Tram on way back from Hillsborough

[Linz]

Just like to say thanks to South Yorkshire's finest for locking us on a stationary tram for 20 minutes, ignoring people knocking on the windows asking for the doors to be opened because we were packed on and couldn't breathe. And the emergency door release? Oh yeah, they decided to disable them so we were trapped.

The kid next to us was forced to kick the glass out of the door to let in some air as people were close to fainting.

When the coppers finally did open the doors, apparently we were being kept on FOR OUR OWN SAFETY!

Animals wouldn't be allowed to be treated as badly as we were on that tram... but what do I expect? I'm just a football fan.

South Yorkshire Police.... absolutely fucking useless.

 

[stinkyblade]

Did anyone push the door when you pulled emergency thing, cos when we did ours we didn't push door first time. Second time we did and it worked.

Still the coppers were shit, i agree there Linz

 

[dansufc]

we just took one look at the stop and the tram noticed it was going anywhere so decided to walk it, we got to town and got on a clear tram there

 

[S64 Blade]

Yeah they were awful, and the cause of most trouble at football matches in general.

It took well over half hour for our tram to get out of Hillsborough. At one point on ours they opened doors with the emergency things, coppers came up mouthing off telling everyone to stay on for their own safety(haha its Hillsborough, not Beiruit).

 

[shorehamview]

If there had been police supervising people getting on the trams then perhaps this could have been avoided. However, when the first tram stopped the crowd simply surged forwards, and there were not enough police to stop it.
It seems fairly pointless pushing forwards when more trams were coming along, but there are always some morons who like to barge their way forwards and simply will not wait. As it was, I got separated from my brother and got on the second tram. The time difference between the first and second trams getting to the Cathedral? About 90 seconds.
It's always a knee-jerk reaction to blame the police, but surely most of the blame is with the idiots ramming their fellow fans into an already packed tram?
The police were trying to calm the situation down, and they certainly didn't force any of the fuckwits from both sets of supporters who wanted to fight in front of a moving tram.
It's the "Me first, fuck the rest of you" mentality that seems to be the problem, like the idiots who vault the rows of seats on the Kop to be nearer the exit. What difference would waiting have made to any of the people shoving? An extra two minutes at the stop. It's a wonder nobody was crushed yesterday, but what is the answer? Barriers at every stop, so people get to stand in a twisty queue, like in a theme park? I'm not sure, but simply blaming the police is a little naive.

 

[shorehamview]

Yeah they were awful, and the cause of most trouble at football matches in general.

And that's simply bollocks.
The cause of most trouble at football matches is football "fans". To suggest that the police cause most of the trouble is ridiculous. I suppose they get hooligans drunk and fighting on purpose then? If the problems are caused by the police, then why the need for police at all? Why segregate fans? Why have stewards, if it's mainly down to the police?
So if we get rid of the police at matches, then you reckon there will be almost no trouble? Ridiculous.

 

[Foxy]

If there had been police supervising people getting on the trams then perhaps this could have been avoided. However, when the first tram stopped the crowd simply surged forwards, and there were not enough police to stop it.
It seems fairly pointless pushing forwards when more trams were coming along, but there are always some morons who like to barge their way forwards and simply will not wait. As it was, I got separated from my brother and got on the second tram. The time difference between the first and second trams getting to the Cathedral? About 90 seconds.
It's always a knee-jerk reaction to blame the police, but surely most of the blame is with the idiots ramming their fellow fans into an already packed tram?
The police were trying to calm the situation down, and they certainly didn't force any of the fuckwits from both sets of supporters who wanted to fight in front of a moving tram.
It's the "Me first, fuck the rest of you" mentality that seems to be the problem, like the idiots who vault the rows of seats on the Kop to be nearer the exit. What difference would waiting have made to any of the people shoving? An extra two minutes at the stop. It's a wonder nobody was crushed yesterday, but what is the answer? Barriers at every stop, so people get to stand in a twisty queue, like in a theme park? I'm not sure, but simply blaming the police is a little naive.

