Chapter Sixteen twirled created a unique cacophony. Crowd segregation was unheard of, as was crowd trouble, and home supporters mingled with the travelling fans creating a patchwork of moving colour. Both grounds had separate boys’ safety enclosures but we scorned these and mingled with grown-ups to better soak up the prematch carnival atmosphere. The terraces were completely open to the elements, situated in the areas immediately behind each goal and were much favoured by fans because of their proximity to all the anticipated goalmouth action. The terraces were literally named; that’s exactly what they were, stepped terraces with standing room only. On either flank of the pitch were positioned the covered stands, one ‘posh’ with seats, the other purely for standing supporters. A football crowd is an entity in its own right with its own moods; it sighs, it groans, it cheers and it sways and surges to the rhythm of match. To this end all the standing areas had, at staggered intervals, strong metal stanchions supporting equally strong transverse bars about six feet long and set about waist height. The purpose of these safety barriers was to prevent the whole crowd in a section surging forward and causing injury to the people below, the staggered barriers controlling the weight and depth of the rolling wave of fans. (Years later some fans were horrifically and tragically killed when, in an overcrowded stand, the forward surge and continual pressure of the mass at the back crushed and suffocated vulnerable people towards the front, who had no means of escape. This incident led to massive changes in the safety laws; football stadiums are now required to have allseater accommodation, which immediately negates the forward crush). The fans were passionately supportive of their home team but also appreciative of the opposition’s footballing skills and
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