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A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
One of those random thoughts that come into your head sometimes. So, when I first started going away with the City in the mid-'70s, there was a rather passionate and vocal follower from the Llanrumney area.
He would always lead the chanting and got arrested quite a bit in the process (I particularly remember about 3 coppers pinning him to the ground and 'cuffing him at Bristol Rovers, circa 1976). If you're looking at so-called 'leaders' down the City, then Frankie was as close to one as you'd find, I think we'd agree on that. However, this guy had his followers too, although he didn't quite have the same physical presence as Frankie. You just had a feeling that sadly he was probably going to end up spending a proportion of his life behind bars.
However, one day I was on a train from London and there he was sat in the same carriage as me, full army fatigues and a big backpack, looking really clean-cut and in great shape. From overhearing his conversation, it would appear he was serving in Northern Ireland at the time when Bobby Sands was on hunger strike.
I think his surname was Deacon and he went by the nickname of "Pongo"... I'm not entirely sure. But I do know he was from Llanrumney. Does anyone know if he still follows the City or if he lives in Cardiff these days?
I wonder if those of you in your late 50's/early 60's might be able to shed some light on him?
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
One of those random thoughts that come into your head sometimes. So, when I first started going away with the City in the mid-'70s, there was a rather passionate and vocal follower from the Llanrumney area.
He would always lead the chanting and got arrested quite a bit in the process (I particularly remember about 3 coppers pinning him to the ground and 'cuffing him at Bristol Rovers, circa 1976). If you're looking at so-called 'leaders' down the City, then Frankie was as close to one as you'd find, I think we'd agree on that. However, this guy had his followers too, although he didn't quite have the same physical presence as Frankie. You just had a feeling that sadly he was probably going to end up spending a proportion of his life behind bars.
However, one day I was on a train from London and there he was sat in the same carriage as me, full army fatigues and a big backpack, looking really clean-cut and in great shape. From overhearing his conversation, it would appear he was serving in Northern Ireland at the time when Bobby Sands was on hunger strike.
I think his surname was Deacon and he went by the nickname of "Pongo"... I'm not entirely sure. But I do know he was from Llanrumney. Does anyone know if he still follows the City or if he lives in Cardiff these days?
I wonder if those of you in your late 50's/early 60's might be able to shed some light on him?
I should just add that he didn't get arrested just for chanting. :xmashehe:
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Yeah I know who you are talking about.
Years older than me. Not sure how but I used to end up talking to him whenever I saw him.
Havent seen him for a long time though.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
I think his name was Steven Deacon.I saw him last about 3 years ago he was doing to madness tribute gig
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
I'm trying to cast my mind back to my days spent on the Grange End in the mid 70s. I've probably got this very wrong, but wasn't Pongo a mate of some character called 'Stabber'?
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
jeepster
I think his name was Steven Deacon.I saw him last about 3 years ago he was doing to madness tribute gig
Different Deacon. The one the op is talking about is older than the one you have in mind.
I believe the one your talking about is in that casuals video which Lakey is in.
This is a different one.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Mr Soul '68
I'm trying to cast my mind back to my days spent on the Grange End in the mid 70s. I've probably got this very wrong, but wasn't Pongo a mate of some character called 'Stabber'?
yes pongo and stabber grange end loons
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Pongo .........one step beyond !
When we were playing Shrewsbury at home in Eddie mays promotion year , pongo was on the pitch booting city fans up the arse who were holding up the game and threatening the final whistle
Ironic
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr Soul '68
I'm trying to cast my mind back to my days spent on the Grange End in the mid 70s. I've probably got this very wrong, but wasn't Pongo a mate of some character called 'Stabber'?
Stabber sounds like a nice bloke.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Taunton Blue Genie
Stabber sounds like a nice bloke.
Yes he really is :xmasthumbup:
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Stabber was a steward quite recently but I haven't seen him for a seasons.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
C1C9F2C7
yes pongo and stabber grange end loons
Ahhh good to see my memory hasn't let me down. From what I remember of the pair, 'loon's' is putting it politely lol
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr Soul '68
I'm trying to cast my mind back to my days spent on the Grange End in the mid 70s. I've probably got this very wrong, but wasn't Pongo a mate of some character called 'Stabber'?
Yes that is correct. Pongo is a city legend.
Spedger
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr Soul '68
I'm trying to cast my mind back to my days spent on the Grange End in the mid 70s. I've probably got this very wrong, but wasn't Pongo a mate of some character called 'Stabber'?
As you say. Those names flow back. My recollection of those days were that if there was no "opposition" the Grange would turn on itself. Chants of Llanrumney, Barry and Valley Boys would go up as groups formed to take control of the back of the Grange.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jeepster
I think his name was Steven Deacon.I saw him last about 3 years ago he was doing to madness tribute gig
cant be the same guy, the deacon you are taking about is about my age ( 50 ish ) I used to know him fairly well, I wonder if anyone knows how he is, might be dead now, did live life to the fullest back in the late 80's early 90's
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
blue matt
cant be the same guy, the deacon you are taking about is about my age ( 50 ish ) I used to know him fairly well, I wonder if anyone knows how he is, might be dead now, did live life to the fullest back in the late 80's early 90's
Very much alive and still the character.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
cyril evans awaydays
As you say. Those names flow back. My recollection of those days were that if there was no "opposition" the Grange would turn on itself. Chants of Llanrumney, Barry and Valley Boys would go up as groups formed to take control of the back of the Grange.
Let's not forget the infamous Bargoed Mafia with their butchers coats, worn like they thought they were extra's from Clockwork Orange
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Jordi Culé
Very much alive and still the character.
Got kids now hasnt he?
