Doncaster's last FL visit to Holker Street

[Gaffer]

Pretty sure Neville Southall was in goals for them in 98, Tuesday night game at the start of the season

I remember it well. At the Holker St end he pulled down his shorts to show his backside as the Barrow faithful sang, who ate all the pies.

[MisterPleasant]

Glen Johnson the Doncaster keeper in the 1972 game was a Barrow lad.

He became a bit of a legend at Aldershot. We used to play golf together as kids up at Rakesmoor Lane.

[xerxes]

Glen Johnson the Doncaster keeper in the 1972 game was a Barrow lad.

Yes, in fact he gets a mention in the programme -

Doncaster72pp.jpg (771.41 KiB) Viewed 3324 times

[xerxes]

I was at this game and remember it for 2 reasons in particular, the first was Doncaster's awful away kit.
The second, much more significantly regarding the ground, was that the old Steelworks End roof had been removed (or a major section of it) prior to the demolition of that fine terrace.
Personally I've loathed that debacle of a building that replaced the old 'away end' ever since!

Yes, the terrace was a victim of the disastrous venture with Speedway. Of course, it was never an 'away end' as such, as there were no restrictions on swapping ends, which we used to do at half time to stand behind whichever goal Barrow were attacking.

[Bigfathoss]

Pretty sure Neville Southall was in goals for them in 98, Tuesday night game at the start of the season

I'm an Evertonian and at that time Nev had been my all time fave player (now it's Duncan). I walked past him as he warmed up and shouted out that he was the best keeper ever. He thought I was taking the [SwearFilter] and called me a 'funny [SwearFilter]'. I was heartbroken!

[mulholland]

I was at this game and remember it for 2 reasons in particular, the first was Doncaster's awful away kit.
The second, much more significantly regarding the ground, was that the old Steelworks End roof had been removed (or a major section of it) prior to the demolition of that fine terrace.
Personally I've loathed that debacle of a building that replaced the old 'away end' ever since!

Yes, the terrace was a victim of the disastrous venture with Speedway. Of course, it was never an 'away end' as such, as there were no restrictions on swapping ends, which we used to do at half time to stand behind whichever goal Barrow were attacking.

Yes that's how I remember it so vividly. I'm certain we attacked the Steelworks End 2nd half so me and my crew made our way around there to watch our futile efforts on that particular goal!
No fanzone back then and the actual terrace was a good bit bigger than the Holker Street End if memory serves.
Any pics anyone? Who was the Ian Allington of the early 70's?

[John_Bucks]

Yes, the terrace was a victim of the disastrous venture with Speedway. Of course, it was never an 'away end' as such, as there were no restrictions on swapping ends, which we used to do at half time to stand behind whichever goal Barrow were attacking.

Yes that's how I remember it so vividly. I'm certain we attacked the Steelworks End 2nd half so me and my crew made our way around there to watch our futile efforts on that particular goal!
No fanzone back then and the actual terrace was a good bit bigger than the Holker Street End if memory serves.
Any pics anyone? Who was the Ian Allington of the early 70's?

I'd love to see this too. Never known anything but that building. Would love to see a new stand down there.

[boyliegladbach]

K Hayman will probably have pictures, tells us stories about standing at that end.

[SKIPPER]

A tightly packed Steelworks End was definitely the place to be back in the day. It was similar in size to the HSE but was certainly more vociferous. Once the singing and chanting got going it was a wall of sound. To switch back to Doncaster I was reminded of my visit to Belle Vue in the 60's.I went on the supporters coach in the morning initially to Leeds to see them face Liverpool two titans at the time. It was then on to Donny for the evening fixture. What was memorable to be was not the match (a draw I think) but when changing ends at half time (no segregation then) I was physically lifted off the ground as Donny fans went in the opposite direction and a slip-on shoe I was wearing dropped off and was kicked down the terrace. Needless to say I didn't go searching for it and spent the rest of the evening hopping around.

[xerxes]

No fanzone back then and the actual terrace was a good bit bigger than the Holker Street End if memory serves.

