[SuperHamz]

A bit if nostalgia on the BBC sport website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/57074353

[Ennoch]

Wow, that takes me back to a time when I was still interested in football (as a ten/eleven year old I might add!). Then I realised I was crap at it and wouldn't ever get on the school team so went off and got more into riding bikes instead! Anyway, I have this really clear memory of going down to the local Inter Sports with my mum as they'd got a bunch of Scotland shirts in and pretty much all of us wore them while playing football during lunch break at school. Simpler days!

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by SuperHamz

A bit if nostalgia on the BBC sport website:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/57074353

My England memories will forever be Italia '90... That seemed to me to be the turning point back to football being somewhat acceptable beyond the fans/supporters...

Euro '96 did not quite seem real to me somehow and the stumbling at the semi final hurdle seemed to sum it upon for me... a bit "all go, no show"... or, rather, "all show, no go"... Really, now, all I can remember is Gascoigne's wonder goal, and that we beat the Dutch quite handsomely somewhat against wider expectations...

I don't really follow England football now (never did, really)... I watched the game the other night as it was being held just down the road, and only knew about 3 of the players... I realise this is probably due to the fact that, in the last ten years, my team have only been in the premier league for one of them, but, even in that one year, I didn't pay much attention to the other teams other than as they played in front of me...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Ennoch

Wow, that takes me back to a time when I was still interested in football (as a ten/eleven year old I might add!). Then I realised I was crap at it and wouldn't ever get on the school team so went off and got more into riding bikes instead! Anyway, I have this really clear memory of going down to the local Inter Sports with my mum as they'd got a bunch of Scotland shirts in and pretty much all of us wore them while playing football during lunch break at school. Simpler days!

For much of my school days, Scotland were the "home nation" (a quaint term of the time) team going to the World Cups... '74 Germany (I remember the Zaire team more, to be fair) and Ally's army in '78 (Argentina)... In fact, I saw an awesome documentary about that Scotland '78 team/World Cup recently...

[SuperHamz]

I was a little young for Italia 90, although that was my first experience of an international tournament, of course England didn't get through the group stages in Euro 92 and didn't qualify for my first world cup in USA 94 (which was an awesome experience as 10 year old).

Euro 96 was my first real experience of international football and being in England and the team doing so well was an added bonus. Also, as a Newcastle fan, Alan Shearer is my footballing hero.

The team has been pretty average since then until the last world cup, hopefully Euro 2020 (21?) should be good, but not getting any hopes up.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by SuperHamz

I was a little young for Italia 90, although that was my first experience of an international tournament, of course England didn't get through the group stages in Euro 92 and didn't qualify for my first world cup in USA 94 (which was an awesome experience as 10 year old).

Euro 96 was my first real experience of international football and being in England and the team doing so well was an added bonus. Also, as a Newcastle fan, Alan Shearer is my footballing hero.

The team has been pretty average since then until the last world cup, hopefully Euro 2020 (21?) should be good, but not getting any hopes up.

The thing about Italia '90 was it was not just about the football itself, more a mood change going on and a return to football becoming somewhat acceptable again after a period in the '80's when it was seen as something of the devil's work...

I remember literally being caged into football grounds back then in the 80's and early '90s... looking out of a pen surrounded by anti-climb fencing (I think the worst I experienced was Boundary Park, Oldham... and this - to the best of my recollection - was even after the dreadful events of 15th April '89, where you think some folk might have learned some lessons about all that sort of thing...)... treated like cattle, herded around... threatened with having to carry identification cards... It was pretty dreadful, to be honest...

A lot of the big changes going on around 1990 were really social, as much as anything... and I think Italia '90 just caught a mood, especially as the team progressed through the tournament...

I seem to recall that one of the better books written about Italia '90 was Pete Davies' "All Played Out"...

[planemad]

[JustChris]

Bloody loved it. I my hey day. 2nd year at Uni. Exams finished. Sun shining and 3 lions on a shirt🍺🍺

[Ridg]

Originally Posted by SuperHamz

I was a little young for Italia 90, although that was my first experience of an international tournament, of course England didn't get through the group stages in Euro 92 and didn't qualify for my first world cup in USA 94 (which was an awesome experience as 10 year old).

Euro 96 was my first real experience of international football and being in England and the team doing so well was an added bonus. Also, as a Newcastle fan, Alan Shearer is my footballing hero.

The team has been pretty average since then until the last world cup, hopefully Euro 2020 (21?) should be good, but not getting any hopes up.

I remember the coca cola Italia 90 footballs and the panini album but that's about it.

I'd have to go world in motion for the best England song

and this one for lucy pinder

[SuperHamz]

Originally Posted by Ridg

I remember the coca cola Italia 90 footballs and the panini album but that's about it.

and this one for lucy pinder

Best England song has got to be original 3 Lions, hearing that in the terraces watching them beat The Netherlands 4-1 still gives me goosebumps.

Vindaloo was a decent fun song too. There haven't really been great England songs since then and it's been 25 years now!

As for Lucy Pinder, yes please - didn't she have a no n*ps policy for almost all of her "career"

[Scoobyd]

Great memories. I was living near and working in Wembley during Euro 96. The atmosphere was electric. All The Sun girls out and about handing out hats and scarves etc, pubs overflowing, that traditional false hope and expectation building only to come crashing down again! In the old 'proper' Wembley stadium too.

