Memory Lane Origin of the PAK

[E for B and Billy Best]

A mob of us went by train, the crossing from Tilbury to Gravesend was like crossing the English channel the boat was bobbing up and down really badly. when we got out at Gillingham the first person we met up with was Knighty and within minutes chaos every where. Strange but I remember getting home to watch that England game thought we would get revenge for Mexico 1970 and Gunther Netzer ran us ragged.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Remember a number of coaches had posters someone had made of doc.m boot with PAK on the rear windows,Remember someone at the old central bus stn(sainsbury) saying that every coach in the town was booked.wonder how many went that day?

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Another possible origin of the name (discussed in the North Bank during half-time in a match 45 years ago) was that Pak was a copy of the Easterhouse Scottish gangs of the time.
They had a Pak, and The Drummy and a Toi and all kinds of weird and wonderful tags - and the name appealed to Blues fans 400 miles south

 

[canveyshrimper]

Remember a number of coaches had posters someone had made of doc.m boot with PAK on the rear windows,Remember someone at the old central bus stn(sainsbury) saying that every coach in the town was booked.wonder how many went that day?

We ran 4 on the day from Leigh Comm, plus I know there were many official supporters club coaches, added to many unofficial ones. I'd agree that pretty much every coach or mini bus in town went over to Kent on that memorable day.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Gillingham away 1972 was my first ever away game and only league match my mum ever went to.She did'nt have a clue what the trouble was about just recognised a lot of boys from Leigh Comm as she helped run it at the time.Kind of became addictive for me though.

Was your mum Daphne Grist or the lady who used to serve behind the counter at the snack bar in Leigh Comm?. I cant remember any other female staff there circa 1970-72.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Remember a number of coaches had posters someone had made of doc.m boot with PAK on the rear windows,?

I think they may have been the coaches we ran from Leigh Comm. One of our 'chaps' Steve S was a good artist, who later in life was to have a good signwriting business.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

how many went that day?

An army for sure. It was a shame that when we next played there in 1975, we did'nt have anywhere near that amount as half of Kent were waiting for us to show. There was a mass punch up on the pitch between 2-2.30 which resulted in dozens of our lot getting nicked. The remainder ended up scattered all over the ground, and the less said about the rest of the day the better. I think we lost the game 2-1.

 

[Benfleet A1]

I have read every page of this thread and throughly enjoyed the read but something has just dawned on me. Half you lot taking this trip down felony lane are responible for me having the ***** kicked out of me up and down the country when our following were less than enthusiastic about a row or to be more precise, when our numbers were lacking. Remembering back to the 81/82 season at Tranmere when the grand total of 30 of us were huddled together in the top tier of their main stand due to the rest of the ground being closed for safety reasons, we cheered ourselves up by tipping scolding hot chicken soup over the jovial scoucers below along with the mustard and ketchup bottles getting a quick squeeze over the barrier(boredom is a terrible thing)

After the game and trying to blend in I fell for the oldest trick in the book by being asked the time. It went something like this.

'Got the time pal?
'Yeah its... POW!!

Picture me sailing across the carpark, backwards, in a perfect arch, upside down and landing on a Ford Cortina's bonnet. We had the crap battered out of us but it wasn't over the soup shananigans because as I was staring up at the stars and wondering if I would get my devilish good looks back, I heard the imortal words 'You lot have had that coming for years'

After reading this thread, all has become clear.

By the way, anyone remember a fellow called Knobbler. Was alot older than me but he was the bloke who told me all about Lincoln 69'

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I have read every page of this thread and throughly enjoyed the read but something has just dawned on me. Half you lot taking this trip down felony lane are responible for me having the ***** kicked out of me up and down the country when our following were less than enthusiastic about a row or to be more precise, when our numbers were lacking. Remembering back to the 81/82 season at Tranmere when the grand total of 30 of us were huddled together in the top tier of their main stand due to the rest of the ground being closed for safety reasons, we cheered ourselves up by tipping scolding hot chicken soup over the jovial scoucers below along with the mustard and ketchup bottles getting a quick squeeze over the barrier(boredom is a terrible thing)

After the game and trying to blend in I fell for the oldest trick in the book by being asked the time. It went something like this.

'Got the time pal?
'Yeah its... POW!!

