Football Hooligans - AGAIN

[Clip]

No, I was wrong. Your further discussion on this have turned me over to your way of thinking. Lets ban alcohol on the railway - both for sale and for consumption from the moment you enter railway premises because of a few people being silly once every so often, especially the railway bores with their pints of real ale who like to talk loudly about all things rail, even when they're wrong about what they're on about.

close the pubs on stations to because you dont want them in there beforehand either getting tanked up do you...

I think an e-petition on the govts website is called for.

 

[BestWestern]

No, I was wrong. Your further discussion on this have turned me over to your way of thinking. Lets ban alcohol on the railway - both for sale and for consumption from the moment you enter railway premises because of a few people being silly once every so often, especially the railway bores with their pints of real ale who like to talk loudly about all things rail, even when they're wrong about what they're on about.

I'll let go any ideas that comment is aimed my way, since I don't drink real ale or talk particularly loudly - and am a serving frontline member of traincrew who actually has the displeasure of dealing with football crowds :roll:

Do you think a group of drunk yobs would be allowed to board an aircraft in this country? Would they hell as like, so why let them on a train. I am quite happy with the concept that anybody attempting to use mass public transport should be sober enough to do so responsibly and without causing undue alarm to others. There are taxis for those who feel the need to drink themselves stupid.

 

[Clip]

I'll let go any ideas that comment is aimed my way, since I don't drink real ale or talk particularly loudly - and am a serving frontline member of traincrew who actually has the displeasure of dealing with football crowds :roll:

Do you think a group of drunk yobs would be allowed to board an aircraft in this country? Would they hell as like, so why let them on a train. I am quite happy with the concept that anybody attempting to use mass public transport should be sober enough to do so responsibly and without causing undue alarm to others. There are taxis for those who feel the need to drink themselves stupid.

It was merely another example of those people who annoy me by talking loudly right next to me when they are drunk.

Ive dealt with football crowds for years in a variety of different places on the railway - including rowdy concert crowds who can be far more boistrous and far l\arger in number then you will find on one of your trains so dont try and tell me about stuff I already know.

In fact ive been on holidays a few places where ive seen groups of stags and hens merrily popped getting onto planes and causing loudness whilst still getting drunk on planes and just laughed it off as they were having fun. So yes, they would and are allowed.

See, you have done yourself a disservice again - by stating that these people have 'drank themselves stupid' which is why they are being rowdy. You dont have to have a drink to sing football songs and be boisteroius before or after a football match.


But you're right, lets ban all booze and cut out the minority bunch of 'Hooligans' that infest our railway.

 

[BestWestern]

Ive dealt with football crowds for years in a variety of different places on the railway - including rowdy concert crowds who can be far more boistrous and far larger in number then you will find on one of your trains so dont try and tell me about stuff I already know.

How often do you have the pleasure of dealing with these people single handedly, in a confined area with other people who have nothing to do with their group who are becoming increasingly irritated or frightened by them, and with no immediate backup to call upon?! That's the situation on board a train, rather different to what you will find in the relative safety of a station environment. People will tend to be very compliant when they are in the vicinity of a venue or railway station with numerous security staff and police to hand. Funny how quickly that changes once they're on the move.

See, you have done yourself a disservice again - by stating that these people have 'drank themselves stupid' which is why they are being rowdy. You dont have to have a drink to sing football songs and be boisteroius before or after a football match.

I think it was you who turned the discussion into an alcohol debate, I'm well aware of the rowdy nature of even some sober fans on their way to a game. And as I said before, it's totally inappropriate for a train which will be carrying families, elderly people and others who don't enjoy being forcefully subjected to it. Again, all the more reason to have them confined to coaches and shipped straight into the grounds.

 

[balne-wonderer]

Worst travelling football fans: Leeds United. Period.

I travel home and away with Leeds United. I've done over 55 aways in the last 3 seasons, I guess that makes me a hooligan doesn't it.

Yawn.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Guess that is why a unID'ed (no number) copper shoved me to the ground for stopping to tie my shoe lace when walking back to the station from Crystal Palace's ground last year screaming "KEEP MOVING".

