Barcelona Bears 1 Franco's Fascists 0 - A fine article from a few years back

http://travelblog.dailymail.co.uk/2...ism-tourism-can-do-wonders-for-democracy.html


By Frank Barrett, Travel Editor, The Mail on Sunday

In 1972 it has been suggested that it was supporters of Rangers Football Club who helped release dictator General Franco’s grip on power.

The defining moment was a confrontation with the local constabulary that became known as the Battle of Barcelona.

The pitched battle followed a ground invasion in the dying moments of the Glasgow club’s 3-2 win over Moscow Dynamo in the final of the European Cup Winners Cup competition.

In Franco’s fascist state the Spanish police were all-powerful, they ruled with a rod of iron.

Well they did until Rangers fans turned up and blithely stepped over them to rush the pitch.

The locals were not surprised that the police came back with a very heavy handed response – what amazed them was that anyone would dare to start fighting them in the first place.

Just as the night marchers in Leipzig signalled the start of the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, the Nou Camp riot showed the Spanish that they didn’t have to put with Franco.

By the time that Franco died three years later he had long been a busted flush.

http://travelblog.dailymail.co.uk/2...ism-tourism-can-do-wonders-for-democracy.html

Would have loved to have been there!
 
The Man U fans ran from the Streford end to the Scoreboard end they were met with a deluge of bottles they tried to run but the Rangers from the 2 enclosures at the both sides ran onto the park and were behind the Mancs. The Rangers fans jumped onto the park at the Scoreboard End this left the Man U fans totally surrounded and the massacre then happened.

There was also a classic pincer movement at Villa Park auldyin. :))
 
It was a German journalist. The late Glasgow Herald reporter Ian Archer told the story for years. The Scottish sports reporters were grouped together watching the battle as the Rangers supporters gradually got the Guardia Civil pinned behind the goal (that we had scored into in the first half) and surrounded them. Archer said at that point the German journalist ran over to the Scottish reporters in an excited state and shouted, "Do you realise that the Rangers supporters gave just enacted a classic pincer movement"?

I stood in the stands that night and watched it. It is a memory that will never leave me.

I'll never forget it Jim.

Before the match started it was a totally carnival & humorous atmosphere. From where i
was sitting on the second tier you could see so many bears going onto the pitch getting
pictures taken, with even one guy lying along the goal line at the side Colin Stein scored
into as if he was Castlemilk's answer to Linda Lusardi.

That was before the match, so NO WONDER bears were expecting to get on the park to celebrate
if we won the match.

Why did that attitude of Franco's men change, because that's where the issue started.
 
Was in a bar on Las Ramblas around 1979 wearing my Rangers top and the barman said Glasgow Rangers loco.
My Mrs and me were on a weekend breaking in Barcelona in 2004 and in a fish restaurant in Las Ramblas and got speaking to an old man (owner I think)in the place.He asked my Mrs where we were from and when we said Scotland and then Glasgow he smiled and said ah Glasgow Rangers.No free drink right enough.
 
I'll never forget it Jim.

Before the match started it was a totally carnival & humorous atmosphere. From where i
was sitting on the second tier you could see so many bears going onto the pitch getting
pictures taken, with even one guy lying along the goal line at the side Colin Stein scored
into as if he was Castlemilk's answer to Linda Lusardi.

That was before the match, so NO WONDER bears were expecting to get on the park to celebrate
if we won the match.

Why did that attitude of Franco's men change, because that's where the issue started.
That cu*t lawwell probably has a word!
 
My memories are that we were a little out of order but the Spanish police massively over reacted. I went on the East Rutherglen Supporters Bus (I remember Colin Jacksons Dad was on the bus).
We didn't just invade the pitch at the final whistle, we were on a couple of times before that irc.

Once the battle started at the end I recall it as per other posters. The police were out of order, I was on the second level and police came into the stand to attack us. I was set about by a big Spanish Copper and a couple of handy Bears stepped in to change the odds.

I left the ground drunk with no idea were to go and our bus (to who I had been a stranger 4 days before) passed by 20 yards from me, I didn't see them but they saw me and grabbed me up off the street.

The best bit was the following day when the locals in the village we were in came out to applaud us onto our bus as heroes

My uncle's mate was a real Barlanark bear, and built like a brick shithoose as they say.

