I started going down the City about the same time. About 9 or 10 of us used to walk down from Ely.
We were truly awful then, and to this day, I can’t help wondering what kept us going 😁
As you say, the players and board used to get hammered by the supporters.
We were starved of decent football, and It would be a major success if we won a throw in or a corner.!
I don’t think any City fans at the time expected much, but it didn’t stop the anger and frustration from being bellowed from the stands.
If someone had told me back then, I’d see my team play 4 times at Wembley, I’d have thought they were an inmate from Ely hospital!
As you say, times have changed, and it now appears to be frowned upon, especially on here, to criticise the team or manager in any way.
Last season, I posted on here at the beginning of the season, that I thought we were lightweight and would go straight back down.
I got slaughtered for it and accused of not being a city fan at all.