Totally the same at QPR last season. The Police had created a huge blockage outside the stadium to send Leeds fans towards White City station. I had actually driven down and had parked my car literally minutes from the other side of the blockage. I asked politley to be let through, I had no Leeds clothing on but they refused and shoved me to the ground cutting my head. Bare in mind i'm 26 and of very slight build and not particulary strong so I was hardly going to kick off with them at any point. I got the Pigs number and was forced to walk nearly TWO miles before I could find another route back to my car. Obviously I reported the Pig in question but the investigation is STILL ongoing.

As a previous poster believes all Leeds fans are hooligans I think it's only fair to say that all Met Officers and Southerners in general are nothing but bullying thugs, pretty fair I think.

 

[tom1649]

Run a couple of luggage vans behind a loco for football specials. Not so much to damage in those.

 

[43167]

Cant understand why football still has a minor problem with hooligans.

I go watch rugby and the beauty of that game is fans can watch that game without been segregated, even at the KC stadium in Hull, although the away fans normally use the North Stand which is seen as the away end, ive been to the Hull Derby at both the KC & Craven Park where fans from both Hull KC & Hull KR have sat in the same stand without any problems.

Fans can also watch the game and enjoy a beer at there seats at most grounds too.

 

[Oswyntail]

Going back to my earlier post, can anyone explain to me what it is about football that makes its fans so volatile? Other "large crowd" sporting events do not have the same level of trouble - yes, there is boisterous behaviour after a Rugby international, but not the sheer nastiness one encounters after a run-of-the-mill league football match. It is easy to blame alcohol, but that is available elsewhere, and you rarely get trains trashed by cricket fans, who, if anything, drink more. I can think of a couple of possible answers:

1. Crowd segregation - if the fans were allowed to mingle (as at other events) would that soften the atmosphere?
2. Social milieu of the game - other "large crowd" games arose out of public school organisations While "Soccer" was also organised in this way, "Football" has its roots in a wilder background
3. Too many clubs - allowing the supporter "tribe" to retain its own distinctiveness while being small enough to act as one
4. Media encouragement - the 1980s fashion for fans to be proud of being the worst was undoubtedly fanned by newspapers "condemning" them
5. The game - is there anything in the nature of the game itself (that rugby, cricket, hockey etc do not have) that encourages the nastier side? One possibility is that, as noted on another thread, those games incorporate legitimate violence, whereas Football does not. Is there perhaps an element of catharsis missing?

This debate will never be settled, but without considering wider aspects, we will be stuck with the same old platitudes and solutions that do not work. Perhaps that is what people want.

 

[ainsworth74]

I go watch rugby and the beauty of that game is fans can watch that game without been segregated, even at the KC stadium in Hull, although the away fans normally use the North Stand which is seen as the away end, ive been to the Hull Derby at both the KC & Craven Park where fans from both Hull KC & Hull KR have sat in the same stand without any problems.

I struggle with the problem with football as well. I've been to a few rugby league games in my time and one of the best parts I always found was when my group friends ended up next a group of people supporting the other team as it led to some good natured banter between us. Why would I want to fight them or smash the place up just because their team won (and vice versa)?

I've encountered similar at international cricket fixtures, even late in the day when everyone's absolutely wasted, both sets of fans simply enjoy ribbing each other it never goes any further than that.

Why is it not the same in football? Admittedly cricket and it's fans tend to be a bit more genteel but the same cannot be said for rugby fans!

 

[Jack in England]

I speak as a Swansea City fan and have travelled on trains to Cardiff many times over the years and vice versa Cardiff fans during the 80's & 90's and it was like world war 3 from 11:00-23:00, South Wales Police have been making fans travel on coaches now for about 15 yrs when we play each other we are surrounded by Police up and down the M4 but there was still 24 arrests the time we played them in the carling cup.

If you are talking about real nasty problems on the trains with people,alcohol and causing trouble just go to Cardiff Central on a rugby international day you would have hell of a surprise

A few years back after an England game there were 45 arrests in Cardiff that day/night.

