Strict policing puts fans off big Blackburn Rovers v Burnley derby (From Chorley Citizen)
When news happens, text CIT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Strict policing puts fans off big Blackburn Rovers v Burnley derby
3:00pm Wednesday 27th February 2013 in East Lancashire
By Chris Gee, Reporter
Police at Ewood Park for the last derby
Burnley fans and supporters groups have slammed the cost and inconvenience of compulsory travel restrictions placed on them ahead of the derby game with Blackburn Rovers.
Burnley travel to Ewood Park on Sunday, March 17, only their third league visit in the last 30 years.
The police have designated the fixture a ‘bubble’ game, meaning fans are forced to purchase coach travel for £6.50 on top of the £32 cost of a match ticket.
The Clarets have been allocated 4,000 tickets for the game.
As of yesterday, 1,350 tickets had been sold to season-ticket holders and shareholders with any left going on sale to registered fans on Monday, March 4.
There will be two pick-up points for supporters, at Turf Moor and Clayton-le-Moors with coaches leaving at 9.45am ahead of the noon kick-off.
Season ticker-holder, Pauline Stott, 66, of Rosehill, is attending the match but said she disagreed with the forced coach travel.
She said: “I will be going with my daughter, son-in-law and a friend.
“For the four of us that’s £26 for the coach when if we travelled by car it would be a fraction of that.
“You’re herded around and plonked in the stadium hours before kick-off.
“Attending a football game is supposed to be a leisure pasttime but it’s more like a military operation going to Ewood. I’d like to know what Burnley’s board will be doing.
“Will they be in the police escort with the fans at 9.45am?
“This doesn’t happen at the derbies in Manchester and Liverpool so why here?”
Other fans said they had decided not to attend because of the restrictions.
Andrew Whitham, 34, said: “To me the cost has put me off along with all faffing about involve in getting to the game.
“There are obviously security issues but the cost and travel has put me off.”
Blackburn Rovers fans also face the same restriction for the reverse fixture.
Fans’ forum secretary John Wareing said he hoped concessions would be made in the future.
He said: “I have not been to the last two games at Turf Moor because of the hassle.
“From what I’ve been told though the arrangement this season were a little slicker.
“Let’s hope more concessions can be made and there’s a time when both sets of fans can travel to and from the game freely without incident.”
Other ‘bubble’ matches have also led to concern with a legal challenge threatened by a Manchester-based Hull City fan who will be forced to travel by club transport to their Easter Saturday game at Huddersfield 70 miles away.
The Football Supporters’ Federation has backed East Lancashire fans’ views.
Amanda Jacks from the FSF said: “These arrangements restrict the movement of the vast majority of law-abiding fans.
“They also do nothing to prevent troublemakers travelling independently.
“Treating fans in this shoddy way, far from diluting the intense rivalry, can sometimes enhance it."
Comments(40)
midas
says...
3:23pm Wed 27 Feb 13
.
Next season I want to be able to make my way to blackburn in my own car not on a coach.
intothevalley
says...
3:25pm Wed 27 Feb 13
phil kernot
says...
4:22pm Wed 27 Feb 13
jackmetickler wrote:Lol yeah in bed with there members of there family more like haha
well if you muppets could behave yourselves they wouldnt have to...
mind you I do miss having a larf at the su su su icide squad....
maybe if we played the game in the evening they would all be in bed.
midas
says...
4:30pm Wed 27 Feb 13
phil kernot wrote:Am I being petty to point out that its really very basic - their and there? Insulted by a imbicile, other than Chico, jackie1 et al!!
jackmetickler wrote: well if you muppets could behave yourselves they wouldnt have to... mind you I do miss having a larf at the su su su icide squad.... maybe if we played the game in the evening they would all be in bed.Lol yeah in bed with there members of there family more like haha
Fan@clared
says...
4:30pm Wed 27 Feb 13
phil kernot wrote:Who the hell taught you two to connect to the internet. Imbeciles.
jackmetickler wrote:Lol yeah in bed with there members of there family more like haha
well if you muppets could behave yourselves they wouldnt have to...
mind you I do miss having a larf at the su su su icide squad....
maybe if we played the game in the evening they would all be in bed.
drunken donut
says...
4:52pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Reality50
says...
5:01pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Reality50
says...
5:07pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Major Tom
says...
5:41pm Wed 27 Feb 13
martin.cat
says...
6:11pm Wed 27 Feb 13
I went to Tu rd Moor for some Dingle baiting and the rovers fans were treated like cattle and herded about with little regard for their welfare or needs. The coaches for one were buses with no toilets and very little room, especially when you ended up being on them for 2 plus hours each way.
At least the Darwen End is spacious and has a suitable number of toilets for the numbers. At Tu red Moor it was a crush you couldn't move in the concourse area and the police moved you to your seats this time without alcohol.
