I've had a bit of time to mull over things from Saturday now. Many things happened in a short period of time and much of it was a blur. I can understand why some on here asked the question of why the Barrow fans didn't retaliate. Having been there I'm pleased that they didn't retaliate or it could have been very much worse. It's perhaps a strange thing to say but the Barrow fans maintained a kind of dignity and earned a lot of respect, certainly from me.
I've been going to Barrow games for about 35 years and this is the one and only time that I have ever left a game early. The football on the pitch has certainly left me feeling like leaving at times but I've never been able to turn my back on my team, until Saturday. Like someone else commented on here, I wanted to stay and applaud the team at the end of the game. But, I was with my 10 year old son and his 12 year old friend. They've been coming with me to away games regularly for the past 3 seasons and they really enjoy the day out and the friendship shown to them, many times by the home (opposition) fans. They have been used to football matches being good, fun days out. Sadly Saturday changed that and left them shocked and upset.
Many people have covered much of the things that happened. I won't repeat things but I'll add a few of my own thoughts here.
I think the events highlighted the difference between stewarding and security. Atherstone had provided extra stewards from the Ricoh Arena. Stewards are there to help get people in/out, guide them around the ground, check tickets and the like. They're not bouncers. This, for me, is where it went wrong on the day: Atherstone failed to provide adequate security. This is ultimately why we left early. I was not confident that we would be safe at the end of the game. I am pleased that those who stayed to the end did manage to leave the ground safely.
Atherstone cannot deny that they knew there was a risk of trouble. As we were queuing at the turnstille one of the stewards looked at me and the 2 boys and said words to the effect, "Watch out there are a few idiots around". I don't think he was referring to the 2 boys.
When the "segregated area" was invaded the boys had gone to get a snack from the burger van. I went to check on them. A Barrow fan was on the phone to the emergency services I believe and I clearly heard him say, "The Barrow fans are being attacked" and he then had to give the address of the ground. I find it incredible that the club or anyone could be allowed to refuse entry when someone has rung 999 to say "Help! We're being attacked."Do the police have to ask permission to come in and help?
At this point I couldn't find one of the boys (Harry) and my son told me that he'd gone back in to see what was happening. Next moment Harry emerged from the melee around the entrance near the burger van. He had been ushered to safety by some Barrow fans.I don't know exactly who they were and I am extremely grateful to them for their bravery/gallantry/kindness/selflessness (not quite sure what to call it but I owe them many thanks).
I saw 3 people with obvious facial injuries and I'm sure many others had hidden cuts and bruises.
When I was checking on the boys at the burger van a smoke cannister crashed into the side of the van, narrowly missing a crowd of people and the serving hatch into the van. At the time, this was accompanied by Barrow fans rushing out of the entrance from the segregated area. I believe the burger van owner thought the Barrow fans had started trouble and were throwing things at the burger van. The owner clearly felt threatened and there was a confrontation with a Barrow fan where there was a lot of shouting and posturing but no violence. A woman Barrow fan (sorry, I don't know many people's names) intervened and managed to calm things down, making it clear that it was the Atherstone 'fans' who were the source of the trouble.
When we did leave I spoke to a couple of Atherstone fans near the turnstile. I asked them where the poilce had been (they were nearby at this stage) and I was told that the police had been there before the game but had left before kick-off. I believe one of the people I spoke to was a club official.I asked some other questions and he simply kept answering resignedly, "What else can we do?". The answer is that you can make adequate security provisions, not just stewarding. Security may be more expensive but the lack of it may well now cost them very dearly.
I feel genuinely sorry for the true Atherstone fans. Their club is being ruined by a gang of roving nutters who may never go again.
I still plan to be at Brackley and I hope I'll have two enthusiastic young fans with me.
As a final thought, isn't it about time we changed the sub-heading on the banner on here? It leaves a bit of a nasty aftertaste at the moment.
