Archived News from April 2016
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NOTTS CO HOOLIGANS DAMAGE NORTH STAND
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Stags label Notts fans ‘a disgrace’ after hooligans damage One Call Stadium
chad.co.uk, Monday 18 April 2016 Bitter fans who went on the rampage at the One Call Stadium after their team were soundly beaten have been labelled ‘a disgrace’ by Mansfield Town. A toilet block in the North stand was left badly damaged by Notts County fans during their side’s 5-0 defeat to Stags on Saturday. A club statement reads: “The behaviour of the spectators was a disgrace and these hooligans, who attempt to disrupt the safety and enjoyment of others, are not welcome inside One Call Stadium or any other sporting stadia. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/stags-label-notts-fans-a-disgrace-after-hooligans-damage-one-call-stadium-1-7859735#ixzz46Bwk0jLR “The damage which was done to the male toilets in the North Stand was of a shocking scale and we will liaise with the authorities to discover the identity of the perpetrators. “Keeping fans safe at One Call Stadium is our absolute priority and both the stewards and police are to be highly commended for the way in which they dealt with unruly spectators in the North Stand on Saturday, who were hell bent on causing as much disruption and public disorder as possible.” The club also said many Notts fans refused to sit in the seats they had been allocated, causing major disruption in the North Stand where more than 1,700 away fans had bought tickets. The club said: “Mansfield Town Football Club made a conscious effort to direct all Notts County supporters to the correct block and seat upon their arrival in the North Stand at One Call Stadium. “Unfortunately, a group of approximately 50 spectators in the North Stand simply decided to sit where they wanted. “Upon attempting to re-direct the said spectators into the correct seating, our stewards were met with volleys of abuse. “After consultation with Nottinghamshire Police, the advice received was that it would create excessive disturbance to re-direct such a large section of spectators into their correct seats. “Mansfield Town Football Club was concerned that a group of around 50 to 80 spectators in the North Stand seemed determined to cause unrest and disrupt public order from the moment they arrived inside One Call Stadium. ----------------- Pensioner trampled on at Stags match said: “I thought I was going to die” chad.co.uk, Monday 18 April 2016 A 73-year-old football fan feared he was going to die after being thrown from his seat and trampled on by fellow supporters during Saturday’s Mansfield Town’s game against Notts County. Lifelong County fan John Wilmott was left injured and needing treatment during the 5-0 defeat at the One Call Stadium. Mr Wilmott, who had been sat with his friend on the front row behind the goal, said the two sets of opposing fans had been goading each other all match and ‘all hell broke loose’ when Stags scored their second goal 12 minutes into the second half. He said: “I felt this kick in my back and it sent me flying in the air and I landed on the concrete, then seconds later I felt people stamping on me. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/pensioner-trampled-on-at-stags-match-said-i-thought-i-was-going-to-die-1-7859885#ixzz46CL42wYl “All I could hear was someone shouting ‘there’s someone on the floor’. “I thought my life was going to end, miraculously I’m not seriously injured. “The police and stewards managed to pick me up off the floor and put me back in my seat until the St John Ambulance arrived. I spent the rest of the game with them. “I have never experienced anything like this before. All I was doing was sat in a seat. “All I want to see is a full report and if this is what it has come to, it needs addressing, it’s absolutely essential. “The club will have CCTV and I want to find out what happened. “These sorts of things should not happen. It’s a lovely game but it has to be played in the right spirit.” Mr Wilmott’s friend, Denis Robinson, added: “There was a lot of chanting with slurred voices, indicating that drink may have been involved. “We thought such violence at football grounds was a thing of the past. “I am partly disabled and have a heart condition, and the incident has left me a bit traumatised.” Meanwhile, Mr Wilmott, who is from Hucknall and sits on Nottinghamshire County Council, said there was also issues with seating for the away fans at the One Call Stadium before and during the game. More than 1,700 Notts County fans snapped up tickets for the match. “It was unbelievable, there was no visible control,” added Mr Wilmott. “Many people had gone to the wrong area to be with their friends. “There seemed to be plenty of marshals but it was such a large crowd I don’t think they were used to it.” In response, a statement issued by Mansfield Town reads: “The club is aware of the unfortunate incident involving Mr Wilmott during Saturday’s match at One Call Stadium. “The club was very concerned of his welfare and great credit should be given to our stewards and first-aiders who immediately attended to Mr Wilmott with the utmost professionalism and care. “The club had significantly increased the numbers of stewards for this match. The fixture also saw an increased police presence. “Both our stewards and the police managed the aforementioned situation extremely efficiently and professionally and their conduct was both selfless and brave. “The club has little doubt but for the presence of the stewards and police, greater disruption could