Luton Outlaws - The Avenue of Evil

Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 18:35:49

the club have to tell supporters not sing some songs, I get it. We are under the world wide spot light due to us being in the Prem etc etc etc
Iam sure we can sing all sorts of other songs without referring to rent boys etc.
I hate Chelsea and this goes back to the 80s and there invasions of the town on match days. The headhunters were active along with the NF who had targeted Chelsea on the terraces as ripe for recruitment. They were a nasty bunch and Luton on match days was a place of fear.
I used to drink in the Plume of Feathers. On New Years Day,1980ish, with an early kick off I strolled in to my local to be confronted by 60 or so headhunters.
As I approached the bar I kept my head down and ordered a pint. Just as I did 5 or 6 Luton walked passed the pub and with that the pub emptied out. The landlord who looked quite sheepish said to me you have had a near miss drink up and f off quickly. Which I did. Once I arrived at the ground they were everywhere and trouble was kicking off all over, especially in the Oak Road. Think the game was played on a frozen pitch and it was 3 3. Great game but as close to death as you are going to get.
So when I get told not to do this not to do that I think back to those days and would like to ram it back down their throats, but yes I get what is being said and will abide by what is being said, it dont make it any easier though.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Ches Fordroad on 29/12/2023, 20:02:56, in reply to "Whilst"

It’s all about showing that you’ve taken action. In the event of any FA charges, punishment might be mitigated if the club shows it took reasonable steps to prevent.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 20:25:55, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Yeah,I know.

Re: Whilst

Posted by CheadleHulmeHatter on 29/12/2023, 19:40:18, in reply to "Whilst"

That game was a crazy day, i remember it like it was yesterday, just before Kick Off the Oak Rd went quiet, whistle blew and them bedlam,tbf they were great days.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:51:10, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Yeah in a funny kind of terrified way,ha!

Re: Whilst

Posted by CheadleHulmeHatter on 29/12/2023, 19:55:59, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Haha, i know what your saying,they are still great memories from another time.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Mutley on 29/12/2023, 19:22:36, in reply to "Whilst"

Was standing in the enclosure by the tunnel. Am I right in remembering that once it quietened down in the Oak Rd they raised a swastika banner?

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:34:25, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Dont remember that tbh

Re: Whilst

Posted by SAHB on 29/12/2023, 19:02:04, in reply to "Whilst"

I got a kicking at that game
a mate and I got in early and walked round to maple bar, only to be trapped with a few other Luton under the stand
OB waded in and kicked me and my mate out, straight into the clutches of more Chelsea I got kicked about like a rag doll when one of them tripped me.
Yes it was pretty bad.
As said below West Ham equally bad.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:09:47, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Was standing in the middle of the Oak behind our goal. I thought to myself its a bit light in here.
Luton came on to the pitch and we started to cheer, Chelsea cam on and all hell broke out. Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea being sung what seemed liked the whole end. Turned around to see some huge unit coming my way. He threw a punch but missed I turned around to get out of the way and got a kick in the back, I thought my insides where about to come out. Managed to get under the crush barrier and move to the side as he came crashing through managed to avoid him again. What was left of us stood but the crush was such they could pick us off one by one. Never like them then and still dont now.

Re: Whilst

Posted by grumpy on 29/12/2023, 20:29:18, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Yes remember it very well. We had no chance and got pushed/punched to the front of the Oak Road. There was hundreds of them. Having a rearranged face wasn`t how I wanted to start the New Year at all. Bounced off the front fence like it was a boxing ring. Was common place then.
Was a great game though and I was chatting to Mike Saxby about his goal that day pre match against Spurs.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Terry in the Office on 29/12/2023, 19:22:39, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

I was in the Oak Road that game. My recollection is that most of the Luton fans moved towards the right side of the stand after Chelsea took the end. A massive crush resulted. A line of police tried to separate the two groups but soon gave up and stood in front of the stand.
Kids down the front tried to climb the fences to reach safety but OB, at first, thought it was a pitch invasion and tried to stop them, until, belatedly they saw sense.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Mutley on 29/12/2023, 19:31:51, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

The one that sticks in my mind is Arsenal. Came over the maple bridge and there was a mob of smartly dressed lads. Later when we were in the Oak Rd, the same lot were walked down the right hand segregation cage and put in the bottom of the centre section of the Oak Rd. What were the coppers thinking, they were dressed completely different as smart casuals and stood out a mile. Think we held our own though.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Cognitive Dissident on 29/12/2023, 19:29:59, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

There’s some video footage of the match that pretty much confirms that.