 

[OuterDistant]

It's Port Vale v Crewe tomorrow, and I believe that LM are expecting around four extra passengers on the dogbox to Longport

 

[myboysam]

It would seem that the only solution to prevent a repeat whenever these clubs play each other in the future is for the away club to provide road coaches directly to the ground (stictly alcohol free and under police escort) and for all away supporters to be compelled to use them if they wish to attend the game. I believe this is the case whenever Cardiff and Swansea play each other.

My fullest sympathy goes to all the other passengers (ie those not travelling to the match) who unwittingly ended up in a train full of yobs.

Not quite true. To call everyone on that train a yob is disrespectful to all but a few idiots. I had friends on that train who were sober and acting in a responsible manner. The kid who kicked the window out was 14 and was obviously under the influence of 2 cans of Ace lager.


As for the overcrowding NP's finest actually stopped fans getting on the earlier service and held them at Sunderland until the 1750. When they realised what they had done they panicked and just hearded all onboard. The train was stopped at Hartlepool because of the window and overcrowding and at least 2 fans were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties due to the aforementioned. Children were squeezed up against the doors and the temperature rose to almost sauna like conditions.

Fans onboard were told to wait 25 mins for a replacement bus service then after waiting on the train for said time they were told a replacement train would be conveying them forward.

Eventually they arrived at the ground 35 mins late with the total journey time of nearly 2 and a half hours.

Now dont get me wrong I will never condone acts of vandalism but try to imagine what it was like for the people onboard. Maybe thats why some decided to urinate where they stood and some felt frustrated and even the conditions made some fear for their own safety and that of their children.

As for the subject of busses, the club had laid on 28 free coaches I think it was and even some of those were bricked on the way to or from Middlesbro.

I think a few people need to come down from their ivory towers and just realise that not all football fans are thugs. I am a Sunderland fan but also a train driver and I feel I am a responsible member of society that has morals and scruples and have respect for others.

The events of Wednesday were an unfortunate series of events (apart from the 14 year old pubeless wonder) and I believe it's luck that nobody was seriously injured.

 

[londonbridge]

As for your repeated 'regular drunks' argument, a group of such causing the same level of problems would be met by the police at the earliest opportunity and removed. Try doing that when there's a trainload of them wearing football shirts.

I'm a regular footballer traveller and have often seen drunk fans being removed from trains. I travel with the Sunderland Supporters Association London branch,we arrange organised group travel for matches and members causing trouble can be,and have been,expelled and banned from travelling with the branch-in the nine years I've been travelling with them only two members have been expelled. I'm not denying that some members do get a little rowdy on the return journey but for the most part it's generally good natured and any situations likely to escalate into something more severe are usually nipped in the bud,such as when a member was warned for excessive swearing and foul language after a passenger further down the carriage came down and started complaining.

 

[Wolfie]

I'm a regular footballer traveller and have often seen drunk fans being removed from trains. I travel with the Sunderland Supporters Association London branch,we arrange organised group travel for matches and members causing trouble can be,and have been,expelled and banned from travelling with the branch-in the nine years I've been travelling with them only two members have been expelled. I'm not denying that some members do get a little rowdy on the return journey but for the most part it's generally good natured and any situations likely to escalate into something more severe are usually nipped in the bud,such as when a member was warned for excessive swearing and foul language after a passenger further down the carriage came down and started complaining.

Sounds just like London Wolves - yes, I am a member.

To those who wish to ban football fans from public transport I would just ask why I should pay ANY taxes towards such a service in that case.....oh, and expect a few human rights cases (has anyone ever heard of "innocent until proven guilty"?).

 

[spoony]

You are absolutely spot on. This same tactic was also used recently when Portsmouth played Southampton, another fixture which has an ugly history of pathetic knuckle-dragging degenerates in need of one-way tickets to somewhere other than a football ground. Coaches in, coaches out, no trouble. Amazingly, despite it being common knowledge that carnage usually reigns at these matches, there were the inevitable moans from fans that it 'wasnt fair', what a shame for them :roll:

The simple fact is that it's high time that EVERY away ticket for EVERY league football match came with a seat on a chartered coach, at the club's expense. Public transport, and the railway in particular, shouldn't have to keep putting up with these idiotic people who cause so much grief for everybody else. The level of violence, disorder and general offence to other people on a regular basis is simply unacceptable, and it's time it was brought to a sharp stop. It might be a minority, but it's too large a minority to ignore, and if the decent fans have a problem with tight policing then it's their fellow supporters/yobs they need to be taking it up with, not those who have to go out there and keep the lot of them under control. A football match is, ultimately, of no importance or value to society. The continued resigned acceptance that this shambles is 'just what happens' on match days desperately needs reviewing. If they can afford to spend obscene sums of cash on spoilt players then they can afford to sort out their own bl**dy transport arrangements!

