22,268.

[rabjohns]

Laurie Sheffield told me that the players received a bonus which was dependant on the size of the gate,reporting lower gates could have been a way to skank the players.

[essexrover]

The largest home attendance I have ever been at during my time supporting Rovers.

October 1968 on a Friday night at Belle Vue under the floodlights. The opponents were Darlington Town F.C., we were in 2nd spot as I recall & they were top by a point (2 points for a win 1 point for a draw back then).

I was on the Rosso side as I remember (?) (where had they put the Darlington fans?) & it was bloody crammed when the players took to the field for the warm up 2 minutes before kick off (no pre-match entertainment then…none needed on this occasion) I remember their number 3 getting one of the balls, flicking it up above his head & catching it on the back of his head……bloody hell!

We ultimately lost tough game 1-0.

Don’t remember much about the game apart from being lifted off my feet (I seem to recall…or do I?) for much of the game.

The memories play tricks but one thing for definite, I was one in the crowd of the largest home game seen in the last nigh on 50+years.

They can’t take that away.

Dare I say Darlington, who those of us were around at that time were simply “Darlington”, never Darlington Town! Their ground at the time (Feethams) was in most beautiful setting at the end of a lovely park. Some memorable matches against them.

Definitely Darlington FC. Not "Town".
Darlo's ground was right next to South Park & the river Skerne ran along one side.
Unusually there was a cricket pitch (used by Durham CC when they were a Minor County) just inside the main entrance which you had to walk round to get to the football stands.
I lived there for a few years as a kid & went to Feethams a lot.

[BobG]

Christ. I hope that wasn't true....

BobG

[Bentley Bullet]

You could estimate the crowd accurately by seeing how full the corners were. I (and many others) often estimated correctly up to the nearest 500 mark using this method.

On the odd occasion though, the corners were fuller than the official attendance suggested, making one or two folk question its accuracy.

[Donnywolf]

If another 13 lazy oiks had turned up you would have been right Wolfy. Looking at how it was that night can you imagine another 12,000 odd in to match our record gate?
That is why I thought that they might have under estimated, so to speak and kept a bit back for Hubert Bates.

You are right , I cannot imagine another 12000 on top of the Burnley crowd that were rammed in that night.

I guess 25k ish was "massaged" downwards though

[normal rules]

One of my earlier memories at belle vue was the 85 qpr game. There was circa 10k there and it was packed. I do wonder where another 10k would fit

[Donnywolf]

Had the Pop Side been reduced by that time though ?

Also Kop was flattened I believe as the Photos showed it in Football League Review with the Half Time Board stood proudly on top with the Champs on a Photo Call on Pitch


Kop still seemed high v Aldershot though

[Donnywolf]

Here a bit of research on VSC which answers my own questions

https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=242765.0#msg386660

[Pancho Regan]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

[Pancho Regan]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

[Butchers Red]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

My Dad was there and he was always adamant that figure was understated, he reckoned there was 40,000 plus in that day.

[Donnywolf]

If Burnley was as packed as it was and crowd declared as 25000 then 37000 plus must have been packed out

Even if Burnley game had 28000 in another 9000 would still be hard to imagine

I remember it being rammed v Burnley so add either another 50% if the Gate was true at 25000 or an extra 33% ish if the Gate was 28000 and that is hard to imagine

[ravenrover]

Was it Leighton James who took the p!ss out of the pop side near the halfway line?

[BobG]

I was still at Danum Pancho. I left summer 74. I wasn't at the Darlo game though. I was 8 coming up 9 then. I suspect you might have a couple of years on me.

BobG

[Pancho Regan]

You were in the year above me Bob. I left Danum after my A-levels in Summer 1975.

The Darlo game was Oct 1968 so I think you were older than 8 or 9 mate?

[idler]

Was it Leighton James who took the p!ss out of the pop side near the halfway line?

Leighton James would have been too young. It might have been a young Willie Morgan though.

[RoversDave]

According to the Rothman's Football Year Book, Belle Vue still had a 40,000 capacity at the end of the 1960's

[BobG]

You were in the year above me Bob. I left Danum after my A-levels in Summer 1975.

The Darlo game was Oct 1968 so I think you were older than 8 or 9 mate?

LOL. Yes. Gerry Nolan and Fred Waring obviously failed dismally! I must have been 12. Still wasn't there though sadly....

BobG

[scawsby steve]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

I was there when there were 32000 in, Pancho. FA Cup 5th round in 1956. My uncle took me, as I was just a kid.

[drfchound]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

I was there when there were 32000 in, Pancho. FA Cup 5th round in 1956. My uncle took me, as I was just a kid.

