West Ham United V. Millwall Violence

[EastSaxCol]

Spoke to a mate that was at the game. One observation he made was that the blokes that invaded the pitch the first and second time were simply directed back to their seats, then they jumped over and invaded the pitch again. If it had been at most grounds they would have been ejected from the stadium.

Well, this much is obvious. That last nights little performance certainly heralds the end of WHUFC'S softly-softly approach to crowd control. Which is a shame, as when a lot of the others were being fenced in , and even proposed electrification of fences if Bates had his way at Chelsington, West Ham remained still trusting the fans. But as always the moronic minority always ruin things for the majority. Problem is that it's a growing minority. In the old days it was the hostile atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground that opposing players dreaded and away fans respected. Now it's the lunatics who want to run the asylum both inside and out -- and the only way to deal with that is to take off the velvet glove and wield the stick.

If football is a microcosm of society , and last night the tip of the iceburg, then the future of English society is very worrying indeed, as we return again to the dark ages.

[EastSaxCol]

It wasn't 600 of our Fans who didn't have Tickets at the end of the day & still travelled so i don't feel if we really need to " spread the blame ".

Last night I was listening to an articulate and reasonable "Wall" supporter who went to the game on Tuesday. He came up with something that I was unaware. Firstly their ticket allocation. Which I did know had become ludicrous in initially giving them a certain amount , then taking a fair proportion back and yet again increasing their allocation by 500 or so. He reckoned that if they had a reasonable amount -- their initial allocation -- then their wouldn't have been those loitering around without tickets and exposed to the attacks , and vice versa, that occured on the streets . His point was that if they had tickets they would have gone straight into the ground instead of milling around. Although turning up without tickets is fair enough and you can't really apportion blame for that. I've done it myself on a couple of occasions at Cardiff and elsewhere. It will always happen that. But certainly for this particular match, ticket allocation seems to have exasperated the problems. As it has done before, and will probably do so again, unless they get it sorted.

The next thing, that I hadn't realised, is that UP station was actually closed. So their supporters had to go to either Plaistow or East Ham , and it was en route to Green Street from those stations that a lot of the problems begun.

The other thing that I hadn't realised and gleamed from KUMB is the amount of police on duty, both inside and outside the ground. About 500 I think that it was according to the Guardian. Apparently, half of the number deployed for the Spurs game.

But none of this deflects from where the blame must ultimately lay -- with the mindless morons who engaged in that which, in West Ham's case, may well affect both club and supporters who loathe such behaviour. See (above) linked Guardian article.

[MSingh]

Spoke to a mate that was at the game. One observation he made was that the blokes that invaded the pitch the first and second time were simply directed back to their seats, then they jumped over and invaded the pitch again. If it had been at most grounds they would have been ejected from the stadium.

Really Greek ??

You mean like these 200 little Angels also were about 4 Months ago ??

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/200...15875-21348060/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5zyrShDh7g...feature=related

Come on Mate, i'm fully aware that there was alot of stuff that went on that was not good on Tuesday night but please stop playing on this Pitch Invasion thing as it was very low down on the list of badness, & you know it..

My Friend sent the below to me yesterday & i can't see how if people like him & myself ( & probably everyone reading this ) can see this & were aware what was going to happen, why can't the Met &/or Clubs ???

You can't stop this from happening, you'd be fighting a losing battle if you tried, but you CAN decrease the chances & opportunities of this sort of violence to occur, without a doubt..

The way I see it, the logistics of this match were not thought through. There are no easy solutions on how to manage this fixture and some unpalatable to some, decisions have to be made. These decisions must have the primary objectives of protecting public safety and ensuring that the match takes place.

Millwall fans with tickets:

The allocation of tickets to Millwall fans for this fixture should have been for the upper tier only of the Sir Trevor Brooking stand approx 1,500. Millwall fans would complain about such a small allocation but that’s it.

(This would prevent a pitch invasion from Millwall and reduce the likelihood of West Ham fans trying to get at them)

Millwall football club should have only sold tickets to Millwall season ticket holders and if any remained after this members, Strictly 1 ticket per person.

Millwall should also have shown a live beamback of the game at the New Den with tickets costing £5 adults and £1 for kids/concessions. This would encourage fewer Millwall fans to travel to the game ticketless.