No, the Holker Street end was bigger, though only by a few steps of terracing. This picture was posted by pjdaly a couple of years ago - it is looking towards the Steelworks End from the Holker Street end. (This is from Barrow v Crewe, 1971-72 - Crewe have just scored but Barrow went on to win 2-1)

Crewe 1.jpg (414.54 KiB) Viewed 3026 times

[MikeRenney]

A tightly packed Steelworks End was definitely the place to be back in the day. It was similar in size to the HSE but was certainly more vociferous. Once the singing and chanting got going it was a wall of sound. To switch back to Doncaster I was reminded of my visit to Belle Vue in the 60's.I went on the supporters coach in the morning initially to Leeds to see them face Liverpool two titans at the time. It was then on to Donny for the evening fixture. What was memorable to be was not the match (a draw I think) but when changing ends at half time (no segregation then) I was physically lifted off the ground as Donny fans went in the opposite direction and a slip-on shoe I was wearing dropped off and was kicked down the terrace. Needless to say I didn't go searching for it and spent the rest of the evening hopping around.

I think that must have been the same occasion and bus I went on.
Revie and Shankley were the managers of Leeds and Liverpool at the time. We must have been in the away end as I can remember the scousers moaning about the Leeds police not controlling the crowds as well as the Merseyside police did.
Although I thought the police particularly the huge police horses did very well.
In the evenining at Doncaster I can remember Bobby Tait playing but not a lot else about the game. Nice player Bobby and he had scored a lovely goal at the Holker Street end in a previous game by clicking the ball with his heel as it went through his legs. Kind of hoped for something similar at Doncaster but I don’t think he scored.

[pjdaly]

This picture was posted by pjdaly a couple of years ago - it is looking towards the Steelworks End from the Holker Street end.

I should point out that although I did previously put that colour photo on this site a few years back I did not personally take the photo and I think - stress think - it might have been taken by Brian Moxham and, if so, big thanks to him for such a valuable and rare item - - - a colour photo of Barrow in their previous time in the Football League! Brian is still there to this day taking photos at the matches. So, Brian may well have taken the photo but ironically I must have been stood very close to where he took the picture because in those days my place was on the Holker Street wall, just a few yards to the side of the right-hand post. I certainly remember the match very clearly with John Rowlands getting a late winner for us; it was just the second match of that fateful 1971-72 season after we'd lost the first match (also at home) 0-1 against Northampton.

The players we see in the photo are the legendary Eric Harrison (5), Bobby Noble (6), Terry Caldwell (3), Bill Renton (10), Ambrose Clarke (8), Malcolm Russell (4) and Bert Patrick (2).

Looking at that photo now, it occurs to me that I have no recall of what appears to be a small pylon behind the goals which seems to have two lights. Even though I assume it must have been there for some time and I must have seen it many times I have zero recollection of it. It's an alien feature that doesn't figure in my memory bank at all.

[Lancaster Branch]

A tightly packed Steelworks End was definitely the place to be back in the day. It was similar in size to the HSE but was certainly more vociferous. Once the singing and chanting got going it was a wall of sound.

Really?

So how come now when we talk about giving space to away fans in the HSE it’s deemed as a heinous insult to our children, their great-great grandfather’s and everyone in between?

[Hadrian]

Looking at that photo now, it occurs to me that I have no recall of what appears to be a small pylon behind the goals which seems to have two lights. Even though I assume it must have been there for some time and I must have seen it many times I have zero recollection of it. It's an alien feature that doesn't figure in my memory bank at all.

Pair of lights for the reserves to train on the pitch behind, IIRC.

[SKIPPER]

A tightly packed Steelworks End was definitely the place to be back in the day. It was similar in size to the HSE but was certainly more vociferous. Once the singing and chanting got going it was a wall of sound.

Really?

So how come now when we talk about giving space to away fans in the HSE it’s deemed as a heinous insult to our children, their great-great grandfather’s and everyone in between?

I was just speaking from my own personal experience. Remember those were the days of changing ends either at kick-off or half-time to get behind the goal we were attacking which meant the more 'vocal' fans covered both ends equally.Perhaps the 'myth' surrounding HSE comes from a lack of competition from the opposite end for decades.