LBBlue
Manager⭐
16th August, 1975 vs Sheffield Wednesday.
It was Wednesday's first game in the third tier. Expecting a bumper away turnout, they had the North Bank. I went with my dad and grandad (the only time the three of us went to a game) and not realising the change went into the wrong end. We had to be moved to the South, so my first experience at Roots Hall saw me get pitch side. Lol.
We were a goal down at half time. It kicked off during the break. Someone (possibly my cousin) threw a bottle of their keeper (Peter Fox, on debut) at the beginning of the second half. The whole thing was pretty scarey for an 8 year old.
Stuart Brace got a brace, and we won 2-1.
Sure some our older (than me) fans may remember it.
As a result of the trouble, my mum put her foot down and wouldn't let me go again. My dad convinced her it would be ok, and she relented by the end of January, where we played (and beat) Brighton in the FA Cup (4th Rd, I think). It kicked off there as well. I wasn't allowed back for some time after that.
After we beat Sheff Wed in the first game of that season, I really believed it was going to be our season. As it was relegation was just round the corner - at Sheffield Wednesday in the last game of the season - it was us or them.
Brighton was the third round, Cardiff the fourth round and Derby the fifth.
We should have been too good to go down.