Caoimhin O’Muraile ☭ It was with sorrow and fond memories that I learned of the death of Colin Blaney in early July 2022.

Colin was a leading member of the Manchester United travelling away fans back in the seventies and eighties, the Red Army, who I met on a few occasions at away games. I did not know him well, but well enough to hold brief conversations with in various public houses away at Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Derby County, Stoke City, Liverpool and many other venues.

Most Reds who were regular attendees at away games got to know one another quite well in those days. There was camaraderie among us, something sadly lacking it appears today, an injury to one was an injury to all and no Red was left alone to take a beating. 

The Red Army hailed not only, though chiefly, from Manchester, but Yorkshire, London (the Cockney Reds were in many ways unique, having already been fighting with the fans of London clubs at Euston rail station earlier in the day before they got to Manchester), Coventry, Oxford even Glasgow and many other geographical locations including Ireland. The hub was of course Manchester but each member of the Red Army was equally valid as faces became known and Colin Blaney’s was one. Many other faces from Manchester like Fred from Stretford, Gary Tarpy from Walley Range, and his mate Alan Kirk, both dressed as Priests which really confuse the local constabulary away from home, Howard from Manchester, living in London, Paul Gov from Barnsley, Noah from Pontefract, Tommy from Manchester living in Pontefract Theresa Chilton, London, Mick O’Farrell, Hatfield, Drunkard Dave, Brigg, and let’s not forget Tony O’Neill from Wythenshawe who later became a Travel Agent organising away trips, mainly European, for United fans. He also became an Author, like Colin Blaney. Jeff Lewis from Manchester one hard fucker was a regular with balls of meat, Syd from York and myself also originally from York later living in London, now Dublin were all, among many others, regulars at away games and every home match, sometimes the reserves as well. Many Red Army veterans are unfortunately now dead as time waits for no man. Colin Blaney unfortunately died after a long battle with cancer early in July.

As Colin pointed out in a short documentary, The Red Army, he made about the travelling United fans it was, in those days “all about taking the other team's end”. I recall the Red Army taking the North Bank at Highbury more than once, the Chelsea Shed which is well documented at Bobby Charlton’s retirement game back in 1973, the Gelderd End (Spion Kop) at Leeds in the early days, twice I am told, a little before my time as a regular. I was still under my Dad’s wing at that age - 1969 and 1970.

United managed the once unthinkable and succeeded in getting on the Anfield Kop, Liverpool, and took over the Kippax Terraces at Maine Road, Man City. The Kippax was too large to take, holding upwards of 27,000 and running down one side of the pitch so the object was to stand in their bit. It was rumoured the Liverpool Kop held a similar number but this was not the case. It was large, but around 23,000 would have been nearer the mark with only the centre active, vocal, not the whole end as the media would have us believe. Much harder places away from home were the Leazes End at Newcastle, though United had a go several times, and only the hard core of around four thousand, including Colin Blaney and Jeff Lewis, Tony O’Neill, Howard, Mick O’Farrell, myself were among some of those who ventured into barbaric Geordie land back in the day. Newcastle was a tough place alright and held out against all comers. They brought none to Old Trafford until the Miner’s Strike in 1984 which had as much to do with the dispute as football. During the early to mid-seventies no away supporters came to Old Trafford, Liverpool exempted but were never up for it. In 1974 when we were relegated our last home game, which the Stretford End tried to have abandoned by invading the pitch five minutes from the end, was against City whose fans were noticeable by their absence.

My own debut was the 1969/70 season at the age of nine, far too young for the Stretford End. I remember my dad drinking Double Diamond Ale (not available any more) and my mam grabbing Matt Busby. ordering the great man to give me an audience!! By the time we were relegated, 1973/74, I had gravitated to the Stretford End. Colin Blaney was a year or so older than me, and from Manchester so it would be imagined he was there a good bit earlier than me.