All Millwall fans admitted into the ground to be searched.

A strong police presence would still need to be present at U.P Station to filter and separate Millwall fans. These would then be escorted along Tudor Road , through the alley and to the stand entrance. Redclyffe Road and Priory Road past the East Stand would be closed off to home supporters completely between 6pm and 8pm. Ticketless Millwall fans would be isolated and kettled by the police. The police already have the powers to arrest/detain anyone that they believe are likely to cause public disorder. Anyone detained who cannot prove that they live within 3 miles of the ground should be arrested/cautioned. If need be a new law should be passed for attempting to attend a football match without a ticket with the intention of causing public disorder. This should be made clear to every football fan that this is a possibility.

Lets be honest, any Millwall fan travelling to Upton Park last night without a match ticket was there for trouble and trouble only. If there were no ticketless Millwall fans about there would have been far less trouble outside than there was. This new law could also be applied to so called West Ham fans that have deliberately travelled to the ground without a ticket who again can only have one thing on their mind.

I fully understand civil liberties and all that but the priority is to protect the safety of the majority who want to watch a football match.

Keeping the lower tier of the STB stand empty would have also allowed the police some degree of flexibility in deciding what to do if a large number of ticketless Millwall fans arrived and were inflaming the situation outside the ground.

Providing that the necessary amount of stewards/police and riot police were available, and the middle sections of the STB lower were adequately cordoned off, they then would have had a controlled environment to place the Ticketless Millwall fans outside. Each Ticketless fan admitted however to be photographed and searched upon entry. All such persons admitted in this way to be detained at the end of the match and cautioned and issued with on the spot fines of at least £200 each.

Maybe not all of the answers to the problem but some potentially.

For me the big issues are:-

a) The number of police on duty compared to previous encounters

The fact that there was no live beamback at the new Den

c) Millwall being allocated the lower tier of the STB instead of the upper tier

The likelihood of pitch invasions by West Ham fans would have been reduced if Millwall fans were mainly in the upper tier of the STB. More trained stewards should have been deployed around the pitch perimeter. Simply running onto the pitch itself is trespass and carries a lifetime ban. These should be enforced.

Running onto the pitch to goad or encourage the away fans to take part is inciting violence and perpetrators should be charged accordingly.

Don’t get me wrong on any of this, I am not a nouveau fan. I remember all too well all the shenanigans of the 70’s and 80’s and have loads of fond memories of ‘lively’ encounters home and away with West Ham. I’ve grown up a bit now though and have a son and daughter of my own.

I know and realise that football has changed irreversibly. Of course the game is much better when there is a rocking atmosphere and tension in the air. However, when it comes to innocent people getting injured, and men getting stabbed in the chest over a game of football something has gone terribly wrong things need to be done.

Each day in the papers we read another shocking episode about society is broken. Kids being murdered, babies being abused and killed, ‘British Muslims’ burning our national flag and jeering at the returning British soldiers from Afghanistan (some in coffins)!!!

Lets not kid ourselves though, that there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

Singing about Defoes brother, Ian Pratt, Calum Davenport being stabbed, Collisons Dad tragically dying, Bobby Moore etc…, whether its Millwall fans or West Ham fans doing it isn’t right or acceptable at the end of the day. Of course there will always be baiting of Defoe, Lampard, Ince etc…but that’s different. We also know that, whatever we personally believe, it is wrong to racially abuse players simply because of the colour of their skin in public. Even if you don’t like people of other races you don’t go about shouting it out in public. Many of the the Millwall ‘fans’ taunting Carlton Cole last night, have probably got black mates.

For anyone with half a brain cell, this country would be far better off with a million Carlton Coles than a million pathetic Millwall fans

There will always be a hatred between Millwall and West Ham fans. It is far deeper than the hatred we have for anyone else, including Sp*rs and Chelsea.

It is pathetic in many ways, but it will not go away. Although we don’t play each other often, you can be sure what will happen the next time we do.

Let’s hope the police, authorities and the clubs learn some lessons this time.

[EastSaxCol]

The link to the bulk of Singer's Post #66. Some good discussion there. Always a good policy to provide the link if not our own words and not necessarily reflecting our own opinion, btw.

All Millwall fans admitted into the ground to be searched.

Although I am led to understand that the away supporters were searched before entering the ground. It was the home supporters who weren't.

