Boro away in The Simod Cup

[SE19CPFC]

Stand up and be counted all those who were there at possibly the greatest Palace game ever to be played in front of the fewest Palace fans. 3-2 in the last minute!

[Neil Ashton]

Yes, it was a saturday and those Boro fans were not a happy bunch.

My brother woke me up that morning and said: "Come on, we're going to see this Simod match come what may" and I told him to **** off.

Still he got me out of bed and we drove up there about 150mph and even faster on the way back. In fact, so fast that he ended up getting pulled by the Rozzers for speeding.

We couldn't care less though, we were still celebrating Palace's amazing win!

[Mad Raschic Ken]

I must admit that I wasn't there. A mate of mine that supports Middlesbro went to the game though. I remember him telling me something along the lines of Middlesbro going 2-1 up in the final minute, him celebrating like a mad man before looking up to see Palace score and swearing loudly about the fact that Palace had equalised only to be told that he had missed a goal during his mad celebrations and that Palace had won 3-2!

Does anybody remember the less pleasing, but equally dramatic games when we lost 5-4 at Blackburn and 5-3 at West Brom?

At Blackburn we were 3-1 up with about 25 minutes left when Ian Wright was brought down for a blatant penalty. The referee waived away the appeals though and second later gave Blackburn a penalty for an innocuous challenge at the other end. Within about 2 minutes we were 4-3 down. Then with ten minutes left Gary O'Reilly made it 4-4 before Blackburn got a last minute winner to sicken us all.

At West Brom we were 4-1 down with about 3 minutes left. Then suddenly we burst into life and pulled it back to 4-3. In injury time we were awarded a penalty. Ian Wright had the kick saved by the keeper, who promptly delivered a long ball up the field and West Brom scored a fifth. Sick again!

[SE19CPFC]

Neil-I remember that Steve Coppell was rather pissed off afterwards with the ref.

[Neil the Eagle]

Boro - I distinctly remember a tannoy announcement just after Cooper made in 2-1 to them, telling their fans how to get tickets and travel arrangments for the Forest Semi!

There is a sad note to that story though. As mentioned already, their fans were not a happy bunch at the final whistle - I was told by Policeman when retrieving my keys (which fell out of my coat during the mental goal celebrations) that one of their fans had been seriously injured as a result of trying to climb over those roll-a-spikes they had at the top of their fences. He was in the terrace at the other end of the ground. I thought it was a sick joke, but Robbie Tobin, who organised the coach travel in those days later confirmed that it had been reported in the local paper up there and the guy had subsequently died.

[SE19CPFC]

The Boro fans were indeed mental. What a celebration at the end though. Their fans who looked all nutters couldn't touch us lot going mad thanks to spiked fences and mean looking police dogs. Boro went 2-1 up in the 87th minute with a superb goal. I thought at least we had gone out to a blinder and before you knew it our corner was going delirious. A wonderful moment.
Was also at 5-4 at Blackburn. It was s superb match. I sat for this in the main stand and also remember a couple of Palace fans running along the wall inside the stand in the home end bit with a quacking duck whistle thing taunting the Blackburn fans. Either too much to drink or rare Palace lunatics or both. A very strange sight.

[Neil Ashton]

Yes, it was a saturday and those Boro fans were not a happy bunch.

My brother woke me up that morning and said: "Come on, we're going to see this Simod match come what may" and I told him to **** off.

Still he got me out of bed and we drove up there about 150mph and even faster on the way back. In fact, so fast that he ended up getting pulled by the Rozzers for speeding.

We couldn't care less though, we were still celebrating Palace's amazing win!

[Neil Ashton]

SE19

Blackburn 5-4 !! What a game.

Bastard Finnigan has signed for them in the summer "Don wants me to be the midfield dynamo, Coppell thinks I'm a right back" (Coppell was right) but he was injured and sitting in the stand. We were 1-0 up I think and we started signing "Finnigan, what's the
score" !!!!!!

Referee that day? A certain JJ Timmons, second only in the incompetence stakes to Kelvin Morton.

[This message has been edited by Neil Ashton (edited 02 July 1999).]

[Bazza]

This had to be the greatest comeback ver from a spirited palace team. I remember the day well travelling all the way up (thank god it was on a saturday). The terrace in the corner, no ladies toilet for the girlfriend (she had to be escorted into the covered terrace and the look of horror on the boro faces as we left the ground delighted. PS Roby topin had a sea in the stand if i remember and had to be escorted out in a hurry.

