The Old (Proper) Kippax - 20 Years

[King Kev]

It's 20 years to the day since the old Kippax was last used and City fans have been told to sit down ever since.

I am sure those of us of a certain age all have many memories of the old stand, what stands (pun intended) out in your mind?

[nottsblue]

Blimey. So many. Remember all to well the qtr final v spuds in 93. Was convinced we'd win and when Sheron put us ahead the atmosphere was electric. What happened next was I suppose 'typical City'.

The 5-1, obviously. Sheer pandemonium and joy.

The 3-3 v Bournemouth in 89. 3 up at half time and cruising to promotion only to see Ian Bishop run the second half. All the emotions that day.

Middlesbrough in Oct 83. My first ever game and at 10, was in awe of the place. We won 2-1 after conceding after 15 seconds. Tolmie and Parlane.

Sunderland in 91 last day when we won 3-2 to finish above rags in league. What an atmosphere as the Mackems had brought about 10000.

Many Saturday afternoons spent there. Some in happiness, some in despair. I think its in the DNA of the club somehow. Wouldn't swap it for anything

[Invisible Man Fan]

My earliest memories of the Kippax (and of life) are sitting on the metal barriers leaning against my dad....i think, or I have dreamt that up.

I can't really remember any specific matches, but I was only 8 when it was made into an all-seater stadium

[Wonderwall]

used to try and get there pretty early on the 192 match bus with my mates, paid on the turnstile and then ran up the back steps to try and be first to sit above the tunnel, legs under the bar and feet dangling over the edge.

I would love a tardis to take my lad back to that era to let him experience what he only knows as stories.

the 10-1, 5-1 and of course the opposite end of the spectrum the 2-3 when we were 2-0 up at half time 92-93

Loved the old girl.

[King Kev]

I remember the surge forward when City were on the attack, if you were behind a crush barrier you had to hold tight and lock your elbows to avoid being squashed.

I remember the steps outside the stand leading to the back of the terrace. On sunny days it was great sitting there with a pint before the match.

I remember the bars in the space between the turnstile wall and the stand. The women working in them could serve 10 people in the time it takes those at the Etihad to serve one, and they took no shit from anybody!

I remember as a kid getting in as soon as the turnstiles opened so that I could claim my place on the white wall at the front, right on the half-way line.

I remember a utd fan needing a 3 police horse escort to get out alive before one Derby game.

I could go on all day...

[john@staustell]

Memory lane - some awful players in this team. I remember being disapponted at the attendance too (34,000?). But then I wasn't really up to speed with what capacity had been reduced too by then.

http://www.11v11.com/matches/manchester ... 994-21686/

It was the first time I'd taken my eldest up - he would've been 7, so we sat in that little corner which was known as the Family Stand, but he and I spent many an unhappy hour after that in the new Kippax as ST holders throughout the Ball and Clarke times - 600-mile round trip every match including evenings - for those who cant be bothered to turn up for evening games and live in Stockport!

Happy days. I think :-)

[Hazy2]

Great memories, If you had any sense you started in The Plat Lane Kippax Corner, graduated to the 261 Tunnel next to the away fans who back then in one corner with blues stood all around them "crazy" Stunck of piss and onions. Health and safety did not exist, leaving the stand was not for the faint hearted, away fans got dogs abuse and battered, City fans could create mayhem with each other and big fight holes could appear out of nothing. The noise of Bring on the Champions is a big memory. No women I can remember were allowed in, Sorry the PC squad. Oh and the bogs !!! NICE.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

10-1 and being too stunned to cheer after the 8th; queuing for derby tickets in the late seventies, asking if I could have extra and being asked matter-of-factly, how many? Going down the steps after games without my feet touching the ground.

[Wonderwall]

Stood with your mates, City score and after 5 seconds you are 30 yds away from where you were stood and dont recognise anyone around you.

The 10 ft gap between the city fans and the away fans especially on Derby day was an experience, I made a few quid picking up the coins that were being thrown when i was a kid!

[blues-clues]

As a group of teenagers we used to sit on the back row of railings pretty much on the half way line. The cup run in 81 is still a strong memory especially the Everton replay. Of course the atmosphere was totally different, the crush, the noise, the smell. To be honest if I had never experienced the thrill of watching football like that I am not really sure I would be that arsed about the game now. If I was a going to matches for the first time now, the cost, the antiseptic stadia and "variable" atmosphere would not have the same attraction. I still get a buzz from going to games but I think part of it is the recollection of the experience in the old Kippax.

They should definitely bring back some form of standing at games.