Where to even begin with this:roll:. As a law abiding/tax paying member of the public this free country of ours I will travel where I want by any mode of transport (public or otherwise) I want.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Not quite true. To call everyone on that train a yob is disrespectful to all but a few idiots. I had friends on that train who were sober and acting in a responsible manner. The kid who kicked the window out was 14 and was obviously under the influence of 2 cans of Ace lager.


As for the overcrowding NP's finest actually stopped fans getting on the earlier service and held them at Sunderland until the 1750. When they realised what they had done they panicked and just hearded all onboard. The train was stopped at Hartlepool because of the window and overcrowding and at least 2 fans were taken to hospital with breathing difficulties due to the aforementioned. Children were squeezed up against the doors and the temperature rose to almost sauna like conditions.

Fans onboard were told to wait 25 mins for a replacement bus service then after waiting on the train for said time they were told a replacement train would be conveying them forward.

Eventually they arrived at the ground 35 mins late with the total journey time of nearly 2 and a half hours.

Now dont get me wrong I will never condone acts of vandalism but try to imagine what it was like for the people onboard. Maybe thats why some decided to urinate where they stood and some felt frustrated and even the conditions made some fear for their own safety and that of their children.

As for the subject of busses, the club had laid on 28 free coaches I think it was and even some of those were bricked on the way to or from Middlesbro.

I think a few people need to come down from their ivory towers and just realise that not all football fans are thugs. I am a Sunderland fan but also a train driver and I feel I am a responsible member of society that has morals and scruples and have respect for others.

The events of Wednesday were an unfortunate series of events (apart from the 14 year old pubeless wonder) and I believe it's luck that nobody was seriously injured.

Absolute top post. I was on the 17.15 and as said before there was not any hint of trouble throughout the journey.

 

[GNER 91128]

I can't wait for the dirty looks I'll get sitting in FC on East Coast in my Arsenal shirt when I go down for the NLD.

 

[Legzr1]

Ban football.

Problem solved.

 

[Minilad]

You are absolutely spot on. This same tactic was also used recently when Portsmouth played Southampton, another fixture which has an ugly history of pathetic knuckle-dragging degenerates in need of one-way tickets to somewhere other than a football ground. Coaches in, coaches out, no trouble. Amazingly, despite it being common knowledge that carnage usually reigns at these matches, there were the inevitable moans from fans that it 'wasnt fair', what a shame for them :roll:

The simple fact is that it's high time that EVERY away ticket for EVERY league football match came with a seat on a chartered coach, at the club's expense. Public transport, and the railway in particular, shouldn't have to keep putting up with these idiotic people who cause so much grief for everybody else. The level of violence, disorder and general offence to other people on a regular basis is simply unacceptable, and it's time it was brought to a sharp stop. It might be a minority, but it's too large a minority to ignore, and if the decent fans have a problem with tight policing then it's their fellow supporters/yobs they need to be taking it up with, not those who have to go out there and keep the lot of them under control. A football match is, ultimately, of no importance or value to society. The continued resigned acceptance that this shambles is 'just what happens' on match days desperately needs reviewing. If they can afford to spend obscene sums of cash on spoilt players then they can afford to sort out their own bl**dy transport arrangements!

Quite frankly the most overblown unworkable ridiculous suggestion I have ever read.

 

[Bellwater]

Leeds Fans in the World and Ken Bates is against us shocker.. I speak from years of experience of transporting their 'Fans' across the country with the train not always intact.

And to anyone who thinks Rugby Union Fans are better than football, tell that to my London line colleagues where police are essential on international/ 6 nations days, TMs and CHs don't go down the train for their own safety.

