The Reserves

[Heathrow fox]

Did anybody go to the reserve games when they were a thing? Not the Barrie Pierpoint decent crowds FNF but when it was the real nitty gritty 300/400 sat in the old main stand.

[Collymore]

I do remember sitting in the Carling Stand for some reserve games possibly about 1996 but you maybe on about earlier?

 

Out of interest, what was the structure of it back then? I can't remember there being any leagues for the reserves but it was before the Internet so maybe there was? 

 

Was it just you played the reserves of whoevers first team you were playing that week? 

 

Can't seem to remember there being any meaning to the games as getting excited about league positions like you do now...

 

There wasn't any age laws either was there? You'd get loads of journey men playing in it, with fringe players mixed with some youth. 

 

It's a shame because fringe players in the first team get no extra football at all these days do they? 

 

 

 

 

Edited 6 April by Collymore

[Lako42]

Loved reserve footy at filbo. 

 

A great example of how the game has changed horribly. 

 

 

[Collymore]

Fond memories of seeing Collymore playing in that infamous match where Big Trev lamped him in the changing room. 

 

He was shooting from everywhere, taking pot shots from 50 yards out and producing the most audacious skill I think I've ever seen at a match. 

 

I seem to recall seeing Gaza playing once for Everton Reserves and seeing Davor Suker for West ham reserves  too! 

[Aus Fox]

15 minutes ago, Collymore said:

I do remember sitting in the Carling Stand for some reserve games possibly about 1996 but you maybe on about earlier?

 

Out of interest, what was the structure of it back then? I can't remember there being any leagues for the reserves but it was before the Internet so maybe there was? 

 

Was it just you played the reserves of whoevers first team you were playing that week? 

 

Can't seem to remember there being any meaning to the games as getting excited about league positions like you do now...

 

There wasn't any age laws either was there? You'd get loads of journey men playing in it, with fringe players mixed with some youth. 

 

It's a shame because fringe players in the first team get no extra football at all these days do they? 

 

 

 

 

There was defined the Pontins reserve league for a reason while, I used to go regularly. When there’s nothing else to do, go and watch a decent level of football.

[Collymore]

2 minutes ago, Aus Fox said:

There was defined the Pontins reserve league for a reason while, I used to go regularly. When there’s nothing else to do, go and watch a decent level of football.

Yeah it was probaby that you never got to see the league standings unless you bought a programme possibly. 

[Heathrow fox]

17 minutes ago, Collymore said:

I do remember sitting in the Carling Stand for some reserve games possibly about 1996 but you maybe on about earlier?

 

Out of interest, what was the structure of it back then? I can't remember there being any leagues for the reserves but it was before the Internet so maybe there was? 

 

Was it just you played the reserves of whoevers first team you were playing that week? 

 

Can't seem to remember there being any meaning to the games as getting excited about league positions like you do now...

 

There wasn't any age laws either was there? You'd get loads of journey men playing in it, with fringe players mixed with some youth. 

 

It's a shame because fringe players in the first team get no extra football at all these days do they? 

 

 

 

 

There were the old Central and  football combination leagues.Northern teams played in the Central League.Leicester being in the midlands did stretches in both.I think there was a 1st and 2nd division so you had relegation to contend with and the divisions had at least 18 or so teams in them, so pretty full on.

[Heathrow fox]

5 minutes ago, Collymore said:

Yeah it was probaby that you never got to see the league standings unless you bought a programme possibly. 

Yes the tables and player stats would be at the back of the programme and the Mercury would do a report of the match.I went to a few of these reserve games in my early teens.It could be a very strange eerie atmosphere.The FNF or whatever they were called that you refer to were a great idea.I never went to any myself but know loads who did.I think they attracted 5 figure crowds sometimes 

[Bilo]

10 minutes ago, Heathrow fox said:

Yes the tables and player stats would be at the back of the programme and the Mercury would do a report of the match.I went to a few of these reserve games in my early teens.It could be a very strange eerie atmosphere.The FNF or whatever they were called that you refer to were a great idea.I never went to any myself but know loads who did.I think they attracted 5 figure crowds sometimes 

I remember going to a match against Manchester United ressies in about 1994 where they had to open up the Double Decker.

 

A very young David Beckham scored for them if I remember rightly. 

[whoareyaaa]

Pretty sure we used to get tickets at school for FNF and remember going with mates quite a bit.

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Heathrow fox said:

Did anybody go to the reserve games when they were a thing? Not the Barrie Pierpoint decent crowds FNF but when it was the real nitty gritty 300/400 sat in the old main stand.

Yeah went to a few as they nearly always had 'first teamers' playing with no subs back then.

[stu]

17 minutes ago, Bilo said:

I remember going to a match against Manchester United ressies in about 1994 where they had to open up the Double Decker.

 

A very young David Beckham scored for them if I remember rightly. 

I remember this too. I also remember after the game my Dad decided to go to a chip shop on Narborough Road. While he was in there the United team bus pulled up outside and the majority got off and went inside. 
 

Unfortunately I had decided to say in the car, but my Toddler sister had great fun with interacting with a number of players, who surely would have gone on to be household names.

 

Like you said, pretty sure Beckham played that night along with Scholes, Butt and the Nevilles.

[Heathrow fox]

3 minutes ago, davieG said:

Yeah went to a few as they nearly always had 'first teamers' playing with no subs back then.