Colin was born in a working-class area of Manchester, Collyhurst. Apart from the huge support the estate gave United, it was a red area similar to Prestwich, Wythenshawe, Salford among other areas where no Blue (City fan) dared to tread. Collyhurst had a close relationship with United. Two icons of the all-conquering European Cup winning team of 1968, when “we defeated Benfica by four goals to one” came from Collyhurst. Brian Kidd and the late Nobby Stiles, both heroes that night. Kidd scoring on his nineteenth birthday, and Stiles keeping the great Eusebio of Benfica in check were both born and reared on the Collyhurst estate. During those days, despite the aggro, the team always came first and everyone had a good knowledge of Man United history, players, managers, culture, honours and certain games etc. Football in those days was a way of life, it superseded all other issues in life including school and later work. In taking a job it had to fit in with United games, for example working on Saturday was unthinkable, and Wednesday night matches had to be accommodated for regards time off work. If time off was not forthcoming, just take it.

During a short documentary Colin made, The Red Army:

it all started about 1968/69 time with the Skinheads who were all on the Stretford End, we called them the baldies and it was all about taking the other teams end.



As earlier pointed out I can remember many of these taking of ends. When in 1973/74 we were relegated, the Red Army had a virtually clear run in the second division and recording the highest home attendance average for all four divisions that season. This included Liverpool who won the first division that season. Opposition, in real terms in Division Two was only encountered away at Sunderland, who defended their end, the Fullwell End, chanting to the travelling United fans, “Oh where’s the Stretford End” to the air of On Ilkley Moor by Tat. The United terraces responded as to our whereabouts. It was our culture, our rules, our terraces and not, as is much the case today, the rich man’s game and rules.

As for the police? As far as we were concerned it was none of their business!! I do not expect any of today’s supporters, many who have never been to a game, to understand the camaraderie which existed within the massed ranks of the Red Army. An injury to one was an injury to all and no red would be left alone to take a beating, if only the best that could be done was get the victim away from the gang who had him. Put it this way, and without sounding vindictive in any way, Liverpool had a similar set of supporters, lesser perhaps in numbers, but nevertheless at home they were formidable enough. In a European game, a few seasons ago, an innocent Liverpool fan was put into a coma by the supporters of Roma. This happened outside the Albert pub behind the Kop and back in the day that just would not have happened. No away fans in such tiny numbers would have dared venture to that part of the ground, let alone make their presence known as did the Roma fans that fateful evening. The next time you modern so-called fans call us hooligans think on. If a ground had a reputation, like Newcastle, the Red Army would stick together, safety in numbers. A meeting place in Manchester for many United fans after the game was the Golden Gate Club, outside Oxford Road station. Despite its flashy name this place was anything but. You could throw up on the floor in there and nobody would bat an eyelid, just carry-on playing dominoes or cards and drinking.

By 1973/74 I had gravitated to the Stretford End and suddenly felt part of something, something important, more important at the time than life itself. This was the feeling of euphoria around the Red Army of the day. I recall back in 1972/73 season it was a night game away at Leeds. My dad decided we’d go. I recall driving down Marsh Lane in the centre of Leeds and a group of Leeds fans fleeing the Red Army, my red and white scarf saved our car from vandalism as other vehicles were smashed and jumped on, Dad’s car was one of ours. Trevor Anderson scored for us that night giving us a surprise away win. We avoided relegation that season, though it was only a matter of time.

Colin Blaney spent some time in a German Prison and on his release decided to turn his life around. This he was successfully doing, writing several books. One of them, Grafters, published in 2004 has a chapter about the Red Army, Docs Red Army, in Tommy Docherty’s day as manager. It is generally about the best gang of sneak thieves in Europe, Man Utd fans, written in in its past tense. Colin was finished with crime, including football hooliganism, but, like many of us from different parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, still attended Man Utd games. For me, I left the Stretford End having acquired an LMTB (League Match Ticket Book) for J stand. Many others moved from the Stretford End terraces to the paddocks (not the Scoreboard Paddock which was perhaps more notorious than the Stretford End) and though well able to defend themselves, if necessary, no longer went looking for trouble. For myself, pubs were far more interesting pastimes, once in my twenties, than searching for opposition fans. That had become childish and boring and certainly outgrown - a teenager’s hobby.

What today I find sickening and, frankly disturbing, is grown men of my age in their sixties still carrying on as if in their teens. For me, there is something wrong with a fella in their twilight years leading gangs of teenagers into “action”, perhaps they should seek medical attention! In my day twenty-one was getting on a bit let alone sixty- one. They were great days, in their day, and at that age, I wouldn’t swap the experience, but times change as does age.