Leicester Tigers Games are Hell too.

 

[Minilad]

1. Crowd segregation - if the fans were allowed to mingle (as at other events) would that soften the atmosphere?
2. Social milieu of the game - other "large crowd" games arose out of public school organisations While "Soccer" was also organised in this way, "Football" has its roots in a wilder background
3. Too many clubs - allowing the supporter "tribe" to retain its own distinctiveness while being small enough to act as one
4. Media encouragement - the 1980s fashion for fans to be proud of being the worst was undoubtedly fanned by newspapers "condemning" them
5. The game - is there anything in the nature of the game itself (that rugby, cricket, hockey etc do not have) that encourages the nastier side? One possibility is that, as noted on another thread, those games incorporate legitimate violence, whereas Football does not. Is there perhaps an element of catharsis missing?

Some interesting thoughts there. I certainly thing the segregation thing is a factor. You spend 90 mins kept apart from each other and goading each other so its not beyond the realms of possibility that this increases tension. As a frequent watcher of American sports where segregation is unheard of I do wonder if it just something in the European psyche. Not that fan violence is unheard of in the States just not on the organised scale it can be in Europe. Lets not forget every Saturday thousands of football fans attend games with no segregation perfectly fine. Anything underneath Conference level and segregation is very very rare.

As for the game itself it does seem strange that Rugby and Ice Hockey where violence is a part of the game doesn't suffer the same way. Maybe its just the profile of the support these sports attract. Ice Hockey being very much family orientated and Rugby seen as a sport for the hoo-rahs. Having said that don't think for one minute Rugby doesn't have issues occasionally because it does.

The simple fact is though 99.99999% of football supporters wouldn't dream of indulging in violence in normal life. Yes you always have the nut-jobs but they will be nut-jobs regardless. Visit most town centres on a Saturday night and you will see violence on a much worse scale. I would say even a lot of trouble you see at football (and there really isn't that much) is a spur of the moment thing where people who would normally shy away from violence get carried away with the atmosphere. The Villa - Birmingham derby is one of the worst games imaginable from a disorder point of view but on the Monday morning those same people are working side by side without a problem.

I have to admit in my younger days I did get caught up in the 'scene' for awhile. So I have had experience of football violence. And believe me most of the stuff people come out with on this subject is so far from the reality of it. Does that make me a bad person. I don't know. Just means that when I was young I did silly things. Most people do and most people grow out of them.

 

[175001]

Darts fans are worse!

Had them upstairs in the MEN Arena last night, brought some in around 5.30pm, already tanked up!

Even the BTP Officers said "Give us football fans anyday"

 

[PHILIPE]

I recall an instance in the 1970s after Notts Forest (at the top then) had been playing Man Utd in Manchester and trouble occurred which resulted in the return train being stopped at Grindleford. Great numbers of police attended the scene and the trouble makers were thrown off the train and told to make their own way home. How would anybody like to be stranded at a place like Grindleford on a cold and wintry Saturday night. A good way to deal with them and dish out apt punishment at the same time.

 

[34D]

Totally the same at QPR last season. The Police had created a huge blockage outside the stadium to send Leeds fans towards White City station. I had actually driven down and had parked my car literally minutes from the other side of the blockage. I asked politley to be let through, I had no Leeds clothing on but they refused and shoved me to the ground cutting my head. Bare in mind i'm 26 and of very slight build and not particulary strong so I was hardly going to kick off with them at any point. I got the Pigs number and was forced to walk nearly TWO miles before I could find another route back to my car. Obviously I reported the Pig in question but the investigation is STILL ongoing.

As a previous poster believes all Leeds fans are hooligans I think it's only fair to say that all Met Officers and Southerners in general are nothing but bullying thugs, pretty fair I think.

You've done a very good job of insulting environmentalists (with your unnecessary car journey) and police officers (by using the derogetary term 'pig') so I can only imagine how you may have behaved when the alleged incident happened.

I fully second the idea that all away football fans should travel on chartered transport (potentially rail too) to and from matches. By appropriate shepherding of people into and out of the away ground, the police should be able to ensure that none of them escape. By definition, this will also eliminate clashes between fans.

