It’s our time now! Our club needs us!

I've a mate that's a Blackburn fan who's a bit older than me [I'm 50]. He reckons that there was once a pitched battle during the game between City and Rovers fans in the 70's on the field of play. I've never heard anyone say anything about this incident. Did it happen or has he confused City with another club?

 

You really need to contact Donald Trump and ask if he has any jobs going for his next presidential campaign motivational speakers. What with you being the new self appointed positive thinker for the fans.
I would donate to your air fare out for sure.

 

I don't recall any trouble with Blackburn, but there was a pitch battle with the Blackpool fans in the F.A. Cup in the early 70's

 

Yes. There was a band playing on the halfway line as pre match entertainment if I remember correctly. I seem to recall the drummer legging it with his drumsticks and guitarist doing likewise with guitars in hand whilst fighting all around them.

 

Thanks, I reckon he's got City confused with somewhere else then. I think he's probably become befuddled when entering the white rose county, they aren't used to things like indoor toilets and proper ale and I think it often goes straight to their head.

 

I remember Blackburn and City fans fighting in lumps on a crumbling old Kop at Valley Parade, mid to late 70's?
When I say lumps, there was lumps of concrete thrown between the fans, and I remember dodging the missiles thankfully!

Cannot recall the fighting spilling onto the pitch though.

I do remember vividly the fighting on the pitch around the pop group in the Blackpool cup tie!

 

Yep. I’m getting on a bit now, and my memory not what it was, but deffo remember it and sure it was this game. They were higher up than us and think it was a FA cup game and Gerry Ingram scored against his old club. One for a stato? They brought quite a few and came onto the pitch from the kop end, and city from Bfd end. They met in the middle where the band was. It was quite funny in a way seeing the musicians legging it with their gear.

 

Good point Fordy, already in hand. Paula Watson is already on the case with our Safety Officer and the Police will also be involved with our Police Liason Officer, as always.
I think you can expect to hear some P.A. announcements and as you say the issue has gone high up the list after the events of the weekend.
As to us, my statement after the trouble at Walsall went to The F.A. last Friday and we await the outcome which may be affected by the weekend events. Additionally I understand that the Ref on Saturday has also reported the pitch invasion (at least that's how he saw it) after our third goal. We await any outcome BUT this behavior of so called Bantams fans has to stop so can I appeal for help.
If you see anything which could constitute a problem please, report it and the people concerned to a Steward. We can't afford any more issues.

 

I remember the result filled the back page of the Sunday Mirror. Blackpool were DIV 2 in those days, and doing quite well.

 

Yes definitely Blackburn. 1972 is about right actually, I would have been in my early teens

 

Having just watched a re-run of the 3rd goal if the referee thought someone encroached onto the pitch it's no wonder he gave a penalty later. He definitely has a problem with his eyesight.

 

You can say that but he reported it. I have already got us off punishment after Rochdale with a stiff warning then we go again at Walsall and another submission having to be made to The FA who can be guaranteed not to be so lenient next time unless I've pulled a rabbit from somewhere.
Now we have another issue coming over the hill and whatever the view the ref has spoken, just hope nothing comes of it because the punishment could be severe, too much to contemplate here. As I said to Fordy, let's be knowing if you see trouble makers, they don't belong with us.

 

As the Club's representative dealing with these matters, this futility must put you in an invidious position. As you say, only detrimental to our standing with the FA. Incidentally, when the stadium was redeveloped it was said that our cctv coverage of the ground was the best at the time. I remember you had criticisms of the telephony side a while back and wonder if our cctv was still up to scratch. No place for anti-social behaviour in any part of everyday life.

 

Is it still an offence to deliberately leave the field of play without the referee's permission? If referees don't enforce the rule that stops the players celebrating with the crowd outside the field of play, then it is very harsh or even hypocritical for punishing clubs for not stopping something that the referees should be stopping.

Also, did any fans cross over the goal line? Most seemed off the actual field of play in Sky's highlights. Where does the offence start if it is not crossing over the goal line?