Reading this link, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31474966 reminded me of one my first away games watching pools, it would have been the opening day of the season at Halifax in 1987/8 when we got stuffed 4 nil.

We were stood in the corner on what can only be described as a slag heap. A partial covered terrace plus an open slope. Old school

Anyway, if anyone on here was at that the game that day, the FDE were out in force that day (on the opening day of the season ) dressed in Boiler suits. ( no smoke grenades and fighting with police mind )

Not been back since, nearly 30yrs ago but looks like I will be making a trip next season. Of course I don't want to be relegated but if we were, I'd look forward to my trip back to the shay

Edit, just checked and it was the 89/90 season so not my first season watching pools...

I've always had a soft for for Halifax as they were my grandad's team. He played at the Shay as a schoolboy in a cup final, said it was fantastic. It used to hold a hell of a lot more in those days, huge big terraces.

89/90 Ian, though sure you were going before that. For example Grimsby away last game of 88/89

One of my first away games was at the Shay. Bob Newton scored a towering header from somewhere near the penalty spot from a cross. He ran over and celebrated at us in the stand and my sister still maintains that he was waving at her.
The stand was an old wooden one on a hill above the level of the pitch - although it was a long time ago and the memory ain't what it used to be.

I was in the wooden stand on the other side the evening the local constabulary decided to wade in and crack a few heads. I was taking to the game a terminally ill old Hartlepudlian gentleman who hadn't seen Pools for a while and didn't expect to see them again. To be in a stand with that going on around disgusted me and has totally tainted my memories of Halifax town, although I do't know who's fault it all was.

Anyone remember Puddle Lane?

Without doubt the chew caused at the televised match was by a very small number of chewy Poolies and a large number of Plod. Horrible, horrible bastards who were an utter disgrace to the uniform.

I remember a day at the Shay when the poolies managed to open the gates and we all got in for fuck all (around 1980?)... Also the bastads lobbing clemies down at us from behind the "end" we where in..

To be fair to the Yorkshire Plod part of the problem was the way the Fax staff were only allowing Poolies through the one gate & shovelling them into a very small area until shortly before k.o. Think the number of Poolies was also in excess of what the Fax & the Police were expecting. Do remember a couple of drunken Poolies running onto the pitch during the match which didn't help the way the away fans were perceived by the stewards, Plod & TV.

Seem to remember the game featuring Nicky Evan's only appearance in a Pools shirt but I'm sure Mad John will know if I've got that wrong.

We're down so it's back to the Fax next season. Hopefully a peaceful afternoon in Yorkshire to go with the one we'll probably have at York.