O/T Liverpool car tragedy

[MadAmster]

Heysel. Eye witness. The end where it happened was supposed to be empty as the terracing concrete was crumbling. 75% to 80% of those eventually let in by Stadium authorities, Belgian Police and EUFA were Italian. They started to further break up the concrete and lob it at Liverpool fans who were the other side of the fencing. Then I saw 2 Liverpool fans carried out with stab wounds inflicted by Italians. Then a gun appeared, later turned out to be a starting pistol, it was at that point that Scousers at that end kicked off, others climbed over the fencing and joined in, the Italians ran and, most tragically, 32 of them died, along with 4 Belgians, 2 Frenchmen and a Northern Irish man.

A tragedy. One in which Italians are worthy of as much criticism as Liverpool fans.

[SithHappens]

I know i used to be annoyed because clubs were banned from Europe because of it. Of course Derby were impacted but from what I understand is that Uefa were looking for an opportunity to ban us, if this hadn't happened it would have been another game, set of trouble elsewhere.

Following on from another post about the state of the world, I feel safe in saying attending football games is a lot more peaceful today than back then. I know it still happens but not at every game.

Was it a 70s/80s thing ? Or did it go back further? I remember my 1st ever game at the BBG where away fans (man utd) formed a circle round my terrified dad and me and made sure we got to safety.

It's not something I've ever got, yes there is banter but can't ever imagine being violent or aggressive just because someone supports a different football club. Although my wife's friends husband is a forest fan and refuses to ever come out on outings if it's in Derby because of the football (which is beyond pathetic imo)

[ramAnag]

I know i used to be annoyed because clubs were banned from Europe because of it. Of course Derby were impacted but from what I understand is that Uefa were looking for an opportunity to ban us, if this hadn't happened it would have been another game, set of trouble elsewhere.

Following on from another post about the state of the world, I feel safe in saying attending football games is a lot more peaceful today than back then. I know it still happens but not at every game.

Was it a 70s/80s thing ? Or did it go back further? I remember my 1st ever game at the BBG where away fans (man utd) formed a circle round my terrified dad and me and made sure we got to safety.

It's not something I've ever got, yes there is banter but can't ever imagine being violent or aggressive just because someone supports a different football club. Although my wife's friends husband is a forest fan and refuses to ever come out on outings if it's in Derby because of the football (which is beyond pathetic imo)

Millwall are the first fans I remember having a reputation for hooliganism Sith, in the early/mid sixties.
Others were all too willing to follow suit and it spread to other sports. I remember been chased the full length of Central Park in Wigan at the end of a RL match in the late sixties. Fear is a great motivator, nearest I’ve got to Martin Offiah!
Always exaggerated at the BBG because of its location amongst little side streets, a hooligans dream.
Worst I’ve seen were West Ham fans in the early eighties who smashed up every - coincidentally(?) Asian owned - shop around the BBG after a League Cup night match…and that was after they’d won!

[SithHappens]

I never really started going to games until after I got a car and it was post Hillsborough.

Then it was early 2000s before my dad and me got our season tickets. I have never seen any proper trouble, it's more people trying to act hard more than anything.

The 2 seasons in League one I noticed away fans seemed more intent on intimidating people or trying to act tough, but I think it was still more just puffing their chests out trying to look the big man.

Only time I've witnessed someone actually threaten someone was a 30 something leeds fan in what was Starbucks at PP, he'd tried to use the toilets but wasn't buying a coffee and the staff weren't having it, he'd already had an argument with security on the door and somehow got in, an old guy, guessing late 70s said to him to just leave and the leeds fan threatened to have him outside, but security dealt with him.

[Andy_Faber]

Then it was early 2000s before my dad and me got our season tickets. I have never seen any proper trouble, it's more people trying to act hard more than anything.

The 2 seasons in League one I noticed away fans seemed more intent on intimidating people or trying to act tough, but I think it was still more just puffing their chests out trying to look the big man.

I've been going to 'the match' since 1969 and I've only ever seen violence from a distance, I always made sure I was in a place in the ground where it wasn't likely to 'kick off'. It strikes me that (for the most part, innocent bystanders excluded) those that suffer physical harm at the footy are those that go looking for a rumble and aren't very good at it. Being violent is a bit pathetic IMO, but acting/talking hard, especially if also not actually being hard is possibly worse.

[SithHappens]

I've been going to 'the match' since 1969 and I've only ever seen violence from a distance, I always made sure I was in a place in the ground where it wasn't likely to 'kick off'. It strikes me that (for the most part, innocent bystanders excluded) those that suffer physical harm at the footy are those that go looking for a rumble and aren't very good at it. Being violent is a bit pathetic IMO, but acting/talking hard, especially if also not actually being hard is possibly worse.

On the looking hard brigade I remember one particular game against forest when the away fans used to be behind the goal. Loads of them giving it out but being held back by stewards, one guy ran towards the derby fans then realised no one was holding him back, you could see him looking over his shoulders praying for someone to restrain him but didn't happen, so he had to meekly back away I'm sure hoping no one had seen him.

So no actual trouble just people trying to look hard and going home with a story to tell about being held back but would have no doubt taken on thousands of derby fans single handed.

[Geoff Parkstone]

I've been going to 'the match' since 1969 and I've only ever seen violence from a distance, I always made sure I was in a place in the ground where it wasn't likely to 'kick off'. It strikes me that (for the most part, innocent bystanders excluded) those that suffer physical harm at the footy are those that go looking for a rumble and aren't very good at it. Being violent is a bit pathetic IMO, but acting/talking hard, especially if also not actually being hard is possibly worse.

Only time I encountered any fan violence was Birmingham City v Derby. I went incognito with no colours etc and was randomly set upon by Derby fans as I was walking to the ground "the wrong way" as I lived in Brum. ☹️☹️. Thanks lads

[macstheman]

I recall that the sixties had its' fair share of aggro! When we beat the scousers in 1961 in the then Division 2 (the year they went up as Champions) there was plenty of afters. We won 2-0 and were 3rd in the table (unbelievably).
It all started when Ron Yeats sent our centre forward Bill Curry smashing into the railings, Bill was our talisman and we felt it was a deliberate act and from then on it got pretty hostile for the Liverpool fans.
I got a good beating at Bolton around the mid sixties, their fans were seeking out Derby fans as soon as we arrived and I got done on leaving the ground. It was pissing down and after sticking the boot in a few times they left me in a ditch soaking wet and covered in mud.
Then there was Hudders at their muck heap, they had bricks and rather large lumps of wood. Millwall wax to be avoided as was the Stokies.
Yep, plenty of action in the sixties!

[MadAmster]

Ter info. Been getting HTTP 403 error messages when trying to log in.

Not authorised. Had the brilliant idea to use a VPN and I got in. Has FM gone all UK only?

[SithHappens]

I got same too earlier