[MSingh]

The link to the bulk of Singer's Post #66. Some good discussion there. Always a good policy to provide the link if not our own words and not necessarily reflecting our own opinion, btw.

All Millwall fans admitted into the ground to be searched.

Although I am led to understand that the away supporters were searched before entering the ground. It was the home supporters who weren't.

Yep, i'll do that next time..

[suiging]

Sad thing is a few of us on here picked this one out when it was announced as one the Met would not be looking forward to. I spotted it and I haven't lived in the country for 24 years, so how in the hel_l did they powers that be A> Not have a plan or B> If they had one, be seen to be totally incapable of executing it.

Time to swing the old lamp. In the early seventies, I went home and away to all the Wolves games. We were well supported then and took large crowds all over the country. A good portion of that crowd were out and out thugs, however, even without cameras and hi-tec comms equipment, some very nasty confrontations were better handled then than they were in East London. Something very wrong in the Met.

[StevieH]

Sad thing is a few of us on here picked this one out when it was announced as one the Met would not be looking forward to. I spotted it and I haven't lived in the country for 24 years, so how in the hel_l did they powers that be A> Not have a plan or B> If they had one, be seen to be totally incapable of executing it.

Time to swing the old lamp. In the early seventies, I went home and away to all the Wolves games. We were well supported then and took large crowds all over the country. A good portion of that crowd were out and out thugs, however, even without cameras and hi-tec comms equipment, some very nasty confrontations were better handled then than they were in East London. Something very wrong in the Met.

interesting take from a former ICF hoolie.

Everyone knew West Ham game was going to kick off

As soon as this game was drawn everyone would have given that knowing wink saying: 'Hello, this is going to be a long night'

Cass Pennant, http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/au...ll-cass-pennant

A certain element smiled when West Ham and Millwall were drawn together, while the rest of football held its head in its hands. When those two teams meet it goes beyond football and the game should not be punching itself on the nose over what happened.

The violence certainly wouldn't have been pre-planned. As soon as this game was drawn everyone would have given that knowing wink saying: "Hello, this is going to be a long night."

Take it from a former member of one of the so-called most organised firms in history, the InterCity Firm, the trouble of the 70s and 80s was never as organised as people thought. It was more a case of like-minded souls thinking the same way.

Today it is very much underground and those who meet via websites and mobile phones really are a small minority. The arrests from these groups are no more than you get at pop concerts, carnivals or any event where crowds gather. It really is under the control of the football authorities, unlike in the 70s and 80s when we, the firms, ran the show. We did what we wanted and were always one step ahead of the authorities.

After Heysel and the Taylor Report the football thug has never enjoyed the same power. Only complacency can give them the maximum effect, as it did on Tuesday night. The violence that happens today is on such a small scale that it has to be organised and it doesn't affect normal football fans on the whole. Violence in the 70s and 80s did not have to be organised because it was the culture and it did affect the game. Now, older and wiser, I can see that we did come close to killing the game.

Anyone who knows the score knows this rivalry goes beyond Millwall football club and West Ham United football club – it is east London versus south London. To back this up you just need to look at the gates.

The biggest crowds any club will draw are their local rivals. But if you look at the history of the "big one" between West Ham and Millwall, the gates have always been low because normal fans know what this game is about and kids, wives and girlfriends will stay away, allowing a lot of young males to take their places. The crowd at the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday night was not what I see as a season-ticket holder – it was as if a section of the East End took its club back.

How different a rivalry it is can be explained in 48 hours. Tottenham is a high-risk game, but their fans were given their full allocation of tickets, pubs could open, traders carried on as normal and the game on Sunday passed off almost without incident. On Tuesday night Millwall's allocation was halved and pubs and shops were boarded up.

What happened was a result of that draw. These teams and their supporters cannot meet and the only way you can solve that and keep the integrity of the competition is to ban away fans.

The police were there in numbers, but it was a very strange atmosphere. Experienced riot police who have seen it all before would normally be more aggressive and act in a no-nonsense fashion. The hate that these two groups of supporters generate was not met with the zero-tolerance that they would normally put into a football game. That special policing was not felt and it was almost like the 70s when that thin blue line was stuck in the middle, doing its best to keep fans apart rather than taking them on and stopping them.

