I’m open to correction re the year - re the well known Rovers fan, harmless fella , he was in so many ‘fights’ *we ended up nicknaming him ‘braindead’, not sure is he still around but when we moved to Tallaght for a few seasons fans used to do a collection to pay for his season ticket which meant the world to him poor soul-
* on one occasion late 70s when Spurs were playing a pre-season friendly in Dayler , the Spurs fans had taken over the shed- Paddy and one of his mates armed with a golf club charged the shed to reclaim it- the Gardai then waded in and beat/arrested the troublemakers ( a few Spurs fans)
This is a potential thread in itself. While not so illustrious as Ardiles or Villa and I say that considering the chap has Champions League medals Steve McManaman made his debut in a friendly against Dundalk. When the announcer called the substitution many of the well schooled Liverpool fans in the vicinity scoffed and laughed thinking it was Steve McMahon that was meant and it was a Dundalkism or an eccentric PA announcer mumbling the name. The majority of the crowd where I was behind the Carrick Goal seemed to be from North so whether that had anything to do with the confusion I dunno. What I do remember was the crush and kids, I was 12/13, being helped over the perimeter fence to the touchline for safety, that was '91 I think so considering the recent history of Liverpool then it was a bit ropey. I vaguely remember the attendance being given as 12k and it really wasnt a 'safe holding capacity' if that was accurate! Apart from ticket sales there was definitely cash being taken at the turnstiles so 12k was certainly possible and maybe more there. It still baffles me on how 18k or so were rammed in to essentially the same ground as today for the EC Cup game v Celtic and UEFA Cup game v Spurs not so long after.
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