[Chobham Eagle]

Stand up and be counted all those who were there at possibly the greatest Palace game ever to be played in front of the fewest Palace fans. 3-2 in the last minute!

Yes I was there. What a great afternoon that was!

[CP Satellite]

I was at that match - the memory that stands out for me was Ian Wright firing a tremendous shot - (think of Ambrose's goal yesterday v Sheff Utd) that hit the underside of the 'Boro bar and definitely went over the line (the away end was plumb in line with goal) - but the goal was not given - I'm not sure if this was before or after the Palace winner.

It is quite funny to think that the 'Boro fans were so devastated at losing what amounted to a quarter-final in what was not regarded as an important competition by most fans - even back twenty years or so ago!

I guess it gave us a great Final v Everton in 1991 to remember (but only a few thousand Everton fans turned up!) - and we had a couple of Semi-Finals (v Forest and Chelsea) that may have resulted in yet another couple of trips to Wembley - but the whole thing was very contrived - a bit like the old Texaco Cup or Watney's Cup in the early 70's (youngsters will have to google this!).

The whole competition revolved around the fact that after the Hysel tragedy in 1985 - no European places were available - so the Football League threw up this competition as compensation - Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs never entered the competition, as they thought it beneath them!

I think there should be a thread on the 'Full Members Cup' - as the few games we played did throw up some very lasting memories - at all ends of the
football supporting scale!

[eaglesboy2]

I was there :lux: :lux: . I mentioned this on another thread. I remember being on the terrace in the corner. At the end the Boro fans being just slightly unhappy. I am sure they were trying to get into our corner. When we left the ground I just remember thinking/saying to my dad to walk quicker as we tried to get back to the car!

[SA Eagle]

I almost missed the game. Having overslept to make the coach I calculated that if the buses, trains and undergrounds were kind to me, I could still make it to catch the special train.

Fortunately, I made it and about ten minutes into the journey, the guard uttered the fateful words "Ladies and Gentlemen the buffet car is now open, serving a variety of soft and alcoholic drinks" :lux: and so ensued the most pissed away day of the season, which was in no way helped by a delay at Darlington station on the way back that was spent in the boozer.

As Baldy would say DRUNK!

[cantspell]

My brother was there - he has told me many times about the day - the game, the mad boro fans at a delay at darlington.

[Dorking .Eagle]

They were all gloating beforehand how they'd booked every last coach in the north east for the semi at Forest. Only West Ham before the Play Off Final were more arrogant.

[gold76]

Didn't realise one of their fans died that day..

A competition like that would be great today, a good way of blooding youngsters.

[ElwissAtMemphis]

A competition like that would be great today, a good way of blooding youngsters.

No it wouldn't. It was as rubbish then in exactly the same way that it would be rubbish today.

Noades was not only an enthusiastic advocate of the competition, he was instrumental in its inception. His view was that the future lay in an increased number of competitions which allowed more teams to win each season. It sounds good in theory but when the top teams can't be bothered to enter, the competition's integrity is fatally compromised which the fans could instinctively see, hence the embarassing attendances. The entire exercise was a complete farce. I had a great afternoon out at Wembley for the final in 1991 but it had no more prestige than a pre-season tournament did it ?

If I was writing Palace's history, I'd only include these matches as a footnote along with The Anglo-Italian Cup and other ill-conceived tournaments. Only that bloody Super Cup in which the top 4 teams in Division 1 played-off as compensation for the post-Heysel Ban had less kudos.

I seriously admire those of you that travelled up to Ayresome Park for that match but honestly, don't you look back and think "why the feck did I do that"? That's exactly what I think about watching our Semi-Final against Norwich that secured our place in the Final against Everton. It was a contrived and pointless waste of time.

[Tony]

We were so success starved (and so indeed were Boro). Why did we go? I went everywhere at the time, was at the WBA and Blackburn games as well, and it was really just being part of such an exciting time.

Crap Cup or not, the Boro game remains an outstanding memory which was taken extremely seriously by both clubs and sets of fans, no-one there that day was treating it as any kind of friendly. Their "winner" by Colin Cooper was thumped in from miles out and was absolutely gutting, but that Palace team just never knew when they were beaten.

I can still picture their fans at the end...

[CP Satellite]

I seriously admire those of you that travelled up to Ayresome Park for that match but honestly, don't you look back and think "why the feck did I do that"? That's exactly what I think about watching our Semi-Final against Norwich that secured our place in the Final against Everton. It was a contrived and pointless waste of time.