There was a lack of aggression and I'm wondering if the tactics were affected by what happened at the G20 protests and perhaps their hands were tied behind their back somewhat. The police rely on CCTV so much – they can arrest hundreds after the fact and they allow the riots to develop. Either they knew they didn't have the numbers to tackle head-on a crowd hel_l-bent on trouble, or their tactics have changed and they now allow people to riot and commit the most serious crime possible, then arrest them afterwards on the strength of CCTV footage.

It seemed to me they allowed the riot to develop, to the risk of residents and traders, and it will be interesting to see if they do their policing via CCTV. It's years since the Millwall-Birmingham riots and they are still arresting people on the back of video evidence. I think Tuesday night will keep Crimewatch busy for the next three years.

Author and publisher Cass Pennant is a former member of the InterCity Firm. Perry Boys Abroad, by Ian Hough, has been released by Pennant Publishing

[MSingh]

The police were there in numbers, but it was a very strange atmosphere. Experienced riot police who have seen it all before would normally be more aggressive and act in a no-nonsense fashion. The hate that these two groups of supporters generate was not met with the zero-tolerance that they would normally put into a football game. That special policing was not felt and it was almost like the 70s when that thin blue line was stuck in the middle, doing its best to keep fans apart rather than taking them on and stopping them.

There was a lack of aggression and I'm wondering if the tactics were affected by what happened at the G20 protests and perhaps their hands were tied behind their back somewhat. The police rely on CCTV so much – they can arrest hundreds after the fact and they allow the riots to develop. Either they knew they didn't have the numbers to tackle head-on a crowd hel_l-bent on trouble, or their tactics have changed and they now allow people to riot and commit the most serious crime possible, then arrest them afterwards on the strength of CCTV footage.

It seemed to me they allowed the riot to develop, to the risk of residents and traders, and it will be interesting to see if they do their policing via CCTV. It's years since the Millwall-Birmingham riots and they are still arresting people on the back of video evidence. I think Tuesday night will keep Crimewatch busy for the next three years.

He makes some very valid points in these Paragraphs & it is all the same general consencus as what everyone is saying..

[EastSaxCol]

You reveal your neanderthal football terrace brain by the Ug Ug language in your post ,, so I wont confuse your tiny tiny brain with too many numbers , but just to let you know £2.3 billion is fraudulantly claimed in benefits by your tiny tiny minority annually , your benefits are sent out to the land of fake smiles direct ??

Look mate, I'm also getting mightely pi**ed off with your increasingly bitter and twisted posts. You obviously have no interest in football and know nothing about the subject. I can only assume that you've begun posting here because you're unwanted elsewhere as well. So get back to your Daily Mail and stop the nauseating drivel.. Cheers

[EastSaxCol]

Anyone who knows the score knows this rivalry goes beyond Millwall football club and West Ham United football club – it is east London versus south London.

Cass should know, being a sarf Londoner himself.

just need to look at the gates.

The biggest crowds any club will draw are their local rivals. But if you look at the history of the "big one" between West Ham and Millwall, the gates have always been low because normal fans know what this game is about and kids, wives and girlfriends will stay away, allowing a lot of young males to take their places.

That's just not the case. The last one that I went to was near enough a full house and all of the old nonsense was well before families, wives and kids would go to football anyway, as it was mostly back in the time when hooliganism was rife. And I think the same true at Millwall. Families stayed away as a consequence of hooliganism at a time when it was unfashionable for all but a mainly male crowd to go to matches anyway. True that there was a low turnout on Tuesday, and the nature of the fixture may well have been a contributing fact in that. But no one expected that amount of trouble, and I know of plenty of blokes who took their kids as well, albeit that they regretted it afterwards.

Fair play to Cass for turning his back on violence and in carving something of a living from his inglorious reputation of the past. But his opinions don't necessarily reflect any accuracy -- although true he does know more of the organisational structure of football hooliganism than most. He's right in saying that Tuesday wasn't as pre-planned as some would imagine. In fact it was more of spilling out of pubs into the ground and chance meetings along the way from the stations.

[mrtoad]

Rub both of your brain cells together you monkey and you will work it out ,,,,,,most of these people that live on it ,, housing benefit,,council tax relief , free school dinners etc,,and you only have to work 16 hours per week to quailify,,,,so therefore millions of people are off hte unemployment register ,,,,,,and employers are free to pay the national minimum wage,,,,,,,it doesnt matter what they pay the government make it up, with their family tax credit.

