The English Disease

Italian soccer authorities met last Monday to discuss proposals aimed at tackling the increasing and widespread violence affecting the game. A violence re-ignited by the fatal shooting of a Lazio supporter on Sunday.

The ‘tragic error’ made by the police officer only served to reprise the tragic error made by a supporter in February of this year, when a policeman was killed at a game in Sicily, and the League was suspended for a short time.

So why is it that football hooliganism still carries the cachet of the English Disease, across the World?

The chronology is sadly well defined. A history dating back to the ‘60s when Mods and Rockers played out the First Leg at the seaside; Brighton or Southend or Great Yarmouth, with the return fixture at Stamford Bridge or the Den.

Then the ‘70s saw the emergence of organised hooligan groups (Firms). Burnley offered the Suicide Squad and West Ham the infamous, Inter City Crew.

And we weren’t spared at the Recreation Ground. Long before the birth of the founder member of the Red and Blue Army, the East Bank was claimed by the often ‘ugly’ masses from Swansea, Cardiff, Portsmouth……and not forgetting Reading, who were never pretty.

But ‘safety’ was restored with segregation and fencing…..or was it?

Not to worry, Margaret Thatcher would soon enter the fray. A woman who was not simply satisfied with changing the British political landscape. With no love whatsoever of football. With no understanding of the ‘beautiful game’. A woman who was unable to recite, unaided….Banks, Cohen, Charlton, Moore, Wilson, Ball…….Margaret Thatcher successfully changed the Football landscape of Britain.

Returning the Falkland Islands to British control in 1982 was pretty easy. A few ships and planes. The Black Buck raids on Stanley Airfield by the RAF Avro Vulcan bombers of 44 Squadron……

649 Argentinean soldiers lost their lives.

256 British Servicemen were killed……..

Yes, a ‘war cabinet’ was clearly the answer following the rioting by Millwall fans at Luton in March 1985.

‘Look……I don’t like football. So it will stop’.

‘But Prime Minister. It’s our National Game. Remember Bobby Charlton. Bobby Moore…..and you must remember that silly dance. You know the one, Nobby Stiles, after we won the World Cup in 1966. You can’t close down football, Prime Minister’.

But the events that unfolded before our television eyes at Heysel, on 29 May 1985 would be the tragic dynamic for change. 39 Juventus fans were crushed to death after Liverpool followers broke through a line of police. They ran toward the Juventus fans in a section containing both English and Italian supporters. The fence separating them collapsed. Fighting broke out. Fans fled. A wall collapsed……

English clubs were banned from European competitions until 1990.

The Popplewell Committee was set up as a consequence of a riot at Birmingham City when a young boy lost his life. The disturbance that followed was described by Justice Popplewell as more like ‘the Battle of Agincourt than a football match’.

Shortly thereafter the Bradford City Fire was added to the Popplewell brief. Despite not being hooligan related the terrible event was undoubtedly a direct result of the amateurish and disturbingly arrogant demeanour of football authorities across the UK at that time.

‘Football may not be able to continue in its present form much longer’.

Then Hillsborough…….and at last the Government moved. With the passing of the Football Spectators Act 1989.

The Prime Minister didn’t get her way. Football survived. Stadia were upgraded. The approach to the policing of matches became both sophisticated and expensive. Ticket prices were increased. All-seater stadia became a requirement for much of the League.

And with that, the ‘90s experienced a period change. A decade where standards of behaviour were obviously improving....if one ignored the high profile incidents that characterised travelling away with England.

And when Aldershot Town FC was born in 1992.…the world was indeed a new world. The M25 a pretty standard route for away matches in the Isthmian League...and then with promotion to the Conference, in 2003, exotic trips could be planned to Scarborough and Carlisle. York and Nailsworth.

Long gone, the sad old days when only a hardy few could gather up the motivation to go to Barrow, on a damp and raw Tuesday night. The floodlights barely bright enough to see to the other side of the pitch….’was that a goal…did it go in…. we seem to be kicking off again…yes Bovril will be great…thanks‘.