Colin Blaney, the Collyhurst lad, Red Army member, Man United fanatic and later on reformed character and author succumbed to cancer on 4th July 2022. Many tributes were sent, not only on social media, but physically through the post and not only from United fans of that era but one time terrace enemies, later friends, from Liverpool and Man City along with other clubs. Many other United fans, who I knew much better than I did Colin, have also died in recent years. Some of the lads who were on the Drunkard Bus to Videoton, Hungary, in 1985 are no more. Mick Burges “low Profile” as he was known died, Cockney Norman, a Drunkard Bus veteran died in 2019, Fireman Phil also of Drunkard Bus fame died some years ago as did his mate, Banksy. 

Many of the Red Army members of that era are no longer around which if I dwell too long and as we all lived a couldn’t give a fuck life, I often think who could be next? Sleeping rough on train stations, park benches, even gutters was bound to take its toll long term over several seasons. Still, for me, so far, so good.

In memory of: Cockney Norman (Morris), Fireman Phil, Steve Banks (Banksy), Mick “Low Profile” Burges, Theresa Chiltern, Hubert Crofton, Dobbin from London, and Colin Blaney to name but a few.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent 
Socialist Republican and Marxist

Memories Of The Red Army Days ✑ RIP Colin Blaney

Caoimhin O’Muraile ☭ It was with sorrow and fond memories that I learned of the death of Colin Blaney in early July 2022.

Colin was a leading member of the Manchester United travelling away fans back in the seventies and eighties, the Red Army, who I met on a few occasions at away games. I did not know him well, but well enough to hold brief conversations with in various public houses away at Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Derby County, Stoke City, Liverpool and many other venues.

Most Reds who were regular attendees at away games got to know one another quite well in those days. There was camaraderie among us, something sadly lacking it appears today, an injury to one was an injury to all and no Red was left alone to take a beating. 

The Red Army hailed not only, though chiefly, from Manchester, but Yorkshire, London (the Cockney Reds were in many ways unique, having already been fighting with the fans of London clubs at Euston rail station earlier in the day before they got to Manchester), Coventry, Oxford even Glasgow and many other geographical locations including Ireland. The hub was of course Manchester but each member of the Red Army was equally valid as faces became known and Colin Blaney’s was one. Many other faces from Manchester like Fred from Stretford, Gary Tarpy from Walley Range, and his mate Alan Kirk, both dressed as Priests which really confuse the local constabulary away from home, Howard from Manchester, living in London, Paul Gov from Barnsley, Noah from Pontefract, Tommy from Manchester living in Pontefract Theresa Chilton, London, Mick O’Farrell, Hatfield, Drunkard Dave, Brigg, and let’s not forget Tony O’Neill from Wythenshawe who later became a Travel Agent organising away trips, mainly European, for United fans. He also became an Author, like Colin Blaney. Jeff Lewis from Manchester one hard fucker was a regular with balls of meat, Syd from York and myself also originally from York later living in London, now Dublin were all, among many others, regulars at away games and every home match, sometimes the reserves as well. Many Red Army veterans are unfortunately now dead as time waits for no man. Colin Blaney unfortunately died after a long battle with cancer early in July.

As Colin pointed out in a short documentary, The Red Army, he made about the travelling United fans it was, in those days “all about taking the other team's end”. I recall the Red Army taking the North Bank at Highbury more than once, the Chelsea Shed which is well documented at Bobby Charlton’s retirement game back in 1973, the Gelderd End (Spion Kop) at Leeds in the early days, twice I am told, a little before my time as a regular. I was still under my Dad’s wing at that age - 1969 and 1970.

