Inquiry after trouble on derby match train (From The Northern Echo)

Inquiry after trouble on derby match train

8:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Crime News By Chris Webber

A TRAIN carrying 450 football fans was taken out of service after packed carriages were damaged and trouble spilled onto a station platform.

British Transport Police (BTP) are also investigating assaults against two rail staff, one of whom was treated in hospital for a broken rib.

The incident happened on the way to Wednesday’s Middlesbrough v Sunderland FA Cup replay when a larger than expected number of fans boarded the 5.50pm Northern Rail service at Sunderland.

“Disorder broke out among a small group of the 450 fans travelling on the service. A window on the train was kicked out, lights were ripped out and seats badly damaged,”

said Chief Inspector Derek O’Mara, of the BTP.

Alarm cords were pulled and some fans urinated on the floors. As a result, the train was halted at Hartlepool railway station and the fans taken onto the platform.

It is then that the two Northern Rail staff were assaulted.

Superintendent Glenn Gudgeon, of Hartlepool police, said: “This was an extremely frightening incident for members of the general public.

“When you see hundreds of young men running around in one location and you don’t know what is going on it can be startling and frightening.

“The vast majority of fans were decent people and it was all down to a few drunken individuals ruining it for everyone.

“A few people had to be restrained but officers did not make any arrests and we got the fans on another train and on their way to Middlesbrough.”

One Sunderland fan, calling himself DaveySAFC writing on an internet message board, said: “The trains were so cramped a lad started having a panic attack and was shouting at the coppers to let him out as he was struggling to breathe.”

A small number of supporters also ran on to the pitch at the Riverside, apparently approaching Boro player Justin Hoyte.

After the match, which Sunderland won 2-1 in extra time, the 4,200 Sunderland fans were held back for 20 minutes.

Police are also investigating a brick being thrown at one of the Sunderland coaches as it left the stadium.

Chief Inspector Gary Stephenson, of Cleveland Police, pointed out that nearly 28,000 fans attended but there were only nine arrests and the event was “relatively troublefree”.

Middlesbrough FC safety officer Les Blake said those arrested can expect to be banned, adding: “There were nine arrests, plus a similar number of ejections. We also had three pitch incursions.

These were contained as isolated incidents and thankfully no one was hurt.”