Picture me sailing across the carpark, backwards, in a perfect arch, upside down and landing on a Ford Cortina's bonnet. We had the crap battered out of us but it wasn't over the soup shananigans because as I was staring up at the stars and wondering if I would get my devilish good looks back, I heard the imortal words 'You lot have had that coming for years'

You should have gone there in 1975, a friday night game with a 'weekender' trip organised by the Brothers Grimm. No intention of using a cliche, but that was a grim night.

 

[canveyshrimper]

You should have gone there in 1975, a friday night game with a 'weekender' trip organised by the Brothers Grimm. No intention of using a cliche, but that was a grim night.

Was that the Easter weekend when we played Southport on the Saturday? I remember a few of us kipping rough that weekend, including Olly who felt safe in an old boat which turned was leaking like buggery, and he woke soaked to the skin.

And Grouty I think Nobbler was mentioned earlier in the thread he barely missed a game for years, and I believe he sits in the East Blacks these days.

 

[Mick]

You should have gone there in 1975, a friday night game with a 'weekender' trip organised by the Brothers Grimm. No intention of using a cliche, but that was a grim night.

Overnight stay in New Brighton as I recall. Mind you, couldn't remember much about it the following day, let alone 36 years later.

 

[Mick]

Was that the Easter weekend when we played Southport on the Saturday? I remember a few of us kipping rough that weekend, including Olly who felt safe in an old boat which turned was leaking like buggery, and he woke soaked to the skin.

And Grouty I think Nobbler was mentioned earlier in the thread he barely missed a game for years, and I believe he sits in the East Blacks these days.

No, Stockport on Saturday.

 

[BrettieAngell]

Was that the Easter weekend when we played Southport on the Saturday? I remember a few of us kipping rough that weekend, including Olly who felt safe in an old boat which turned was leaking like buggery, and he woke soaked to the skin.

And Grouty I think Nobbler was mentioned earlier in the thread he barely missed a game for years, and I believe he sits in the East Blacks these days.

Stockport, my has told us about that weekend a few times I think he missed the first half of the Tranmere game.

 

[shrimpfan]

wot

I was hearing about Ian Leask leading the charge down that hill on the approach to Lincoln from a mate who was there (back in '69?) whilst up at Lincoln on Saturday. It sounded pretty dramatic.

wot hill was that then?

 

[Rayleigh boy]

i thought there was an advertisement on the front of the roof for PAK tools

 

[Benfleet A1]

You should have gone there in 1975, a friday night game with a 'weekender' trip organised by the Brothers Grimm. No intention of using a cliche, but that was a grim night.

Alas, as much as my old man wanted me to be independent and to look after myself, I doubt very much that he would have allowed me to go to Tranmere on my own at ten years old. 15 it would seem was fine and dandy but 10 wasn't. Funny old sod was pater.

Which reminds me, Leigh Comm to put it bluntly had a reputation and few if any messed with them but I know that the Benfleet Manor Mob did. Any memories of that? I wasn't a member before any of you ask but the stories are legendary. Any comments?

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Alas, as much as my old man wanted me to be independent and to look after myself, I doubt very much that he would have allowed me to go to Tranmere on my own at ten years old. 15 it would seem was fine and dandy but 10 wasn't. Funny old sod was pater.

Which reminds me, Leigh Comm to put it bluntly had a reputation and few if any messed with them but I know that the Benfleet Manor Mob did. Any memories of that? I wasn't a member before any of you ask but the stories are legendary. Any comments?

There were a few that met the Benfleet mob on Bread and Cheese hill. Leigh Comm bashed and scattered them. One guy stood out for Benfleet tho, he had a big reputation. He was the only one that stood. He was swinging a small scaffolding pole at everyone.
After that there was rumours that Benfleet were going to turn up at Leigh Comm, but they never did that I know of. They were also meant to turn up at Zhivago's disco for about 3 Sunday's on the trot. About half the Leigh Comm turned up each time but no Benfleet.

The only mob that I know turned up at Leigh Comm were The Chestnut mob. They were from Chestnut Grove and the surrounding large council estate area between Sutton Road and Bournemouth Park Road. They came for revenge after a few got a beating from The Surrey Avenue, Kent Avenue estate. They drove around the estate about 9pm, but nobody was on the streets. They knew a few went to Leigh Comm, so they headed for there.
It was quiet night and not a main night at Leigh Comm, so there was hardly anybody there. They waited outside, and bushwhacked the first lad that came out, his name was Vic something. They gave him a very bad beating, black eyes, broken nose and busted teeth (I'm pretty sure that it made the front page of the Echo). Totally outrageous, as he was nothing to do with the fall out with this mob, he wasn't even a fighter. and was taken by complete surprise, and it was many on to One. Anyway, revenge was swift and brutal. Leigh Comm and the Surrey Avenue lot joined forces and arrived at the Wentworth youth club disco on a Friday night. That's where the Chestnut mob were always at full attendance and strength. Quite a few put up a good fight, as they had a lot of tough lads, but they were overwhelmed and badly beaten up in the end, and those that could escape, ran for their lives.
The Chesnut mob never came to that area again, or to Leigh Comm. That is all I know. Many others on here went to Leigh Comm, and may know more than me.

