starliaisonPepe the Horseman Now seems like a good time to bring this back.
We'll be writing to British Rail later this week,
Please make this happen!
by LWJ » 18 Feb 2015 16:28
starliaisonPepe the Horseman Now seems like a good time to bring this back.
We'll be writing to British Rail later this week,
by Aubery Boyce » 18 Feb 2015 16:37
urz13 I went on a football special earlier this season with a bunch of Stuttgart fans, to an away game in Bochum. Cracking stuff - Stuttgart lost 2-0 but the train journey was excellent - good beer at just 2€ a pint and a 16 hour round trip with a load of German ultras is a great experience.
by urz13 » 20 Feb 2015 11:08
Aubery Boyceurz13 I went on a football special earlier this season with a bunch of Stuttgart fans, to an away game in Bochum. Cracking stuff - Stuttgart lost 2-0 but the train journey was excellent - good beer at just 2€ a pint and a 16 hour round trip with a load of German ultras is a great experience.
Did you go for some beers in the Bermuda triangle?
I went for a night out in Bochum after attending a Schalke match a few years ago. Got off the train at Bochum station and walked towards the Triangle. We were immediately stopped by police thinking we were Hertha Berlin Hoolies who had been causing aggro in Bochum! Tried to explain we were just over to watch a random game but the Polizie didn't understand
We were eventually let go after producing ID. One of the group's only "ID" was his West Ham Season ticket.... Policeman was bemused to say the least.
CSB!
by trueroyal1871 » 20 Feb 2015 11:09
by Aubery Boyce » 20 Feb 2015 11:20
urz13Aubery Boyceurz13 I went on a football special earlier this season with a bunch of Stuttgart fans, to an away game in Bochum. Cracking stuff - Stuttgart lost 2-0 but the train journey was excellent - good beer at just 2€ a pint and a 16 hour round trip with a load of German ultras is a great experience.
Did you go for some beers in the Bermuda triangle?
I went for a night out in Bochum after attending a Schalke match a few years ago. Got off the train at Bochum station and walked towards the Triangle. We were immediately stopped by police thinking we were Hertha Berlin Hoolies who had been causing aggro in Bochum! Tried to explain we were just over to watch a random game but the Polizie didn't understand
We were eventually let go after producing ID. One of the group's only "ID" was his West Ham Season ticket.... Policeman was bemused to say the least.
CSB!
Unfortunately not - the issue with the train was that the police matched you straight there and straight back. It was quite odd though, as Stuttgart's owner/chairman was also on the train (in a normal carriage with the rest of the fans) and walked down to the ground with all of the fans too - great to see.
Definitely recommend the experience though, they even had a 'disco carriage' which is great fun when filled with a few hundred drunk football fans, of course.
by Elm Park Kid » 20 Feb 2015 15:07
PieEater Not sure if it was a "football" special, but a special direct train was put on for us to return from Brentford this season rather than taking the normal one and changing.
by urz13 » 21 Feb 2015 00:23
Aubery Boyce I love German Football. I go out every year to a match. Stuttgart v Dortmund last year. 20000 Dortmund away fans!
Off to Cologne in April
by Mr.Swainey » 22 Feb 2015 01:03
by harry » 22 Feb 2015 11:17
by Pepe the Horseman » 23 Feb 2015 15:20
Mr.Swainey Hopefully to catch a Sankt Pauli game come Spring, gonna be off the scale.
by Bowman's Quiver » 24 Feb 2015 10:20
Schards#2 Can only remember ever going on two specials, Hereford away in the cup (as previously mentioned but we did have several shots including one by Ray Hiron in the last minute that shaved the post) and Swansea away in the FA Cup circa 1979 where we got thumped 4-1, got chased back to the station and the train was pelted with bricks as it left.
Neither of these trains could be described as "dry"
by Stranded » 24 Feb 2015 12:05
Pepe the HorsemanMr.Swainey Hopefully to catch a Sankt Pauli game come Spring, gonna be off the scale.
There's a poster on here who loves them, should be able to give you some tips. Can't remember his username.
by teignmouth hoops » 24 Feb 2015 13:45
by Focher » 24 Feb 2015 13:54
by DW Pinner » 24 Feb 2015 15:51
starliaison Definition: A Football Special is a train service solely for the use of away supporters of one club that runs to and from the game without stopping at other stations and at a reduced fare.
There was a time when our predecessor, the supporters club, could commandeer a British Rail train, fill it with fans and run it to the other end of the country and beyond (o happy day) - with BR's permission, of course. Some still recall “The Longest Journey” when we travelled to Blyth (or more precisely nearby Cramlington) for a 3rd FA Cup tie in January 1972. For younger nobbers Blyth is a mining village on the dark side of the moon.
So, we were wondering when was the last Football Special run for Reading fans? Anything more recent than Hereford on 19th August 1972?
This, believe it or not, was for a Fourth Division game immediately after our worst ever league season (16th in Div Four)! I suppose the bonus attraction was Hereford’s first home game in the league ever. We were gubbed on and off the pitch.
Did any Football Specials survive into the 1980s?
by Green » 24 Feb 2015 15:59
by under the tin » 24 Feb 2015 16:06
Focher This is 100% legit, a pair of 50's did a football special from Stratford to Cardiff just for West Ham fans for the 2005 play of final, note the scarf on the front.
by Focher » 24 Feb 2015 16:09
under the tinFocher This is 100% legit, a pair of 50's did a football special from Stratford to Cardiff just for West Ham fans for the 2005 play of final, note the scarf on the front.
I saw the photo, and thought why do they need two locomotives? are West Ham fans that fat?
Then I remembered that Hoovers are a bit sh1t, and certainly inferior to the awesome Westerns they replaced
by WoodleyRoyal » 24 Feb 2015 16:19
by Royalclapper » 24 Feb 2015 16:24
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