[Steph]

POLICE smashed a plan by scores of Sheffield and Stoke soccer hooligans for a mass brawl on Ecclesall Road.

Officers claim they thwarted "desperately serious attempts" by rival thugs before the match at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
Violence which could have engulfed shoppers was nipped in the bud by a huge operation involving 150 officers, 100 in riot gear, 12 horses and eight dogs, and six Staffordshire officers.
Chf Insp Andy Eddison said they had a tip-off that 80 Stoke hooligans were drinking in the Varsity bar on Ecclesall Road.
Officers in riot gear were sent, and the suspected hoolgans were searched under special powers obtained by match commander Supt Martin Hemingway.
Police found a CS gas spray, drugs and knives. None of the fans had tickets and some were banned from matches. Four were arrested for public order offences.
A mob of Sheffield United hooligans gathered in pubs on London Road and set off towards Ecclesall Road. Chief Insp Eddison said 30 United thugs tried to get into Varsity by the rear door but it was blocked by mounted officers. Searches recovered drugs.
Chief Insp Eddison described said the operation was a "top class success".
"We were on top of it all the time. We could see they were getting more and more frustrated, but we didn't give them a chance to come together. As the two groups neared you could see frenzied mobile phone activity.
"It was quite clearly an organised attempt by both sides to fight, even though innocent people could have been caught up. By half time the majority of ticketless Stoke fans had left Sheffield.
"Our success was down to good intelligence and sufficient resources. We can now thwart the thugs 95 per cent of the time because we are co-ordinated and they are just a bunch of hooligans."
TWENTY police were needed to quell violence in the Barrel Inn, London Road, at 1am yesterday. Furniture and windows were smashed. London Road was sealed off as ambulances ferried the injured to hospital. Two people were arrested.

19 April 2004

[Plain Talker]

there's a "varsity" bar on ecclesall road? I understood it to be on Glossp Rd/west st, opposite where I work..?

Re the original point:- Fortunately,Mr PT and I were already in the football ground when all this was Kicking off.

we had heard a rumour from other supporters arriving at teh ground after we had got there that this was happening.

PT

[MuteWitness]

yes i think theres 2 in sheffield

[damo4real]

there is two one on eccelsall road and one near west street

[slh73]

The one on eccy road used to be the Slug And Fiddle.

[Lickszz]

I was travelling on Summerfield street and saw lots of riot vans on a side street just behind Ecclesall road. When I had a closer look I noticed a small group of men had been surrounded. Not sure if this is something to do with it but it sounds like it could be.

[Mr2Robs]

Kicked off outside the ground too, ended up in the middle of it but nothing special.

Although robo cop police were running everywhere.

[t020]

Originally posted by Mr2Robs

Although robo cop police were running everywhere.

Good. Someone needs to keep the loutish animals in line.

[BAZZO]

God knows what the cost of policing this activity is.But one things for sure the rest of the community will be paying for it.
It's time the Football Clubs started coughing up and accepting some responsibility for their supporters.
Always plenty of cash for flash cars,expensive clobber and clubbing but a hint of reticence when the price of policing comes up.

[rarstar]

they aren't supporters though

it says in the article they didn't have tickets

[Elitest]

I missed it


( I was only going to post that but apparently its too short...............so I will drone on for a while buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

[wibbles]

Originally posted by rarstar
they aren't supporters though

it says in the article they didn't have tickets

It says they aren't supporters which is their word I guess. If you get chance you should take a squizz at the Steve Cowans BBC book which claims most footy hooligans ARE supporters. I don't claim to be the font of knowledge on this subject and I can imagine that a lot of the thugs weren't in possesion of a ticket but they are still supporters none the less

[chri5]

Originally posted by t020
Good. Someone needs to keep the loutish animals in line.

Totally agree!

[Classic Rock]

It didn't come down my end of the road.