Hi Tigers Well done on the recent surge up the table, could be auto placed with a little luck - so firstly let's get the "good luck for the remainder of the season" stuff out of the way I would like to go back to Saturday 30th March and your away game at Huddersfield. A lot was made of the fact that WY police were imposing some quite incredible restrictions on the travelling Tiger fans, so the question is - what actually happened on the day? Did people who travelled alone (or in small groups) from wherever get in to the game? Was there actually any trouble before, during or after with rival fans? Was there any aggro or at least severe animosity toward the WYC?
There alleged threat was given as being the risk of Hull City fans drinking in pubs from 12:00 onwards, but they've never given any evidence to support why that should be considered as a potential problem. Their own figures show we've had zero arrests for alcohol related offences. The game was boycotted by the majority, but to show the stupidity of WYP and there claim of "acting on robust intelligence", it was hinted that we'd all still go and drink anyway and watch the game in pubs. This caused WYP to visit City Centre pubs and threaten landlords to prevent them serving anyone from Hull. The reality was most, knowing how baton happy and useless WYP are at the best of times stayed in Hull. WYP acting on "intelligence" still Policed the area with horses dogs helicopters etc at greater expense to WY rate payers, than would have been the case if they'd just allowed open access. This clearly shows where WYP gather "intelligence" from. There was a march attended by representatives of a good number of Clubs and it raised the profile nicely, and at the same time again highlighted WYP incompetence as they Policed the march of football fans that they'd refused permission to go to the game because they didn't want them in Huddersfield centre as we all know modern football fans can't mix. Having decided to make the game the highest risk category they could and trying to impose ridiculous travel restrictions, they couldn't even apply that competently. To prevent legal action, they offered a 15 year old a ticket and unrestricted travel, which meant he could no longer pursue his case against the Police as, being 15 he had no way of getting to the designated rendezvous. How they justify allowing a lone 15 year old to travel into what they've suggested is a high risk area is yet to be heard. There was never a risk of trouble between the fans, Huddersfield Town fans being very actively involved in protesting against the measures and they were all fully supportive on the day. After all, they're the ones that will get this again and again if it's accepted. WYP on the ground were mainly embarrassed by the incompetence of their superiors actions, saying that the cost of the actions due to the protest has meant that the bill to WY ratepayers was far, far in excess of the bill had the game just gone ahead unrestricted, as such career progress has certainly ended for some involved and the chances of a bubble in similar circumstances are about nil. The Police Commissioner bottled out of being involved initially, but is now squeaking about a judicial review of Policing football. WYP are viewed with ridicule and disdain by other Police forces because they've demonstrated and admitted that they're not fit for purpose, so I suspect most forces will be looking closely before they try bubbles as a cost saving tactic. With no sense of dignity or irony, the Chief Constable of WY thanked the fans of all clubs involved in the march for being well behaved and felt it showed the success of the Police policy of involving fans in decision making to make for a successful Police Operation.
This basically had nothing to do with us Thai, WYP lost a court action and had to refund Leeds United £1m in overcharged policing costs and are now trying desperately to justify the amounts they charge football clubs, we were just caught in the crossfire. There was never any justification for their actions, they couldn't have handled things any more badly if they'd tried and I suspect they'll think twice before doing it again. They'd have been better off spending their time watching their own officers, DC Nicholas McFadden of West Yorkshire Police special organised crime group, has just got banged up for nicking heroin, cocaine and cannabis from secret evidence stores(£600k's worth), which he flogged back to the dealers they'd seized it from.
And to answer your first question Thai, anyone who wanted to go to the game had to either travel on official coaches from hull or park at hartshead moor services on the m62 where they were given a ticket and put on a bus direct to the ground
So they did stick to this restriction then, and any bluff was not called? Although it does not directly affect me, living all the way out here, but I do find it extremely disturbing that the WYP can enforce any such restrictions with apparently no evidence to support their claims, hence they allowed the 15 year access to the game. I know it takes a brave (or sometimes stupid) person to stand up to the authorities but I wish someone had done so in this case as I cannot see how they could legally enforce such restrictions, and I am pretty sure the WYP also felt they were on pretty dodgy ground with this action if challenged.
Had someone tried to break the restriction there could have been arrests which was the opposite of what we wanted to achieve
There was a protest, which was attended by both sets of fans, in Huddersfield Town Centre before the match kicked off. It was peaceful, but not greatly attended. There was a handful there, but most City fans boycotted the whole day and just watched it in Hull.
More than a handful marched but I agree most just boycotted completely. I met several from on here at the march. I then watched the game with 20 or so Tigers fans in the WYP preferred Huddersfield pub , The Warehouse, arranged by HTSA . Many Tigers fans who marched returned back home to watch the game. A handful had a quick pint then headed off to Hartshead Moor to collect tickets and join the buses back to the game. There were more who had tickets in the home end, Ricardo being one!
Dutch has about summed it all up from what i gather. My group boycotted the game and went to watch North Ferriby play instead. No hassle and a very enjoyable game. Quite a number of City fans did the same thing and then watched the City game on the big screen in the club house. Someone i know who did attend the game said that one of the coppers who has worked on matchdays for 10 years said he was embarassed as hell overt the actions of his superiors. Most of the ground force officers were he added. Thankfully we wont need WYP next season - Cup draws aside that is.
Hope you are right about the ciup games only! Yes the Pc's waiting around at Huddersfield station were equally embarassed. There were probably 8 or more on the steps and when the TV camera swung to take a shot of fans and the banner they were all hiding behind the big pillers. Very funny. At one point there were at least 5 Police vans parked around the square , two of which were videao vans. Four mounted Pcs kept wandering about too. Totally over policed. HTSA were fantastic trroughout the build up and on the day. I feel sorry that they still have to put up with WYP every week. Hopefully the reviews that will now have to follow may do some good. FSf and HTSA have meetings booked and FSF are preparing a full report which will be sprayed far and wide.
This (see link) is something for the likes of Supt Ged McManus and the WYP top brass to be proud of. Maybe they should sort out there own back yard before moving into ours. They could have financed last weeks operation with some of the takings. Just saying like Ged.!!!! www.express.co.uk/news/uk/389460/Jailed-the-detective-who-sold-seized-drugs-back-onto-the-streets
As a resident of Huddersfield I attended the march - I would estimate that a couple of hundred did - quite a few town fans included. I went with a work colleague who is a town fan. The police were out in force all over the town centre for a number of hours and some were clearly not local as they had no idea when asked for directions. It was pretty funny when the police hid behind the pillars at the station. I was disappointed that the march didn't get routed by Peters department store whose owner had slagged off city fans in the local rag last week. I have been told my more than one town supporter that when they left the ground through an exit adjacent to the away end that they had never seen so many police waiting around, that their path away from the ground was lined with police every couple of yards and they weren't allowed to stray from this path - this to quote them this doesn't even happen when Leeds come to Town. The 7 away supporters coaches were surrounded by a solid cordon of police. All of this was before the 428 city fans were allowed to leave. I have heard from a number of people that some town fans queried with WYP why they were doing it and others made sarky comments about getting in their Easter overtime in and all were told to shut up or they'd be arrested. Generally the town fans I know weren't happy but put up with it as they are s**t scared about potentially being deducted points for not fulfilling the Sky contract.