have been experienced in the North Stand. “Unfortunately, a group of approximately 50 spectators in the North Stand simply decided to sit where they wanted. Upon attempting to re-direct the said spectators into the correct seating, our stewards were met with volleys of abuse. “After consultation with Nottinghamshire Police, the advice received was that it would create excessive disturbance to re-direct such a large section of spectators into their correct seats.” ------------------ Notts County's 'emerging' hooligan firm sparks warning http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-36090526 Police said there were between 60 and 80 "hooligans" following Notts County One of the Football League's founding clubs has an "emerging" hooligan firm, a police force has warned. Nottinghamshire Police said it would be increasing police activity after gathering intelligence on Notts County followers all season. The news comes after three people were charged following trouble at County's 5-0 defeat at Mansfield on Saturday. The club said it did not "condone the behaviour of a very small minority" of supporters at the Mansfield match. Live updates and more from Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Police believe a gang of "about 60 to 80" hooligans is targeting Notts County matches. 'Emerging group' Supt Mark Holland, who is head of football policing in Nottinghamshire, said he had been concerned about the group for some time. "We've been monitoring this all season and there is definitely an emerging group there," he said. More than 1,700 Notts County fans made the short trip to Mansfield Town to see their side lose 5-0 on Saturday "There's about 60 to 80 'supporters' who have been attending away games, causing problems and disorder. "We don't police more than 50% of the games in Nottinghamshire, but we've been attending all Notts County games in an intelligence-gathering capacity. "They're trying to get themselves established, but we've arrested quite a few of them, we've gathered quite a bit of intelligence and there'll be further action to come." Formed in 1862, Notts County is considered to be the oldest professional football team in the world and was one of 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888. Saturday's arrests at the League Two match at Mansfield were for possession of a firework/flare at a sporting event, being drunk at a sports ground and accessing the pitch. Three men were charged and have been bailed to appear in court next month. ------------------- Police say Notts County fans 'trying very hard to be hooligans' By DanRussell, April 20, 2016, nottinghampost.com Chief Superintendent Mark Holland has warned fans who cause trouble that they are being monitored and action against them will be taken. Notts County fans who cause trouble at games are trying very hard to be hooligans, according to police. Chief Superintendent Mark Holland has warned fans who cause trouble that they are being monitored and action against them will be taken. During Saturday's away game at Mansfield Town, where the Magpies were thrashed 5-0, Nottinghamshire councillor John Wilmott got trampled by some rampaging fans. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Police-say-Notts-County-fans-trying-hard/story-29144188-detail/story.html#ixzz46TzLu7Cu The 73-year-old says he was kicked in the back and thrown to the concrete floor as a mob of up to 80 fans jostled and tried to surge onto the pitch. Nottinghamshire Police said three arrests were made at the match. Chief Superintendent Mark Holland said: "We would say that those involved are not a football firm but still a high risk group. "We are actively monitoring them at the moment. "I think these people are trying very hard to be hooligans and they have been attempting to organise with other groups. "Some of these who are hanging-on with the group are frankly kids and we fear they will get beaten up when they take on more than they can chew." Nottinghamshire Police attend around four to six Notts County games a season but officers have been working with the club and sending spotters to games to gather intelligence. There were also problems with Mansfield fans before the game. Chief Superintendent Holland said: "On Saturday we had a group of Mansfield fans who thought they would go drinking in a pub but we took them out and sent them to McDonald's where they had Happy Meals. "The vast majority of football fans are good people and if they are aware of anyone causing trouble or planning on they should get in touch." Three arrests were made at the match. A 24-year-old was held on suspicion of possessing a firework/flare at a sporting event, a 25-year-old on suspicion of being drunk at a sports ground, and a 33-year-old on suspicion of accessing the pitch. All three were charged and bailed to appear at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on May 5. ------------------ Notts County fan calls for better safety in the stands after being trampled by 'hooligans' nottinghampost.com, By JenniferScott, April 18, 2016 The terrifying experience of being trampled on by football hooligans has led a life-long Notts County fan to call for better safety in the stands. John Wilmott, who is a councillor representing the Hucknall First Community Forum at Nottinghamshire County Council, went to Saturday's away game against Mansfield Town, which saw the Magpies thrashed 5-0 by their East Midlands' rivals. But it was the carnage in the stands, rather than on the pitch, that left the 73-year-old scared for his life. He says he was kicked in the back and then thrown to the concrete floor as a mob