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Luton – Heavy Handed Policing Adds To Thrashing Misery

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As I mentioned in a previous article, I didn’t have a ticket for the game against Fulham, I had to be content with watching it on Sky Sports.

But, following the game, several of my acquaintances pointed out that the Luton support had been the victims of heavy-handed policing from both the officers of the law and the stewards.

It seems that numerous innocent parties were ejected from the ground, almost as if a warning shot was being fired across the bows of the travelling support.

The reports have also reached Kenilworth Road with the club set to make representations about how the support was treated – Official Site – Statement.

The statement contains the following, very pertinent, lines:

“As has been reported and indeed witnessed by fellow supporters, members of our Club staff and Club stewards who were invited to attend the game, for children and senior supporters to be stewarded so aggressively, is disappointing and unacceptable.”

Viewing social media, the following posts support the claims of heavy-handed policing:

But reports of over enthusiastic policing brought back a memory from the 1976/1977 season.

As a young 16-year-old, I’d convinced my parents that it would be safe to take my younger brother and his best mate, to Fulham for a Hatters match, with the duo both being 13 years of age.

Travelling on the official coaches, we made our way into the ground and took our places, among the support, on the open away terrace.

When the Hatters took the lead, through a John Aston goal, we all duly celebrated.

But when the celebrations died down, I turned around to see my brother and his friend being led away by a group of policemen, manhandling them down the steps.

On inquiring what they had done, I was met with a wall of silence.

Not sure what to do, I opted to wait until the end of the game.

On leaving the ground the duo were waiting by the coach, looking a bit sheepish.

Asking what had happened, I was told they had been ejected for ‘jumping up and down’ when Luton scored and had been, outside the ground, threatened by a group of Chelsea supporters who had also vandalised one of the coaches.

Getting home, it was agreed we’d not mention the incident to anyone, but it’s nice to know that in 46 years nothing seems to have changed much down Fulham and Putney way!

COYH’s

Luton v Reading?

Luton to Win!

Luton to Win!

Reading to Win!

Reading to Win!

A Draw!

A Draw!

Previous article by Mad Hatter

Luton – A Debut From Hell

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3 comments

  • jim says:

    We had no bother getting in or out of the ground, unlike qpr. We also have had no bother before when we have been in the mixed concourse there. So I wouldn’t put much of any blame on the stewards. The only minor negative is out on them was them asking John Piper to take a sign down.

    The young lads throwing beer at each other from both sides need to take some responsibility. Grow up and don’t waste your £6 San Miguel.

    But the Met were awful. Batons and indiscriminate use of pepper spray was totally uncalled for. There was one policeman who did the right thing and helped one 9 year old and his dad who walked passed me with eyes red and streaming. The rest who ignored mum’s with kids and a grandad are almost as culpable as the idiots who let off the spray. When it goes wrong, just fucking apologise and make it right. Don’t look at your shitty PM and his party for how to behave. Behave like humans.

  • jimbo says:

    used to be the norm at a lot of away games in the late sixties early seventies. no mucking about, just whack you. rochdale always sticks in my mind, horses charging at the crowd. good old days? COYH.

    • jim says:

      I remember going to Rochdale for a Keighley Cougars rugby league match in the 90s when the ground was being remodelled (family up there). We were penned in with no loo so a bunch of old dudes tried to push the fence down to get to one. That went down well with the stewards.

      But it’s about time someone scrapped the Met. Build a new force from the ground up and make sure it serves communities. It really doesn’t now. It’s attitude at the moment seems to be, “you don’t have to be a shit to work here, but it will help your career profession”. It’s broken the trust of too many, possibly irreparably.

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