I think fans should be treated better and shown some dignity even if they do have six fingers. I think many would opt for the coaches if they were given proper time slots and not kept hanging about. Surely this wouldn't be too difficult? But you should also have a choice to make your own way too.
Good call
says...
6:18pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Sajdin
says...
6:42pm Wed 27 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem
says...
6:47pm Wed 27 Feb 13
midas wrote:am i being petty but "not only WHOULD"????
Disappointed at the 1350 who have bought the tickets. Not only whould we be supporting our friends and the boycott of Ewood (it is still going on isn't it?) but by accepting these arrangements its just allowing them to continue the same sort of regime for the foreseeable future.
.
Next season I want to be able to make my way to blackburn in my own car not on a coach.
come on midas - you must know your ancient myths, parables and metaphors - there is one about removing a speck from your neighbour's eye when you have a plank in your own.
golazzo
says...
6:56pm Wed 27 Feb 13
mick001
says...
7:04pm Wed 27 Feb 13
nmclean77
says...
7:48pm Wed 27 Feb 13
I have a working knowledge and experience of policing operations at football matches, and having worked at much bigger derbies and football matches, and there really is no need for this.
How come Lancashire Constabulary deem that this is needed when neighbouring forces such as GMP don't impose such measures in the much bigger Manchester derby or the Man Utd v Liverpool game?
therealhomer
says...
7:48pm Wed 27 Feb 13
All the moaners can blame the idiot minority of football 'fans' from both Burnley and Blackburn who are intent on causing/looking for trouble at any opportunity for the police response. I'm sure the police don't want to go through all this aggro but the potential for disorder forces their hand.
mys
says...
7:54pm Wed 27 Feb 13
rovers-baz
says...
8:04pm Wed 27 Feb 13
mys wrote:What a CUPID STUNT........
Ha ha listen to you lot,lets face it Burnley will more than likely beat rovers and if your true fan you would behave the lot of ya
masher50
says...
9:04pm Wed 27 Feb 13
drunken donut wrote:There's not been a great deal made of the damage Rovers fans have caused at the Burnley ground - which before anyone throws out, includes trying to set fire to seats in an older stand.
Every time we play Burnley at Ewood Park there is tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage done to the Darwen end by the so called fans, the Rovers always try to play this down so as not to inflame the situation, but none the less it happens every time we play them. I think that it is time that we only gave them several hundred tickets because the money made from these "fans" just goes to repair the damage.
The VAST majority of fans from BOTH sides are law abiding, decent people, who are put off by the Draconian measures enforced by the Police. After the game at Burnley, I genuinely felt sorry for Rover's fans being treated like cattle and herded onto coaches via temporary fencing. It's a very small minority from BOTH sides who don't understand where banter ends and idiocy begins.
Regardless of any particular club loyalty, it's time, as collective FOOTBALL fans to try and work together to make this derby game back to what it should be - something for BOTH sets of fans to look forward to in good spirits, rather than worrying we're being dragged into a war zone.
Blaming one particular set of fans instead, or above, another is not going to resolve the issues. Until the GOOD fans act as a collective, either in discussions with club and Police via fan's groups, or even a boycott if needs, the difficulties will never be solved.
kenbro
says...
10:42pm Wed 27 Feb 13
Never saw any aggro. We were all just working lads supporting our team, and giving credit where credit was due, even if it was Jimmy McIlroy.
Too many ignorant trouble makers these days. They are the reason the Police have to go overboard on security.
hasslem hasslem
says...
10:52pm Wed 27 Feb 13
kenbro wrote:i know what you mean kenbro - but the worst trouble i have seen was in that game in 77 or 78 at t'turf when rovers fans were told to go in that open end after the long side was full and the other game in the late 70s early 80s when stupid dingles got up in the roof in the darwen end and started chucking bits of roof at their own supporters......both of these incidents are over 30 years ago and nearly as close to 1943 as 2013.
Started watching the Rovers in 1943. Watched several Burnley Derbies back in the old days. We would stand, not sit, shoulder to shoulder. No segregation. A bit of friendly banter and a good handshake and "well played" at the end.
Never saw any aggro. We were all just working lads supporting our team, and giving credit where credit was due, even if it was Jimmy McIlroy.
Too many ignorant trouble makers these days. They are the reason the Police have to go overboard on security.
hooliganism between the tow clubs, regrettably, goes back to the turn of the last century - - not the current century.
i hate the current view that the imbeciles cannot be trusted - personally i don't give a monkey's if idiots from both towns (cos its towns not clubs) got together and knocked seven bells out of each other in a pre-arranged place as long as innocent bystanders and property and cars are not damaged......it would solve the whole problem.
Darwen Malc
says...
11:01pm Wed 27 Feb 13
stefjam
says...
11:28pm Wed 27 Feb 13
stefjam
says...
11:30pm Wed 27 Feb 13
kenbro
says...
