please log in to view this image Innocent until proven guilty October 10, 2015 \ Stuart Rogers If you are a Bristol City fan right now, you could be forgiven for thinking somebody up there doesn’t like you. In fact, not even anything as divine as that, simply certain police forces across England and Wales. On Saturday 12th September 2015, on route to Birmingham City, 55 Bristol City fans were turned away and packed back onto a train; they were in sight of the stadium. They weren’t a mob, there was no hint of trouble, they all had match tickets and included a range of ages from 16 – 76. The mistake they seemingly made was thinking that it was not against the law to attend a football match. This is all thanks to West Midlands Police wielding new powers of dispersal if they merely suspect there could be public disorder. Wind on to the present day: ticket arrangements for our match at Cardiff on 26th October 2015 have just been announced, barely more than two weeks ahead of the game. Having been subject to bubble restrictions (being bussed in and out) for many years, it was a welcome change last time we played them, when this was relaxed. It wasn’t perfect, with a few young ones getting more than a bit carried away in a pub and the police lining up outside in what many present felt was a very confrontational way. This year, however, that welcome freedom of travel has again been removed. Instead, fans will be issued with a match voucher, which must then be exchanged for a match ticket between 6.15pm and 6.45pm at Cardiff West Services on the evening of the game. The match kicks off at 7.45pm, it is live on Sky and it’s a Monday night. Our understanding is that both football clubs wanted no such travel restrictions. South Wales Police said otherwise. Net result: loss of income, loss of support, loss of freedom of movement. This cannot go on, it is killing the game. We therefore call on the Football League, the Premier League, the Football Association and individual clubs to take a more resilient line in their dealings with the police to ensure that law-abiding fans are not inconvenienced or mistreated in this way and that the custodians of law and order are reminded that watching football is not a crime. please log in to view this image
Unfortunately innocent people suffer because of the thuggery shown by some of out so called fans in the past
if those fans going to Birmingham had been heading to some form of political demo or suchlike,"civil rights" lawyers would be queing up to represent them, funny old world eh?.
It would be very interesting if one of those put on took legal action under "human rights" "civil rights" one I cant remember will look it up "discrimination on race creed or colour " " age discrimination" " discrimination if the same rules are not applied to all " " if any were disabled, discrimination against disabled peoples act" " freedom of movement " Of course CCFC are in complete cahoots with the police it seems as they issue the tickets, and are also worried we would beat them if we had a few supporters in the ground. The actual time taken to get from Cardiff gate to the stadium could easily be more than an hour, although being a Monday likely a bit quiet.. they have to process a ticket every 15 secs and if the usual 2000 + go then getting in and out of Cardiff gate will be nigh impossible, and usually lately leading up to the tunnel in ordinary traffic has been 10 -15 min delays, just imagine a accident or breakdown snarling up ... they've got the sky money so they don't give a s*** is it each person to present 1 voucher? or 1 person to collect 3 or 4 tickets etc if it is the latter doesn't stop what they are trying do ... as the rest of any party can go and get pi****!
It's a stupid system should be half 5 onwards at the latest. Got a feeling that many won't go now and that many will end up arriving late which may aggravate them. It's bad for both clubs as they'll have to do the same when they come to us. Troublemakers will find a way no matter what. As for the police, we're lucky to have a bunch that are much better than most of the other nations' police. Especially the likes of America and China
Some of those sent back from Birmingham were women, children, 76 years old and on crutches. That is down to the Police abusing their position, not the past.
Nothing changes. I was on a bank holiday special train to Plymouth with about 600 on board, back in the 1990's I think. We got nearly all the way to Plymouth when the Chief Constable shat himself and we were followed for 30 miles by a helicopter (?!) and he ordered the train into a disused station, in the middle track of 3 (so nowhere near the platforms). We waited for about 15 minutes by which time a few had got off the train and tried to leave the station when the train just turned around and headed back to Bristol and all those left behind were arrested. Later, complaints were made but nothing happened, I didn't get my not insignificant outlay back and it was all justified and just put down to those naughty football fans because apparently, some outfit had smashed up the place a couple of weeks earlier. I am not going to say that all football fans are innocent, far from it but the Police know who the usual suspects are and whilst I don't knock around with them, I certainly know a few faces from old and have stood near them at many grounds throughout the country so if that is what they want to stop, then why do a blanket ban..? Its a bloody disgrace and something needs to be done about it....
Never heard of 76 year olds having tear ups at football. arsehole police obviously think it happens a lot. It was around 85 and the Police line was it was due to Plymouth and City fighting in the Mayflower the Pymuth section which did happen although being in the away end by kick off it was already rammed to bursting. We waited for about 15 minutes by which time a few had got off the train and tried to leave the station when the train just turned around and headed back to Bristol and all those left behind were arrested - 30 - 40 made it to the ground without arrest.
Look I'm not defending the police - what they did was way over the top. However if you think that what happened in the past has no impact on how we are treated then you are either in denial or deluded. As I said innocent people (like the 76 year old) suffer because of it. The police are at fault, but so were the people who thought it was ok to have a punch up dragging the name of our club through the mud. Unless you are condoning what the hooligans did in the past?
If you think the past makes the police in any way behave like that to kids and oaps then you are defending bullies. they are the thugs and its been going on in the midlands for nearly thirty years. In 88 they even beat up a off duty city supporting policeman.
Blimey, 1985 - was it really that long ago, scary... I never heard that some got through. Mind you, the Police were telling us all the way back that we winning when in fact, we lost to nil....
Please try to read all of the post - it started with the words "Look I am not defending the police - what they did was way over the top" and the last sentence says "The police are at fault" How on earth is that defending them??
