Steve McGhee (Kincardineshire)
Born in Aberdeen. Got hooked on the Rams when promotion was secured back in '69 after being bought a book on that season for my 8th Birthday.
As I recall it was the BBG which struck a chord with me as ,compared to Pittodrie it looked like a 'real' football ground. Up to then it was West Brom for me. Over the next few years took an almighty amount of stick 'up here'- bad enough supporting the wrong Scottish team but an English one? You can imagine!
In 1975 'Shoot' had an ad from DCFC to write in and get a free copy of 'The Ram' and this set me off on 25 years (so far) of collecting the clubs ' programme's which was the next best thing to going to the games. Got all the homes and most of the aways back to the war now which might seem a bit pointless, but boy, there's some history there! (Wouldn't like to count up what I've spent on them over the years ,though)
In 1980 my 1st 'live' game - away in the LC at Loftus Road. Goalless draw but memorable all the same . Next season came the 1st game at the BBG, a pal got a comp ticket for me and it was off to the Popside .A beautiful sunny day and a 3-1 win over Linekers team and a bullet of a free kick from Steve Buckley.
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere I didn't really take in much of the game but came back a dozen times over the next three years by train or or by thumbing a lift (not easy doing that from Aberdeen)
I ended up in Grimsby once having fallen asleep on a Lorry!
Missed one game completely having been warned about the local beer .Fell asleep in the Ossie End p*ss*d !
Queued up with thousands of others to see Charlie Georges return to the club v Luton. Sold 500 raffle tickets for the best game of all- Cloughs return in '83.
Actually got on the pitch at the end of the infamous Fulham game later that year .
Dragged a couple of mates around the UK for a month watching 3rd div games at Bury, Hartlepool, Cardiff etc Great days, student days. I could go on for hours (but I won't).
When Maxwell came along this coincided with me actually having to work for a living but I made it down to Wolves game which was the 100th year at the BBG.
Since then only a couple of games sadly.
Never thought the club would actually leave the BBG, I know they had to and it was the only sensible course of action etc but something very special is now gone.
Thanks for listening
c2001 Steve McGhee