of up to 80 fans jostled and tried to surge onto the pitch. A spokesman for Mansfield Town confirmed that there had been an incident - resulting in three arrests - and called those involved "a disgrace". It was not long after his arrival at the One Call Stadium that the vice president at the Nottinghamshire club felt there was going to be trouble. "When we got there, there were only two turnstiles for about 1,700 supporters," he said. "The gangways to walk down were all very slim and there was a lot of overcrowding. Read more: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-County-fan-calls-better-safety-stands/story-29132164-detail/story.html#ixzz46CWesWGk "We also noticed some of the supporters arriving were shouting, with slurred speech and glazed eyes. And then they weren't going to their correct seats. "My friend turned to me and said there was going to be crowd trouble, and he was right." Read more: This Notts County team has proven it has no backbone on far too many occasions Read more: 'Warrior mentality' helped Mansfield Town run all over Notts County A spokesman for Mansfield Town confirmed to the Post that around 50 fans in the North Stand "simply decided to sit where they wanted" despite the efforts of the stewards, who were just met with "volleys of abuse" when trying to fix it. The club and the police took the decision it would cause too much trouble moving this many fans, and ushered others to empty seats instead. As half-time drew closer, the crowd was even rowdier and Councillor Wilmott said he was appalled by the scenes at the break. "I went to get me and my friend a cup of tea, but I didn't want to risk the crush of people," he said. "Then I saw all the vandalism that had taken place at the toilets, it was awful." But it was shortly after the restart when Councillor Wilmott ended up in the medical room with paramedics, thanks to some unruly supporters in the crowd. "After another goal was scored, all hell broke lose," he said. "I suddenly felt a kick in the back, it felt like a sledgehammer. It shot me into the air before landing on the concrete floor. "Seconds later, people were stamping all over me and falling on top of me. It was terrifying and so frightening. I thought my life was at and end." Luckily, a police officer and stewards spotted him and helped him to his feet, and he escaped with minor injuries, including a sprained ankle, grazed knees, a bruised shoulder and aching in his arms and back. But now Councillor Wilmott wants something to be done and "lessons to be learnt" from his ordeal. He added: "All I want to do is make sure it doesn't happen to anyone again." Mark Stevenson, head of communications at Mansfield Town Football Club, said: "[We were] concerned that a group of around 50 to 80 spectators in the North Stand seemed determined to cause unrest and disrupt public order from the moment they arrived inside One Call Stadium. "As Mr Wilmott has described, as soon as the second goal was scored, a number of spectators in the North Stand surged towards the front of the stand, provoking the Mansfield Town supporters in the Ian Greaves Stand and attempting to encroach on to the pitch. "Both our stewards and the police managed the aforementioned situation extremely efficiently and professionally and their conduct was both selfless and brave. The club has little doubt but for the presence of the stewards and police, greater disruption could have been experienced in the North Stand. "The behaviour of the aforementioned spectators was a disgrace and these hooligans, who attempt to disrupt the safety and enjoyment of others, are not welcome inside One Call Stadium or any other sporting stadia." Nottinghamshire Police confirmed there were three arrests made at the match - a 24-year-old on suspicion of possessing a firework/flare at a sporting event, a 25-year-old on suspicion of being drunk at a sports ground, and a 33-year-old on suspicion of accessing the pitch. All three were charged and bailed to Mansfield Mags' on May 5. And an investigation has now been launched by Nottinghamshire County Council to see if safety at the ground can be improved. Rob Fisher, Nottinghamshire County Council's group manager for emergency planning and registration, said: "The county council takes safety at all the county's sports grounds very seriously and I was present at Saturday's match to carry out a safety inspection, which we do at all high-profile matches. "Councillor Wilmott has discussed with me his experience of the game and I will be sharing my findings with the safety advisory group to see what lessons can be learnt for future games at the One Call Stadium." ----------------- Fan facing flare charge following Stags match chad.co.uk, Monday 18 April 2016 A fan allegedly carrying a flare was arrested at the match between Mansfield Town and Notts County at the weekend. Stags ran out easy 5-0 winners in the derby clash, but it did not pass without incident with police reporting that 24-year-old Lewis Betts, of Wheatacre Road, Clifton, was detained for allegedly possessing a firework in the ground. Read more: http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/fan-facing-flare-charge-following-stags-match-1-7859460#ixzz46CYkqwEo Meanwhile two other men were also detained - Matthew Gordon Woodward, 25, of Walnut Tree Gardens, Bulwell on suspicion of being drunk at a sporting event and Charles Barnaby, 33, of Nelson Street, Ilkeston was arrested for accessing the pitch. All three were charged and bailed to Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on May 5. --------------- |
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