Yes, long gone…..today Aldershot Town can be sure of a hardcore of 300 at all away games. And last Saturday 650-700 made the trip to the Abbey Stadium, Cambridge, to watch the FA Cup encounter.

A game that Aldershot could so easily have won. A game when a draw would have been a fair result. A game lost by way of two defensive errors, compounded by two glaring misses. A result that gives Aldershot the opportunity to focus on the League.

After all, in every round of the Cup an ‘upset’ will occur. ‘Top of the League Aldershot……..’

The day had started very early with the long drive down from Wales to collect my brother from Crookham Village…….and then a docile M25 allowed us to be settled in the Cambridge United Social Club by 1pm. The clubhouse was, by then, already pretty full with U‘s supporters. The handful of red and blue shirts holding polite conversation around the sides of the large and open room. The two spare seats at our table were soon taken by an elderly couple of United supporters who had moved to Cambridge just over 35 years ago. The husband had served in the Army, based in Aldershot. And having been brought up in Reading his ’real team’ were the Royals. And by chance his very first visit to the Rec coincided with mine….Oct 15th 1960, Peterborough United.

The sharing of reminiscences one of the joys of travelling to away matches.

But as we sat in the U’s Social Club sharing anecdotes spanning nearly 50 years I reflected on the ongoing segregation that pervades our society and controls our football.

Why would anyone want to be kept apart from these two gentle folk? Surely the sharing of experiences and the common bond that clearly existed between us was something to enjoy, and not keep apart. And with the time approaching to leave the Clubhouse; of course we all wanted to sit or stand with our fellow supporters. But this desire was not a definition of segregation. No, this was a feeling nurtured by shared emotions.

So with the kick-off only minutes away we made our way to the ‘new stand’ set back 30m or so from the goal-line. Now I’m sure the positioning of the stand was planned….and not a mistake. The Club just waiting for the right time to build another ‘big stand’ at the Clubhouse end, which would demand the pitch to move 30m eastwards.

As we settled into our seats I was instantly struck by the number of stewards and police. Was it 20.…. No probably 30 . A line of officialdom stretching out across the whole width of the pitch, in front of the Aldershot supporters.

And to do what? Protection for the distant Cambridge goalkeeper? Did the Force have intelligence that suggested a massive pitch invasion? And what chance of making contact with a Cambridge supporter…the nearest one being some 50m away.

But then not simply satisfied with this impressive show of strength, the Senior Officer commanded a ‘march past’. Up and through the singing hoards of Red and Blue Army members. A move obviously choreographed after watching a DVD of the Empire Strikes Back.

Oh, and then to compound the confrontation, a young policewoman, guarded by a burly minder, walked slowly from stage left to right, videoing the crowd.

The Cambridgeshire Policing Plan for 2007-08 is not, I would think, everyone’s bedtime read. In fact it is full of the usual rubbish that public bodies present on an annual basis to show that they are improving….meeting targets….and exceeding expectations.

The budget for the year is £116m - a ‘challenging year for the force financially…..’ Police officer numbers will be reduced by 22 to 1401 and the Authority had to raid £558k from its reserves to deliver the ‘Plan’. And Partnership and other income amounted to £2,517,000, with efficiency savings including a planned reduction of £250k in overtime spend.


Mmmmmmm isn’t it strange how as one gets older one can see more clearly!

Now how will the force improve the policing of Friday and Saturday night City centre frolics with fewer ‘bobbies’? It will demand more overtime. But this could pose a bit of a problem….we have just cut that budget. Perhaps then an increase in ‘paid activity’ will help fill the pockets of the officers and with just a bit of profit, the ‘other income’ will increase. And then with simple virement the ‘Plan’ can be met.

Now that is a good plan Chief Constable.

And oh, what a bit of luck. With the promotion of Histon Town a few more Friday night games will generate plenty of overtime cash. And after the final whistle the ‘boys’ can get down to the City centre for a couple of hours…..

Cambridge United v Aldershot Town. FA Cup First Round Proper. Saturday 11th November 2007.

‘Manna from Heaven Boss’