Post by SiBenn on May 1, 2005 22:23:01 GMT
Just took this article off Evening Telegraph site as i very interesting and the fact that i was there when it happend gives it more of an edge.
Wasa guest at the Nuneaton Boro v Kettering game and heard prior about the chances of possible trouble but knowone would have thought they brought as many lads as they did.
Went straight into town after wi me mates and it was like a scene from football factory, bottles, bricks and everything they could get being thrown around was unreal and makes you wonder about the hooligan culture again???
A football fan received a suspected broken skull during violent clashes involving up to 100 rival supporters at a Warwickshire pub on Saturday.
Trouble flared at the Naggs Head in Nuneaton before the Nationwide North match between Nuneaton Borough and Kettering Town.
A 38-year-old Kettering man suffered a suspected fractured skull and is in a serious condition in hospital.
More than 80 riot police, armed with shields and batons, were called to confront about 100 football supporters.
They were literally pulling the place apart to get weapons to fight Pub landlord Julian Harkin.
Supporters from both teams were throwing bricks, bottles, glasses and flares.
Harkin said terrified customers and staff were forced to flee to private apartments upstairs.
He told BBC WM in Coventry: "It's ridiculous really that a simple game of football can turn into something so tragic.
"It just exploded and we had to take customers upstairs to keep out of the way of it. They were literally pulling the place apart to get weapons to fight and we were stuck in the pub with the police outside."
Nuneaton Borough Football Club praised the 2,000 supporters inside Manor Park but distanced itself from the incident in the town centre.
In a statement it said: "Outside the ground and in the town centre there were disgraceful scenes which we as a football club distance ourselves from.
"The offenders clearly came to the area intent on causing violence and were not here to watch a game between two sides who are still in with a chance of promotion to the National Conference.
"As a result, an individual has been seriously hurt and other matters occurred which bring shame on the game of football and the matter is now in the hands of Warwickshire Police."
Two men from Warwickshire were arrested in connection with a minor incident after the match, which Nuneaton won 2-0.
All over a game of football. Sad really
Wasa guest at the Nuneaton Boro v Kettering game and heard prior about the chances of possible trouble but knowone would have thought they brought as many lads as they did.
Went straight into town after wi me mates and it was like a scene from football factory, bottles, bricks and everything they could get being thrown around was unreal and makes you wonder about the hooligan culture again???
A football fan received a suspected broken skull during violent clashes involving up to 100 rival supporters at a Warwickshire pub on Saturday.
Trouble flared at the Naggs Head in Nuneaton before the Nationwide North match between Nuneaton Borough and Kettering Town.
A 38-year-old Kettering man suffered a suspected fractured skull and is in a serious condition in hospital.
More than 80 riot police, armed with shields and batons, were called to confront about 100 football supporters.
They were literally pulling the place apart to get weapons to fight Pub landlord Julian Harkin.
Supporters from both teams were throwing bricks, bottles, glasses and flares.
Harkin said terrified customers and staff were forced to flee to private apartments upstairs.
He told BBC WM in Coventry: "It's ridiculous really that a simple game of football can turn into something so tragic.
"It just exploded and we had to take customers upstairs to keep out of the way of it. They were literally pulling the place apart to get weapons to fight and we were stuck in the pub with the police outside."
Nuneaton Borough Football Club praised the 2,000 supporters inside Manor Park but distanced itself from the incident in the town centre.
In a statement it said: "Outside the ground and in the town centre there were disgraceful scenes which we as a football club distance ourselves from.
"The offenders clearly came to the area intent on causing violence and were not here to watch a game between two sides who are still in with a chance of promotion to the National Conference.
"As a result, an individual has been seriously hurt and other matters occurred which bring shame on the game of football and the matter is now in the hands of Warwickshire Police."
Two men from Warwickshire were arrested in connection with a minor incident after the match, which Nuneaton won 2-0.
All over a game of football. Sad really