Off Topic Nicked

Anyone been arrested at a football match and care to elaborate on it? It could be that you deserved it or, in a number of cases that I've seen, particularly years ago, you didn't. For example, I was at Barnsley in 1983 to watch Beardsley's debut. I was with Heed and we sat in the stand which had a few newcaste fans in it. After the game, a draw, we left. We were talking to a couple of toon fans just outside the ground when a couple of Barnsley yobs attacked the two other lads who were wearing colours while me and Heed weren't. They were all nicked by the coppers, the two newcastle lads did nowt but I imagine they got a court summons for breach of the police and a hefty fine. And a criminal record ffs. I've seen loads more over the years, similar stories. Back in the day, especially, you were a marked man at matches, with both the coppers and the opposing fans. I've never been arrested at a football match by the way. Anyone got any stories?

 

It always seemed to be the coppers we had problems with back in the day
I remember getting a police arm to the throat at that very same game
At huddersfield I got punched in the face by 2 different coppers for whistling across a road trying to attract my brother who had gone wrong way
I remember getting picked up by the Boro Law enforcement team and getting a good kicking and punching before being kicked out of the van in the middle of nowhere
I was locked up in Blackpool for no reason whatsoever other than we were Newcastle fans who had stopped off there after a game at Liverpool
When inside there was about 25 other Newcastle fans already there
and all saig the same that they were just walking along the prom when a van screeches to a halt and they are all thrown in the back of the van
I have never been charged with anything as I hadn't done anything
Lots more stories involving the plod

 

Came very close to being arrested by S Yorkshire's finest when we played Sheffield Utd in about '88 - was at Uni in Sheffield at the time and got escorted all the way to the station along with the other Newcastle fans. In trying to explain where I actually lived I was threatened with arrest - nearly ended up with an unscheduled trip to my see my parents

 

A familiar story, Hung. I know there were a lot of hooligans back in the day, but the old bill had more than there fair share of them.

 

Ah good old South Yorkshire police. Led by David Duckenfield. Say no more.

 

When I said I haven't been arrested at a football match, I did get a caution returning from one. The minibus I was on crashed outside of Darlington returning from an away game. Little did we know that the minibus driver was over the limit. Old Bill turned up and locked everyone up...maybe twelve or forteen of us. They released us one by one in the morning with a caution for breach of the peace. As I was asleep when the minibus crashed and said and did nothing to warrant a caution, I belief this was illegal. Tossers.

 

I was once cautioned for indecent exposure for wearing my mustard chinos.

 

You deserve more than a caution for wearing those Chippy.

 

Got arrested in The Fulwell End in 1968, didn't have colours on but a copper noticed I only had 5 digits on each hand.

 

I think a load of blokes with hand trouble got nicked in the Fulwell End back in the day. Just ask Relic

 

Once. On my 19th birthday (1978) at home to Chelsea. Everyone sang happy birthday to me in the cells.

 

That was against Chelsea mate, it shouldnt even count!

 

Did you post on the BBC website on Saturday?

 

I sometimes do, I noticed Consett Mag was on. Do you post as well?

 

Yes
But it does seem to attract a lot of turd

 

We should all pile on at an arranged time. It will be just like the old times on the BBC.

 

Aye.

It said, Gan on Dorty!

 

Had a couple of other run ins with S Yorks as well at that time - got off the train away at Barnsley one year with about 5 other Newcastle fans who had made the same mistake as me and got there way early - thought we'd go for a beer, but oh no, escorted to the ground straight from the station.

Except - they were expecting far more fans off that train, so 8 coppers on foot and 6 mounted escorted the 6 of us to Oakwell - asked if we could have a ride on a horse each and got threatened with being nicked...…….

 

I did my post-grad in Sheffield (lived near Broomhill as I think most do too!) and to be honest the levels of football violence there were beyond anything I've seen elsewhere. I went to Sheff Utd ground a few times to watch matches (they were in a different league to us at the time) but all I ever went to Wednesday for was exams! Owlerton (think that's what that part of the city is called) was somewhere you'd often see windows put out on a matchday as the Blades and Owls used to clash quite a bit - that was 2005.

As for getting a caution, just never accept one to be honest. The police often put them forward as minor things but they can affect your ability to get certain jobs and the use of them is generally irresponsible - if they want to give me a criminal record then prove something in court thanks. A nurse I once represented had accepted a caution after being found in the presence of people taking drugs in a club, she assumed it was a minor thing so just accepted it. It then showed up when her records check was ran and her employer had no choice but to dismiss her (they actively didn't want to) as you can't have a nurse working in your hospital who has drug offences on their criminal record. I have many dealing with the police and mostly they do a fine job but the use of cautions is disgraceful in its current form, genuinely major life decisions people make due to being undersold the importance of what they are agreeing to.

 

Was in Sheffield for under and post grad - '88 - '94 and yeah, things did get a bit tasty a few times

Undergrad in Endcliffe area, Postgrad in Greystones near Endcliffe Park.

Was a great place to be based footy wise - lots of clubs within 30-60mins travel.

Sheff Wed are indeed in Owlerton - hence Owls nickname