So therefore the rest of the honest hardworking people that have a bit put by and don,t quailfy for this jamboree find themselves looking at wages based on the above .

Believe me I work amongst the monkeys ,, they work less than half a week what I do but go home in newer cars , with another one on the drive at home for their bucket of lard to go 200 yards to take the kids to school in when she can prize herself away from the shopping channel, being watched on their 64 inch plasma screen.

So before you make another stupid moronic remark yourself again , think what is behind it. Now go and cash your benefit slips for a ticket to watch West Ham at the next home game , and dont forget to take your club to batter the opposition over the head with at half time !

Having read your comments, it is no wonder the country is falling apart. To equate family tax credit with the events of the previous evening is bordering on the ridiculous. There are a number of factors that have precipitated the break down of moral fabric in British society, and it is not just tax credits. If you actually think about it working family tax credits are available to most people. I suggest that if you want to look at a lot of the reasons for social ill's you look no further than poor law enforcement, liberalisation, housing policy, education (lack of it), lack of opportunities for youngsters and of course the dreaded benefits system, which in fairness you make a good point. Mix it in, with a struggling economy, high unemployment and immigration problems, of course the country is going to have problems. Just make sure in future that you actually get the facts tight, rather than blame something such as working family tax credits and benefits as the root of all social ills.

Also forgot to mention, that the Milwall and West Ham rivalry has been long running, and tis was always likely to have been a tinderbox and really needed tough policing and sensible ticket allocations. It appears that neither was the case. The Met need to sort their shit out.

Looking at you rant where you refer to people as monkeys is nothing short of disgusting, and says a lot about yourself. As for suggesting that people on this forum should cash their benefit cheques, I think you'll find that most of us work or have retired here, unlike you.

[patklang]

My thoughts ??

It's not Rocket Science, anyone with half a brain would tell you on the morning after the draw was made, if there wa sallowed to be serious, seriuous trouble, there will be & what happened ?? There was allowed to be by the Met's decision to reduce Millwall's Ticket allocation which leads in sequence to silly Internet rumours which turn into full scaled Riots.

How on Earth can the Met think that reducing Millwall's Ticket Allocation & having a possible 600 people minimum, form both sides, on the Streets of East London wihtout Tickets, with the reputation & history of both Clubs, is a good idea as opposed to having them in a controlled Zone IE The Stadium ??

Utter madness.

Obvioulsy you have to condone the actions of both sets of Fans, 2 Men got stabbed for crying out loud, but the Metropolitan Police have undoubtedly fcuked up big time with their plan of how to handle that Game last night..

This is a bad, bad Game with history of violence for over 100 Years now, 100 Years !!!!!!

I was listening to BBC London's Commentary & the Commentators were genuinely afraid as at one time, & i quote " There appears to be fighting going on all around us, if anyone is listenign to this & have their Children here at this Game, take them Home now " which was about 10 mins before we equalised then Bradley Allen saying " I have never in my life experienced a feeling of such hatred & anger at a Football Match in my life "...

There was running battles outside the Ground for 5 hours last night, 5 hours !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How can that be allowed to happen with todays Technology ??

How can the Met allow that to happen in the middle of London, one of the biggest Cities in the World & one that is in the top 3 " high alert " Security threats on the Planet ??

As far as the rest is concerned & whta SKY are showing etc, big deal, ok you can't run on to the Pitch anymore but that's all it was, running on the Pitch, euphoria at equalising & leading in a Game which we haven't beaten our most fiercest rivals in 19 Years...

No Millwall Players were attacked, one had a V sign flicked at him & again i'm not condoning it but come on, Football is a passionate Game, passions to sometime spill over but there was much more to be worried about last night than a couple of Pitch invasions by around 1% of the actual attendance..

West Ham were the worst behaved supporters that came to Stoke last season,but the Stokie lads laughed at their behaviour,as many were huge fat buggers that would have died of a heart attack in 2 minutes of fighting.Apparently,some of the old ICF were out to meet up with some n40 lads,which hasnt happened for years

[Jockstar]

Less of the name calling lads. You know my feelings on this.

