LANCASHIRE Police have pledged to carry out a full investigation into the terrifying crowd trouble which broke out at the end of the Chorley v Chester FC match.
Chester fans have been bombarding The Chronicle with angry reactions to the way the outbreak of violence was handled by police on Saturday.
Women, children and pensioners were caught up in a post-match attack by Chorley supporters in a park directly outside the stadium.
Chester fans have blamed the police and Chorley FC officials for failing to control the situation.
Yesterday, The Chronicle was provided with a statement from Superintendent Richard Robertshaw of Lancashire Police which said: “Events like the one on Saturday are very rare and I would like to reassure the Chorley and Chester fans that the incidents of disorder will be investigated fully.
“A dedicated inquiry team has been established with a view to making further arrests and CCTV and evidence gatherers’ footage will be reviewed in a bid to identify offenders.
“We will be working closely with Chorley FC along with the Crown Prosecution Service to bring those responsible to justice and secure football banning orders on them.
“Lancashire Constabulary has vast experience of policing football matches and we have seven professional clubs in the county, including two Premier League teams.
“Over 1.5 million people watch football in Lancashire every season, and the vast majority of people are honest decent law-abiding citizens who simply want to support their team and enjoy the game.
“As a force, we take all incidents of football disorder extremely seriously. We will not tolerate a small minority of people spoiling what is an event for the whole family.
“Only last month, 21 men were given jail sentences for their part in disorder following a match in Blackburn and we will continue to pursue those people who think this sort of behaviour is acceptable.”
The graphic accounts The Chronicle has received from fans of the violence they witnessed include the following:
Sara Morley: “We saw and felt stones hitting us, then sticks and I saw bricks flying towards us. I grabbed my seven-year-old son, covered him as best I could and crouched next to a fence. He was sobbing as we were absolutely terrified.”
Jon Griffiths: “A man pushed me to the ground and was kicking me. As I struggled to get up, other Chorley fans were kicking me and I feared for my life.”
Adam Walker: “There were women and children crying, parents who’d lost their kids in the melee.”
Bob Browne: “We were met by hoards of hooligans hurling bricks and stones. Several people were injured, one an elderly gentleman with a severe laceration to his head.”
Geoff Walker: “We could see an elderly supporter on the floor with a serious head wound.”
Chester FC demand answers from Lancashire Police - read more here
