Season Review 1985/86

Low Life

The death of a supporter at the game against Birmingham and Leeds was simply a precursor to the horrendous scenes witnessed at Valley Parade and then Heysel. The future of the game was in serious jeopardy and the position of the football supporter was at it's lowest ebb.

The seven foot six inch wire fences at St James' were pulled down as The Boss arrived to Rock This Toon and with the Bradford Fire fresh in everyone's mind (the death toll would have been much worse if the fans had not been able to escape onto the pitch) there were suggestions that they should be kept down. In the end they were put back up again.

Maggie Thatcher was determined to clamp down on the trouble makers and there were suggestions of identity cards being introduced.The Popplewell Report (commissioned as a result of the Bradford Fire) was also published

British Rail made the decision to axe all soccer trains and cheap matchday excursions. Meanwhile Spurs were forced to postpone two home games on police advice as they were worried about potential disturbances in the aftermatch of the Broadwater farm riot.

More evidence of the crackdown on hooliganism came when two Chelsea fans received lengthy prison sentences (life and eight years) as a result of incidents in the previous season.

Sooner than you Think

The small but loyal band of fuelled-up followers who turned up for the pre-season friendly against Sheffield United made their feelings quite clear.

"Charlton must go", "We hate Charlton" and "Sack Jack" were some of the pithy opinions provided leaving Charlton (in Seymour's words) "hurt and visibly upset".

Even in United's colourful history the fans have rarely had such a dramatic impact.

Train Long-suffering

McFaul did away with Charlton's safety first tactics, especially at home and the crowd responded to his bravery with their encouragement if not always with their presence. The average attendance actually fell by 2,500 to 23,307.

People Ain't No Good

The fans had a decent share of their hate figures to bait at SJ and as usual they tended to score. There were visits from Kenny Burns, David Speedie (scored Chelsea's first goal), Terry Fenwick (QPR - booked for "running and signalling to the crowd" after he had scored) and Waddler (scored for Spurs).

Waddle probably got the most stick but he claimed that the fans hadn't bothered him. "I'm a Geordie and always will be" continued the Heworth born Sunderland supporter.

Trelford was also back for the visit of Watford and he endeared himself to the faithful even more by controversially disallowing a last minute Reilly goal that would have secured a victory.

TV Set

Armchair fans were in apoplexy as the season started with football off the air; a result of the clubs rejecting a four year/£16m deal. The clubs thought that they could hold out for more but our national game had been devalued by years of hooliganism culminating in the Heysel atrocity.

The TV companies refused to budge and the club's were forced to accept a much reduced offer midway through the season. A new deal was quickly reached in June in which the clubs would receive £6.2m over two years.