The Wookiee
Back From The Dead
Football hooligans' train station brawlJan 16 2008
By Michael Connellan And Kirsty Rigg
CRAZED football hooligans swinging planks of wood staged a 50-man brawl around Crawley train station while women and children screamed in terror.
Thugs following Hampshire's Eastleigh FC battled "fans" claiming to support Crawley Town FC in streets around the station before the mayhem spilled onto the rail-way tracks.
Dozens of police officers rushed to the station on Saturday afternoon and made four arrests - all Eastleigh FC fans - while train operators shut down the rail network to prevent serious injuries.
One member of the public, who did not want to be named, said: "It was disgusting. A bunch of Eastleigh fans turned up on the train drunk and too late for the game.They were fighting others in the street.
"When the fight came back into the station there were women and children cowering in terror on the platform. Lots of guys were chased across the tracks. I've never seen anything like it. One guy was badly cut.
Crawley Town FC and Eastleigh FC were meeting in the second round of the FA Trophy.
Acting Sergeant Darren Taylor, football intelligence officer for Crawley Town FC,said: "This was a fight between Eastleigh and Crawley Town supporters.Neither group came to the stadium to see the match.
"Four arrests were made in relation to public order offences.We are in the process of receiving CCTV footage from British Transport Police.More arrests will follow."
British Transport Police confirmed a further 17 people were escorted on the train back to Eastleigh.
A Southern Rail spokesman said: "The trespass on the line that took place at Crawley on Saturday was both illegal and an extremely stupid thing to do.
"Had anyone made contact with the live rail, serious injury or death would surely have followed.
"Our services were severely disrupted as a result of this action, with trapped trains and delays continuing until well into the evening."
David Malone,managing director of Eastleigh FC, said: "We know nothing about it. If there are 30 louts having a fight who weren't at the game then tell me who they were.
"Who is to say they were Eastleigh fans? We have never had any trouble like this."
Crawley Town FC chairman Vic Marley was quick to defend the club's family reputation.
He said: "I don't know the circumstances of this but we always fully support the police. If something happens outside of the stadium it is often beyond our control.
"We would disassociate ourselves with any kind of fight. This is a club that is part of the community and opportunities to bring families to games is one of our prime considerations."
By Michael Connellan And Kirsty Rigg
CRAZED football hooligans swinging planks of wood staged a 50-man brawl around Crawley train station while women and children screamed in terror.
Thugs following Hampshire's Eastleigh FC battled "fans" claiming to support Crawley Town FC in streets around the station before the mayhem spilled onto the rail-way tracks.
Dozens of police officers rushed to the station on Saturday afternoon and made four arrests - all Eastleigh FC fans - while train operators shut down the rail network to prevent serious injuries.
One member of the public, who did not want to be named, said: "It was disgusting. A bunch of Eastleigh fans turned up on the train drunk and too late for the game.They were fighting others in the street.
"When the fight came back into the station there were women and children cowering in terror on the platform. Lots of guys were chased across the tracks. I've never seen anything like it. One guy was badly cut.
Crawley Town FC and Eastleigh FC were meeting in the second round of the FA Trophy.
Acting Sergeant Darren Taylor, football intelligence officer for Crawley Town FC,said: "This was a fight between Eastleigh and Crawley Town supporters.Neither group came to the stadium to see the match.
"Four arrests were made in relation to public order offences.We are in the process of receiving CCTV footage from British Transport Police.More arrests will follow."
British Transport Police confirmed a further 17 people were escorted on the train back to Eastleigh.
A Southern Rail spokesman said: "The trespass on the line that took place at Crawley on Saturday was both illegal and an extremely stupid thing to do.
"Had anyone made contact with the live rail, serious injury or death would surely have followed.
"Our services were severely disrupted as a result of this action, with trapped trains and delays continuing until well into the evening."
David Malone,managing director of Eastleigh FC, said: "We know nothing about it. If there are 30 louts having a fight who weren't at the game then tell me who they were.
"Who is to say they were Eastleigh fans? We have never had any trouble like this."
Crawley Town FC chairman Vic Marley was quick to defend the club's family reputation.
He said: "I don't know the circumstances of this but we always fully support the police. If something happens outside of the stadium it is often beyond our control.
"We would disassociate ourselves with any kind of fight. This is a club that is part of the community and opportunities to bring families to games is one of our prime considerations."