The last time I met football fans on a train I was a passenger on a down NXEC service, they had smuggled alcohol on (twas a 'dry' train), were smoking, and some didn't have tickets. Totally unfair that decent people like me have to be subjected to this.

what a load of rubbish. So now because I live in london I also have to purchase a coach ticket from Newcastle for every game they play in London? What about when we go to the other cities? Why should I have to purchase a coach ticket then?

You'd be free to start supporting another football team, or to move back to the north-east, but yes I think you should be required to join a coach in Newcastle.

Its a small minority who cause bother - Just like your average drunks who ruin peoples journies at all other times.

get a grip will you and stop trying to punish the majority for the actions of a few:roll:

On my journey mentioned above, it wasn't a minority, it was ALL of the football scum who were around me who were causing trouble.

Ban football.

Problem solved.

Its probably against their human rights sadly. One way to achieve the same effect could be to get the football club to pick up ALL costs of their match - the cost of policing, cost of repairing damage to streets, trains, inside pubs, compensating victims, etc.

 

[Minilad]

You've done a very good job of insulting environmentalists (with your unnecessary car journey) and police officers (by using the derogetary term 'pig') so I can only imagine how you may have behaved when the alleged incident happened.

I fully second the idea that all away football fans should travel on chartered transport (potentially rail too) to and from matches. By appropriate shepherding of people into and out of the away ground, the police should be able to ensure that none of them escape. By definition, this will also eliminate clashes between fans.

The last time I met football fans on a train I was a passenger on a down NXEC service, they had smuggled alcohol on (twas a 'dry' train), were smoking, and some didn't have tickets. Totally unfair that decent people like me have to be subjected to this.



You'd be free to start supporting another football team, or to move back to the north-east, but yes I think you should be required to join a coach in Newcastle.



On my journey mentioned above, it wasn't a minority, it was ALL of the football scum who were around me who were causing trouble.



Its probably against their human rights sadly. One way to achieve the same effect could be to get the football club to pick up ALL costs of their match - the cost of policing, cost of repairing damage to streets, trains, inside pubs, compensating victims, etc.

In that case ban rugby fans, and even commuters as I have seen both sets doing the things you say.

And as you call football fans scum your views are as inadmissible as you reckon the OPs should be

 

[bladesman123]

Is this why you hardly ever have football special trains anymore, because of troublesome fans?

 

[34D]

In that case ban rugby fans, and even commuters as I have seen both sets doing the things you say.

And as you call football fans scum your views are as inadmissible as you reckon the OPs should be

Please suggest a better word for people who behave as such on trains and I'll edit my post.

 

[Wolfie]

You've done a very good job of insulting environmentalists (with your unnecessary car journey) and police officers (by using the derogetary term 'pig') so I can only imagine how you may have behaved when the alleged incident happened.

I fully second the idea that all away football fans should travel on chartered transport (potentially rail too) to and from matches. By appropriate shepherding of people into and out of the away ground, the police should be able to ensure that none of them escape. By definition, this will also eliminate clashes between fans.

The last time I met football fans on a train I was a passenger on a down NXEC service, they had smuggled alcohol on (twas a 'dry' train), were smoking, and some didn't have tickets. Totally unfair that decent people like me have to be subjected to this.



You'd be free to start supporting another football team, or to move back to the north-east, but yes I think you should be required to join a coach in Newcastle.

I have a better idea



On my journey mentioned above, it wasn't a minority, it was ALL of the football scum who were around me who were causing trouble.



Its probably against their human rights sadly. One way to achieve the same effect could be to get the football club to pick up ALL costs of their match - the cost of policing, cost of repairing damage to streets, trains, inside pubs, compensating victims, etc.

I was going to comment line by line and lost the will to live - what a load of reactionary bile. There are many "normal" people who hate railway enthusiasts or "train spotters" - perhaps we should shut down the railways, or at the very least ban such a dubious anti-social activity? Permit access to railway stations, or at least the platforms, only to catch a train? After all there are many reports on here about the dubious activities of enthusiasts to just get a photo, whether on platforms, trespassing onto railway land, or on specials, or whatever...... oh, sorry was I tarring everyone with the same brush - remind you of anyone???

