Following Clipboard Ken's article in a recent issue about the infamous Slough game it set my mind away recalling other occasions Blyth fans have been picked on.

Here's a few that came to mind

:
Slough - away Amateur Cup '72
As chronicled in a recent issue. Mainly caused by so called 'Chelsea' fans attacking the Blyth lads.

Chesterfield - home F.A.Cup '77.
I entered the ground to witness a Blyth fan being set upon by about 20 Chesterfield fans. Once the pubs all turned out the mood changed with Chesterfield fans moving on to the pitch to evade trouble.

Goole Town - away F.A.Cup '79.
Once again Blyth fans had some trouble with locals claiming to be Leeds fans

.
Mansfield - home F.A.Cup '79.
The 'Stags' had looked very cocky before the kick off and had 'taken over the ground'. Again all that changed once the pubs turned out.

Mossley - away F.A.Trophy '80.
20 coaches carrying 1,000 Blyth fans travelled to the game. The Police were heavy handed against the Blyth fans for no reason at all. I remember one fan being punched full in the face by one policeman and another thrown a Blyth fan over the pitch wall.

Burton Albion - home F.A.Cup '80.
As soon as I got into the ground I was passed by a Burton fans going to hospital with blood pouring form his forehead. Minor skirmishes throughout the game. There was some unusual head wear by the visitors that day.

Hull City - away F.A.Cup '80.
The Hull fans did not like the fact that Blyth got the draw they deserved. In fact they took exception to the fact Blyth took around 1,500 fans to Humberside. They tried to charge the Blyth fans even before the game started, the Police had to surround the Blyth buses shoulder to shoulder after the game for our safety.

Burton Albion - away F.A.Trophy '81.
Oh no !. A return to their ground in the same season. 2 buses from Blyth looked sparse in a whole segregated area behind one goal. Throughout the game home fans were attempting to get at the Blyth fans. The Police were actually encouraging Blyth fans to entice them. " We are from Nuneaton, we hate this lot" was the reply as they managed to arrest another Burton fan.

Scarborough - away F.A.Cup '81.
10 coaches of Blyth fans travelled south and even as we pulled up outside the ground I sensed a degree of hostility. The Boro fans attacked us beforethe game. The Joiners bus turned up just in time. A cracking game saw Blyth win 3-2, which ruffled the locals, the Police made us wait behind after the game for our safety. We were soon met with a hail of bricks and bottles. Boro fans even kicked in a gate to try and get back into the ground and ended up fighting with the Police to get at us !. I recall talking to one Policeman at halftime who informed me there had been 10 arrest & 3 taken to Hospital with bites from the Police dogs already. I'm sure the players bus had a window put out.

Walsall - home F.A.Cup '81.
Walsall had a bit of a reputation but they had their work cut out at this game and subsequently at North Shields a couple of years later in the Cup.

Kidderminster Harriers - away F.A.Trophy '82.
Myself and a couple of others were surrounded by about 20 drunken Brummies. I can still picture this beefcake in a boiler suit saying I was worse than f**ing Fulham & Blackburn !.

Nuneaton Borough - away F.A.Trophy '87.
A cracking game ended in a 2-2 draw. The writing was on the wall before they attacked the Blyth fans. One was taken to hospital with concussion. The main meat head had 'Leeds' tattoo on his neck and had been watching the Blyth fans all day. One Blyth fan despite having a black eye and bust lip was quite pleased having gained someones watch in return for his wounds. After drawing twice at Blyth in the replay they won home advantage for the 3rd replay, thankfully this visit was quieter, but the pulse still soared when we saw the Leeds tattooed idiot through the clubhouse window.

Southport - home F.A.Cup '92.
The first time in over 10 years Blyth had reached the 1st Round. The game was ruined by none Blyth fans fighting with the scousers (Newcastle just happened to not have a game that day). Blyth's big day was played out to a back drop of trouble.

If you look at the games mentioned they all tend to be big F.A.Cup or Trophy games.
With no segregation, few Police in attendance, and League fans clubs thinking Non League football is for kinder garden, with their cocky attitude often contributes to problems off the pitch.
Its noticeable that the people who got involved in the trouble have probably never been see at a Blyth game for a long long time. And are certainly not likely to come down and watch their home town side in action in a Unibond relegation battle against Frickley Athletic but if a F.A.Cup tie brings a League club to Croft Park they'll be here.

*This article was written from a factual eye witness account, and does not condone any form of football related violence either on or off the pitch.