[Wonderwall]

As a group of teenagers we used to sit on the back row of railings pretty much on the half way line. The cup run in 81 is still a strong memory especially the Everton replay. Of course the atmosphere was totally different, the crush, the noise, the smell. [highlight]To be honest if I had never experienced the thrill of watching football like that I am not really sure I would be that arsed about the game now. If I was a going to matches for the first time now, the cost, the antiseptic stadia and "variable" atmosphere would not have the same attraction. I still get a buzz from going to games but I think part of it is the recollection of the experience in the old Kippax.[/highlight]

They should definitely bring back some form of standing at games.

Thats a pretty good point mate, I have played all my life (well until a couple of years ago) but the buzz of the match still gets me and I can remember being stood on the kippax with hairs standing up on the back of my neck, its the first game of the season and I have tears in my eyes because of the raw emotion as the lads walk out of the tunnel and the place erupts.

ahhhhhh such shit times that moulded us LOL

[feedthegreek]

the cheer from the kippax when colin bell made his comeback.

[RodneyRodney]

The 3-3 v Bournemouth in 89. 3 up at half time and cruising to promotion only to see Ian Bishop run the second half. All the emotions that day.

I remember that game too - not the score - just Bish being the best on the field.
What else 10-1 & 5-1 obviously . 5-1 promotion game v Charlton(or was it 5-0?)

Barnes scoring/assisting 3 in last 5 mins v Standard Liege.
Hartfords dipping 20-yarder v Milan(Gianni Riveras last game)
Bobby Mac in nets.
Lakey nearly choking.
Bananas.
King Kong v inflatable biplane(can't remember opposition, but it was better than the game)

[Hazy2]

walking down an Entry to get in or away from the ground, Nobody speaking after certain games for fear of a crack, night matches and tons of horse shit to dodge.

[Wonderwall]

Souvenir shop, ha ha ha tiny place.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

the cheer from the kippax when colin bell made his comeback.

This.

It was so thunderously loud and sustained.

Very emotional and I still get a bit moist-eyed thinking about it after all these years.

[Ezz]

I was there for the last game against Chelsea. It was a really friendly atmosphere because Chelsea had beaten United home and away that season. From that game, I remember that Chelsea had bought a huge flag and it was upside down. When they managed to get it the right way round again everyone gave a big cheer.

Passing the huge flags before the game started was one thing that isn't done any more. I'm sure it got nicked either at that game or ne later. I might have read that in king of the kippax though.

It was a 2-2 draw, and lots of people remained at the end. There was one group that had a chisel and hammer and were chipping bits of the terrace off and handing them out. God knows what happened to the bit I got.

[Ted Hughes]

Strangely enough, my first memory is always of being a little kid at reserve games, exploring all the weird nooks & crannys underneath the stand & mysterious dark tunnels that led nowhere, seemingly pointless piles of dirt etc plus legging it around the terraces & into the scoreboard end.

Twas a magical place.

[Goaters 103]

Night matches under lights were a magical experience as a kid. I can remember going to a game in the late 70s, Uefa Cup vs FC Twente I think, and going through the corner tunnel in the Platt Lane End and the Kippax coming into view.

Packed to the rafters, bright lights, bright green pitch, loud atmosphere and the smells of the Burger Vans, people smoking, Bovril - the lot.

Got my first Kippax season ticket in 1984 having progressed from the Main Stand and the Platt Lane. A game I remember is the David White Liverpool one, first home game of the season and Curle's home debut so Aug 92 I think. We'd won on the Saturday at Coventry and so the Liverpool game atmosphere was electric. White's first goal separated me from half the group I was with and moved me a good 20 yards from where I started. Whitey got both, Mcmanaman scored for them and then Saunders missed a late pen as he always did against us. A 2-1 win and I swear it was one of the last times the old stand bounced.

[nottsblue]

Night matches under lights were a magical experience as a kid. I can remember going to a game in the late 70s, Uefa Cup vs FC Twente I think, and going through the corner tunnel in the Platt Lane End and the Kippax coming into view.

Packed to the rafters, bright lights, bright green pitch, loud atmosphere and the smells of the Burger Vans, people smoking, Bovril - the lot.

Got my first Kippax season ticket in 1984 having progressed from the Main Stand and the Platt Lane. A game I remember is the David White Liverpool one, first home game of the season and Curle's home debut so Aug 92 I think. We'd won on the Saturday at Coventry and so the Liverpool game atmosphere was electric. White's first goal separated me from half the group I was with and moved me a good 20 yards from where I started. Whitey got both, Mcmanaman scored for them and then Saunders missed a late pen as he always did against us. A 2-1 win and I swear it was one of the last times the old stand bounced.

Remember that dippers game. Amazing atmosphere. Seem to remember a balls up with season tickets and not getting in until right on kick off.

A good atmosphere lifts the players and I reckon a superb atmosphere is worth a few points over course of a season. Something for the owners to think about re the Etihad perhaps?