[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

On the 7th of November, the Brummie Road will turn fifty; it was on that day in 1964, in a match against Blackpool, that Albion fans first congregated on the terraces of the stand then known as the North Bank - at that time still quite small, and only covered since the summer when the old roof from the Handsworth Side (Rainbow Stand) was added to it - and turned it into Albion's "home end". The culture of home ends was only just beginning around the country that autumn, and though several clubs latched onto it before Albion, the Baggies were the first in the West Midlands to gather together for songs and chants during the match.

In the six weeks to go before the anniversary, it'd be great to gather together all of the best and worst memories of the Brummie Road End, including all your favourite songs and chants from through the decades, and experiences of watching matches from those hallowed terraces.

Happy birthday, Brummie Road.

[Salopbaggie]

I look at that picture and the first thing I remember is being cold and wet, then some awesome memories

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Being cold and wet figure strongly in my earliest memories of the Brummie Road! Also, the little birdsong whistles that blokes used to do before kick-off as the terraces filled up, and the Liquidator (obviously); being down in the bogs one time when we scored, and an absolute shower of dust and paint off the walls raining down around me like a snow-globe; blokes kissing their hands and touching the roof of the exit as they left at full time.

Incidentally, the first song which "started" the Brummie Road on 7th November 1964 was a classic which has never really left the repertoire of football fans in the fifty years since. Just change "let's go" to "West Brom"...

[silverbaggie]

My favourite memory was on the 10 November 1965 when I stood with my mates on the BRE.

It was a League Cup 4th Round replay and our opponents were Coventry City then of the old 3rd Division.

Despite the Sky Blues lowly status we had struggled in the first game at Coventry and scraped a 1-1 draw but, the King had been missing; he had been injured for a few games and, Ray Crawford had taken his place.

The match programme that night showed the same team that had played in the first match but, just before the players came out, they announced over the tannoy, " Only one change from the team shown in the programme............. "In place of Ray Crawford, Jeff Astle."

All around the ground went the biggest cheer imaginable. You would have thought that, at the very least, Jeff had scored a hat trick. Before the game had ended, Jeff did just that and the Baggies ran out 6-1 winners with Dougie Fraser (2) and Bomber Brown the other scorers.

It got better still that season because the Albion reached the final which for the last time would be played over two legs.
Already down 1-2 from the first game at Upton Park, Albion turned on the style to win 4-1 (5-3 on aggregate).

For me another wonderful night in the BRE.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

My favourite memory was on the 10 November 1965 when I stood with my mates on the BRE.

It was a League Cup 4th Round replay and our opponents were Coventry City then of the old 3rd Division.

Despite the Sky Blues lowly status we had struggled in the first game at Coventry and scraped a 1-1 draw but, the King had been missing; he had been injured for a few games and, Ray Crawford had taken his place.

The match programme that night showed the same team that had played in the first match but, just before the players came out, they announced over the tannoy, " Only one change from the team shown in the programme............. "In place of Ray Crawford, Jeff Astle."

All around the ground went the biggest cheer imaginable. You would have thought that, at the very least, Jeff had scored a hat trick. Before the game had ended, Jeff did just that and the Baggies ran out 6-1 winners with Dougie Fraser (2) and Bomber Brown the other scorers.

It got better still that season because the Albion reached the final which for the last time would be played over two legs.
Already down 1-2 from the first game at Upton Park, Albion turned on the style to win 4-1 (5-3 on aggregate).

For me another wonderful night in the BRE.

Did you make it for the quarter-final against Villa that year? Apparently the queue for tickets stretched all the way down Halfords Lane!

Here's another classic tune, I believe it was first used for Ally Robertson in 1972 and is still in use for James Morrison over forty years on!

[Dingle-Dingle]

I remember being ushered to the front and then lifted to sit on the small retaining wall to watch matches. I would have seen nothing otherwise. DD

[BaggieMan]

Silver, I was also there that night and what a night it was. I seem to remember a lot of pre-match banter in the media prompted by the then Coventry manager Jimmy Hill of minimum wage fame.

Wasn't there a lot spouted by him about the "Hill Plan"  and how Coventry were going to give us a real good whuppin' ?

Those were the days - Bovril at halftime, smelly bogs, getting crushed against the barriers, away fans pissing down your legs, jumpers for goalposts......

[silverbaggie]

BaggieMan

I must confess that I never liked Jimmy 'The Chin' Hill after he talked one of our previous Managers, Ronnie Allen into leaving us to coach the Saudi Arabian National side.

No I couldn't get a ticket for the Villa game but,(for the benefit of today's younger supporters) there were over 40,000 fans there at the shrine that night. Try getting to the loo in a hurry!

[pieandabovril]

The West Ham final second leg was a good one,first time I had ever set foot on the pitch,lost my shoe in the process! Being kicked out of the Brummie by ManU fans,taking refuge in the Woodman corner and being hit on the head with a coin! A night match against Dumbarton,Coldest night I can ever remember! Watching Dalglish taking the ball off Godden and rolling it into an empty net in about the 8th minute of extra time! So many memories,but has lost a bit of sparkle since the seats were put in!

[talkSAFT]

Silver,
That League Cup run really caught the attention of the fans. It started with our 1st game v Walsall when 41,000 turned up. Then I went to the Cov game (1-1) - my 1st evening away game. Then the Villa, where we queued up Sunday morning right round the estate on Halfords Lane, as you said. 45,000 that night.
Magic moments. But the best was saved for the Final, when Albion played the best football I've ever seen from them to beat West Ham - and the Brummie Road was alive and on fire that night with always 2 or 3 different songs on the go. There were probably 50 or 60 flags or banners waved that night, and the sound was deafening.

Ska'd, that "Son of my Father" song was first sung for Ali Brown.

Keep this great thread going.
We can list all songs/chants over the years. I'll post the 1st songs from 1964 later on - should be interesting, and will keep the invincibility of those old songs.