He was maybe 27/28 and a big gentle giant but no soft. When the whistle went for the
free kick with a couple of minutes to go a lot of the younger bears ran on. Ronnie was
trying to help get all the younger guys off of the park & the normal polis saw that &
were letting him help.

Up pops one of Franco's more senior guys from nowhere & hit the big man on the
shoulder with his baton. Big Ronnie just turned & looked at him. The wee bar steward
then whacked him again & Ronnie lost it & just flattened him with one punch. Out cold.

An illustration of their attitude. And ours.
 
Great thread this.
Franco and his regime were backed by the Papish Church. There were many many Scots who fought against him in the Spanish Civil War, while the Catholic Church openly encouraged men to go and fight for Franco.This is not something the so called uber aocialist green brigade seem to be aware of.
To all who were there on the night your stories should be made into a book.
I salute you all
 
The book idea gets my support- the reminisces of those who were there are great to hear. Can we get a thread for that specific purpose and someone with the experience of putting a book together could use these as part of the story and the sooner the better as loads of berrs will be well into their twilight years? My Uncle was over but passed away 15 years ago- wished I had got all his recollections of Barca 72. A book for the 50 th anniversary is a must.
 
The book idea gets my support- the reminisces of those who were there are great to hear. Can we get a thread for that specific purpose and someone with the experience of putting a book together could use these as part of the story and the sooner the better as loads of berrs will be well into their twilight years? My Uncle was over but passed away 15 years ago- wished I had got all his recollections of Barca 72. A book for the 50 th anniversary is a must.

This is a GREAT IDEA for our 150th !!!!!!!
 
It's ironic the way the Celtic blogisphere always react to this, supporting the armed thugs of a fascist state against visitors from a democratic state. They forget that the Celtic fans did exactly the same thing in Lisbon, they invaded the pitch to celebrate their team's victory, the difference being that the police in the Portuguese semi-fascist state chose not to try to batter them off the park.
 
It's ironic the way the Celtic blogisphere always react to this, supporting the armed thugs of a fascist state against visitors from a democratic state. They forget that the Celtic fans did exactly the same thing in Lisbon, they invaded the pitch to celebrate their team's victory, the difference being that the police in the Portuguese semi-fascist state chose not to try to batter them off the park.

Pitch invasions were quite common after major victories in the late 1960's, early 1970's. The Scottish media always try to isolate Barcelona in 1972 as something specific and unwarranted.
 
As has been mentioned a number of times pitch invasions were common at the time. Possibly wrong, but common never the less. Probably the best example from that very same year would be West Germany winning the European Championship in Brussels. With the game nearing its end there are literally thousands ringing the pitch waiting for the whistle.
 
As has been mentioned a number of times pitch invasions were common at the time. Possibly wrong, but common never the less. Probably the best example from that very same year would be West Germany winning the European Championship in Brussels. With the game nearing its end there are literally thousands ringing the pitch waiting for the whistle.

Ronnie Radford's goal ! :D

 
After the match, the Police were everywhere, they were checking hotels and setting about fans who were in small groups. Some fans were ejected from their digs, they were obviously crest fallen due to what happened in the stadium and wanted to give out retribution, in fact they still do to this day.
 
After the match, the Police were everywhere, they were checking hotels and setting about fans who were in small groups. Some fans were ejected from their digs, they were obviously crest fallen due to what happened in the stadium and wanted to give out retribution, in fact they still do to this day.

It was pretty scary outside the ground after the match tbh. As Jimbear said, it was just a matter
of getting on a bus for the resort you were staying, whether you came in that actual bus or not.

We got on a bus to Lloret, that's all that mattered, as they were attacking lone bears by this
point.
 
It was pretty scary outside the ground after the match tbh. As Jimbear said, it was just a matter
of getting on a bus for the resort you were staying, whether you came in that actual bus or not.

We got on a bus to Lloret, that's all that mattered, as they were attacking lone bears by this
point.
Yip we made it back to Castledefells with Rutherglen East and basically were placed in lockdown.
Sirens and noise was clearly held outside.
 
But surely there is another team in Glasgow who have a cherished relationship with the mighty Barcelona, and surely it is they who would have been the first British club to receive such an honour?

No, and to date still no invite.
Maybe the invite was lost in the post?
Or maybe they still need to have a vote on it?
 
I'll never forget it Jim.

Before the match started it was a totally carnival & humorous atmosphere. From where i
was sitting on the second tier you could see so many bears going onto the pitch getting
pictures taken, with even one guy lying along the goal line at the side Colin Stein scored
into as if he was Castlemilk's answer to Linda Lusardi.

