Chester FC: Blues seek answers from Lancashire Police after Chorley trouble

Feb 24 2011 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER FC have begun an inquest into the serious crowd trouble which left children, women and pensioners running for cover after Saturday’s match at Chorley.

Blues officials will write to Lancashire Constabulary to ask why such an eagerly-anticipated fixture turned so sour, with Chester’s superb 1-0 victory overshadowed by violence in and around Victory Park.

The most serious incident occurred shortly after the final whistle when visiting fans claim they were directed by police to turn into a park adjacent to the stadium – where they were attacked by a mob chanting ‘Chorley’.

There has been widespread criticism from supporters of the police’s handling of the all-ticket fixture, which attracted 1,200 Chester followers in a crowd of 3,223.

Blues general manager Pat Cluskey said: “I’m compiling a letter on behalf of the board to Lancashire Constabulary asking for their observations.

“We’ll be asking why there was no police presence in the ground before kick-off and why fans were seemingly sent the wrong way as they left the ground.”

Chorley FC chairman Ken Wright was ‘sickened’ by the trouble but said he thought the police’s handling of the day was ‘brilliant’.

Alan Allcock, operations manager for the Evo-Stik League, told The Chronicle that the FA would be writing to both clubs for their views on the violence, because it was mentioned in the referee’s report. Any subsequent action will be handled by the FA, rather than the Evo-Stik League.

Trouble began shortly before kick-off when supporters from both sides tore down barriers which had been placed near the halfway line to segregate rival fans.

Police and stewards restored order but there were more problems at the final whistle when a group of about 100 fans from the Chorley section invaded the pitch.

They were cleared from the ground but, minutes later, Blues fans were subjected to a frenzied attack from a mob of Chorley supporters as they tried to make their way from the stadium to the safety of their cars and coaches.

Police have charged a number of people in relation to the violent scenes.

Peter Collinson, 46, of Lavender Grove, Chorley, and David Hagan, 29, Hallwood Road, Chorley, have both been charged with section four public order offences.

Lewis Hook-Dale, 37, of Kirkstall Drive, in Chorley has been charged with section four public order and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

All three were bailed to appear at Chorley Magistrates’ Court on March 9.

A 25-year-old man from Chester was given a fixed penalty notice for disorder while a boy, 16, from Chester was given a reprimand for using threatening words and behaviour.

Chester have said they will ban any Blues supporter convicted of an offence relating to the match.

Read fans' shocking eye-witness accounts here