for the nostalgic out there

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a little reminisce passed on from a mate, made me laugh anyway read on

>>>>>>> >>>>>Apart from the obvious hatred of Liverpool and to a lesser extent Man Utd, one of the most unpopular opponents among Toffees must be Newcastle United.

Maybe it's the clueless replica-shirted primates who genuinely believe they're the best fans around, or the clubs new found money and their laughable assertion that they're one of the elite. Maybe it's the horrible police and their oppressive "Let's empty the away end" tactics, or the fact it's so bloody far away. Whatever , St James' Park is one of the most popular/unpopular aways on the calendar.

Lets go back to happier days, Christmas 86 to be exact. The Blues were on a run of results which was largely instrumental in clinching the championship for the second time in 3 years, while Newcastle were a struggling outfit in those days, with twenty thousand the norm and not a replica top in sight.

However, the arrival of the champions elect attracted a best of the season of 35000, and the Blues fans packed into the corner of the then uncovered Leazes End were heartened by the news that the shower had lost the morning game at Anfield against a then dreadful Manchester United.

The atmosphere was electric with the adjacent Geordies hurling everything they could over the segregation fence. Typically any Blues who retaliated were removed with maximum force by the unsmiling, moustachioed pricks in uniform.

And so to the game. On the day Everton were awesome, Sheedy dictated the game with his full range of passing, Inchy Heath looked sharp up front and Trevor Steven ripped the Newcastle fullback apart in one of his best performances in a Royal Blue jersey.

Newcastle featuring Beardsley, Gazza and nine journeymen had no answer as the Toffees stormed home 4-0. Paul Power got the first after a sweeping box to box move. Steven got the next two with precise finishes after Sheedy had ripped the Geordie defence open. Trevor then made the fourth for Heath with a cross right onto the little striker's head. The ground was half empty long before the end.

The story unfortunately does not end here, as we had to reach my car, which I'd parked outside the station, "for safety". Despite a lengthy wait behind and a heavy escort, the ten minute walk was one of the scariest I've ever experienced. Hundreds of howling gypos launched sporadic masonary attacks on the buoyant blues and as well as the customary "casuals"- yes, they'd even reached the North East by this point - their number was supplemented by a number of 40 year old grizzlies in donkey jackets and hobnailed boots. A sort of Oz from Auf Wiedesehen Pet crew. Now shaven headed fattys in garish Stone Island coats are not uncommon these days, but to a 20 year old in 1986, these were truly petrifying.

As we came within touching distance of the safety of my car, all hell broke loose as the Jimmy Nail mob broke the escort and as we tried to drive away there were people literally climbing over my precious Mini. As we sped away my mate nursed his rapidly closing eye.

I don't think we stopped shaking until Carlisle!

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2000

Answers

I can back up the last 3 paragraphs...although I didn't stop shaking until Lancaster ..some 60 miles more :-)

Those were the days:-(

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2000


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