Well, the attendances at the matches are a testimony as to how important the matches were, in most cases even less than you would expect in the League Cup but then some teams had no history of recent success at any level- for 'Boro - getting to a semi-final - any semi-final, even the Simod Cup semi-final (!) was the the highlight of their century to that point - so the match against Palace provided near hysteria - I'm saddened to learn that one of their fans actually died as a result of the chaos at the end of the game, 'Boro did make it to the final in 1990 v Chelsea (and lost) - which was a big game for Chelsea fans back then!

As far as saying "why the feck did I go?" - not at all in my case - although I would have to qualify that by saying I'm the type of Palace fan that watches the team play friendlies in what amounts to cow-fields in Jersey, Sweden, Norway and Southern Germany - so a trip to Middlesbrough for a minor cup-tie is a big deal! :D

I think the scenes at the end, as far as I'm concerned, were quite comical (not withstanding the fatal injuries to the aforementioned 'Boro fan - which none of us had a clue about - me over twenty two years later) - in actual fact, if I was going to write a history of Palace - I would put down just such as a game as capturing the whole spirit of supporting Crystal Palace - travelling hundreds of miles to follow your team gain a victory in the face of fierce opposition - and being 2-1 down in the 88th minute and 3-2 up by the final whistle just about puts in a nutshell all of the finest moments supporting Palace before and since - I was bloody glad I was there!

[eaglesboy2]

We were so success starved (and so indeed were Boro). Why did we go? I went everywhere at the time, was at the WBA and Blackburn games as well, and it was really just being part of such an exciting time.

Crap Cup or not, the Boro game remains an outstanding memory which was taken extremely seriously by both clubs and sets of fans, no-one there that day was treating it as any kind of friendly. Their "winner" by Colin Cooper was thumped in from miles out and was absolutely gutting, but that Palace team just never knew when they were beaten.

I can still picture their fans at the end...
:p

[Tony]

Ayresome Park at the time looked like a run down science fiction prison (think Escape From New York or some such). No wonder too, that Boro mob really were unreal, but CP Satellite is right that it was comical in a terrifying kind of way.

If they could have got to us they'd have torn us apart, but with all the fences and wire and spikes it was obvious that they couldn't and so we danced about in front of them like a load of cartoon cats from Tom and Jerry who knew that those teeth-gnashing bulldogs were safely tethered out of reach and no matter how much they snarled they weren't going to get us.

[Raggy]

There is a sad note to that story though. As mentioned already, their fans were not a happy bunch at the final whistle - I was told by Policeman when retrieving my keys (which fell out of my coat during the mental goal celebrations) that one of their fans had been seriously injured as a result of trying to climb over those roll-a-spikes they had at the top of their fences. He was in the terrace at the other end of the ground. I thought it was a sick joke, but Robbie Tobin, who organised the coach travel in those days later confirmed that it had been reported in the local paper up there and the guy had subsequently died.

sounds like one for the Darwin Awards

[Duffle Coat]

No it wouldn't. It was as rubbish then in exactly the same way that it would be rubbish today.

Noades was not only an enthusiastic advocate of the competition, he was instrumental in its inception. His view was that the future lay in an increased number of competitions which allowed more teams to win each season. It sounds good in theory but when the top teams can't be bothered to enter, the competition's integrity is fatally compromised which the fans could instinctively see, hence the embarassing attendances. The entire exercise was a complete farce. I had a great afternoon out at Wembley for the final in 1991 but it had no more prestige than a pre-season tournament did it ?

If I was writing Palace's history, I'd only include these matches as a footnote along with The Anglo-Italian Cup and other ill-conceived tournaments. Only that bloody Super Cup in which the top 4 teams in Division 1 played-off as compensation for the post-Heysel Ban had less kudos.

I seriously admire those of you that travelled up to Ayresome Park for that match but honestly, don't you look back and think "why the feck did I do that"? That's exactly what I think about watching our Semi-Final against Norwich that secured our place in the Final against Everton. It was a contrived and pointless waste of time.
Am inclined to agree and yet that win over Everton meant something. It really did. We won it fair and square. OK not the FA Cup, not even the League Cup but it meant something, the Zenith Data Systems Trophy. I mean, we lifted a trophy having won the game in style. I wish we had won the FA Cup instead but we didn't and had to settle for the ZDS. Incidentally, is it in our trophy cabinet ?

