FA Cup Third Round Draw

[Red Frog]

One of my two memories of freezing at football matches was on the bank at a New Years game against Plymouth in which we got a very late equaliser to make it 1-1. The other was a 3rd round win at Craven Cottage in the late 80's after which I was laid up with flu for about a week.

Yes, that Fulham game on an open terrace with the snow and wind blowing in off the Thames is my coldest memory too.

And my wettest was at Port Vale c.1983, where our lot did a huge conga to keep warm and made sheep noises as the police herded us out of the ground. But to give them credit - they did minibus us back to the station.

[jimmy_onions]

Ditto that Fulham game...my feet were like blocks of ice that day...

[Wills1]

Finally managed to get through to the ticket office !!
Stratton Bank tickets are all thats left. Blooming impressive that we have sold so many already.

I am now off to buy some thermals.

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

I've only ever been on the bank once for a proper game, remember I was at the back in the middle on either my dads or my uncles shoulders when we won Div 2, we played a shitty draw (0-0?) against someone like Stockport, Swansea, Tranmere...fuck knows. I just remember the team lifting the trophy and everyone getting fucking smashed in the County Ground Hotel after while 'We Are The Champions' kept getting played on the juke box.

[Ardiles]

The last time I went on the Bank was for the Liverpool game in that Prem season....pretty sure it was still a terrace, so I would use it early season when you got decent weather.  Once seats went in though, that was it for me.  I did once have an argument with Hardman at an AGM about the decision to put seats on the Bank...his line was as we'd be in the top two divs, it was a legal requirement.....my line was that the way the club was run, it was more likely we'd be in the lower 2 divs, so unnecessary.

TBF to Hardman, I think we have spent 3 seasons outside Div 3 or 4 since then, but it was 16 years ago. Typical Town, end up doing the wrong thing for the seemingly right reasons....how good would it have been in that time, to have had a proper little terrace....I'm sure some sort of roof could have been put on, a bit like Pompey did with the Milton End.

I was there that day, Reg.  Ruddock was warming up in front of us, and I have a clear memory of our fans giving Ruddock the 'fat boy' treatment...to which he replied by turning round and doing an exaggerated, theatrical yawn.  To be fair to him, it was quite funny.

Edit: And to be fair to him again, they stuffed us.  Probably the most entertaining 5-0 defeat I can remember.  (Streets ahead of the 5-0 Villa Park capitulation or the final day 5-0 humiliation at home to Leeds.)

[Benzel]

I've only ever been on the bank once for a proper game, remember I was at the back in the middle on either my dads or my uncles shoulders when we won Div 2, we played a shitty draw (0-0?) against someone like Stockport, Swansea, Tranmere...fuck knows. I just remember the team lifting the trophy and everyone getting fucking smashed in the County Ground Hotel after while 'We Are The Champions' kept getting played on the juke box.

Yeah Stockport at home. I was 10 Can remember Shaun Taylor parading the trophy. Awesome.

[jonny72]

I seem to recall them giving out free hot drinks at half time once as it was so cold. Though that might have been part of a cheap price ticket deal, FA Cup game I think.

Some good memories on the Bank though, especially of Bamber. Remember him putting it over the bar from two yards out and taking a chunk out of the Town End roof hoarding with a wayward shot (something that didn't get fixed until a few years ago I think).

[Mexicano Rojo]

my abiding memory of the stratton bank was collecting coins that bournemouth fans were chucking at us

[Benzel]

I've only ever seen one game from the Bank and that was Mansfield last time out in L2. First time I can recall us getting the stand vs stand we are XXXX's red and white army (Sturrock in this case) going.

[Bob's Orange]

my abiding memory of the stratton bank was collecting coins that bournemouth fans were chucking at us

Why don't you stop chiding us with your memories of stratton bank you lazy artical and actually stand on the stratton bank for the Wigan game.

You caaaaaaaaaaant!

[blah blah]

my first Swindon games were stood on the Bank, my dad used to get me a good position at the front, then bugger off to the back with his mates, leaving me with 50p for a Drifter from the lad that walked around the ground selling snacks. All the kids at the front had packs of wrigleys chewing gum, and Jimmy Allen would always come to one of us for a piece when he ran out onto the pitch. He never came to me though  

Looks like I'll be back there for the Wigan game then, never thought the rest of the ground would sell out, although I might risk it and wait to see if any season ticket holders dont claim theirs.

[4D]

I remember a Prem game in the bank when someone lit a flare and left it on the terrace; also the time a town fan grabbed  a rovers flag through the railings and proceeded to rip it up  in front of the reddening brizztolian.  Also, playing Manchester utd,  seeing a few faces I knew who were in the away end - they are Bristol city fans.

[jimmy_onions]

seeing as these tickets appear to be going quickly, got a little edgy that they might sell out, so just got mine (for the bank)

ps love blah blahs drifter story....the drifter, an excellent choice mate.

[Ardiles]

Why don't you stop chiding us with your memories of stratton bank you lazy artical and actually stand on the stratton bank for the Wigan game.

You caaaaaaaaaaant!

Touchy subject, I know, so I don't want to inflame any simmering sensitivity...but the PDC 'fascism' story has run its course now.  Most accept, I think, that his sympathy with the philosophy was along the lines of the Mussolini bring order to an inherently chaotic country (Italy) and 'getting the trains to run on time' variety, rather than the exterminating your enemy/racist variety espoused elsewhere.  I don't want to get caught up in any intricate historical arguments, bacause I don't think they're relevant here.

Mex - if you did decide to draw a line under this and come back properly, I don't think anyone would think less of you for it.  It irritates the hell out of me that dedicated, passionate fans like you and Davis feel you have had to sacrifice something you love because of something our new manager said or did over 10 years ago.  Deep down, you're a Town fan first & last.  Hope that wins through in the end.

[Red Frog]

Touchy subject, I know, so I don't want to inflame any simmering sensitivity...but the PDC 'fascism' story has run its course now.

OK, I'll bite (and get shouted down for doing so I expect). Anyone who thinks PdC's fascism is a "story" has no doubt already returned. I've spoken to friends in Italy who confirm that a lot of local people's nostalgia for Mussolini is along the lines you describe. I think it's dishonest to think you can support the cuddly bits of fascism and ignore the inconvenient bits.

First Christmas I'll ever have spent in the UK without attending a game.