Football Specials

[perseus]

In the days of old. Have you even been on a Football Special?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Specials

First one I went on, was one of two going to Aldershot in the late sixties.

Like a Magical Mystery Tour the one to Ipswich probably in the seventies.

That was before the Seagulls Special. I went on one of them. I can't remember where though?

 

[perseus]

It does not look if long distance Football Specials will ever come back because of the crowded timetables and lack of redundant carriages.

A weekends some of the commuter carriages may be underused for longer trains to home games. For evening games, after Ipswich, I am not sure I would want to go by train again.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Okay.

 

[Blackadder]

I went on a few with Ron Pavey and Stavros (who I believe, sadly, is no longer with us).

Recall going to a 0-0 draw at Ipswich in the league cup. Also went to Walsall, Wrexham and York for the princely sum of £4.

My last venture on a football special was Forest in the League Cup. I was in one of the two trains that didn't make it.

 

[Superphil]

Was anyone on the Special coming back from Wolves, it had come to a halt (signal I guess) when one carraige had a window was sucked out by a passing train.

 

[Tomnorthi]

At Withdean once on boxing day there was a train to Preston Park purely for the football from Brighton, terminating at Preston Park.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

didn't the club block book 100 + seats on inter city services after the specials died out , did do a few specials but found them restrictive and too managed for my liking, nothing better than jumping on the old intercity out of London, remember one trip to Coventry and some Eastbourne lads breaking into the buffet car and helping themselves to the booze.
another one too, WBA when a handful of us were left to fend for ourselves at Smethwick station after all the Albion on the special had left

on the subject of Ipswich done a mid weeker there by normal train got back to Brighton ok but couldn't get the connection home,transport OB said you're not kipping down in the waiting room son

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Oldham, went on a special came back on normal BR service

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Cambridge away on the train out of Liverpool street, a young lady gets on the carriage at one of the stops there only to be greeted by around 40 "lads" , must admit i did feel sorry for here, it was the days of enclosed carriages so she had no option of moving.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Everton away 1st division , got attacked on the bus after the game ,got attacked on the station concourse when the bus arrived at the station, got escorted too the football special by two local police officers......................lovely day

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Man city away, get buses from station to Main road ,buses pull up at a park with a big boozer, Brighton get off buses and city spill out of said boozer and escort us up the road
AFTER THE GAME MAKE OUR OWN WAY BACK TO BUSES, GET BACK TO THE STATION AND SOME OF THE WINDOWS COME IN AS WE'RE LEAVING................ lovely day

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Bolton away, train approaching the station Bolton on the embankment watching the special arrive , same scenario as man city, get an escort to the ground only to be joined by a mob of Bolton from the boozer OPPOSITE THE AWAY END ...................

 

[The Large One]

Surely the most legendary Football Special was the one back from Newcastle in May 1979.

Many a sordid tale has been told from that particular trip.

 

[Ernest]

Everton away 1st division , got attacked on the bus after the game ,got attacked on the station concourse when the bus arrived at the station, got escorted too the football special by two local police officers......................lovely day

Was that the first season in Div 1 in 1979 ? Was on that bus if it was, supporters these days don't they're born

 

[drew]

Used to go on the seagull specials regularly. First one I remember was to Sunderland in 78 when we won 2-0 and went top of the table only to lose to Charlton 4-3 on the following Tuesday. Went to Newcastle for the famous game and plenty of others. Also was stuck on one when we played Forest in the league cup.

 

[8ace]

Weren't they dry
If so no thanks.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Surely the most legendary Football Special was the one back from Newcastle in May 1979.

Many a sordid tale has been told from that particular trip.

ha ha intercity 125 flew past that

 

[Peter Grummit]

Surely the most legendary Football Special was the one back from Newcastle in May 1979.

Many a sordid tale has been told from that particular trip.

There were 3 or 4 Special trains to Newcastle. I wasn't going but my mum (bless her) went and got me 3 tickets on the 'extra' train they only put on a few days beforehand, for me and my mates as a 16th birthday present. My birthday was the day of the game, spent virtually the whole day on the train as we missed the start due to late running. Worth every second though!

Also went to Orient, Luton, Bristol City by Special. Had to pull the blinds coming back from Luton as notorious for bricks being chucked through windows.

PG

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Mansfield, no football special, cup game,London to Nottingham change and then too Alfreton parkway ,middle of nowhere, had to get a bus into town , got the bus back but the driver took us to Mansfield police station for some reason

 

[Return of the Rev]

I went on a few with Ron Pavey and Stavros (who I believe, sadly, is no longer with us).

Recall going to a 0-0 draw at Ipswich in the league cup. Also went to Walsall, Wrexham and York for the princely sum of £4.

My last venture on a football special was Forest in the League Cup. I was in one of the two trains that didn't make it.

should have got the bus
not that again