08 Jul 2016 17:24:33
Anyone else remember the "boy's pen"? As I recall it was at the Gwladys St end. I was unfortunate enough to be in there throughout the 70's watching our beloved team, it almost put me off football for life, I was so scared to go, yet needed my Everton fix.
Anyone know when it was taken down and anyone else ever go in there?
08 Jul 2016 18:04:58
Remember it well grumpy.
08 Jul 2016 18:59:53
Yes it was in the Gwladys street end on the right side if you look at it from the pitch. It was like a prison and apart from those at the front of the cage you couldn't see a bloody thing. Went in it once when I was about 12 and never again. I would rather suffer the bruises you got from the crowd in the Gwladys Street end as a young kid than going into the boys pen. Not sure when it was removed, certainly when they moved to all seating but maybe before then. Ask Bill Kenwright, he was a frequent attendee in the Boys Pen or so he would like us to believe.
Funnily enough I was yesterday looking at one of my old Everton programms which cost 3d (which is three pence for the kids) . It was for the FA Cup 5th round verses Man. United on February 14th 1953. It was four days before my 14th Birthday. No boys pen for me, I was in the Gwladys Street end and the attendance was over 70,000. Bill was probably snuggled up in the boys pen. Anyone else at that game? By the way we won 2-1, eat your heart out Rooney.
{Ed001's Note - I think Ed025 was busy celebrating his 60th birthday that day.....}
08 Jul 2016 19:57:03
I have tried explaining to people just how bad the "pen" was. Not really sure anyone believed me though. Sounded more like a Stephen king Novel.
sigh the things we did to be in the Gwladys St End.
08 Jul 2016 20:24:27
The pen was the only financial option for a lot of kids to get to the match. The view was terrible and it was a bit rough. I wouldn't have recommended it to a posh lad. Used to get out when the gates opened about 15 minutes before the end get in the Gladys.
Thanks for jogging the memory Grumpy.
08 Jul 2016 20:56:04
Love these memories. Boys pen was like a chicken coup in the corner of the ground. Sort of initiation into the ground itself. Remember you could only see the game if you hung like a monkey on the mesh. Still loved the noise when a goal was scored, and would love to go back in time and do it all again. Brings a tear to the eye.
08 Jul 2016 21:41:05
Ed 025 must be about the same age as your kids then Ed 001?
{Ed003's Note - his grand kids BM75.}