[Spired]

Really the opposite of the other post....it got me thinking about older town games and remembering the old Compton Street side and how great it was.

The migration from the kop to the Cross Street end of the Compton...the atmosphere especially at local derby games was pretty unique having been to a lot of other grounds.

When I was a kid at Saltergate I think the ground was segregated 2/3'rds of so up the pitch on compton street side allowing away fans to take a 1/3rd or so to away fans.

Games that spring out...Carlisle United in 95 and the following season when we beat them...Mansfield 5-2, Forest at home..Wrexham at home...Mansfield 4-0....special moments as a Spireite.

The current Compton isn't bad...a decent job really on a budget and fair play to CFC on that. But I do miss the old atmosphere...being able to migrate depending which way town were kicking...and mostly the banter.

[Sammy Spireite]

Spired, on Aug 11 2008, 04:28 PM, said:

Really the opposite of the other post....it got me thinking about older town games and remembering the old Compton Street side and how great it was.

The migration from the kop to the Cross Street end of the Compton...the atmosphere especially at local derby games was pretty unique having been to a lot of other grounds.

When I was a kid at Saltergate I think the ground was segregated 2/3'rds of so up the pitch on compton street side allowing away fans to take a 1/3rd or so to away fans.
Games that spring out...Carlisle United in 95 and the following season when we beat them...Mansfield 5-2, Forest at home..Wrexham at home...Mansfield 4-0....special moments as a Spireite.

The current Compton isn't bad...a decent job really on a budget and fair play to CFC on that. But I do miss the old atmosphere...being able to migrate depending which way town were kicking...and mostly the banter.

Originally it was split half way with a no mans land under the tv gantry i think.

Then it got extended to be level with the goal line at the Cross Street end, roughly where the seats come up to now.

[kevspireites]

stood in them bits infront of stand a few times when a kid nice and close to action

[Tonycfc]

" Places you are gald you stood "

I stood about an inch to the left of some dog dirt this morning. Better then an inch back to the right!!!!

This post has been edited by Tonycfc: 11 August 2008 - 04:26 PM

[Bugerov]

kevspireites, on Aug 11 2008, 05:20 PM, said:

stood in them bits infront of stand a few times when a kid nice and close to action

I liked standing in the paddock in front of the wing stand

[Zeus]

A lot different from nowadays. Shocking atmosphere at Compton Street for a routine match. You must be nostalgic if you're talking about Compton Street because it's terrible these days. Only on some occasions at local derby matches is it worth entering.

[daveblakey]

D Loizou, on Aug 11 2008, 06:23 PM, said:

A lot different from nowadays. Shocking atmosphere at Compton Street for a routine match. You must be nostalgic if you're talking about Compton Street because it's terrible these days. Only on some occasions at local derby matches is it worth entering.

I am sure when I first went to Saltergate over 50 years ago,we used to stand behind what ever goals we were attacking and walk round to the other end at half time.Can any one confirm this as the old memory is not what it used to be.

[inkyblue]

daveblakey, on Aug 11 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

I am sure when I first went to Saltergate over 50 years ago,we used to stand behind what ever goals we were attacking and walk round to the other end at half time.Can any one confirm this as the old memory is not what it used to be.

yes , fans used to swop ends at one time can just about remember doing it showin me age

[Wooden Spoon]

kevspireites, on Aug 11 2008, 05:20 PM, said:

stood in them bits infront of stand a few times when a kid nice and close to action

I stood there for the rangers game, surrounded by jocks. good job I was only a kid at the time..........

[Frank Thacker]

daveblakey, on Aug 11 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

I am sure when I first went to Saltergate over 50 years ago,we used to stand behind what ever goals we were attacking and walk round to the other end at half time.Can any one confirm this as the old memory is not what it used to be.

Was certainly possible, and by no means limited to here, either. The last time that I recall this happening was in the last game of 84-5, at home to Rochdale, when their smattering was put in the stand and the Pop Side fence (that ran up halfway, at the time, I think) was opened. We have stood on the Cross Street end since, but the Kop has either been closed (Halifax, 2001,) or fans were kept in that end only (overspill in FA Cup "voucher" games, etc.)