United managed the once unthinkable and succeeded in getting on the Anfield Kop, Liverpool, and took over the Kippax Terraces at Maine Road, Man City. The Kippax was too large to take, holding upwards of 27,000 and running down one side of the pitch so the object was to stand in their bit. It was rumoured the Liverpool Kop held a similar number but this was not the case. It was large, but around 23,000 would have been nearer the mark with only the centre active, vocal, not the whole end as the media would have us believe. Much harder places away from home were the Leazes End at Newcastle, though United had a go several times, and only the hard core of around four thousand, including Colin Blaney and Jeff Lewis, Tony O’Neill, Howard, Mick O’Farrell, myself were among some of those who ventured into barbaric Geordie land back in the day. Newcastle was a tough place alright and held out against all comers. They brought none to Old Trafford until the Miner’s Strike in 1984 which had as much to do with the dispute as football. During the early to mid-seventies no away supporters came to Old Trafford, Liverpool exempted but were never up for it. In 1974 when we were relegated our last home game, which the Stretford End tried to have abandoned by invading the pitch five minutes from the end, was against City whose fans were noticeable by their absence.

My own debut was the 1969/70 season at the age of nine, far too young for the Stretford End. I remember my dad drinking Double Diamond Ale (not available any more) and my mam grabbing Matt Busby. ordering the great man to give me an audience!! By the time we were relegated, 1973/74, I had gravitated to the Stretford End. Colin Blaney was a year or so older than me, and from Manchester so it would be imagined he was there a good bit earlier than me.

Colin was born in a working-class area of Manchester, Collyhurst. Apart from the huge support the estate gave United, it was a red area similar to Prestwich, Wythenshawe, Salford among other areas where no Blue (City fan) dared to tread. Collyhurst had a close relationship with United. Two icons of the all-conquering European Cup winning team of 1968, when “we defeated Benfica by four goals to one” came from Collyhurst. Brian Kidd and the late Nobby Stiles, both heroes that night. Kidd scoring on his nineteenth birthday, and Stiles keeping the great Eusebio of Benfica in check were both born and reared on the Collyhurst estate. During those days, despite the aggro, the team always came first and everyone had a good knowledge of Man United history, players, managers, culture, honours and certain games etc. Football in those days was a way of life, it superseded all other issues in life including school and later work. In taking a job it had to fit in with United games, for example working on Saturday was unthinkable, and Wednesday night matches had to be accommodated for regards time off work. If time off was not forthcoming, just take it.

During a short documentary Colin made, The Red Army:

it all started about 1968/69 time with the Skinheads who were all on the Stretford End, we called them the baldies and it was all about taking the other teams end.



As earlier pointed out I can remember many of these taking of ends. When in 1973/74 we were relegated, the Red Army had a virtually clear run in the second division and recording the highest home attendance average for all four divisions that season. This included Liverpool who won the first division that season. Opposition, in real terms in Division Two was only encountered away at Sunderland, who defended their end, the Fullwell End, chanting to the travelling United fans, “Oh where’s the Stretford End” to the air of On Ilkley Moor by Tat. The United terraces responded as to our whereabouts. It was our culture, our rules, our terraces and not, as is much the case today, the rich man’s game and rules.

As for the police? As far as we were concerned it was none of their business!! I do not expect any of today’s supporters, many who have never been to a game, to understand the camaraderie which existed within the massed ranks of the Red Army. An injury to one was an injury to all and no red would be left alone to take a beating, if only the best that could be done was get the victim away from the gang who had him. Put it this way, and without sounding vindictive in any way, Liverpool had a similar set of supporters, lesser perhaps in numbers, but nevertheless at home they were formidable enough. In a European game, a few seasons ago, an innocent Liverpool fan was put into a coma by the supporters of Roma. This happened outside the Albert pub behind the Kop and back in the day that just would not have happened. No away fans in such tiny numbers would have dared venture to that part of the ground, let alone make their presence known as did the Roma fans that fateful evening. The next time you modern so-called fans call us hooligans think on. If a ground had a reputation, like Newcastle, the Red Army would stick together, safety in numbers. A meeting place in Manchester for many United fans after the game was the Golden Gate Club, outside Oxford Road station. Despite its flashy name this place was anything but. You could throw up on the floor in there and nobody would bat an eyelid, just carry-on playing dominoes or cards and drinking.