 

[Minilad]

I was going to comment line by line and lost the will to live - what a load of reactionary bile. There are many "normal" people who hate railway enthusiasts or "train spotters" - perhaps we should shut down the railways, or at the very least ban such a dubious anti-social activity? Permit access to railway stations, or at least the platforms, only to catch a train? After all there are many reports on here about the dubious activities of enthusiasts to just get a photo, whether on platforms, trespassing onto railway land, or on specials, or whatever...... oh, sorry was I tarring everyone with the same brush - remind you of anyone???

Hear hear
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Please suggest a better word for people who behave as such on trains and I'll edit my post.

ALL football fans are not scum. Just like ALL daily mail reading reactionary people who post anonymously on internet forums are not idiots

 

[sprite]

Totally the same at QPR last season. The Police had created a huge blockage outside the stadium to send Leeds fans towards White City station. I had actually driven down and had parked my car literally minutes from the other side of the blockage. I asked politley to be let through, I had no Leeds clothing on but they refused and shoved me to the ground cutting my head. Bare in mind i'm 26 and of very slight build and not particulary strong so I was hardly going to kick off with them at any point. I got the Pigs number and was forced to walk nearly TWO miles before I could find another route back to my car. Obviously I reported the Pig in question but the investigation is STILL ongoing.

As a previous poster believes all Leeds fans are hooligans I think it's only fair to say that all Met Officers and Southerners in general are nothing but bullying thugs, pretty fair I think.

I was 20, and am of a very slight build. They pick on the weaker ones to feel better I assume. I need to dig out the youtube video of a high ranked officer (red shoulder rank patches, Not up on stars etc used for police ranks though) comes over to 2 lower ranked officers, fist balled saying "Just thumped one of 'em!" really , gleefully. This was during the student demonstrations in London last year.

I think it just shows who really are the bigots in our country when I get people making fun of my accent becuase I am from Yorkshire, asking where my whippet is etc. "Oh your a Leeds fan, watch out guys, he will kick off any minute now". It just gets old fast, don't think you would catch me wandering around London (hate the place for a start) going up to anyone who seemed local asking to buy fake watches all the time, becuase it would be for "banter".

Not all Leeds fans are thugs, not all Yorkshiremen work in the coal pits, have a whippet and are stupid.
This Leeds fan is not a thug, this Yorkshireman hates dogs and is studying a physics degree.

One way to achieve the same effect could be to get the football club to pick up ALL costs of their match - the cost of policing

At least in Leeds, the club pays for policing.

On my journey mentioned above, it wasn't a minority, it was ALL of the football scum who were around me who were causing trouble.

How do you know they were deffinately football fans? How do you know that some of the people not causing trouble were not football fans, I assume you took the time to ask each and everyone one of them if they supported a football team, or just enjoyed the sport in general to have come to this sweeping judgement.

All of the people calling for mandatory coaches to away games, so you think it is reasonable that people who like me don't live where my team is for a multitude of reasons should have to travel there to then travel onwards. So say I wanted to goto the Burnley vs Leeds game last year, instead of going from Manchester to Burnley you'd have me travel Manchester to Leeds then to Burnley and the reverse back?

You've done a very good job of insulting environmentalists (with your unnecessary car journey)

I fully second the idea that all away football fans should travel on chartered transport (potentially rail too) to and from matches.

So I would not be "insulting environmentalists" with my extra, unnecessary travel as it would keep you happy as I was shepherded onto the bus to keep me away from the rest of society as I clearly cannot be trusted to get on a train on my own and not break things.

Get a flaming grip, and decide what you want.

The only trouble I have ever seen at a football match, and I used to hold a season ticket to Elland Road including going to some away matches, has been caused by the police. I am not going to say that fans do not contribute to it, but in alot of situations the police do a poor job of managing it and make it worse or cause it to start with.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

As far as I understand, it was a doubled up 142. This was replaced by a 156 which terminated in the bay platform to take people to Middlesbrough.

Plea for witnesses (inc 1 picture); http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/train_trouble_witness_plea_1_4235262

MAIN ARTICLE (inc pictures);
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/local/football_fans_cause_chaos_1_4228192