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Port Vale v West Ham January 1973 : The Day The Mile End Mob Invaded Burslem!

Old School Football

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January 1973. FA Cup Third Round. What was meant to be a typical cup tie at Vale Park exploded into one of the most infamous days of football violence in the early '70s. This is the story of when the Mile End Mob—West Ham’s feared firm before they became known as the ICF—invaded Burslem in numbers. From bricks flying in the Bycars to street battles near Burslem Park, this was no ordinary away day. Told from both sides, it’s a brutal throwback to a different era of English football.
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20 Comments

@colinb9183 1 year ago

Vale had a good mob in those days..
Smallthorne clampets,chell heath skin's,cobridge mafia and Norton normals no one took the bycars in those days.. happy memories 😁 UTV VTID 👍

@dougshelley170 1 year ago

I was there as a 14 year old. Absolutely brilliant day. Went up on the football special. Queued up to go in their end, a copper heard some Wrst Ham fans talking and said you lot are supposed to be up the other end. It then went quiet in the queue. Anyway we got in and waited and then went at them. Some stood but there were many West Ham in there and we just overrun them with sheer numbers. I would say we clearly took the end although make a few attempts to get it back but not with much success. After the game as we left in the pitch black there was a big wasteland behind the valve end, but we decided to head back to the station. By the way our goal was a 20 yard screamer in front of the end we were in and we all went mental. Great day out for a 14 year old.

@EvoGoody 1 year ago

Port Vale have always had a useful mob. Very underrated.

@nickbennett2852 1 year ago

What aMad day this was , I went with my older brother and a load of lads of our estate , opened my eyes for Sure , and got me into the scene

@IvansAdventuresInUkraine 1 year ago (edited)

Pissa my oldfella turned me into a Vale fan, I'm from Burslem. Age 10, first match (Vale V Sheff Utd), shocking really he's Scouse followed LFC all over Europe, till I was born, lumps me with the Vale? Can't call me a glory hunter. He did say he went Vale Vs West Ham in the cup, climbing over walls on Bycars, get in. Also Vale Vs West Ham 1989 was an eyeopener for myself. BITD when away fans had to be given the option of seating. Was only 1500 seat in Vale Park at the time, block C Railway Paddock 200 maybe 300 West Ham in block C. 10 year old me didn't watch the game, ended a draw. I was busy watching the away fans. Absolute madness. All up in the roof rafters of the Paddock, Chanting "Alfie Garnett's barmy army" and course "forever blowing bubbles"
You're correct BTW course it's Port Vale. City of canal ports in a valley feed by the Trent. Stoke City makes no sense. Vale on Trent.

@felixicecream3740 1 year ago

Port vale fucking hard lads in the day . Stoke were posh boys in comparison and that's saying something .

@steve9542000 1 year ago

I was going over Upton Park from 1972, I honestly never heard about trouble at this fixture before now.
I never went to this actual game though.

@IanJohnson-x8n 1 year ago

The Bycars was split into two with a few dozen bobbies trying to keep everyone a part. This just led to both groups charging at one another every 10 minutes or so. Then there was also a constant barrage of bricks, broken bottles and darts being hurled at each other. West Ham are the only team to try and take the Bycars End. My mates father was a Police Sargeant at the time and he said 3 West Ham fans were stabbed.

@TheFlathead45 1 year ago

We drove up there in a mini. When we got out it was covered in gob! The follow me and West Ham sticker didnt help!

@Busybee65 3 months ago

Port Vale have always had a decent mob,

@AndrewBillington-om3vo 11 months ago

I was at that match as a 15 year old, in the Hamil Road end.I dont remember that much trouble if any.And I'm a Vale fan.😮

@MichaelSeddon-c6r 1 year ago

All i remember about that match was Bobby Moore.

@richardwhitehead4437 1 year ago

I was there, 11 years old

@paulblanking7452 1 year ago

I was there, good day out 😂😂, exactly as doug says, overrun them then the cops stepped in formed aline between us and them all match,bricks flying back and forth, don't remember seeing big bill though

@martinpye549 1 year ago

I hate these IA voices. Hey, I'm a Stoke Lad. But anybody thinking the Burslem lads won't have a go , and stand their ground is a moron. West Ham and Millwall were the away end invaders...that's was their way. Didn't always work. The original " Hillbillies" were well respected.