[strike4A]

Originally Posted by DaveA

The thing about Italia '90 was it was not just about the football itself, more a mood change going on and a return to football becoming somewhat acceptable again after a period in the '80's when it was seen as something of the devil's work...

I remember literally being caged into football grounds back then in the 80's and early '90s... looking out of a pen surrounded by anti-climb fencing (I think the worst I experienced was Boundary Park, Oldham... and this - to the best of my recollection - was even after the dreadful events of 15th April '89, where you think some folk might have learned some lessons about all that sort of thing...)... treated like cattle, herded around... threatened with having to carry identification cards... It was pretty dreadful, to be honest...

A lot of the big changes going on around 1990 were really social, as much as anything... and I think Italia '90 just caught a mood, especially as the team progressed through the tournament...

I seem to recall that one of the better books written about Italia '90 was Pete Davies' "All Played Out"...

Also the last major tournament before the Premier League came in with the £££.

[SantaEugence]

Never did complete my premier league sticker album for that year

[Zippeh]

As a Welshman, Euro 2016 was a truly special time for me. Beating Belgium like we did was incredible. Felt we were unlucky against Portugal in the semis too!

[SuperHamz]

I think I spent near to £500 on Panini sticker albums from World Cup 94 through to Euro 96 - got called up by my parents after that as they tried to tot them up and worked out I'd spent years of pocket money, birthday money AND "borrowed" some from my mum's purse :P

[JR1664]

Originally Posted by planemad

Haha ..never realised he did it from the exact same spot as Richard Ashcroft.

[JR1664]

Originally Posted by DaveA

For much of my school days, Scotland were the "home nation" (a quaint term of the time) team going to the World Cups... '74 Germany (I remember the Zaire team more, to be fair) and Ally's army in '78 (Argentina)... In fact, I saw an awesome documentary about that Scotland '78 team/World Cup recently...

I actually went to the Scotland / Zaire game at Dortmunds new stadium. I was 9. The Tartan army were everywhere naturally but the Zaire fans were basically a 'delegation' of guys in suits waving very small flags.

I guess I was an early adopted Scot due to the influence of my dad, who took me to Hampden a few times. I was also a Leeds fan and the Scotland team had plenty of Leeds players. However when I grew up I struggled to comprehend the anti English sentiment of the support, my father and his brothers demonstrated none of that .That said when I landed in England from a Forces upbringing abroad I had a hell of a time for supporting Scotland from school mates..actually got in a few scraps.

Nowadays I just want all of the home countries to do well.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by JR1664

I actually went to the Scotland / Zaire game at Dortmunds new stadium. I was 9. The Tartan army were everywhere naturally but the Zaire fans were basically a 'delegation' of guys in suits waving very small flags.

I guess I was an early adopted Scot due to the influence of my dad, who took me to Hampden a few times. I was also a Leeds fan and the Scotland team had plenty of Leeds players. However when I grew up I struggled to comprehend the anti English sentiment of the support, my father and his brothers demonstrated none of that .That said when I landed in England from a Forces upbringing abroad I had a hell of a time for supporting Scotland from school mates..actually got in a few scraps.

Nowadays I just want all of the home countries to do well.

*except Scotland whilst the poison dwarf is in charge.

[JR1664]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

*except Scotland whilst the poison dwarf is in charge.

I'm ignoring her. I'm pretty sure if the EFL (not the PL -they need to work their way up) invited Scottish clubs into say divvy 2 on the proviso Scotland stayed part of the Union, Independence would never happen

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by JR1664

I'm ignoring her. I'm pretty sure if the EFL (not the PL -they need to work their way up) invited Scottish clubs into say divvy 2 on the proviso Scotland stayed part of the Union, Independence would never happen

division 2 - championship or League 2? I'd say most SPL teams would fit in with League 2, was reading about an ex Aberdeen striker who left and signed for Salford who has been released at the end of the season....

And Eion Doyle managed to go from Chesterfield to Hibs in SPL.... and back down to Bolton in L2....

Ignoring wee krankie, I reckon that would annoy her more than owt!

[JR1664]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

division 2 - championship or League 2? I'd say most SPL teams would fit in with League 2, was reading about an ex Aberdeen striker who left and signed for Salford who has been released at the end of the season....

And Eion Doyle managed to go from Chesterfield to Hibs in SPL.... and back down to Bolton in L2....

Ignoring wee krankie, I reckon that would annoy her more than owt!

League 2, start at the bottom, expand the league and Invite them in with the proviso . ..its a UK league. It would be brilliant. Stuff the European super League, just adding the usual suspects up there plus Aberdeen / Hibs etc , would really shake things up.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by JR1664

League 2, start at the bottom, expand the league and Invite them in with the proviso . ..its a UK league. It would be brilliant. Stuff the European super League, just adding the usual suspects up there plus Aberdeen / Hibs etc , would really shake things up.

can we leave Celtic and Rangers, we could do without lovely places like Salford, Mansfield, Forest Green etc being wrecked after they have been beaten by teams they have never heard of