dolite poverty I expect.

Like all the gigs I didn’t go to in the 1980s and 1990s when I could have done. Nowadays when I think ‘should I go?’ I try hard to be there.

Other than this game how often have we played at Goodison in a proper match? Can’t be many.

Just 5 games played between the two at goodison. 3 at BV

[silent majority]

It was a difficult time for everybody though, deep into a miners strike at the time.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Was 10 when went in 85 one of my 1st away games as started going in 83/84 season,deffo gave good account that day against one of best sides in Europe if English clubs wasn’t banned

THE best side in Europe. And Ian Smodin was the best player on the park that day. Although given that we were on a subterranean away end terrace and my eyes were at the level of the players' toenails, my judgement was limited.

[andy didcott]

I was at sea so missed it, if I remember rightly didn’t about 50 coaches go over.?

[Sprotyrover]

Packed in like sardines in a Tin can, regretted the 4 pints prior to the game as once in you were stuck where you was

[philsky]

Was there in 1985. Will be there this time.

Can’t believe it’s the thick end of 40 years ago.

I wonder if Animal fancies a run out

He didn’t play in 85, he was long gone by then

Bloody hell, my mind playing tricks.

How weird is that; ive been hallucinating for years thinking he played.

I need a rest !

[roversdude]

1985 with the nice friendly scousers …..not

[Branton Rover]

I remember it clearly I was 13 and I was excited like you wouldn’t believe we went in my dad’s mates work van there was 4 of us and as we got to the outskirts of Liverpool we stopped at some traffic lights the bloke in from of got out of his car and came to us and said “are you going to Goodison?”  We said “yes” he said “follow me then”. He drove us to Anfield we parked up and walked through the park to the ground - we bumped into Andy Gray & Adrian Heath who was on crutches. 

A brilliant day out to visit the big boys. Can anyone recall our side as I seem to recall Steve Yates playing at left back but I could be mistaken.

[Bessie Red]

Remember it well. I think we took about 9 or 10k fans. I was stood on a rail halfway up the away end which ran across the front of the second tier so had a great view. Also remember being pelted with coins from their fans to the left, lovely people those scousers.

[Alan Southstand]

Fantastic away day it was, despite losing. BST is spot on - Ian Snodin was the best player on the park. Had a great view in the stand behind the goal.

[telfordrover]

Spent most of the match dodging coins from the bitter blues fans and that fat copper with large cudgel Being on strike he went down like tonne of bricks
Never liked Everton ever since
Half the lads on the bus didn’t come back on the bus
Great day out thousands of us
Made you proud to come from Donny

[roversdude]

Don’t know how we managed to take that many with the strike, my mother got me a ticket bless her

[telfordrover]

There was a lot of lads who went with not a lot on their pockets but managed to return nicely lubricated, thanks to the lads who where happy to share
My mam paid for the coach ticket bless her

[Herbert Anchovy]

I went in a coach arranged by a bloke from Rosso. Lots of cans of beer on the coach meant agony during the game as it was impossible to get to the toilets. Lots of coins and pieces of brick were launched at us by those loveable scousers which led to some quite nasty injuries and the police doing nothing about it. The walk back to our coach was lively and pretty scary.

Young Snodin was the best player on the pitch and would have been even better if he’d not been playing sweeper instead of his usual midfield. Andy Gray spent most of the game on his backside diving around too.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I remember it clearly I was 13 and I was excited like you wouldn’t believe we went in my dad’s mates work van there was 4 of us and as we got to the outskirts of Liverpool we stopped at some traffic lights the bloke in from of got out of his car and came to us and said “are you going to Goodison?”  We said “yes” he said “follow me then”. He drove us to Anfield we parked up and walked through the park to the ground - we bumped into Andy Gray & Adrian Heath who was on crutches. 

A brilliant day out to visit the big boys. Can anyone recall our side as I seem to recall Steve Yates playing at left back but I could be mistaken.

I was just going to mention Adrian Heath. He walked, on the crutches, round the pitch in front of us didn't he and got plenty of stick. I stupidly thought we might have a chance with him injured.

We were good but they were class in that second half.

As said from that low subterranean angle it looked like Trevor Steven Rose like a salmon to head that goal. Mind you, he was a good header of a ball.

I stayed over Friday and Saturday night at some in laws relatives in Bebbington and had the pleasure of getting the Ferry cross the Mersey before the game. Got the Metro back and later in the local WMC the locals were very complimentary about our  performance.

A weekend never forgotten and couldn't imagine ever seeing so many Rovers fans in one place. Incredible and a bit scary at times.