By 1973/74 I had gravitated to the Stretford End and suddenly felt part of something, something important, more important at the time than life itself. This was the feeling of euphoria around the Red Army of the day. I recall back in 1972/73 season it was a night game away at Leeds. My dad decided we’d go. I recall driving down Marsh Lane in the centre of Leeds and a group of Leeds fans fleeing the Red Army, my red and white scarf saved our car from vandalism as other vehicles were smashed and jumped on, Dad’s car was one of ours. Trevor Anderson scored for us that night giving us a surprise away win. We avoided relegation that season, though it was only a matter of time.

Colin Blaney spent some time in a German Prison and on his release decided to turn his life around. This he was successfully doing, writing several books. One of them, Grafters, published in 2004 has a chapter about the Red Army, Docs Red Army, in Tommy Docherty’s day as manager. It is generally about the best gang of sneak thieves in Europe, Man Utd fans, written in in its past tense. Colin was finished with crime, including football hooliganism, but, like many of us from different parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, still attended Man Utd games. For me, I left the Stretford End having acquired an LMTB (League Match Ticket Book) for J stand. Many others moved from the Stretford End terraces to the paddocks (not the Scoreboard Paddock which was perhaps more notorious than the Stretford End) and though well able to defend themselves, if necessary, no longer went looking for trouble. For myself, pubs were far more interesting pastimes, once in my twenties, than searching for opposition fans. That had become childish and boring and certainly outgrown - a teenager’s hobby.

What today I find sickening and, frankly disturbing, is grown men of my age in their sixties still carrying on as if in their teens. For me, there is something wrong with a fella in their twilight years leading gangs of teenagers into “action”, perhaps they should seek medical attention! In my day twenty-one was getting on a bit let alone sixty- one. They were great days, in their day, and at that age, I wouldn’t swap the experience, but times change as does age.

Colin Blaney, the Collyhurst lad, Red Army member, Man United fanatic and later on reformed character and author succumbed to cancer on 4th July 2022. Many tributes were sent, not only on social media, but physically through the post and not only from United fans of that era but one time terrace enemies, later friends, from Liverpool and Man City along with other clubs. Many other United fans, who I knew much better than I did Colin, have also died in recent years. Some of the lads who were on the Drunkard Bus to Videoton, Hungary, in 1985 are no more. Mick Burges “low Profile” as he was known died, Cockney Norman, a Drunkard Bus veteran died in 2019, Fireman Phil also of Drunkard Bus fame died some years ago as did his mate, Banksy. 

Many of the Red Army members of that era are no longer around which if I dwell too long and as we all lived a couldn’t give a fuck life, I often think who could be next? Sleeping rough on train stations, park benches, even gutters was bound to take its toll long term over several seasons. Still, for me, so far, so good.

In memory of: Cockney Norman (Morris), Fireman Phil, Steve Banks (Banksy), Mick “Low Profile” Burges, Theresa Chiltern, Hubert Crofton, Dobbin from London, and Colin Blaney to name but a few.

Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent 
Socialist Republican and Marxist

10 comments:

  1. Caoimhin, . "This included Liverpool who won the first division that season." Derby County actually won the title that year. But otherwise this is a very interesting and readable football memoir not that that era deserves to be seen totally in ultra-rose tinted glasses. Commiserations on the death of your comrade.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're quite correct Barry, it was Derby County who won the league under Dave McKay. We do tend to look at those days through rose tinted glasses, simply because even in hindsight at that age they were great times. You had to be there to understand, and even then, part of the Red Army, not a "normal" who were, believe it or not, a minority at OT in the standing areas. Nearly all the terraces, around 37,000 belonged to a greater or lesser extent to us. The Stretford End was famous, as was the Kop at Anfield, not so well known was the extremely violent Scoreboard Paddock. This section, about 8,500 capacity with around 5,000 at full fighting strength, other fans in that section were just average, loyal, United fans, against City, Leeds, Chelsea and Liverpool, were the top end of the scale. This section evolved from being a normal paddock into a den of violence once the Dibble had made the Scoreboard End safe(ish) for visitors. The Soreboard lads, and a number of others, went on the Scoreboard Paddock which gave them an advantage, high above, the visitors. It must have been scary for them.
    Similar behavour took place, on a smaller scale, at Anfield when a number of former Kopites gathered on the Anfield Road End.
    We were the majority, at that time, though I preferred the Stretford End, Red Army, to the "Barmy Army" of the Scoreboard Paddock. There were limitations, and watching the game was the priority for 90 minuets. Not so on the Paddock.
    As I pointed out, it was a phase we all went through, not just Man Utd fans, though we were the most numerous.