[h again]

daveblakey, on Aug 11 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

I am sure when I first went to Saltergate over 50 years ago,we used to stand behind what ever goals we were attacking and walk round to the other end at half time.Can any one confirm this as the old memory is not what it used to be.

You remember correctly. Home and away fans stood behind the goal their team was attacking, and at half time everybody changed ends. Both sets of fans passed each other on the half-way line with only a bit of friendly banter - there was no aggression of any kind. I reckon anybody trying to turn nasty would quickly have found themselves outside the ground, put there by their own fellow supporters.
It's a long way from the neanderthals today, giving it large with the obscenities from a safe distance.

[lindave]

I used to like to sit on the pitch boundary wall behind both ends of the ground at reserve matches, and often we had some freindly banter with the opposing keeper. ( the funniest was David Bairstow playing for Bradford, who gave the pair of us a wrigleys spearmint for telling him which way to dive for a penalty, which we scored). I loved standing on the Cross St. in the middle of the away fans without a sign of trouble. The enclosure in front of the stand was a great viewing point and added to the atmosphere especially at night matches.
The best place of all was the centre of the kop just in front of the kop choir, when in the good old days we had a crowd sway to match the Anfield kop. Today which should scrap all seater stadiums they are crap. ( Wembley and old Trafford included lol.) Long live the Saltergate terraced kop.

[TB.CFC]

First memories watchin town are of standing there, would move back there anyday if it was standing, loved it.

[JohnnyUtah]

spireiteblue, on Aug 11 2008, 11:25 PM, said:

H from when i started going in 69/70 not one opposing fan passed me as i went round to cross street,not many came what few did were in the wing stand,i used to go in at that end cross st because like today we usually kicked that way first half ......

My old man always says if we kick to the Kop in the first half we'll lose.

I'd be interested to know what the stats are on that, though from my own memory of watching Town for more than 20 years more often than not hes right.

[sherbet fountain]

JohnnyUtah, on Aug 12 2008, 12:28 PM, said:

My old man always says if we kick to the Kop in the first half we'll lose.

I also hate it when we kick that way in the first half. Superstitions heh.

There was a poorly lit "rat run" at the back of the Compton - just enough room to pass the fans coming the other way. Always thought it must have been like changing shift down the pit!

2007 open day I spent twenty minutes on the Cross Street end quietly reminiscing. If I closed my eyes to slits I could just picture Johny McCann putting the ball in the net. Lady friend thought I was barking...

[Spired]

Glad i started this thread now...yes it was 1/2 way up the pitch the segregation on compton street. Underneath the current digital clock. I remember it now as i think back...starting going town games as a young un in about 1986-87ish.

I was a ballboy when we played Aldershot and Maidstone in 89ish (maybe 90) and that is a brilliant memory for me. Aldershot are back now but I guess i'm not that lucky an omen for opposition clubs.

Chesterfield FC deserve credit for this and why not break a habit of recent times of not saying much praise for them (well on the pitch at least)... ...and so do the Chesterfield Co-Op. The Family Stand deal!!!!

It cost a pittance for me to go to games with my dad and my younger bro as a result of this...and the obsession with CFC is now embeded. That stand and the kids in it...perhaps a hundred or so...some went to my junior school as town fans back then and they are still town fans now. I think basically if my dad purchased a season ticket it cost merely a quid eventually going up to £4 then £6...i still have the old family stand cards. We spent on matchdays on programmes and stuff from the clubshop...but those days are really what has led to me sticking with town over the others from up the road.

So my childhood memories of players like Steve Cherry, Tony Brien etc....all are down to CFC and Co-op getting it right and making it affordable. And enjoyable.

Anyhow....this is an enjoyable thread. Too much bickering goes on on here and we don't seem to look back with smiles at some better times.

sherbet fountain, on Aug 12 2008, 12:41 PM, said:

I also hate it when we kick that way in the first half. Superstitions heh.

The groans when we kick the 'wrong way' are always there. I hate kicking towards the kop first.

This post has been edited by Spired: 12 August 2008 - 01:49 PM