[rbarmy]

I didn't go to this game, but unless my memory is fooling me, the smallest Palace home support that I have ever been a part of was in the same competition against Walsall on a freezing cold February night - just over 2,000 as far as I recall

[disco mixx kidd]

I was at the 5-3 west brom game
The was one rough area
Derelict houses with fires etc
And that shite hole gound
Mad game

[CP Satellite]

I was at the 5-3 west brom game
The was one rough area
Derelict houses with fires etc
And that shite hole gound
Mad game

Yeah, but that was a League game! I can still remember Carlton Palmer swearing at Ian Wright as he was about to take a penalty for Palace (which Wrighty missed!).

The 'Full Members Cup' tie at West Brom was our first away match in that competition - we lost 2-1.

The first match was at home to Br*ght*n - and was actually the smallest Cup Tie gate Palace have ever had - 2,007 (even less than the Walsall game mentioned!).

And people are complaining that we only got 14,000 yesterday!

[SHIPEAGLE]

Was at Boro for this match with a mate who drove us up there we were parked across the road from the ground (otherside of the crossroads) and when we came out the ground the area immediately outside the ground was cordoned off with the Palace supporters coach in the cordoned off area. Where our car was parked was a mob of boro fans giving us abuse so my mate asked the police to move them away from his car, which the police did and then escorted my mate to his car and asked him to drive into the cordoned off area, where i then got in, we were then escorted out of Middlesbro with the coach without stopping at any lights or junctions, must have been our best get away from any away match.

Great day and amazing ending to the match

[TenEmBee]

Went to this game on the train. Remember coming out of the ground, and seeing hoards of rampaging Boro thugs baying for our blood.
The police decided to put us on a bus, which we thought was taking us back to Middlesbrough station. We ended up being driven to (i think) Thornaby on Tees station.
From there (as mentioned before) we went to Darlington, only to find our train to London had been delayed. We spent time in some run down pub outside the station before drunkenly boarding the train back to London.
All in all a great day out.

[SA Eagle]

It was a rough old place that pub by Darlington station and quite strange as well, I ordered a Vodka and Orange for someone and the barman gave me orange cordial rather than juice.

[trickyricky66]

Stand up and be counted all those who were there at possibly the greatest Palace game ever to be played in front of the fewest Palace fans. 3-2 in the last minute!
Glad to say i was there.top day:lux: :lux:

[Dorking .Eagle]

Incidentally, is it in our trophy cabinet ?

Yes it is - saw it last week. One handle is broken off it though and lies to its side. Apparently last season a visiting director from Preston was larking about with it and broke it off.

Really should have been mended by now

[selhursthoover]

Stand up and be counted all those who were there at possibly the greatest Palace game ever to be played in front of the fewest Palace fans. 3-2 in the last minute!

:lux: :lux:

[selhursthoover]

Boro - I distinctly remember a tannoy announcement just after Cooper made in 2-1 to them, telling their fans how to get tickets and travel arrangments for the Forest Semi!

There is a sad note to that story though. As mentioned already, their fans were not a happy bunch at the final whistle - I was told by Policeman when retrieving my keys (which fell out of my coat during the mental goal celebrations) that one of their fans had been seriously injured as a result of trying to climb over those roll-a-spikes they had at the top of their fences. He was in the terrace at the other end of the ground. I thought it was a sick joke, but Robbie Tobin, who organised the coach travel in those days later confirmed that it had been reported in the local paper up there and the guy had subsequently died.

I was sitting next to Robbie. We managed to get hold of a fews comps but they were down the other end in the seats on the side.

The bloke in question came over the fence below us. His jeans got caught on the spikes and he hit the concrete head first from about 12/15 feet. You heard the thud from up top. He was motionless.

We got escorted alongside the pitch after it calmed down to join the rest of the Palace in the away terrace.

[gold76]

Yeah, but that was a League game! I can still remember Carlton Palmer swearing at Ian Wright as he was about to take a penalty for Palace (which Wrighty missed!).

The 'Full Members Cup' tie at West Brom was our first away match in that competition - we lost 2-1.

The first match was at home to Br*ght*n - and was actually the smallest Cup Tie gate Palace have ever had - 2,007 (even less than the Walsall game mentioned!).

And people are complaining that we only got 14,000 yesterday!

I was at that one, Ken Hughes was in goal, his only game?

[CP Satellite]

I was at that one, Ken Hughes was in goal, his only game?

No - It was in that rare run of games for Brian Parkin in goal for Palace - not a bad keeper really - I think Perry Suckling was dropped (not sure that he was injured?) after losing 2-0 at home to Watford and Parkin took over, but lost his place after we lost 3-1 at some team on the South Coast on Boxing Day, 1988.

