Memory Lane North Bank Choir, During Mid 1960's - Where Are You Now?

[CaptainSmudger]

In My Youth ( Mid 1960's ) I was a member of the Choir in the North Bank.
I am now in my Seventies and still going!
I used to go alone and meet up with all the other Southend United Nuts to cheer on the mighty Shrimpers every game.
None of them were my close personal friends. There must be others out there who Sang along with me.
Who are you? I would love to know where you are now.
I can Recall one of the main Leading Singers was a very Tall Guy who had the Loudest Voice in Essex!
He owned a White Van and I remember being invited to follow the Blues Over the Easter Weekend - Away to Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.
On Route we called in on Chester City Training ground and cheered on the Blues training there.
We were in Division Four and going well in the top six, Stockport were Top of the League.
The games were on 24th March 1967, Away to Tranmere Rovers, Gate was 12,701, We Won 2-1 (Great Sing Song that Day) Colin Flatt scored both I seem to remember.
The other game was on 26th March 1967 to Table topping Stockport County, Gate was 9,024. We lost 4-1 ( Well beaten that day by a better team, Still Sung Though!).
I am looking Forward to your replies.
COYB. UTB

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

I'm here, lol!
But as a member of the Pak, remember Friday nights fondly as does @B.B.The Legend Lives On.

 

[RHB]

I was there as a fifteen year old behind the North Bank goal at the back of the stand, and a very happy memory it was too. I'm not sure, but there was a bloke who organised a lot of the singing (if you could call it that) and I think his name was Clive Leatherdale. He was quite tall and went on to become a writer and author of some success. He went on to write
The Southend United Centenary Handbook 1909-1910 - Desert Island Football Histories

All that seems an absolute age ago now (and Mrs RHB has just reminded me that it was!)

 

[Shrimper in France]

Friday nights in the Pak.... what memories! I was the bloke who wore the most anti-skinhead clothes ever... a full length afghan coat (bought from Romford market for 42 quid which was a fortune in those days!), a blue and white striped tank top and the longest blue and white scarf you could imagine (knitted for me by my mum).
Leigh Comm every week, football first, often about 25 a side, followed by Top of The Pops in the Comm. Used to go on my old Lambretta (again not very skinheady) with L plates - never did take a motor bike test.
And yes we could sing! Knees Up Muvver Brown, Strollin just strollin, In Dublin's Fair City.... so many songs as well as the more usual Sea sea seasiders etc whilst cheering on Messrs Best Moore Garner Johnson and Taylor.... that was just the forward line.
I was still at school too..... very happy days looking back on it.

 

[Blue Yonder]

In My Youth ( Mid 1960's ) I was a member of the Choir in the North Bank.
I am now in my Seventies and still going!
I used to go alone and meet up with all the other Southend United Nuts to cheer on the mighty Shrimpers every game.
None of them were my close personal friends. There must be others out there who Sang along with me.
Who are you? I would love to know where you are now.
I can Recall one of the main Leading Singers was a very Tall Guy who had the Loudest Voice in Essex!
He owned a White Van and I remember being invited to follow the Blues Over the Easter Weekend - Away to Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.
On Route we called in on Chester City Training ground and cheered on the Blues training there.
We were in Division Four and going well in the top six, Stockport were Top of the League.
The games were on 24th March 1967, Away to Tranmere Rovers, Gate was 12,701, We Won 2-1 (Great Sing Song that Day) Colin Flatt scored both I seem to remember.
The other game was on 26th March 1967 to Table topping Stockport County, Gate was 9,024. We lost 4-1 ( Well beaten that day by a better team, Still Sung Though!).
I am looking Forward to your replies.
COYB. UTB

Wasn't the big white van man called 'Bonzo' or similar ?

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

In My Youth ( Mid 1960's ) I was a member of the Choir in the North Bank.
I am now in my Seventies and still going!
I used to go alone and meet up with all the other Southend United Nuts to cheer on the mighty Shrimpers every game.
None of them were my close personal friends. There must be others out there who Sang along with me.
Who are you? I would love to know where you are now.
I can Recall one of the main Leading Singers was a very Tall Guy who had the Loudest Voice in Essex!
He owned a White Van and I remember being invited to follow the Blues Over the Easter Weekend - Away to Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.
On Route we called in on Chester City Training ground and cheered on the Blues training there.
We were in Division Four and going well in the top six, Stockport were Top of the League.
The games were on 24th March 1967, Away to Tranmere Rovers, Gate was 12,701, We Won 2-1 (Great Sing Song that Day) Colin Flatt scored both I seem to remember.
The other game was on 26th March 1967 to Table topping Stockport County, Gate was 9,024. We lost 4-1 ( Well beaten that day by a better team, Still Sung Though!).
I am looking Forward to your replies.
COYB. UTB