 

[canveyshrimper]

No, Stockport on Saturday.

Knew it was some Northern out post with Port in the name. :smile:

 

[canveyshrimper]

There were a few that met the Benfleet mob on Bread and Cheese hill. Leigh Comm bashed and scattered them. One guy stood out for Benfleet tho, he had a big reputation. He was the only one that stood. He was swinging a small scaffolding pole at everyone.
After that there was rumours that Benfleet were going to turn up at Leigh Comm, but they never did that I know of. They were also meant to turn up at Zhivago's disco for about 3 Sunday's on the trot. About half the Leigh Comm turned up each time but no Benfleet.

The only mob that I know turned up at Leigh Comm were The Chestnut mob. They were from Chestnut Grove and the surrounding large council estate area between Sutton Road and Bournemouth Park Road. They came for revenge after a few got a beating from The Surrey Avenue, Kent Avenue estate. They drove around the estate about 9pm, but nobody was on the streets. They knew a few went to Leigh Comm, so they headed for there.
It was quiet night and not a main night at Leigh Comm, so there was hardly anybody there. They waited outside, and bushwhacked the first lad that came out, his name was Vic something. They gave him a very bad beating, black eyes, broken nose and busted teeth (I'm pretty sure that it made the front page of the Echo). Totally outrageous, as he was nothing to do with the fall out with this mob, he wasn't even a fighter. and was taken by complete surprise, and it was many on to One. Anyway, revenge was swift and brutal. Leigh Comm and the Surrey Avenue lot joined forces and arrived at the Wentworth youth club disco on a Friday night. That's where the Chestnut mob were always at full attendance and strength. Quite a few put up a good fight, as they had a lot of tough lads, but they were overwhelmed and badly beaten up in the end, and those that could escape, ran for their lives.
The Chesnut mob never came to that area again, or to Leigh Comm. That is all I know. Many others on here went to Leigh Comm, and may know more than me.

Rucks with Benfleet & also those of King John in Shipwrights were always a bit embarrassing for me as I knew a lot of them as I lived in Thundersley at the time as did a few others such as Jaffa, Tank his brother Mark, plus the Welham twins were from Hadleigh. We were all regulars at Leigh Commwhich to be fair attracted people from as far afield as Shoebury, Thundersley, Southend plus of course the locals. Looking back I guess they were a pretty formidable bunch and I know who I'd like to have on my side in a scrap, as in the main they really looked out for your back.

There were a few battles with the Benfleet boys but they didn't venture as far as Leigh, it was always an away fixture. :smile: I also remember a visit we made en bloc to the Catcracker at Corringham, there's had been rumours that they were looking for a tear up. and around 50 from Leigh Comm arrived and said tear up ensued. Unfortunately the local OB got wind of what was happening and arrived before it turned into a full scale riot, and on arrival they promptly nicked a few of our number. With the arrival of the OB and their utterly unnecessary :winking: policy of nicking our members we became somewhat scattered, and a few got picked off by locals and got a kicking for their pains. Luckily for a few of us a bus heading towards Stanford came along which we gratefully jumped on and we headed back to the safer pastures of Leigh.

Looking back I'm not overly proud of some of the antics we got up to, but in many ways it was a rite of passage which youth of all generations go through. I spoke about to my old man and he admitted he got involved in punch ups with his gang when he was a lad. I think the major difference between now and 40 years ago was that (probably) the worst you'd get was a good kicking, today people think nothing about using knives or guns.

 

[Bolton Shrimper]

Was your mum Daphne Grist or the lady who used to serve behind the counter at the snack bar in Leigh Comm?. I cant remember any other female staff there circa 1970-72.

Daphne Grist was in charge,my mum is Doreen Owen who was one of the Assistant Youth Leaders.Finished at Leigh Comm in October 1972 when my family moved to Ipswich where she still lives.