It's not an easy match to police, and I suspect that there was information suggesting a potential problem, however the filtering of supporters from the Uxbridge Road and around the stadium lacked communication, coordination and control. Arriving at the refurbished Coningham Arms it was clear that trouble was brewing by the number of police; their radios instructing them to 'hold off until anything arises'. The exit of 40 Rs supporters en masse at 2.20pm suggested that whatever was planned was either taking place or threatening to spill over. As we left, the road was cut off completely to traffic pedestrians and supporters. Now I understand and accept the need for the detour, but the communication and control around the ground was poor. Having circled the stadium, we eventually arrived at the junction of Loftus Road and Ellerslie Road to have a metal fence thrown up so that stewards could filter 300 odd fans in 1 at a time. I'll accept a copper telling me and providing an instruction, but to have a metal barrier hurriedly put up whilst I'm walking on the pavement, by a couple of anonymous stewards, is poor. Surely if I have my season ticket card out then a little common sense would confirm that I'm just trying to get to the game. And as for the dicks who came on the pitch at the end to call out the Millwall fans knowing full well they couldn't get there arses kicked....
I was also wondering if all the police presence and the fact that it felt like being in the USSR actually is an antecedent. I wonder what the best balance would be.
Apparently there was misinformation given to the millwall fans from one of their fan groups that there would be an extra 500 tickets for them to pay on the gate which there wasn't, there was hundreds of millwall fans around the outside of the ground without tickets and they thought they were going to try and rush the turnstiles to get in, think that was a lot of the issues.
Some people were trying to push past me and get through without being check, like when people try to get out of a tube station barrier by pushing through straight behind you. But they pulled him up. So I got the impression that there were a few that turned up without. A steward told me that the last time they came to Loftus Road, 2 or 3 hundred forced their way in without tickets. I wasn't aware if that at the time.
Sku- You are right, that was about the time (2.20) that Millwall came steaming down the Uxbridge Rd, I presume to attack the British Queen (for obvious reasons) but only got as far as The Adeleide. The OB were obviously expecting it 'cos they were getting it all together and preparing 5 mins before it went off. They then separated the two groups, using batons and herded both sides away from each other, using a cordon across the whole of the Rd, and not letting Rangers fans walk towards the Green. Hope this gives you some explanation as to what happened and why.
Pardon my ignorance Staines mate but why would they want to attack the British Queen boozer above others?
I see. I like that pub though. Its probably the nicest one around there. I had a few in there on the opening day this season. What's the one with the Celtic and QPR stuff all over the walls called? That's a nice little place too.
Hopefully, the grubby little club that is Millwall will be relegated this season and the next and a few more after that. When will they get it into their skulls that aside from 'No one likes us, we don't care' the fact is 'No one likes you and we don't give a **** either'.
Sounds like there was one of their 'by arrangement' punch-ups planned and the Police got wind of it. Whatever it was it was ugly and the tension was evident throughout...
Hopefully, by seasons end, we'll leave the Championship at the top end and they'll depart the other end and neither will meet again.
I was as disgruntled as anyone at being herded around the ground and filtered into Ellerslie Road one-by-one. But...for the first time in many years I didn't see and haven't read about any major problems at a Millwall game. So well done to the club and the police. It really is down to the FA and League to sort out the source of the problem, something they have never had the balls to do.
I'd always prefer the club and the police to play it on the safe side and have too many police and stewards rather than not enough. Unfortunately, with Millwall, things are always likely to kick off. Like QPRaaagh, I say well done to the club/police. Imagine if they'd lost....