Was that when you saw Alick when he was the boy wonder mate?

[richtherover]

You were in the year above me Bob. I left Danum after my A-levels in Summer 1975.

The Darlo game was Oct 1968 so I think you were older than 8 or 9 mate?

LOL. Yes. Gerry Nolan and Fred Waring obviously failed dismally! I must have been 12. Still wasn't there though sadly....

BobG

God, those 2 used to scare me witless. Then there was "Good cop Bad cop" with Eddie Beaglehole and Doug Kimber. Bizarrely, in my little autograph book from that time, along with the Rovers players there are staff members from Danum, (Beckwith, Thornhill, Cornish) along with all my classmates. Can't believe it's nearly 60 years ago!

[scawsby steve]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

I was there when there were 32000 in, Pancho. FA Cup 5th round in 1956. My uncle took me, as I was just a kid.

Was that when you saw Alick when he was the boy wonder mate?

Absolutely, mate; and Harry Gregg. Also, Danny Blanchflower played for Spurs that day.

Just think, 3 world class players on the Belle Vue pitch at the same time.

[drfchound]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

I was there when there were 32000 in, Pancho. FA Cup 5th round in 1956. My uncle took me, as I was just a kid.

Was that when you saw Alick when he was the boy wonder mate?

Absolutely, mate; and Harry Gregg. Also, Danny Blanchflower played for Spurs that day.

Just think, 3 world class players on the Belle Vue pitch at the same time.

Well it was a fine pitch for them to show their skills.
I was just thinking that there might have been three World class players on the BV pitch when we had that John Nicholson testimonial game.
We had George Best in our team and surely Liverpool could have had at least two World class lads in their line up.

[BobG]

Oh Rich. .. Dougie Kimber! I did not ever go close to him if I could avoid it.  Don't remember Eddie Beaglehole being there in my time. The useless RU fanatic Bob Bruce was the main sports person. He's the buffoon who told us, when we reached the age of 14, that we now had to run the 'intercourse' in Cross Country. Hateful bloody sport.

I suspect you may be a bit older than me? I left summer 74 after A levels.

BobG

[BobG]

I'm guessing, but maybe Tommy Smith, Ray Clemence, Roger Hunt and Ian St John could have been on that BV pitch

BobG

[Stocksbridge Owl]

My Grandad claimed to be in a 20,000 crowd at Belle Vue on a few occasions as I recall. He’d often say that the official attendances given was a fair bit less than he’d estimated during the game! Maybe some ‘creative’ accountancy at work! Certainly, the QPR game of 1985 that was mentioned earlier is one game that he was convinced had many more than the official attendance given, even though it was all ticket I believe!

Interestingly, up to around the mid/late 1980’s, football ground capacity figures were largely guess work. Turnstiles were only closed when the ground looked full as opposed to any formal capacity reached. We’ve all seen recordings of games from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s where the terraces seem dangerously full of swaying bodies and it was a case of cramming as many people into the ground as possible.

[Pancho Regan]

I was at the Liverpool replay in 1973 or 74. I think the crowd was published as a bit over 20,000 - but not as many as were at the Darlo game.

BobG

I was at that Liverpool game too Bob. Were you still at Danum then?
I literally climbed out of the window at the end of that wing of Danum school which faced Intake, because it was out of view of most of the classrooms and offices. Legged it to Leger Way and off I went!

I was also at the Darlo game, one of my early games following Rovers. I was 11 years old and went with by brother who was a couple of years older. My main memory is looking at the backs of other supporters, crammed in like proverbial sardines. I didn't see much of the game!

I've learned something new on this thread thanks to Idler's post. I have always thought the Darlo game was the biggest attendance at Belle Vue but it seems the game against Burnley topped it.
That was a couple of years before I started going, so I missed that one.

Sorry - I was forgetting the 37,000 record against Hull City.

Could there really have been 37,000 in Belle Vue?!

I was there when there were 32000 in, Pancho. FA Cup 5th round in 1956. My uncle took me, as I was just a kid.

That's amazing SS. It must have been totally rammed!

[drfchound]

I'm guessing, but maybe Tommy Smith, Ray Clemence, Roger Hunt and Ian St John could have been on that BV pitch

BobG

I found this copy of the match line ups.
Apart from Best, would anyone else be classed as truly World class?

[idler]

I’ve got that programme in the loft somewhere and I wrote the team changes and subs in until I got fed up of them all. I think that Derek Dougan came on at some stage. I remember being really impressed with Bryan Douglas. Not very big but superb in midfield.

[richtherover]

Was at the game too. The A N Other was Vic Mobley, (Sheff Wed), who lives here in Auckland now.