[JonWallsend]

I managed  to get stood  behind the goal on a barrier that ran across  the back of the terrace and you could then lean back against the stand. It wasn't the best but was a lot less squashed than on the terrace and a much better view.
Coming out at the  end was a bit frightening. I well recall the crush and having nowhere to move  but it was a few years before Hillsborough and so you just sort  of assumed you'd  get out eventually.
Ridiculous the way away supports and fans in general were treated  back then

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I managed  to get stood  behind the goal on a barrier that ran across  the back of the terrace and you could then lean back against the stand. It wasn't the best but was a lot less squashed than on the terrace and a much better view.
Coming out at the  end was a bit frightening. I well recall the crush and having nowhere to move  but it was a few years before Hillsborough and so you just sort  of assumed you'd  get out eventually.
Ridiculous the way away supports and fans in general were treated  back then

Yes, I got on that girder too. Wasn't very wide but was better than being crushed. I must have had a strong bladder back then too.

I can't recall ever seeing any photos of our end which is a shame.

[Drover]

 

I managed  to get stood  behind the goal on a barrier that ran across  the back of the terrace and you could then lean back against the stand. It wasn't the best but was a lot less squashed than on the terrace and a much better view.
Coming out at the  end was a bit frightening. I well recall the crush and having nowhere to move  but it was a few years before Hillsborough and so you just sort  of assumed you'd  get out eventually.
Ridiculous the way away supports and fans in general were treated  back then

Yes, I got on that girder too. Wasn't very wide but was better than being crushed. I must have had a strong bladder back then too.

I can't recall ever seeing any photos of our end which is a shame.

There was a photo on the back page of Doncaster Star,it was a section of our end with yours truly and a schoolmate smack in middle of photo,I remember seeing a cameraman positioning himself infront of our end and I put my arm up while singing with the outside chance of hoping it make us stand out if by chance we got to see the photo,It paid off,I must have timed it right,becuase it was the one chosen to put on back page.I still have the paper somewhere hidden away with other nostalgia and I will have a dig about and post it on here when I get around to it.I also have a birthday card from that era with many signatures of many of those players and others in the squad around that time,I posted it on an old thread on here several years ago,asking for posters if they could help identify some of the signatures.

[pib]

Clip of the goals from this game is on Youtube if anyone's interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY0f7mR5m3I

[Nudga]

Some great stories on this thread. Before my time supporting rovers but I knew all about that match as a lot people spoke about it.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

I managed  to get stood  behind the goal on a barrier that ran across  the back of the terrace and you could then lean back against the stand. It wasn't the best but was a lot less squashed than on the terrace and a much better view.
Coming out at the  end was a bit frightening. I well recall the crush and having nowhere to move  but it was a few years before Hillsborough and so you just sort  of assumed you'd  get out eventually.
Ridiculous the way away supports and fans in general were treated  back then

Yes, I got on that girder too. Wasn't very wide but was better than being crushed. I must have had a strong bladder back then too.

I can't recall ever seeing any photos of our end which is a shame.

There was a photo on the back page of Doncaster Star,it was a section of our end with yours truly and a schoolmate smack in middle of photo,I remember seeing a cameraman positioning himself infront of our end and I put my arm up while singing with the outside chance of hoping it make us stand out if by chance we got to see the photo,It paid off,I must have timed it right,becuase it was the one chosen to put on back page.I still have the paper somewhere hidden away with other nostalgia and I will have a dig about and post it on here when I get around to it.I also have a birthday card from that era with many signatures of many of those players and others in the squad around that time,I posted it on an old thread on here several years ago,asking for posters if they could help identify some of the signatures.

Sounds like a cracking photo. Look forward to seeing it!

[Draytonian III]

I was there, but I was in seats above the terracing which as others have said the terraces looked jam packed and yes the walk back to the coaches was a bit hairy scary

[Iberian Red]

I went on one of two mini buses Bob Nellis( trophies) took. We had the whole of the away end,bottom terrace,seating above plus about a 1/3 of the seating to the right of us.
I was say on the first row of seats above,the crush below was ridiculous along with allsorts lobbed from the home end.
What made matters worst was the local police force walking along the away terracing smashing the fingers of anyone that happened to be holding on to the fences with their long canes.

[Drover]

This is a link to the thread of the birthday card with Rovers players signatures,think it was 1981-82 a few years before Everton/Goodison cup game.
https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=244950.msg419842#msg419842

Going to have a look for the picture now.

[drfchound]

I was in my early thirties and still playing so was unable to get to the game.
Looking forward to this one though.