[MSingh]

Anyone who knows the score knows this rivalry goes beyond Millwall football club and West Ham United football club – it is east London versus south London.

Cass should know, being a sarf Londoner himself.

just need to look at the gates.

The biggest crowds any club will draw are their local rivals. But if you look at the history of the "big one" between West Ham and Millwall, the gates have always been low because normal fans know what this game is about and kids, wives and girlfriends will stay away, allowing a lot of young males to take their places.

That's just not the case. The last one that I went to was near enough a full house and all of the old nonsense was well before families, wives and kids would go to football anyway, as it was mostly back in the time when hooliganism was rife. And I think the same true at Millwall. Families stayed away as a consequence of hooliganism at a time when it was unfashionable for all but a mainly male crowd to go to matches anyway. True that there was a low turnout on Tuesday, and the nature of the fixture may well have been a contributing fact in that. But no one expected that amount of trouble, and I know of plenty of blokes who took their kids as well, albeit that they regretted it afterwards.

Fair play to Cass for turning his back on violence and in carving something of a living from his inglorious reputation of the past. But his opinions don't necessarily reflect any accuracy -- although true he does know more of the organisational structure of football hooliganism than most. He's right in saying that Tuesday wasn't as pre-planned as some would imagine. In fact it was more of spilling out of pubs into the ground and chance meetings along the way from the stations.

I've looked into this before HH & it's not a million miles off..

The last 2 times we played them when we were relegated, if i remember rigthly & taking into consideration the segregation, was 29k ( Still 15% below Capacity ) & less than that the other time..

In the 90's, with Speedie & the 3-0 & the Moralie equaliser ( all of these Games were Midday Sunday ) the attendances were below 23k..

I'll try to find out exactly what they were again but i think the moral of the point is, you look at us V Chels, V T*tts, V Arse, they generally Sell Out, Year in Year out..

I'm talking about my era here though, say from the late 80's onwards..

[MSingh]

A very well written article..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/david-conn...istory-violence

[StevieH]

david conn is arguably the best football writer around at the moment. he's excellent.

[Travel2003]

What a chilling gust from the past.

I hope this will be dealt with soonest, and prevented from fuelling.

Hopefully it will not affect England's bid for the Word Cup.

Im pretty sure England can arrange a very successful Cup, if they are given the opportunity.

[MSingh]

Just found this on a West Ham site by a regular Poster called " Coalman "..

As we wait for an enquiry as to the events from tuesday, I would just like to add my experience. I work for a CCTV company who provide cameras/equipment for London Underground. On tuesday afternoon, I was carrying out general maintenance on the HQ based in Baker Street, the BT Police are based there too so they can be despatched ASAP. While in the control room it was highlighted about 2pm a large group of Millwall had been spotted and were being tracked through the system, this was raised as an issue but no escort was available, they made there way to Stratford and left the concourse unescorted, they were then tracked via TFL cameras and walked towards the ground. At about the same time a second group had been spotted on the DLR and this was highlighted but no BT or MP escort could be provided, they got off at Canning Town and walked to the ground. I was dealing with some faulty monitors and could overhear the control room commander shouting at someone with regards urgent vehicles/personnel needed for these two unescorted groups. He was told that none was available and to follow them via the cameras and if anything happened to call it in and TSG could be deployed, obviously was'nt important enough to police then. The two groups were tracked as much as possible and one turned up at the station at about the same time the escorted group on the tube arrived and the other split up around Plaistow High Street.

I am only an engineer but as anyone with an ounce of common knew that something would happen and the MP made noises that it was not going to be a problem and would be policed adequately. This was not the case, the sheer volume of groups wandering around the area and under-manned pollice presence, not only contributed to the events of Tuesday but meant the situation could not be rectified once the seriosness of the situaion became apparent.

The media have had a field day with eye-witness reports and all and sundry commenting on points deductions, fines and expulsion from future competitions. This is nothing new and todays news is tomorrows fish and chips. The match on Tuesday was like an old school reunion, that was obvious and the authorities should have had the foresight and intelligence to prevent the events, that my make us all suffer.

[MSingh]

2 Articles here which are dreadful ( the content, not the articles themselves )

Firstly Phil Thompson letting the whole World know how SKY Directors told him to carry on painting a picture of violence & intimidation to viewers which is dispicable, it's as if the SKY Directors were wanting more trouble & urging on Phil which is wrong..

