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'COWARDICE!' All Football Fans Knew It! - Manchester United Fan Culture S1-EP3

Webby & O'Neill

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In this explosive episode, Tony O’Neill takes us back to April 23rd, 1974, when Manchester United travelled to Goodison Park to face Everton in one of the most intense and violent chapters of football history. Tony, just 15 years old at the time, was there in the thick of it – a young Red in a hostile Merseyside, surrounded by a warzone of bricks, blades, and brutal rivalries.

From football hooliganism, slashing culture, and the raw reality of being a United fan in the '70s, Tony exposes the truth: slashing was seen as cowardice – even by the hardest lads from every club. This isn’t just about football – it’s about surviving a day when Everton and Liverpool fans teamed up, and United fans were bricked, slashed, and robbed. No police protection. No social media. Just your mates and your courage.

👉 If you're into Manchester United fan stories, old-school terrace culture, and the unfiltered gang mentality of British football, this podcast episode is for you.

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Manchester United fan channel. Webby & O'Neill (Darren Webb & Tony O'Neill) bring over 90 years of combined experience as Manchester United fans to our YouTube channel, offering authentic & passionate fan reactions, in-depth discussions, and global perspectives on all things related to Man Utd and the Premier League. From live match previews and reviews to club news, transfers, tactics, and player performances with Tony O'Neill & Kieron O'Neill, our Manchester United content is a must-watch for Manchester United fans seeking engaging and informative videos. Join us in the Webby & O'Neill community & get involved in the discussion on the Red Devils with Darren Webb, Tony O'Neill & his son Kieron O'Neill with other like-minded Manchester United fans.

#MUFC #ManchesterUnited #PremierLeague #ManUtd #everton #liverpool #football #podcast

20 Comments

@WebbyONeill Creator 1 year ago Pinned

Thanks for watching & getting involved with your own memories of the 70's & following your club. If you attended that particular game on 21st April 1974 Everton v #MUFC let us know your own memories of that day. Leave a like on the video to support the channel & more fan culture content.

@richiegriffiths558 1 year ago

Am a blue, and my first away was at united, I was 13 84/85 season coming out always remember getting bricked from that little alleyway behind Lou macari’s chippy . I deliver to the bishop blaze now weekly and still smile at that alleyway. Fair play boys boss speck.

@tonylenton8385 1 year ago

I was at the semi final replay at Goodison in 1979. I was 27 then and with my 17 year old brother. I’ve never been a fighter and that was terrifying. We’d come up from London and virtually every coach was bricked on the way back. I was just glad to get out of Liverpool that night. I’ve had a lot of Scouse mates over the years and have had some great nights out in Liverpool. But the football was a different story. Thanks for that, Tony.

@skivvy123 1 year ago

City fan from Benchill Wythenshawe, started going to ganes in 1968. Tony tells it exactly how it was back then and Merseyside was one horrible place to go, no quarter given either way. The ones who come on here mocking weren't there, we were.

@rockywright8365 1 year ago

The Everton firm for the league cup game 1984 was the biggest I ever saw at OT. Awesome turnout. The thing about going to scouse away games in the 80's that made it different is the dibble were on their side, or some of them anyway. We took a minibus to Everton boxing day late 80's and they directed us into a trap after the game, we lost 5-0 and got jumped after the game, always a risk going there. A kicking but no knives that evening.

@joeslowmo5530 1 year ago

The most true and honest accounts of what is was like going to football in the 70s thanks Tony

@dstewusa7054 1 year ago

Slightly off topic but another Dicey long walk was White Hart Lane to Seven Sisters back in the 70s and 80s

@PaellaPhil 9 months ago

I was at Everton in 74 or 75 as a young lad, Birmingham fan. Massive brawl as we came out after the game, and it was winter, so it was dark.
I eventually got split up from mates and had to get a bus to the station on my own with the bus full of scouse. Scary place as a young lad!

@alanvaughan6531 1 year ago

YES PLEASE! brings back memories for me. I am a 79 y/old now living in Australia for many years. I was at the European cup final at Wembley in 1968. Used to go to all games beginning in 1959! Many friends were "Men in Black"

@drover110 1 year ago

best series on youtube for proper football sub culture.been like a kid at xmas eve waiting for this third instalment All the best Tony and Webby. NUFC

@rodeoruz 1 year ago

Liverpool/Everton were the only away trip(s) when I visited in the early 1980's as an 'official club organised' coach supporter, to get the vibe that there wasn't going to be many rules, respect, code-of-honour, or empathy from neither police or home supporters alike. Shivers down spine hostile!!!!
I truly felt like an 'outsider' in a place like no other. To me It was "Bandit Country". Or maybe "El Passo" where the Sherriff's (police) seemed equally as bad as the outlaws themselves. No distinction between 'scarves and hats' supporters and hooligans. None!
I got further inkling of this unique 'environment' when welcomed by two kids who must have been all of 8-9 years of age, whom proceeded to taunt my bus load as "sheep shaggers" whilst following us, and with one kid rattling a severed tree branch along Priory Road railings onto the direction of Goodison Park.
I thought at the time, how are kids of that age indoctrinated with hostility like that?
Swansea City took very few train specials to away games, meaning that there was far lesser safety in numbers. Both Everton trips and the following seasons game against (first one at Anfield had trains laid on) Liverpool were coach travel only. Some experience to say the least.

@bluenosepe 1 year ago

Love it when you get the truth from the old lads. Instead of the BS bravado from the fellas who weren’t even there. Great shut down of the host there. “Everton were a big club”. To even suggest they weren’t is a joke. Before Ferguson arrived Everton had more titles than United.

Relatives have told me of the run ins with the different firms over the years. Even keeping in touch with fellas from West Ham, borough, Birmingham and united. Common theme of when describing the united firm. “There were always so bloody many of them”. 😅

@Paul-v5c 1 year ago

I’m getting goosebumps guys. Active at 12 (1977, few years after Tony) with me Bessey who was a red but Everton was the tighter crew. Many scars, many memories, just madness and a different world. All gone now. Scotty was scary. Blackouts, civil unrest, unemployment, angst. Thank you for being so frank. Excellent interview. Tony, love the way you’re saying it. Social History truly. God bless you both. Love to have cuppa and chinwag with you both. COYB

@johnbromley5160 1 year ago

What a day,it was my first trip to Merseyside, iwas on the first special and you were spot on with the walk to the ground,forgot about the confusion with the buses i got on one,my first trip to Liverpool the best one for the future could be the semi when we walked along the train tracks into lime street where everton were waiting to get their trains to go to the other semi final,only the lads that went them days will always remember the fun and games that went on following united.

@dalekshire 4 days ago

Leeds away last game of the season. May 3rd 1980. Utter mayhem. 14,000 plus United there

@MattieGorman 1 year ago

As a scouser that was fucking brilliant👍

@tobyaughnotobi3919 1 year ago

Went both Everton and Liverpool many times in the 80s and 90s. Our trains were regularly bricked as we pulled into Lime Street, so much so that trains started terminating at Edge Hill. That police escorted walk to the ground was long, but exciting. Scousers would be on their doorsteps and hanging out of windows shouting obscenities at us 😂😂.

@MartynSaunders1985 1 year ago

This series is so good i could listen to Tonys stories anytime

@MarkDawson-i6r 1 year ago

I’m 54 so a bit older
But I remember going to
Liverpool in 85
Semi fa cup against Liverpool at goodison
I was 15 and was in awe with the atmosphere and violence
Hatred
Great series Tony
Honest and straight talking