Well the likes of Edouard wouldn’t have such an easy ride back then

[davieG]

2 minutes ago, Heathrow fox said:

Well the likes of Edouard wouldn’t have such an easy ride back then

Part of the death of football, overindulged players.

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, Heathrow fox said:

There were the old Central and  football combination leagues.Northern teams played in the Central League.Leicester being in the midlands did stretches in both.I think there was a 1st and 2nd division so you had relegation to contend with and the divisions had at least 18 or so teams in them, so pretty full on.

Ah yes remember The Football Combination and The Central League. Anyone remember the A teams as well? Living down south I recall the old Metropolitan League. Show how old I am when I can remember seeing a young Frank Lampard senior playing in a fixture for West Ham

[fox_favourite]

My first experience of watching football was watching the reserves in the Carling stand. Family night football. 

 

 

[john ridley]

Used to love it in the old main stand ,think some used to be mid afternoon as well.It was a time to see some good players  coming  back from injury ,when the first team were only allowed one sub .

[CosbehFox]

My understanding was that if City were away, the ressies would play at home on the Saturday afternoon, sometimes a little earlier to avoid the floodlights going on 

 

Once read something like if you had one of the A to Z scoreboards at your home ground, it was often the quickest way of knowing the first teams score whilst they were playing away 

[smudger63]

22 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

My understanding was that if City were away, the ressies would play at home on the Saturday afternoon, sometimes a little earlier to avoid the floodlights going on 

 

Once read something like if you had one of the A to Z scoreboards at your home ground, it was often the quickest way of knowing the first teams score whilst they were playing away 

This is the case. When I was a kid, long ago, and didn't go to away games, my dad would sometimes take me to the reserve game at filbert Street, on the Saturday afternoon while the first team were playing away.

[Paninistickers]

3 hours ago, Heathrow fox said:

Did anybody go to the reserve games when they were a thing? Not the Barrie Pierpoint decent crowds FNF but when it was the real nitty gritty 300/400 sat in the old main stand.

Those midweek nights were very much a safe haven for bachelor men in their early to late 50s. It was the antithesis of cool. But today, would probs be considered kinda a counter cultural cool.

 

 

[fazzyfox]

Yes, started going before it was popularised, still have the team sheets, some of it was dull but for a quid you might see some famous names with varying degrees of them giving 100% or not (how times have changed ).
 

Earliest side I saw had future manager Rob Kelly scoring a few good long range goals, Robert Jones up front (a year or two after his 1st team “heroics” in a promotion race), then Jobling, Bunce, Wilkinson, Prindiville mixed in with Bobby Smith, Ian Banks and others from the first team squad, often the sub from the weekend game too. 

Later saw a bit of Laurie Cunningham, like a footballing version of a Harlem Globetrotter, he’d throw in extra tricks and entertain us, just loved watching him play. 

Then the likes of Kitson, Richard Smith, Baraclough, Scott Oakes, Linton, Lyttle and Jason Peake who looked a class act

 

Had early glimpses of Giggs, MacManaman, Dwight Yorke for Villa was outstanding and even though he was struggling for fitness you’d see Gary Shaw (Villa) along with some random blends of trialists, veterans, sometimes the coaches (ex-players) making up the numbers and first team regulars coming back from injury. 

The two biggest “Couldn’t give a ****” performances were John Robertson in his 2nd spell at Forest and in the Family Night Football era Branco for Middlesbrough who just didn’t want to be playing, and left kids bemused as the magic thought of seeing a Brazilian player in the flesh went a bit pants.

 

Also remember Ramsey needing a stretcher, don’t know if it was already in use or they wanted something firmer but after a long delay the medics came out of the tunnel with a table. They tried to put Rambo on it and lift it but he slid off and opted to limp off instead! Think it was a reserves game if not a tin pot cup game.

[ramadaone]

The Reserves were also made to play in the local cup comp ( was it something like the Leics Charity cup or Senior Cup ? )

 

Sometimes if the first team had games cancelled they would play a very strong team in this comp just to get some easy game time in

 

Must be a few of the older local lads who played against them ?

[CosbehFox]

2 hours ago, ramadaone said:

The Reserves were also made to play in the local cup comp ( was it something like the Leics Charity cup or Senior Cup ? )

 

Sometimes if the first team had games cancelled they would play a very strong team in this comp just to get some easy game time in

 

Must be a few of the older local lads who played against them ?

The Westerby Cup, basically as you said Leics County Cup. 
 

Some clubs still enter their county FA competitions with their under 21s and get the non league clubs a good pay day. Birmingham Senior Cup for example is very strong with Villa and Baggies in it. 

Edited 7 April by CosbehFox

[BeardyFox]

Loved FNF. One of my greatest memories is seeing Frank Sinclair needlessly razz a clearance in to the Carling stand a mere 10 feet away from me. I watched in awe as the ball smashed another young lad in the face knocking his glasses flying. 
Frank didn’t give a shit.

Glorious. 
 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, ramadaone said:

The Reserves were also made to play in the local cup comp ( was it something like the Leics Charity cup or Senior Cup ? )

 

Sometimes if the first team had games cancelled they would play a very strong team in this comp just to get some easy game time in

 

Must be a few of the older local lads who played against them ?

The Westerby Cup