Re: Whilst

Posted by grumpy on 29/12/2023, 20:33:06, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Was stuck in the middle section of the Oak Road.It was the most packed I can ever remember and when it went off and an Arse fan pulled a blade it was very nasty. Nowhere to go so forced them out and held the end that day.
One of the major reasons I hate both Arsenal and Chelsea to this day.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Lu5hatter2 on 29/12/2023, 18:56:49, in reply to "Whilst"

Arsenal, westham, spurs, Millwall in the late70s early 80s was a nightmare in the Oak Road, London clubs infiltrating was the norm, I hated it, I remember seeing donkey jackets as a fashion item for the first time in the oak road from a London club lol, it took the maple triangle to put a stop to it by all going in the same end

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:03:53, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

It wasn't great was it. Infact you had to have your wits about you, some nasty firms running around back then. We were tbh a bit of an easy touch until some got their shit together and responded in kind. Not condoning it but not condemning it either as back then it was pretty hairy at times and was glad when ours turned up to take on some of them.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Cognitive Dissident on 29/12/2023, 18:53:00, in reply to "Whilst"

The West Ham game 2 months later was much worse.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Gothenburg Hatter on 29/12/2023, 20:31:43, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Missed the Chelsea game but attended the West Ham game. One of those games which you knew would kick off big time which it did all game. Was the first season I went home and away. Loved it to be honest. The adrenaline pre match was something you don't experience these days. We had our fair share of lads who enjoyed the terrace culture and that grew in number the seasons following the West Ham and Chelsea invasions. The games against the London teams were always eventful. Got very nasty at times. Was just a different era at a time when the terraces had a large number of like minded young men. You just had to have your wits about you.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Cognitive Dissident on 29/12/2023, 20:47:46, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

You know, I’ve wondered at times if it was either planned (on their part) or just sheer weight of numbers. The London clubs always bought good followings but it always the ‘big 4’ (Chelsea, Arse, Spurs & Wet Sham) who really went for it. Millwall too but 85 aside they didn’t really create too much of a problem and we didn’t play them in that 79-82 era anyway.

I do though recall reading some sort of memo (I forget where exactly) warning members of the ICF that although they should be safe in numbers they should ‘expect a pretty warm welcome’.

As has been pointed out elsewhere - a constant looking over your shoulder and a continuous adrenaline rush. Oh to be in my late teens again…..

Re: Whilst

Posted by Nearly a Genius on 29/12/2023, 21:13:54, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

A "civilian" point of view.

In 1975, we were living in Cromwell Road. Towards the end of the season, I think, Luton were playing Chelsea at home, and for dome reason, the police escorted the Chelsea fans up Cromwell Road, which had never happened with any set of away fans before.
Mr. Genius was at work, and I was in the house with Elder Master Genius, who was a small baby at the time. Anyway, this horde of Chelsea fans swarmed up the road, shouting , kicking people's fences, gates and walls, and I was petrified. A few minutes after they had all disappeared under Waldeck Road bridge, my younger brother, wearing his Luton scarf tied to his wrist, knocked on the door, having just got off the bus and wanting a cup of tea before the match. He had a lucky escape.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 18:59:10, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Indeed it was. How did we get through it.
Arsenal came to town and tried to take the Castle Bar. It was like Rorkes Drift as they in their hundreds outside trying to get in through one doorway to beat the hell out of us, and us gallant few defended the pub with everything we could get our hands on.
Could never understand why the Kenny end was for the away support in their thousands and we were crammed into the Oak and Maple, it always felt that we were out numbered.

