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Stuart Charmak, Headingley Rugby Voices: childhood turnstile trauma

During the 1950s we always used to go to the game by car - a Vauxhall, which was relatively rare in those days, because my dad was always a traveller.

We used to find a parking space in one of the back streets, which everybody still does, and make our way to a sweet shop on the corner of Kirkstall Lane which was owned by an ex-player. I can't remember his name but I know that I was in awe of him. We always went in there to buy our half-time snacks which added to the feeling of match day being a real treat.

Then came the two horrific moments for an impressionable young child. We used to gain admittance to the cricket ground first through the large gateway and it was separate turnstiles for men and boys in those days. I went through the boys' entrance with my own bit of money and I used to have terrifying visions wondering what I would do if my dad wasn't there on the other side waiting for me. After coping with that, we used to transfer to the seats - we never stood, which is interesting because my children now when we go anywhere only ever want to stand - which meant another set of turnstiles. Because I was small, I was one of those who was lifted over and I hated it because I was always convinced that I was going to fall or trip or be dropped.

Then there was the problem of not being able to see properly, first because there was usually a great iron girder in the way obscuring the try-line and second, being only an eight or nine year old below average height, when everybody else stood up - because say Wilf Rosenberg the flying dentist from South Africa was on the charge - all I saw were coats in front of me. I've probably not seen some of the finest tries ever scored at Headingley!

There was an occasion coming out of the ground after St Helens had thrashed us and it was all quiet that I uttered the immortal words "Who won?" because I hadn't seen a damn thing

Stuart Charmak

Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.

www.scratchingshedpublishing.com Twitter @scratchingshed2

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Memory added on October 22, 2012

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