2:12am Thu 28 Feb 13
Today is totally different. How many of the troublemakers even have a job ? Respect for the Police is non existent in some areas and too much alcohol does not help the situation.
The good old days, in many respects, have long gone and will never return.
As for the hooligan element fighting it out among themselves, unfortunately they would gang up on you and me if they knew that we supported the team opposing theirs.
How has it changed ? In my day you could walk through any part of Blackburn at night, and I have, without any problems. You can't do that now.
alan7554
says...
7:16am Thu 28 Feb 13
lancs1985
says...
8:13am Thu 28 Feb 13
Shut up moaning we had same restrictions in place n it worked fine its for your own safety
Or are you moaning cause we have allocated you to many tickets n DLA won't cover it for you muppets!!!!!
No one from any other club no what this rivalry is like
Facts why it's gone like this is cause you emmer dale cast
Like to get in a taxi n get lost in it
Then also like to go to your own town n smash it to bits,
Not rocket science really is it
N kids running on pitch at turf moor last time n you wonder why
Thick as pig
andybb2
says...
8:23am Thu 28 Feb 13
roverfoxy
says...
8:30am Thu 28 Feb 13
midas
says...
9:19am Thu 28 Feb 13
hasslem hasslem wrote:LOL hoisted by my own petard! However its obviously a typo rather than gramatic, a bit like (for example) writing "tow" instead of "two" :-)
midas wrote: Disappointed at the 1350 who have bought the tickets. Not only whould we be supporting our friends and the boycott of Ewood (it is still going on isn't it?) but by accepting these arrangements its just allowing them to continue the same sort of regime for the foreseeable future. . Next season I want to be able to make my way to blackburn in my own car not on a coach.am i being petty but "not only WHOULD"???? come on midas - you must know your ancient myths, parables and metaphors - there is one about removing a speck from your neighbour's eye when you have a plank in your own.
djrick123
says...
11:30am Thu 28 Feb 13
alan7554 wrote:alan i remember reading about u having to travel over to burnley just to come back over for the match, in my view you shouldn't have to go through all that just to watch your team play at ewood park
the last time i went to this derby at ewood park,i was living on bolton road,about 1.5 miles from brfc,but as i am a burnley fan i had to travel to burnley then get the coach to ewood park then after the game i was not even allowed to walk the 1.5 miles back down bolton road to where i lived near the infirmary pub.So an ordinary day which should have been only 3 hrs turned into 8 hrs and the price was trebled,no sense in it at all.TOTALY WRONG.
noddy57
says...
11:38am Thu 28 Feb 13
lancs1985
says...
1:54pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Reality50 wrote:Yeah boycott the game that's brilliant support for your club you muppet
Hull City fans are facing the same thing for their game at Huddersfield and have launched legal bids to stop this draconian farce happening. West Yorkshire Police now-fearful of legal action-are now sitting down with Hull fans to find a compromise. Burnley fans should have nipped this in the bud early and boycotted the game or Burnley FC refuse to accept an allocation. Play the police and clubs at their own game.
Jesus wet its fir your own safety,
If something happened youde be all calling the police for not doing it or not enough police on
Use some brains empty head
j bee
says...
3:05pm Thu 28 Feb 13
kenbro wrote:i am in my late seventies and played in the boots of dennis wescott they were far better days as far as football was concerned but try telling todays generation
Hasslem. I guess that we had a different society back then. Most of the fans had been in the Military. Many of them through the war, others like me did National Service Everybody had a job usually in a mill or Engineering factory and they had a good respect for the law.
Today is totally different. How many of the troublemakers even have a job ? Respect for the Police is non existent in some areas and too much alcohol does not help the situation.
The good old days, in many respects, have long gone and will never return.
As for the hooligan element fighting it out among themselves, unfortunately they would gang up on you and me if they knew that we supported the team opposing theirs.
How has it changed ? In my day you could walk through any part of Blackburn at night, and I have, without any problems. You can't do that now.
Reality50
says...
4:49pm Thu 28 Feb 13
Reality50
says...
4:52pm Thu 28 Feb 13
stick to football
says...
7:47pm Thu 28 Feb 13
As for Security - 99% go to watch the game and enjoy the banter but for a small minority football is the last thing they have in mind.
If people offend ban them for life- why should others suffer for a few. Shudder to think what the Polce costs for this game will be - they should be out there protecting the public from criminals not montiroing football hooligans
jibbsarefynny
says...
2:30pm Thu 7 Mar 13
She said: “I will be going with my daughter, son-in-law and a friend.
what a moron family hahah you've got to be a toal moron to pay £38.50 to watch a match where you are pushed into a seat for 2 hours after being threatened etc by the plod and paying way over the odds for the price .I'm glad i dont know these tossers.Anyone who attends this match is a total moron without a doubt.bizarre
jackmetickler says...
3:23pm Wed 27 Feb 13
mind you I do miss having a larf at the su su su icide squad....
maybe if we played the game in the evening they would all be in bed.