[Man of Kent]

Suckling was injured right through the middle of that season,

He was the first to do the throw the ball outside the Area and hoof it.

[TrevorWel]

Stand up and be counted all those who were there at possibly the greatest Palace game ever to be played in front of the fewest Palace fans. 3-2 in the last minute!

Great thread! I was there and it's a classic Palace memory for me. The mentalness of the celebrations in that away corner was epic, added to by the players who ran over after the goals and final whistle to celebrate with us. It was a rare occasion in those days, players generally trudged off in abject disappointment at the end of an away game with a very rare clap toward the away support.

As others have said, it was extremely volatile after the match, just getting back to the car was an adventure.

Having an aunt with plenty of space in her house and a cousin with a popular restaurant in the city (Central Park http://www.cafecentralpark.com), a car load of us went up for the weekend. I must say, we had a very quiet dinner and evening drinks in Middlesborough city center that night. :D

Top weekend away :lux: :lux:

[orp pisshead1]

Yep top game and very mental celebrations at f/t. Boro were going mad outside ground lol.

[Acky]

I was also present along with Moorsie, Kev & I think big Dave went as well. I also have memories of the Boro fan attempting to jump the fence into the sterile area to our left & falling head first onto the concrete terracing, I must admit to this day I had never heard that he died. The locals were not very happy at all that day.

[La Bombonera]

That was a great day. The Boro fan ('Big Fat Gazza look-a-like', my mate Mick and me referred to him from thereon) was making gestures to the Palace fans throughout. They really took defeat badly that day but at least we knew what to expect because the fella behind the jump in the pub we went for a pre-match beer told us NOT to come back afterwards whatever the result!

Always remembered visits to Boro's Ayresome Park for their open air urinals :D :p

[elbarno]

I remember the pub in Darlington there was a load of Bournemouth fans in there coming back from Hartlepool we had a bit of banter with them,nightmare on the bus from ayresome park to the station

[Ketteridge]

I was there, we had the white kit on, if I remember?

[Typical Palace]

Lovely kit that.
Was it the same one were wore at Bradford, where we won?

[Ketteridge]

Lovely kit that.
Was it the same one were wore at Bradford, where we won?
All white with red logo, I remember it at Bradford, can't recall the result though

[Ogilvy]

The most scared I've been at a football game. Went up with 'Ships is Back', Mick, Grant, Gordon and a girl called Jane (?). Worst move we made was stopping off for a beer in the pub just up the road for a couple of points, amazing how you think you're bullet proof when young.

Still all turned out OK, it always does!

[SA Eagle]

Normally I went by coash but for this game I was on the train. A few lads I met on the trip up and I slipped off the escort to the ground before the game to look for somewhere to go for a beer. After being turned away by a cafe / restaurant (A cheese sandwich and 6 pints of lager please :D) we stumbled accross some big boozer on the corner of one of the side streets.

Inside we were greeted by a load of lads all in t-shirts despite the cold, after a few nervous looks amongst ourselves we got a few beers when suddenly some bloke came up to us "we don't like cockneys round here **** off". As we tried to sum up the situation a load more pitched up and as we feared the worst they proceeded to tell him to do one and pretty much booted him out the pub "don't worry bout him lads he's a prick".

The lads we ended up drinking with were good as gold and we had a good pre match session, although I was still glad we didn't meet them after. :o

[trickyricky66]

I remember the pub in Darlington there was a load of Bournemouth fans in there coming back from Hartlepool we had a bit of banter with them,nightmare on the bus from ayresome park to the station
Also when we got back on the train at Darlington there wa loads of old bill :eek:

[Typical Palace]

All white with red logo, I remember it at Bradford, can't recall the result though
Think we won one nil; goal at our end? Wrighty?

[Ogilvy]

Normally I went by coash but for this game I was on the train. A few lads I met on the trip up and I slipped off the escort to the ground before the game to look for somewhere to go for a beer. After being turned away by a cafe / restaurant (A cheese sandwich and 6 pints of lager please :D) we stumbled accross some big boozer on the corner of one of the side streets.

Inside we were greeted by a load of lads all in t-shirts despite the cold, after a few nervous looks amongst ourselves we got a few beers when suddenly some bloke came up to us "we don't like cockneys round here **** off". As we tried to sum up the situation a load more pitched up and as we feared the worst they proceeded to tell him to do one and pretty much booted him out the pub "don't worry bout him lads he's a prick".

The lads we ended up drinking with were good as gold and we had a good pre match session, although I was still glad we didn't meet them after. :o

Who are you as I was with this group?