Good Afternoon Captain, first things first, Peter Valentine was the owner of the white van. As has already been mentioned his nickname was Bonzo and the van was generally known to us all as the Bonzmobile. I spent a good 3+ years traveling around this country in that van so I would imagine that we may know each other?. I was also a fully paid up member of the choir or "PAK" as it was always known back then. I did go to the weekend away for the matches against Tranmere Rovers and Stockport(when the Stockport supporters tried to tip the van over) but I went on the coach that stayed in New Brighton for that weekend. Many of the fans who travelled in the van are on this site and others that are not are still about and I often see them at RH. As far as I know Bonzo is still alive and last I knew he was living close to Peterborough and he would always come back to RH on the Posh supporters coach.. Finally my nickname back then was Nobbler and for my sins these days you can always find me talking to anyone who cares to listen about BEST & MOORE etc in the East Stand Green seats where I have been for the last 20 years. If you fancy a catch up anytime soon, then let me know, it would be great to hear about all things SUFC from the middle to late 60's, for me personally they really were the "Halcyon Days" to follow the club that I love so much. "Stay Safe" Cheers Dave.

 

[rararblue]

In 1967, I had just started going and would have been sat on the wall at the front of the North Bank, looking up, admiringly, at all the big boys, singing.

o



V

 

[Redbridge Blue]

In 1967, I had just started going and would have been sat on the wall at the front of the North Bank, looking up, admiringly, at all the big boys, singing.

o



V

I can relate to that too. After the match there always seemed to be a large group of fans from the North bank that walked back into town singing and generally making a lot of noise. Also remember the confrontations with the likes of Lincoln City fans.

 

[westie]

Followed the Blues home and away 1967-70. Mainly on the non-heated "Supreme" coaches, but occasionally on the road and thumbing it to a few away grounds.
Still in touch with "Mr Southend United" Dave Brabbing and few other well-known 60s fans.

UTB!

 

[fishpaste]

I was also on the coach trip to New Brighton,seem to remember that Tony moeller was cleaning paint of the back of the coach standing on a ladder,the coach driver paniced when a bunch of stockport fans charged and drove away leaving Tony behind. Can still be found in East Greens.

 

[RHB]

Christ on a bike, what a lot of old geezers we all are now. I wonder if the West Stand Blue Voice yoof will be reminiscing in 50 years time, discussing when they used to sing 'We want/got Martin out'?

 

[Zeuss]

There from about 1963,with plenty of friends from school eg Gus Summers,Charlie B,usually stood just behind the 2 Pak leaders—Clive Leatherdale (see above) and Ian Leask who was not tall but big,strong and very aggressive when needed,and had the loudest voice.
I went away to university in 1968 but got a job locally in 1977 and have missed very ,very few home games since.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

For anyone interested that wasn't there. The Pak was made up of all singers, lads not willing to fight, and lads willing to fight to defend the North Bank. You have to understand that in those days, the taking of a North Bank was a big thing. So it would be talked about for days after, at school for some of us, sometimes years after everywhere through word of mouth. The centre bit was basically The Pak. It was enclosed with metal poles going all the way down to the front, but stopped short of the front wall with a large gap so supporters could walk along the front near the wall. In the late 60s. Kids of about 7-11 tended to sit or stand next to the wall behind the goal. They would elevate to The Pak when older. Ian. L and his mob of older guys would stand the other side of the separating poles, on the left looking down onto the pitch. They would definitely defend the North Bank if it was attacked. Not much later, the Leigh Comm lot also stood that side to defend the North Bank. They were a bigger mob and madder lot than Ian L's lot, and would also go to away grounds to take on other North Banks. even though vastly outnumbered. Ian L's lot were still always there though at home games, and the big away games. Why that side you may ask? Because it was pay on the day at the turnstile. So other teams mobs would come down Victoria Avenue, and head into the car park, and get in our North Bank through the turnstiles on the North/East corner. They would wait until they was all in at the edge of the North Bank, and make their attack heading for The Pak. Usually charging and shouting. Some of The Pak would scatter, some would charge behind the I.L. and Leigh Comm mobs. In most cases like Chelsea the first time, and the Millwall friendly, the opposing mobs were beaten and chased out and were probably not expecting such strong opposition, Those two came back though for revenge with their full mobs and ten times bigger, so it was a different story. I got caught out in the Millwall 0-0 league game, as I covered on here, when they came for revenge, when they turned up with their F troop and dockers, knives and docker hooks, not that they needed them. It was the first time I saw weapons at a football match. On the big games, two more big mobs came into it, the Sutton Arms mob, and the Shoebury mob. And of course the Pak would be packed tight with lads from all over the Southend Borough. Anyway, I know some don't like hearing that sort of thing, but I'm just adding to the history of the North Bank. That's how it was back in those days. When the big games were on, Chelsea, QPR, Aston Villa, or a top of the table clash, the North bank was packed. It was incredibly loud as the sound bounced off the low corrugated roof. It was absolute magic. That's why a lot still talk about the old North Bank from that period and the Pak, and of course the songs from that period.

 

[Redbridge Blue]

There from about 1963,with plenty of friends from school eg Gus Summers,Charlie B,usually stood just behind the 2 Pak leaders—Clive Leatherdale (see above) and Ian Leask who was not tall but big,strong and very aggressive when needed,and had the loudest voice.
I went away to university in 1968 but got a job locally in 1977 and have missed very ,very few home games since.

