Memory Lane Origin of the PAK

[canveyshrimper]

Yep ..and it was his brother who died H ..in fact I think 2 of them did....Billy Wright being one of them.

Thanks guys, I remember the drugs thing now.

 

[Cricko]

There was no love lost between the Wrights and the Moody's....There was always some fight going on and the police once caught them at Belfairs with guns flying about...John Moody and Sid had a kind of respect for each other but were still enemies....those were tough days.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Good work Rob, I can't think that Leasky was afraid, he always seemed pretty fearless to me and others how hung about on the sidelines.

Thanks, H. That's one of the reasons why I sought his permission to reprint it as it is so personal and refreshingly honest. I remember those autobiographies by John McVicar and Jimmy Boyle - I read them around the same time 30 years ago, so that's why I can't quite distinguish them in the point I'm about to make - where they both said something along the lines that they were living out a role and couldn't show any fear in what they were doing. My guess is that's added to when you're in a crowd situation and you don't want to lose face. Just speculating --- I don't speak from any 'experience' in that respect.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I remember we were standing outside getting soaked when someone (Brush I think) suggested we kick the gates down. No sooner said than done, down went the gates and into the ground we went.

I always remember that after the gates went down, we stormed across the pitch to take residence in their North Bank. But as we got to the half way line, the groundsman tried to stab me and Carl Connors with his pitch fork. It seemed to rain all day. The Gillingham mob kept attacking down the East side to get their North Bank back, with no luck and loads arrested. Very boring 0-0, mainly due to conditions. I think Spud Taylor came on as a substitute. And then there was the famous fight with the Hells Angels outside a house near the ground, after a couple of their bikes were kicked over. Crazy day.

 

[Cricko]

I still see Carl Connors cycling through Leigh,he makes me laugh, mad as a hatter lol

 

[canveyshrimper]

I always remember that after the gates went down, we stormed across the pitch to take residense in their North Bank. But as we got to the half way line, the groundsman tried to stab me and Carl Connors with his pitch fork. It seemed to rain all day. The Gillingham mob kept attacking down the East side to get their North Bank back, with no luck and loads arrested. Very boring 0-0, mainly due to conditions. I think Spud Taylor came on as a substitute. And then there was the famous fight with the Hells Angels outside a house near the ground, after a couple of their bikes were kicked over. Crazy day.

Felt sorry for the groundsman as he was trampled underfoot on the pitch. You're right it ****ed down all day, I thought they were Hell's Angles at least that's what was on the back of their jackets. I seem to remember they were puttering around on Honda 50's. As you say a memorable day.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I still see Carl Connors cycling through Leigh,he makes me laugh, mad as a hatter lol

Yeah, I saw him a few weeks back in Leigh. He still drinks there all the time. He told me Tricky Dicky (Richard Hughes) another Leigh Comm and Southend face and character, had passed away.
Carl's bloating out a bit now tho, must be the beer.

 

[cockles is back]

I believe he used to operate from that shop near westleigh schools, but now he travels to norfolk now and again re the antique trade.

are you not thinking of mick macie,? steve is still sign writing abit and judo still

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

There was no love lost between the Wrights and the Moody's....There was always some fight going on and the police once caught them at Belfairs with guns flying about...John Moody and Sid had a kind of respect for each other but were still enemies....those were tough days.

I would have backed John Moody in the boxing ring, but Sid Wright on the Street.

I saw John Moody holding court in the King Louie the whatever in Leigh Road, a few months ago. He was wearing a long trench coat and a Stetson hat.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

You're right Tony, the coach trip was made more in way of retribution as I remember the first time Dave Pallet & (possibly) Paul Pacey got separated and were chased and had to jump into the Cam to escape. Later that season Billy Monroe got his revenge by spray painting SUFC on the pristine walls of one of the Uni Colleges.

I don't know if you've seen Billy Monroe lately canveyshrimper, but he now looks about 65 and is down to about 7 Stone. Still rides an old push bike to this Day.

 

[McNasty]

You're right Tony, the coach trip was made more in way of retribution as I remember the first time Dave Pallet & (possibly) Paul Pacey got separated and were chased and had to jump into the Cam to escape. Later that season Billy Monroe got his revenge by spray painting SUFC on the pristine walls of one of the Uni Colleges.

Whatever happened to Paul Pacey ?

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

By way of a 'holding' post, I've got a reply from Leasky on this and I'm awaiting his permission to cut and paste it on here as some of the stuff is personal. He states that the origins of the term didn't come from the song* and that it is inaccurate to call him 'the leader' as there were others to fill that role - Charlie Benson in particular.

*It's probably ok to share this bit though ...

"... the name PAK, I think, got invented on a coach to an away game, and refers to the fact that we would pack ourselves pretty tight for acoustic and defensive reasons. I recall that the spelling was my idea and I forced it on everyone."

I certainly remember Charlie Benson and Dave Brabbing(from seeing them on trips to away games-as I was a West Stand man then) as being the de facto leaders of the Pak in those days.

 

[McNasty]

I certainly remember Charlie Benson and Dave Brabbing(from seeing them on trips to away games-as I was a West Stand man then) as being the de facto leaders of the Pak in those days.

Surely not the same Charles who has just retired from the Bank ?

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Surely not the same Charles who has just retired from the Bank ?

Retired from robbing them,you mean?;)

 

[canveyshrimper]

Whatever happened to Paul Pacey ?

I've been told he's a bus driver in Brighton.

 

[canveyshrimper]

I don't know if you've seen Billy Monroe lately canveyshrimper, but he now looks about 65 and is down to about 7 Stone. Still rides an old push bike to this Day.

I've not seen Billy in years, and going by that description I'd not recognise him. Billy's finances were always at best impecunious and he would go through life subsisting on a series of borrowed 5 & 10 pences.

 

[BrettieAngell]

On the way to Aldershot my Dad was talking about the time we played Wolves away in the Cup way back when.

My old man was standing on the Wolves terrace with about 100 or so Southend fans being chased around at various points during the game, we lost 1-0 and Southend were clapped off the pitch by the Wolves fans at the end, any other old timers at that game??

 

[Benfleet A1]

The mention of the Wright brothers makes me think Hadleigh. Wasn't there a younger brother as well called Dave? Don't think he was into watching Southend but having a tear-up and he would be front and centre. Used to knock about with a Dave Ellis and some lad called Rod. I know they all went to King John but I had moved away by then. Ring any bells?

This trip down memory lane has been supurb, best thread in a long time.

 

[Pak66]

The mention of the Wright brothers makes me think Hadleigh. Wasn't there a younger brother as well called Dave? Don't think he was into watching Southend but having a tear-up and he would be front and centre. Used to knock about with a Dave Ellis and some lad called Rod. I know they all went to King John but I had moved away by then. Ring any bells?

This trip down memory lane has been supurb, best thread in a long time.

Unfortunately Dave Wright died before his time as well.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Billy has got his life back on track still a great bloke, Carl is still a very funny man had great times drinking in the sutton with him in the 70s funny memories of Liverpool away when we turned up in Robbie Winkworths bright orange transit van, chased a mob of Liverpool only to turn the corner and run into hundreds of them, jesus did that van stand out all night windows got bricked out had to travel back from scouseland with no windows freezing cold and snow pouring in to the van and Carl still managed to find it funny.