The 1930s and 40s

MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 11/04/2018 15:28:02    2092400

Going to games.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 11/04/2018 15:29:49    2092402

Slightly dangerous? as in the drunks, coke heads? or the clown who used the blow the whistle when other teams had the ball?
I jest Mes, you are right though, the hill has lost something. still great craic (not in it very often to be fair) but not as great as it was. Why is that? Sunshine supporters? lack of excitement?
The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 1087 - 11/04/2018 12:51:06

My theory about the diminishment of Hill is all down to the redevelopment. It has become too nice since they did it up. It's a decent place to watch the match now. Plenty space, good sight lines, good facilities etc.

Previously you'd be on the Hill as a teenager/in your 20s and then you'd graduate to the Cusack or the Hogan as you got older because you could afford the better ticket.

Now the Cusack/Hogan are not better tickets really as the view from the Hill, facilities etc are very comparable to the stands. The Hill has become and older crowd to my mind than it was 20 years ago. They've essentially gentrified the Hill!!

To be fair I much prefer watching a game from the Hill as opposed to most of the stand. Unless I get a nice ticket central and a good bit back in the Cusack/Hogan I wouldn't bother paying the extra cash. So that in itself is a good thing I suppose but still something has been lost.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 11/04/2018 15:31:04    2092403

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 11/04/2018 15:31:49    2092404

I miss the nostalgia

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 11/04/2018 15:55:24    2092409

The Goalposts

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12121 - 11/04/2018 16:13:09    2092414

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 11/04/2018 16:13:36    2092415

Man v Man Gaelic Football.

I loved the personal battle of a back v a forward and midfielders going against each other.
No hiding behind systems or mass defenses.

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 11/04/2018 16:39:54    2092424

Half decent punditry on RTE.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 11/04/2018 17:40:08    2092434

The waft of tobacco in the teracces,
Hard hurling
Carasmatic hurlers with faces we all knew (before helmets hid em)
The foot in football.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 11/04/2018 18:21:33    2092445

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 11/04/2018 18:24:26    2092449

Mikasa yellow football gloves with black rubber bits. Sometimes you'd melt a bit of rubber on yourself, when you'd be hard up.

Dubs saying to Laois fans 'how many bleedin cows did ye give the ref' when we'd beat them occasionally.

The Compromise Rules in 1984 when Irish 'naturally' big men, as opposed to puffed up gym samples took on the Aussies. Brian McGilligan (Derry), Pat O'Byrne (Wicklow), the Bomber and Jacko, Mick Lyons, not huge but hard, the Grimleys from Armagh. If any of the above hit you, you'd be asleep for a week. Don't think Brian Mullins played but he was a savage build of a man.

Training late evenings using cars as flood lights.

Having a lot of the girls chase you at the disco as you scored 1-3 in a club minor game.

BliainanÁir (Laois) - Posts: 598 - 11/04/2018 18:55:48    2092452

Paper county hats - bizarre

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4897 - 11/04/2018 19:37:36    2092458

The Women who used to sell 3 cans or 3 mars bars for a pound from prams and makeshift stalls on the way into Crocker. I often wonder about kids experiences these days when i see them knowing on hotdogs or nachos.

The old stands that used to rock in the wind before the redevelopment, or shake if a goal was scored or the train came through.

The toutes buying or selling tickets from O Connell St all the way up Crocker.

The forward surge on the Hill as frightening as it was exciting.

Hopping the stiles.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 11/04/2018 19:59:58    2092463

Mullets.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 11/04/2018 20:20:05    2092465

KildareKelly (Kildare) - Posts: 593 - 11/04/2018 20:23:40    2092466

The "new" Sunday Game theme tune of the mid 2000s, about as popular as Guinness light ;)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 11/04/2018 20:29:27    2092467

Gaelic football

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1671 - 11/04/2018 21:33:46    2092479

The noisy ice cream vendors who wandered through the crowd , unique in my mind to Connacht Championship games.

The hayshed of a stand in Tuam - oh hang on , thats still there.

A1 sized calendars with small picture of county team in the middle and a heap of ads.

Officials with wigs ( or spectacular comb overs)

The bucklep celebration.

Pudgy goalkeepers.

facethepuckout (Roscommon) - Posts: 214 - 11/04/2018 23:21:18    2092494

Croke park pitch celebrations.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 11/04/2018 23:22:35    2092495