I think it must have been Ian Leask that scared me most as an innocent young teenager.

 

[tommy tucker]

In My Youth ( Mid 1960's ) I was a member of the Choir in the North Bank.
I am now in my Seventies and still going!
I used to go alone and meet up with all the other Southend United Nuts to cheer on the mighty Shrimpers every game.
None of them were my close personal friends. There must be others out there who Sang along with me.
Who are you? I would love to know where you are now.
I can Recall one of the main Leading Singers was a very Tall Guy who had the Loudest Voice in Essex!
He owned a White Van and I remember being invited to follow the Blues Over the Easter Weekend - Away to Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.
On Route we called in on Chester City Training ground and cheered on the Blues training there.
We were in Division Four and going well in the top six, Stockport were Top of the League.
The games were on 24th March 1967, Away to Tranmere Rovers, Gate was 12,701, We Won 2-1 (Great Sing Song that Day) Colin Flatt scored both I seem to remember.
The other game was on 26th March 1967 to Table topping Stockport County, Gate was 9,024. We lost 4-1 ( Well beaten that day by a better team, Still Sung Though!).
I am looking Forward to your replies.
COYB. UTB

Yes I was a north bank nut Still rember the Friday evening. When we trounced now an x football league club Workington Town

 

[Pak Power]

I remember Borehamwood coming down for a cup game once, and having a right go....surprised me

 

[RHB]

I remember Borehamwood coming down for a cup game once, and having a right go....surprised me

The thought of Boreham Wood having a crowd big enough to have a go at the North Bank beggars belief.

 

[Mick]

Yes I was a north bank nut Still rember the Friday evening. When we trounced now an x football league club Workington Town

Don't you mean another ex Football League Club? Actually Workington Town play rugby, not football.

 

[RHB]

I scored one of the best headed goals of my playing career against Clive Leatherdale over at King Georges Playing fields in Rayleigh. He was in goal for the opposition and I connected beautifully with my header heading it downward towards the goal line with enough force that it evaded his outstretched hand and nestled in the net. He commented that it was a very good header. Strange how that sticks in your mind so many years on, probably because I thought it was the best header of my career. .If the occasion arises later on I'll tell you about the best goals I scored with my left and right feet, you deserve to know.

 

[Cricko]

For anyone interested that wasn't there. The Pak was made up of all singers, lads not willing to fight, and lads willing to fight to defend the North Bank. You have to understand that in those days, the taking of a North Bank was a big thing. So it would be talked about for days after, at school for some of us, sometimes years after everywhere through word of mouth. The centre bit was basically The Pak. It was enclosed with metal poles going all the way down to the front, but stopped short of the front wall with a large gap so supporters could walk along the front near the wall. In the late 60s. Kids of about 7-11 tended to sit or stand next to the wall behind the goal. They would elevate to The Pak when older. Ian. L and his mob of older guys would stand the other side of the separating poles, on the left looking down onto the pitch. They would definitely defend the North Bank if it was attacked. Not much later, the Leigh Comm lot also stood that side to defend the North Bank. They were a bigger mob and madder lot than Ian L's lot, and would also go to away grounds to take on other North Banks. even though vastly outnumbered. Ian L's lot were still always there though at home games, and the big away games. Why that side you may ask? Because it was pay on the day at the turnstile. So other teams mobs would come down Victoria Avenue, and head into the car park, and get in our North Bank through the turnstiles on the North/East corner. They would wait until they was all in at the edge of the North Bank, and make their attack heading for The Pak. Usually charging and shouting. Some of The Pak would scatter, some would charge behind the I.L. and Leigh Comm mobs. In most cases like Chelsea the first time, and the Millwall friendly, the opposing mobs were beaten and chased out and were probably not expecting such strong opposition, Those two came back though for revenge with their full mobs and ten times bigger, so it was a different story. I got caught out in the Millwall 0-0 league game, as I covered on here, when they came for revenge, when they turned up with their F troop and dockers, knives and docker hooks, not that they needed them. It was the first time I saw weapons at a football match. On the big games, two more big mobs came into it, the Sutton Arms mob, and the Shoebury mob. And of course the Pak would be packed tight with lads from all over the Southend Borough. Anyway, I know some don't like hearing that sort of thing, but I'm just adding to the history of the North Bank. That's how it was back in those days. When the big games were on, Chelsea, QPR, Aston Villa, or a top of the table clash, the North bank was packed. It was incredibly loud as the sound bounced off the low corrugated roof. It was absolute magic. That's why a lot still talk about the old North Bank from that period and the Pak, and of course the songs from that period.

The names are endless. Some at times i forget , like Ambrose, Peter Knight, Squirrel, John Carlin,Bob Woolf, Carl Conners of course, Robbie Winkworth, The Moody brothers, Bob Belamy, Ronnie Turner, Kim Webber, Sid Wright, Steve Scarrot, Mick Wall, Nobber of course, Ian Lesak, the list goes on.

You would not want to face that lot in there day.