" News was coming into the studio of the clashes outside the ground and, while Ed Chamberlin was briefing viewers on the news, the director wanted me to carry on painting the picture of intimidation, violence and football in the ground. "

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ing-police.html

This second one is just dreadful, so dreadful, hope the Fella recovers soon..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6812918.ece

Blades are for Bullies & Cowards, & i <deleted> hate Bullies & Cowards...

[Geekfreaklover]

2 Articles here which are dreadful ( the content, not the articles themselves )

Firstly Phil Thompson letting the whole World know how SKY Directors told him to carry on painting a picture of violence & intimidation to viewers which is dispicable, it's as if the SKY Directors were wanting more trouble & urging on Phil which is wrong..

" News was coming into the studio of the clashes outside the ground and, while Ed Chamberlin was briefing viewers on the news, the director wanted me to carry on painting the picture of intimidation, violence and football in the ground. "

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...ing-police.html

This second one is just dreadful, so dreadful, hope the Fella recovers soon..

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6812918.ece

Blades are for Bullies & Cowards, & i <deleted> hate Bullies & Cowards...

Agreed. Poor guy, went to watch football with his family and ended up getting stabbed in the chest. I hope the little prick that did it gets caught on CCTV and prosecuted.

From the BBC.

Football stab man 'tried to flee'

Police said the victim was an innocent family man

The man who was stabbed at the West Ham versus Millwall Carling Cup match was attacked after becoming separated from his sons as rival fans chased them. The 43-year-old Millwall supporter, who is in a stable condition, was targeted by West Ham fans after arriving at the wrong gate at Upton Park, east London.

Police said: "The victim was subjected to a brutal and sustained attack as he and his family tried to flee."

Fourteen people were arrested as fights raged around the ground for hours.

A police spokesman said the stabbing victim was one of 10 family members who had gone to watch the game.

'Senseless attack'

As the group tried to reach the correct part of the ground they were approached by a gang of West Ham supporters who followed them along Tudor Road.

It was then that the victim and his sons, aged 17 and 18, were separated from the rest of the family and attacked by the gang who punched and kicked them.

"The victim was further separated from his sons and continued to be attacked by the group, receiving a single stab wound to the chest," the spokesman said.

The man was found collapsed near the Priory Road bus garage by his sons.

If not for the swift intervention of paramedics, the man would have lost his life

Det Insp Lee BarnardDet Insp Lee Barnard, from the Newham violent crime unit, said: "This incident was not a pre-arranged act of violence between two sets of rival supporters; this was an innocent family man who was subjected to a senseless attack by people intent on causing violence.

"If not for the swift intervention of paramedics, the man would have lost his life."

About 200 riot police and at least 20 mounted officers were deployed to contain violence between the fans.

Nine people have been charged over incidents related to the game. Charges cover offences such as breaching a football banning order, assaulting a police officer and other public order offences.

The events brought widespread condemnation from football bosses and politicians.

[redrus]

I liked this....................

Old Hooligan: A Day in The Life...

Posted 27/08/09 13:26 Football365

Work. Same old, same old. A warrior like me should not be caged. And definitely not as a Waste Management Support Co-ordinator in Lewisham Council. Phone rings. Pick it up.

"Ooo are ya? Ooo are ya? Ooo are ya?" I shout.

"Barry," says the voice. "It's Mr Stevens. Now what did we say about answering the phone in accordance with the guidelines laid down by HR in consultation with designated union representatives?"

"Sorry, Mr Stevens," I say.

"That's better Barry. Now can you please arrange for a member of the cleaning personnel team to go down to the lobby and change the waste paper basket on front desk?"

"Millwall! Millwall! Millwall!" I shout.

"No Barry. Waste paper management now. Millwall later," says Stevens. "Honestly Barry. A man of 48 really ought to be able to control himself."

"Yes Mr Stevens," I say. He's bricking it now, the mug. I hang up and email the cleaning personnel team, and then practice aggressive walking in my cubicle until lunch.

Lunchtime. Free. Outside. The Lion prowls. Trouble though. There's a gang of muppets on the corner. West Ham? They're only young 'uns, but they're probably tooled up, the scum. Two of them. I'm outnumbered. But these colours don't run.

