The County Ground - Old Photos

[horlock07]

Fantastic. I always remember being stood on the concrete terrace and the fabulous  sound of people stamping their feet on the floorboards from the seats above when there was some excitementon the pitch.  The climb up those steps at the back to get to the top tier though - an H&S nightmare.

Didn't they put away fans in the corner close to the town end at one  time or have I recalled that wrong?

The text with the posts suggests that the away fans were in the caged bit at the Bank end?

[Peter Venkman]

I certainly never remember away fans next to the TE always in the corner next to the Bank.

I hated the Shrivenham Road stand, well the top part anyway, vertigo, rickety, wooden and falling apart and the steps up to it were a nightmare.

Had a few early seasons in the 70s stood there but found the Town End far more appealing and warmer too!

Weird to think it was only 29 years at the County Ground when it was demolished, it was only erected in 1960 in Swindon, even if the stand itself was probably 60+ years old after being built in the late 20s/early 30s for Aldershots tattoo ground.

[Berniman]

Ace. That second photo was taken from roughly where I used to stand.

Me too

I also remember being stood at the opporsite end during my stewarding days watching us get spanked by Liverpool on Live Monday night Sky.  Good memories - sort of..

[Ginginho]

That photo of the back of the Shrivenham Road stand is amazing.
So, there was no concourse area back then? Just rickety steps then you're in the stand?

[swindonmaniac]

Fantastic. I always remember being stood on the concrete terrace and the fabulous  sound of people stamping their feet on the floorboards from the seats above when there was some excitementon the pitch.  The climb up those steps at the back to get to the top tier though - an H&S nightmare.

Didn't they put away fans in the corner close to the town end at one  time or have I recalled that wrong?

That is correct, Remember when we used to stand on the bank one half and the Town End the other half depending which way we were kicking, you could walk from one end of the ground to the other via the Shrivvy Road stand,  eventually the bank was given to away fans and it was fenced off. Later they were given the corner as well and a 'school type'  fence (like prison bars) put up at the end of the Shrivvy Road. The away fans then had the entire bank  plus the corner section,  recall on occasions away fans arms coming through the bars and swinging fists, no social distancing then, nose to nose through the bars !!.  

[4D]

I was at this game. Gives a good indication of ground split etc.

I was just off camera watching the guy at the front throwing his fists at the Leicester fans  
Game had already finished and most town fans were already leaving.

3.30 mins in.

[Jimmy Quinn]

I was there and remember Leicester fans wrecking the Rat Trap pub before kick off. Anyone else think Lawrenson looks like a 70's porn star😀

[4D]

I was there and remember Leicester fans wrecking the Rat Trap pub before kick off. Anyone else think Lawrenson looks like a 70's open star😀

Golf?

[Jimmy Quinn]

Golf?

iPad playing up again "70's porn star"

[Berniman]

That photo of the back of the Shrivenham Road stand is amazing.
So, there was no concourse area back then? Just rickety steps then you're in the stand?

Yep, pretty much - climbing up those stairs outside of the Shrivvy stand was not nice - i only remember it as a kid a couple of times so have managed to block it out of my memory

[Legends-Lounge]

Yep, pretty much - climbing up those stairs outside of the Shrivvy stand was not nice - i only remember it as a kid a couple of times so have managed to block it out of my memory

Imagine it’s like walking across one of those glass bridges in China.

[Berniman]

Imagine it’s like walking across one of those glass bridges in China.

I seem to remember coming down was worse than going up

[Jimmy Quinn]

I'm still amazed that Everton fans got on top of the stand in the 76-77 FA Cup tie

[flammableBen]

I seem to remember coming down was worse than going up

Fact of life

[cired45]

I remember a game against City and the piece between the Town End and Shrivy road was filled with some Milwall fans, recognisable by their meat jackets.  Milwall didn’t have a game and there was some bad blood between the two.