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
goats
Got kids now hasnt he?
Yes. Two lads. One quite recently.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Mr Soul '68
Let's not forget the infamous Bargoed Mafia with their butchers coats, worn like they thought they were extra's from Clockwork Orange
Was the butchers coat a CCFC thing, or did other teams supporters wear them too?
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
valleys caveman
Was the butchers coat a CCFC thing, or did other teams supporters wear them too?
Worn up and down the country by different supporters. I think they became infamous with Tommy Docherty's "Doc Army" in the '70s.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
valleys caveman
Was the butchers coat a CCFC thing, or did other teams supporters wear them too?
I thought Man United's visit down here in 74 was a flood of butcher coats sported by Doc's Red Army.
https://strettynews.com/2013/11/24/t...-39-years-ago/
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
I think the chap some of you are referring to is in this video.
Not the person the op is referring to though.
https://www.complex.com/style/2015/0...ers-short-film
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Hilts
yep that's him :xmasthumbup: glad he is still alive :xmasthumbup:
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Jordi Culé
Very much alive and still the character.
great that he is still alive and well :xmasthumbup: if anyone would have been a gone'er due to excess, he must have been high on the list
I haven't seen him since the late 90's
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
blue matt
yep that's him :xmasthumbup: glad he is still alive :xmasthumbup:
Yep , everyone has a right to change
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
valleys caveman
Was the butchers coat a CCFC thing, or did other teams supporters wear them too?
I never saw any other teams supporters wearing butchers coats in that period, but that's not to say some didn't. The only other people I saw wearing those butchers coats around that time period, in Cardiff anyway, were a few Hawkwind fans who always used to turn up to gigs by the mighty 'wind.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Pongo was in my class in school and he was a bit mad then.He travelled on Martin Paynes bus a few times when the rams were going.Someone you would want beside you if you got into a bit of bother,crazy guy. He once thought it would take half the time to get to Sunderland because we had two drivers. Ill leave you to work that out for yourselves.Sadly i dont think he goes anymore as i havent seen him for quite a while.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Taunton Blue Genie
Stabber sounds like a nice bloke.
As a matter of fact,he is. He used to work as a steward a few years ago.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
alfie
Pongo was in my class in school and he was a bit mad then.He travelled on Martin Paynes bus a few times when the rams were going.Someone you would want beside you if you got into a bit of bother,crazy guy. He once thought it would take half the time to get to Sunderland because we had two drivers. Ill leave you to work that out for yourselves.Sadly i dont think he goes anymore as i havent seen him for quite a while.
What school was that exactly? Do you know anything about his time in the military?
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
alfie
Pongo was in my class in school and he was a bit mad then.He travelled on Martin Paynes bus a few times when the rams were going.Someone you would want beside you if you got into a bit of bother,crazy guy. He once thought it would take half the time to get to Sunderland because we had two drivers. Ill leave you to work that out for yourselves.Sadly i dont think he goes anymore as i havent seen him for quite a while.
He was a good Llanrumney boy. :xmasthumbup:
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
What school was that exactly? Do you know anything about his time in the military?
Llanrumey High School or if you lived in the area Ball Road. Sorry i dont anything about his time inthe military.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Jordi Culé
What a mad day that was. You had to be there to believe what was happening
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
alfie
What a mad day that was. You had to be there to believe what was happening
Town in the night was lively with Llanrumney boys and Man u
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
alfie
Llanrumey High School or if you lived in the area Ball Road. Sorry i dont anything about his time inthe military.
Okay, thank you for that. Just one final question - did I get his surname, Deacon, correct? (I'm beginning to sound like a bloody detective! :hehe: ).
There were three standout characters in my early years following the City away (rough away days back then!)... Pongo was one, Frankie, as I mentioned earlier was another and 'Ching' from Canton.
Halcyon days!
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
Okay, thank you for that. Just one final question - did I get his surname, Deacon, correct? (I'm beginning to sound like a bloody detective! :hehe: ).
There were three standout characters in my early years following the City away (rough away days back then!)... Pongo was one, Frankie, as I mentioned earlier was another and 'Ching' from Canton.
Halcyon days!
If you were around these characters at the time you certainly will never forget them all mad as a box of frogs but as Alfie has said better to have them on our side than the others . Remember Ching also all good boys :xmasthumbup:
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
SLUDGE FACTORY
Yep , everyone has a right to change
I wish you would heed your own words!
Then perhaps the women folk of Cowbridge will be able to peg out their smalls of an evening with a reasonable expectation they will still be there available for collection the next morning.
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rock_Flock_of_Five
Okay, thank you for that. Just one final question - did I get his surname, Deacon, correct? (I'm beginning to sound like a bloody detective! :hehe: ).
There were three standout characters in my early years following the City away (rough away days back then!)... Pongo was one, Frankie, as I mentioned earlier was another and 'Ching' from Canton.
Halcyon days!
Yes,Stephen 'Pongo' Deacon
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
alfie
Yes,Stephen 'Pongo' Deacon
Much appreciated!
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Re: A City fan from the mid-70/ '80s
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Originally Posted by
Xmarksplott
If you were around these characters at the time you certainly will never forget them all mad as a box of frogs but as Alfie has said better to have them on our side than the others . Remember Ching also all good boys :xmasthumbup:
I will never forget being at Anfield for the Wales Vs Scotland game. We were up in the top corner of the Kop and under a constant barrage of beer bottles/cans/coins/cigarette lighters and anything else they could hurl our way.
Picture it - absolutely surrounded by jocks! Ching stands up on a crash-barrier, points towards the swathes of Scotland fans and says.... "There they are, c'mon let's 'ave them"!
He was deadly serious! :hehe: