Spion Kop (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter skyblu3sk
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robbiethemole
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In the Boer War in South Africa 1898
Gibbo
Well-Known Member
Battle of spoon kop in early 1900. The British took the high ground in SK, but were picked off remorselessly during the day by Boers (dutch South Africans) who were on two lower peaks. British were forced to leave the hill and retreat. SK's Olin football grounds were high bits rather like ours was.
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
That is why so many grounds had a Spion Kop
I was born mid 80's so a lot of grounds were before my time but just looked at the list.
Cally Fedora
Well-Known Member
Used to stand on that random bit of concrete that was fenced off in the middle of it. Not sure why!! Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Covcraig@bury
Well-Known Member
Same , 1 toilet and a pie box . Then moved to WT5
Yep, common knowledge. There are a number of Kops at grounds across the country commemorating the battle.
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Seems a bit weird. When I started going I was in the east terrace and my eyes were barely at pitch level standing on an old crate. Perhaps that should have been called the Somme?
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
From what I’ve seen of grounds in those days the Somme would’ve been a more appropriate nickname for the pitch
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure when that end of the ground was named Spion Kop, but as HR opened just a few months before the famous battle it was probably quite early on.
The Kop that most people remember was built in the 1920s using leftover materials from the city tram system. Before that it was just an earth bank so would’ve resembled a hill
The Kop that most people remember was built in the 1920s using leftover materials from the city tram system. Before that it was just an earth bank so would’ve resembled a hill
zuni
Well-Known Member
Been there mate, used to live in SA..also visited isandlwhana and rorkes drift though isandlwhana was the most sombre as the cairns marked the area the dead were buried and the flight to helpmekaar and the aid station at the drift.
rob9872
Well-Known Member
It was the crows nest part I always found odd. I know it was a high vantage point, but I don't think it would pass many H&S tests these days, I was convinced there'd be accidents there even back then and I was quite young. Went up to look pre game whilst it was empty, but never watched a game from there. Did any of you?
Bad Boy
Well-Known Member
Yes I did but it wasn't a good vantage point.
As an aside and forgive me for digressing.. I live alongside the East Midland main line at Wigston Magna which is currently being electrified and the road Bridge the B582 (the site of Wigston Magna Station) is known locally as the Spion Kop Bridge will need extensive alterations.
The bridge was constructed in 1901 during the Boer war and it is said troops arriving back from South Africa disembarked at Wigston Magna Station.
History lesson over, back to football matters.
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robbiethemole
Well-Known Member
you’re just up the road from me in Countesthorpe, we’re surrounded by King Power wankers
Bad Boy
Well-Known Member
I am rthem, I like Countesthorpe it’s a nice place.
Ring Of Steel
Well-Known Member
I did indeed- one was the Anglo Scottish Cup 1987, the three of us had virtually the whole area to ourselves. Seemed dangerous even when empty to be honest.
The other was the League Cup in 1992 v Spurs, we lost 2-1 and the main memory was why would we put the home kop area between two sets of away fans. Never understood that. Great view of the Sky Blue Stand, not such a great view of the pitch.
I assume the crows nest was added because we needed the room when we were getting 40,000 crowds on a reasonably regular basis, don’t know though.
I didn’t like the kop at all- weird angles, concrete slopes, and no roof meant there wasn’t really much of an atmosphere.
eyesee
Well-Known Member
yeah, i remember being up there for a few games in the mid-70s. usually in the corner of the west end, but if it was busy we might end up in the spion kop, and i do remember being up in the crows nest a few times if it was really busy and we got there late. not a particularly pleasant experience. spent the whole game waiting for the thing to collapse. hahaha
i do miss highfield road, though. like you wouldn't believe. i remember being genuinely choked up for the final game, remembering the players i'd seen play there over the years. i like the arena, but it's not the same.
running battles as we walked up primrose hill. my dad sheltering me in a shop doorway while milk bottles flew overhead. mounted police riding into the crowds to break it up. it was a real event for a young kid.
take me home...
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
COVKIDSNEVERQUIT
Well-Known Member
DannyThomas_1981
Well-Known Member
I was with you eyesee from the early 80s and have similar memories. But a lot of that is nostalgia as well. The CBS has way more atmosphere than HR in the mid 80s - and my best CCFC times have been from the time we climbed the leagues under MR.
I do remember walking through charging mounted police and fights going on around me on a near weekly basis - as a kid it was just usual and didn't phase me at all. Apart from the time that my Grandad fronted up a hooligan from the other side who grabbed my scarf (I was about 7) as we walked out of the ground. It was given back without too many questions being asked.
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oscillatewildly
Well-Known Member
I think the first genuine naming of a banked terrace at a football ground as 'Spion Kop' was not surprisingly, Anfield - In recognition of the fact that the Lancashire Regiment were heavily involved in the action to take the hill.
Brylowes
Well-Known Member
Ernest Edwards, a reporter for the Liverpool Echo reported on the opening of the Walton Breck Rd terrace at Anfield in 1906 comparing it to the battle of Spion Kop where the Lancashire Regiment were heavily involved in the battle with many Liverpool lads perishing.
Local's quickly took the name to their hearts and adopted it as the go to name for their main home terrace.
It’s not really known whether Ernest was merely repeating something he’d previously heard in journalism circles, or if it was complete coincidence that another reporter in London had made the same comparison 2 years earlier.
There’s little doubt though that Anfield is home to the Kop that is known and revered the world over.
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Calista
Well-Known Member
That's what Grandads are for
fernandopartridge
Well-Known Member
Surely the Crows Nest was closed by then? The Kop was split into some different pens almost like tiers from the late 80s. I would think the Crows Nest was condemned post Bradford Fire (1985)
robbiethemole
Well-Known Member
As a follow on, both my Grandads were serving there at the time of the War, one in the Scots Guards, the other in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Both went out in the Second Contingent in 1898, and fought during the relief of Ladysmith. The battle of Spion Kop was in January 1900, 25 miles outside Ladysmith and the Boers routed the Brits.
thekidfromstrettoncamp
Well-Known Member
Spent many happy times on it with my father and my son.It was a great place to see how good some of the passes really were, made you appreciate the skill.Standing there cannot remember what season against one of the Sheffield sides in the 70's.got son and dad with me started to rain then snow(artic type conditions). son inside my coat trying to protect him.We gave up and I left my dad and son standing at the supporters club enterance and got the car as I picked them up big cheer went up the ref. had called the game off.Happy times.
Gynnsthetonic
Well-Known Member
After it was fully reopened to standing mid 80s there was a concrete mound in the middle area that when the end was busy fans stood on there, never get away with it this day and age
I remember as a teenager watching the Derby FA cup game in 1974 from the very top of the crows nest, it was absolutely rammed (41k+ in the ground). It was the first ever game City played on a Sunday, early kick off because of the ongoing power cuts.
joemercersaces
Well-Known Member
As kids we used to take wooden crates to stand on. Wouldn’t let you in carrying one of those now!
bigfatronssba
Well-Known Member
I remember my Dad saying that game was the last time HR had a genuinely big crowd
eyesee
Well-Known Member
i went to that game. and the 2ng leg.
i remember the convoy of coaches heading down to london.
didn't end well.