    For the record, the Daily Mirror, during the mid seventies, had a hooligan league table which Man Utd topped every year. Boast full? No, not really, because on many occassions it was the press reporters who encouraged riotous behaviour, in the presence of the police. Not one was charged with inciting riot! I could fill a book, but it was not always our fault. The press often encouraged fans to invade the pitch, Villa away in 76 springs to mind.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have spotted the Derby one Caoimhin!!!
      It hardly matters in a piece of such vintage. I loved it. There is a rich vein of history there and you have tapped it adroitly.

      Delete
  3. Have you ever thought of writing a book about these experiences, Caoimhin?

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  4. Probably met some of these lads when I moved over to London in 1974 - and travelled to a quite a few of United's away matched. I love nostalgia.

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  5. I have considered it Barry, a few have been written. Red Army General, and Men in Black both by Tony O'Niell.
    A factual book about the trip to Videoton in 1985, The Drunkard Bus, is worth considering, also and despite the bravado of the day, a critical look at the press and inaction against some reporters who did incite riot. Remember we were teenagers, wild enough alright, but, and as I mentioned, Villa away 1976, reporters were encouraging us to invade the pitch and take, or try, the Holte End, Villas stronghold. "Come on lads, lets have an invasion to report" was one comment I clearly recall. The constables did nothing, in fact I firmly believe that is exactly what they wanted. We were on the Witton Lane end which at that time was a large bank of open aired terraces.

    You probably did JLynn424, Cockney Reds, Pancho, Bannana Bob, Howard, Mick O'Farrell, Mallet to name a few.
    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is quite the genre of fan or "hoolie" literature to West Ham's Inter City Firm, to Cardiff City's Soul Boys (or something similar) and my lot's Service Crew. I didn't realise that Leeds firms go back to the 1960s with the Shipley Skins.

      Delete
  6. Thats true Barry but not untill the mid seventies were they regarded. They congregated on the old Scratching Shed, before the Gelderd End was built. Man Utd were one of the few to take the Gelderd End in the late sixties/very early seventies before Leeds got their act together. After that it was Leeds stronghold, with only Celtic taking it in the European Cup.

    In 1976 we beat Leeds 3-2 at Old Trafford, no Leeds turned up bar about 50 huddled in a corner. Not until the late seventies/ early eighties did your away support pick up. Man Utd, closely followed by Newcastle and Liverpool were the first to travel in numbers. Liverpool chose their games, United were everywhere, every week. The Red Army really took off in the early seventies, 200 locked up at Ostend after some suppossed friendly. Remember my dad telling me, "bloody disgrace" were the words he used.
    Leeds away support today is one of the largest, but they are still regarded by some, whats left of the Red Army and the same with the Geordies, as "newcomers". May 3rd 1980, I think, or was it 81, was a hell of a battle at Elland Road. United were on for the league and took around 12,000 ( some say more but I'd put 12,000 as about right) what a battle, particularly outside the Peacock pub. South Stand taken, Gelderd End stood firm.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

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    Replies
    1. It was May 3rd 1980. I was there as a first year student at Manchester University and I saw more aggro there than at any time during the NI Troubles particularly at Dewsbury station. The truth is that, having always believed we could do no wrong cos of all the hostility directed towards us, I was shocked and appalled by our fans' behaviour esp the Munich songs. What you have described about the "taking" of territory is the best ever argument for fan segregation or for "safe spaces" for wimps like me!

      Delete
  7. By 1980/81 the fighting scene was becoming a nuisance. I wanted to go into the Peacock pub, which was suicide, not to scrap but for a drink. We had around 100 coaches all parked up from the Peacock and the specials were escorted through town. Not a bloody chance of a drink, our coach stopped about ten miles outside Leeds, better than nothing I supposse. I can't stand being told what to do, where I will go, whether I can get a drink by some fucking arrogant cunt of a Chief Constable.

    Caoimhin O'Muraile

    ReplyDelete