"Come on then! Come on then!" I shout, flapping my arms up and down in a well aggressive way while walking away from them backwards.

The bigger one drops his ice cream. He starts to cry. Soon the other one is crying too.

"You slaaaaaaaaags," I shout. "Ooo are ya? Gertcha! Queen Mum! Ave a banana. Oi oi saveloy."

But hold up. It was a trap. There's another one. The top dog. Waiting in Boots. Clever.

"What the hel_l are you shouting at my kids for?" she says. "What is wrong with you? Scaring a five year-old in the street like that."

"I'm on your manor and I'm taking the piss," I say.

She's coming at me now. Hard. This is more than just a bit of handbags. She's tooled up: with an actual handbag. This is Luton 1985. This is Highbury 1988. This is Toys R Us 1995 when that Palace Young Team pushed me off the bouncy castle.

"Come on then! Do you want some?" I say, running in the other direction.

Course, I'm more built for raw power than speed, and after a few yards I'm wheezing, doubled up outside Dixons, lungs on fire.

They catch up to me, the three of them. The top dog's got that handbag. The small one looks mental, a proper psycho, covered in strawberry ice-cream like it's warpaint. The littlest one's got a Dora The Explorer lunchbox. The clever, clever slags.

"Why is that fat old man dressed like a young person, mummy?" says ice cream.

Is this how it ends? On the cold pavement outside Dixons? I'm going out with my head held high. They'll talk about me in the Dog And Fascist for years to come. I'm a legend. I'm a bloody Lions legend. I wait for the blows.

I feel a hot, wet sensation spreading over me. The blood, the glory, the end. I'm going to the great New Den in the sky a hero, a fighter, a geezer who never took a backward step. I hear a voice - is it God? Asking me to join His Firm, be a top boy?

"Mummy mummy, that silly fat man has done a wee in his trousers."

And then it all goes black.

Alan Tyers

redrus

[EastSaxCol]

I liked this ...

... me too.

[Jimjim]

But, MSingh, I don't think that bit about Sky Sport should be surprising. Is it? It's not to me. TV is all about sensationalizing and exagerrating. The worse an event is, the better for TV.

[Geekfreaklover]

I liked this ...

... me too.

I don't see the humour in that.

I'm more concerned about the guy that was almost killed by West Ham 'fans'.

Grow up.

[MSingh]

But, MSingh, I don't think that bit about Sky Sport should be surprising. Is it? It's not to me. TV is all about sensationalizing and exagerrating. The worse an event is, the better for TV.

Doesn't make it right though, especislly in the context of what was actually happening thta night..

[highchol]

I liked this ...

... me too.

I don't see the humour in that.

I'm more concerned about the guy that was almost killed by West Ham 'fans'.

Grow up.

well would you adam & eve it.......a humorless geek

[Geekfreaklover]

I liked this ...

... me too.

I don't see the humour in that.

I'm more concerned about the guy that was almost killed by West Ham 'fans'.

Grow up.

well would you adam & eve it.......a humorless geek

Humour is spelt with a 'u' dickweed. I guess your american spell-check let you down. Unless you are American. If so, what you doing on a West Ham thread? Muppet.

[highchol]

Iam english and it is fine to drop the 'u' in anglish when humour becomes humorless as I pointed out you are. Go check it out.

erm the thread is not the west ham one, but one specific to the bother at the recent west ham millwall match. Go check it out.

[Geekfreaklover]

Iam english and it is fine to drop the 'u' in anglish when humour becomes humorless as I pointed out you are. Go check it out.

erm the thread is not the west ham one, but one specific to the bother at the recent west ham millwall match. Go check it out.

The only thing that I am 'checking out' is your appalling lack of grammar, spelling and understanding of the topic in hand - which, by the way - is a topic that I started on another thread. West Ham Millwall.

If you have anything to say about the topic fine. If not go back to the bar that spawned you.

[EastSaxCol]

I liked this ...

... me too.

I don't see the humour in that.

I'm more concerned about the guy that was almost killed by West Ham 'fans'.

Grow up.

Not the brightest tool in the box are we, Greekfeaklover.

"Grow up" you spittle forth like a rabid dog. I'd rather thought it you who needs the introspection on that score.

Humourless fool. Did you not know it a characteristic of Americans not being able to laugh at themselves ?