Re: Whilst

Posted by grumpy on 29/12/2023, 20:40:20, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Does make me wonder how we did too. So many horrible situations which we got through on adrenaline and wit as Gothenburg says. Thinking back it was the huge numbers involved that stand out and at times the level of sustained violence.
I do smile to myself now walking past the modern day wannabees hiding behind lines of stewards pretending they want to break through.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 22:27:49, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Had an interesting experience with a copper and his dog.
Spurs were in town. After the game the gates at the top of the Maple triangle were opened at the same time the away end was. As we all came pouring out at the same time as spurs. The police completely out numbered managed however to move the spurs lot away and the potential riot was averted.
We all started to move towards Hazelbury Crescent. As we started to move down the road people started to run and like the herd before I knew it I was running as well.
A police dog van appeared from no where and screeched to halt with a copper jumping out and ran straight into me shoving me up against a fence, which is still there funny enough. He had a dog chain in his hand
which he wrapped it around my neck and started to strangle me with it the mad fucer. He then decided to throw me in the back of his dog van with an Alsatian which was mad as him. Lucky for me there was a dividing wire mesh thing between me and the hound from hell. As he pulled the chain from around my neck it left the mark of the chain on one side of my neck. I actually thought he was going to beat me to death and then feed me to the dog.
He slammed the door shut jumped in behind the wheel and drove like a maniac to what I thought would be Buxton Road police station. Howver that wasnt the case. He drove straight passed it and we ended up at the old bus station. I was thinking that's it he has completely lost it and doesn't know where the hell he is and is going to throw me under a oncoming bus.
In the meantime the beast from Hades was trying to bite through the metal dividing cage. At any moment I thought if it gets through its going to bite my face off.
The copper after shouting like a complete nut job at me, got out of the van opened the rear door up grabbed hold of me and threw me out of the van and told me to fuc off as he belted me across the head at the same time, all the while the beast from Hell was barking and snarling like he hadn't eaten in days and was livid as his meal fuced off out of the bus station.
I always hated that bus station there after lol
Wonder where they are now.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Cognitive Dissident on 29/12/2023, 19:08:52, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Both games, and the trouble - made huge stories in the old Evening Post. I still remember a letter in the EP after one of the games blaming it largely on disaffected youths from Tythe Farm and Marsh Farm and them being the offspring of the London overspill. Not true of course.

I’ll remember the West Ham game for the non-stop 2hr punch-up in The Enclosure between the tunnel and the Oak Road. The ICF met their match in there for sure.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:12:59, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Yes, that day they got a pasting in there.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Cognitive Dissident on 29/12/2023, 19:24:17, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

One that never gets a mention is a game against Spurs about 2yrs previous. February night I think, we lost 4-1 and that was another 2hr punch-up in the Oak Road and The Enclosure.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 18:45:50, in reply to "Whilst"

1980.You must of been 30/35 ish ?

Re: Whilst

Posted by UFF on 29/12/2023, 19:01:11, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Flower pot.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 19:04:15, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

guffer

Re: Whilst

Posted by UFF on 29/12/2023, 19:10:49, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Would you mot cars for a living?

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:12:14, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Perhaps run a garage.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 19:19:19, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Nah,mugs game.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:21:06, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Ever felt like moving to the seaside, like Southend.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 18:47:06, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

18ish

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 18:54:35, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

pffffttt

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:00:00, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

HA! See you tomorrow.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 19:03:52, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

Yes mate,no doubt the elder statesman will be there first...

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:05:05, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

The elder statesman lol,he will love that!

Re: Whilst

Posted by Markyboy on 29/12/2023, 19:08:48, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

yeh, with the second word being off!!

Re: Whilst

Posted by Desperate Dan on 29/12/2023, 19:13:52, in reply to "Re: Whilst"

I dont know what you mean, he says that to everyone on the planet.

Re: Whilst

Posted by Nearly a Genius on 29/12/2023, 18:40:19, in reply to "Whilst"

Well said.

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