Ground Before SAR Was Built

[Norths]

From a Facebook page, with credit going to a user on lfw who shared the image



Brings back some memories for a few of you no doubt.

[cross it Dave]

What a great photo, taken, I would hazard a guess, in the spring of 1968, just before my time supporting the R’s.

The diggers appear to be preparing the ground for the building of the South Africa Road stand.

The boys section in the Loft can be clearly seen, I spent my first years watching us from there, I never understood why the wall was not rebuild after the scum knocked it down in 1974.

When the Loft was packed going down the stairs after the final whistle was hairy at times.

Wonderful times with great memories.

Cheers Norths

[Hertford Hoop]

Great photo, love seeing these.

[OldR]

And a bit further on :-)

[Stanley]

And a bit further on :-)

Truly fascinating to see this. Seen a lot of photos of the old ground but never one like this mid-construction, mid-game.

[dave58]

SAR used to be just terracing and had a big mud bank at the back of it, before the stand was built I believe for our very first year in top flight football 1969

[Norths]

And a bit further on :-)

That's a great picture. Thanks for sharing.

[cross it Dave]

And a bit further on :-)

That was probably taken at our first ever First Division game against Leicester City, 1-1 draw

[OldR]

That was probably taken at our first ever First Division game agsinst Leicester City, 1-1 draw

I was say that is very likely.

[Hertford Hoop]

Another view

[Norths]

Was the white city estate already built while sar was still like that? Good view of the game for those living in the blocks opposite if so.

[72bus]

it used to be easy bunking in , we used to climb over the gardens where loftus rd met ellersie rd , i had more posts on the old site , strange

[cross it Dave]

it used to be easy bunking in , we used to climb over the gardens where loftus rd met ellersie rd , i had more posts on the old site , strange

I have lost about 50-60 posts as well.

[cross it Dave]

Another view

Cracking photo, which I have never seen before.

[Alanwycombe]

I used to stand over the radio box, the white bit in the corner, as a kid. Great view but had to get there early. Same faces in the same places every match. A group of guys used to stand under the pylon and one always announced his arrival with a booming 'come on you Rs' - the 'you Rs' bit was like a lion roaring. Could well have been the origin of that chant, I never heard it before then.