I am sure the condition of many grounds was poor in the 8o's as well as
the 60's/70's ! Torquay/Aldershot/Exeter spring to mind as working on
a shoestring,although I am proud (?) to say the catering at the old
Manor Ground in Oxford,was voted as having the worst food in the
league ! The food is better in the new ground,but (probably) like most
other grounds it is very expensive for,frankly not a wonderful
standard ! I started watching Oxford (Headington United) in 60 and I
used to watch the Reserves in the Metropolitan League,with teams such
as Arsenal "A",St.Neots Town etc.,sitting in a ramshackle tiny stand
behind the Cuckoo Lane goal.(Nickname the chicken-run).Next to it was
the dressing-room stand,where on a Boxing Day game in the mid-sixties
Robin Stubbs and Ron Atkinson both got sent off ! Not a normal thing
then.Harry Fearnley the goalie was charged by Mr.Stubbs at the London
Road end and Mr. Atkinson (nickname The Tank) took exception.Somehow
they were sent off together (not a shrewd idea) and they argued all the
way to the dressing-room ! No fighting,thay rarely happened then.Say
what you like about footy then,but with almost 100 % British players,it
was something that VERY rarely happened.Nowadays with the influence of
world-wide football,more frequent.