That was before the match, so NO WONDER bears were expecting to get on the park to celebrate
if we won the match.

Why did that attitude of Franco's men change, because that's where the issue started.
If memory serves me correctly there was a couple of mini invasions prior to the big one at the end.I think the Spanish polis saw this as a challenge to their authority and clearly not used to that being challenged.
One other thing pitch invasions in the UK were not uncommon back then and I think the Bears would have been surprised by the heavy handed reaction of the Spanish police.
 
If memory serves me correctly there was a couple of mini invasions prior to the big one at the end.I think the Spanish polis saw this as a challenge to their authority and clearly not used to that being challenged.
One other thing pitch invasions in the UK were not uncommon back then and I think the Bears would have been surprised by the heavy handed reaction of the Spanish police.

Yes MG, I definitely remember the one with about two minutes to go anyway.

As you say it wasn’t unusual back then, and I was told that the Tim’s in Lisbon invaded the park.

So the reaction in that context was way OTT by Francos men.
 
Yes MG, I definitely remember the one with about two minutes to go anyway.

As you say it wasn’t unusual back then, and I was told that the Tim’s in Lisbon invaded the park.

So the reaction in that context was way OTT by Francos men.
Yes,Tim's did and Scotland fans in 67 and 77at Wembley,I was at the 77 one and a cop actually helped me off the terrace on to the pitch.There was no malice and I went home with some turf.
 
Despite countless statements from Bears who were actually there in Barcelona that night and faced the brutality of Franco's armed henchmen, the Scottish media down the decades has predictably tried to twist and distort that glorious time as another big, bad Rangers tale. That Rangers were personally invited back to the same stadium just 2 years later by Barcelona is never mentioned by the warped scum posing as an impartial media in this country.

Dont know if someones already mentioned it but in the Barca museum they have a photo of us charging onto the park
 
I had been taken to all the qualifying games by my day, the semi final with Bayern is one of my greatest memories, still only 14 we traveled with the London RSC, which was run by a QPR fan, to Barca, my first real flight.

I was amazed how many Bears were there, they were everywhere, as many have said, with a great view from the 2nd tier I watched as the Polis attempted to clear the pitch, particularly vivid memory is if a young girl 14 or 15 getting smashed across the head with a large baton wielding thug, as she fell the cowardly creep tried to hit her again.

Within seconds he was obliterated by Bears and got his comeuppance, outside was terrifying for me as a young lad, I lost my dad and had to dodge battles to try and find our bus, once found I climbed aboard and watched as Polis and Bears charge and counter charge.
They may have had Batons but they weren't expecting the reaction of the Bears, the dictatorship fall had begun.

As we got back to our hotel with a fair bit of blood spilt the locals were literally applauding and backslapping every one of us, I didnt really understand at the time what it was all about.

I'm 62 now and those memories will never fade. That night, I was, and still am immensely proud to be a bear.
 
Forgot about Wembley. Yes, there must have been 15-20k on the park ? :D
Made a little cameo down the wing at Wembley in 77 as an 8 year old. Down the front with my brother and dad while my mother was in the second tier with other family. At full time my dad looked up to where my mother was sitting and she made it quite clear we were not allowed to go on the park. Dad was having none of it and onto the park we went. Can also remember walking out of Wembley and the guy in front of us had a section of the crossbar over his shoulder. Copper simply looked at him and shook his head, poor guy had to leave it behind! On the tube back into London a pregnant woman got on the train and I stood up to give her my seat. Older chap rewarded me by opening a plastic bag and giving me a little bit of the turf he had availed for himself. Happy days supporting Scotland back then. Pity about now.
 
Made a little cameo down the wing at Wembley in 77 as an 8 year old. Down the front with my brother and dad while my mother was in the second tier with other family. At full time my dad looked up to where my mother was sitting and she made it quite clear we were not allowed to go on the park. Dad was having none of it and onto the park we went. Can also remember walking out of Wembley and the guy in front of us had a section of the crossbar over his shoulder. Copper simply looked at him and shook his head, poor guy had to leave it behind! On the tube back into London a pregnant woman got on the train and I stood up to give her my seat. Older chap rewarded me by opening a plastic bag and giving me a little bit of the turf he had availed for himself. Happy days supporting Scotland back then. Pity about now.

Cracking story ADL - Enjoyed reading that :))
 
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