Whilst I agree 110% with what you've said.... the post was more related to the lack of communication and the coppers at the doors of the trams just shaking their heads whilst people banged on the doors and windows asking them to at least let the kids out so they could breathe/stop panicing. This is what led to someone kicking the window thru.

Top marks to mr 2415, who did his job excellently and actually talked to people in a respectful way and finally gave people some information, rather than threatening to arrest them for simply asking questions. It's a pity they couldn't have done this much sooner.

 

[Linz]

I'm not sure, but simply blaming the police is a little naive.

Well the fans on the tram weren't the ones who were barricading the doors and telling the driver not to open them...

 

[S64 Blade]

And that's simply bollocks.
The cause of most trouble at football matches is football "fans". To suggest that the police cause most of the trouble is ridiculous. I suppose they get hooligans drunk and fighting on purpose then? If the problems are caused by the police, then why the need for police at all? Why segregate fans? Why have stewards, if it's mainly down to the police?
So if we get rid of the police at matches, then you reckon there will be almost no trouble? Ridiculous.

Like Linz says why was it necessary for them to barricade everyone on the tram. Why were they throwing people off the road, who weren't harming anything at all. They do loads of stuff to wind people up.

It's well known SYPD are the biggest hooligan firm in the region,lol.

 

[silverfox]

If people really think that the police are the real hooligans I'm afraid they have lived a really sheltered life.

Has anyone on here seen the real stuff?????

 

[S64 Blade]

They are these days.

Why a few years back did they stand either side of the doors to the Sportsman, dragged everyone out and battered them. Yes there was BBC in there, but there were also women and children.

 

[silverfox]

They are these days.

Why a few years back did they stand either side of the doors to the Sportsman, dragged everyone out and battered them. Yes there was BBC in there, but there were also women and children.

Don't agree!

If fans didn't act like idiots the police would not be there!

 

[shorehamview]

If fans didn't act like idiots the police would not be there!

Ey up, it's the voice of reason!

 

[Foxy]

They are these days.

Why a few years back did they stand either side of the doors to the Sportsman, dragged everyone out and battered them. Yes there was BBC in there, but there were also women and children.

Has the "video" of this made its way back to uk shores yet?, A good few years ago (when it happened) a number of the firm who were in the pub at the time said they'd got most of it evidenced on video, but they were making sure it was safe offshore and would shortly release it on DVD.

Whilst I do think on occaisions the police and stewards do incite a lot of problems and aren't as organised as they should be... Overall for the last few years home and away i've seen more trouble caused by the chavvy youngsters who think they are 10-men.

I don't always agree with SYP, but other than their very poor handling of the trams (where it seems half of the ground staff knew the issues and were merely following orders, half were just too dumb or scared to take the required action), the majority of issues caused yesterday (once again) were caused but the brainless element of SWFC fans who like to frequent the known places in Hillsborough corner.

Despite what Danny Dyer has to say , PS - His co-star Stevey Cowens was on the tram with us and Mitch Ward.

 

[S64 Blade]

Don't agree!

If fans didn't act like idiots the police would not be there!

Why not, easy overtime for them isn't it.

Why dont they make more of an effort to stop other more, serious anit-social problems.

I could understand the football point then. But all priorities are out of proportion.

 

[silverfox]

Why dont they make more of an effort to stop other more, serious anit-social problems.

I could understand the football point then. But all priorities are out of proportion.

Perhaps they could if some so called "football fans" didn't make trouble?

I'd prefer them to be somewhere else wouldn't you?

Or are you just anti Police?

 

[S64 Blade]

Not anti-police at all.

Just cant see why they pay so much attention to this, but dont seem interested in dealing with drug-dealers who steal from people's homes.

 

[keenzy]

some people do go to the matches to cause trouble, not bothered about a game of football.

 

[S64 Blade]

Im not saying there isn't. Im saying that they cause more trouble than necessary a lot of the time. So why not use this anger or whatever it is in dealing with some other problems.

 

[silverfox]

Not anti-police at all.

Just cant see why they pay so much attention to this, but dont seem interested in dealing with drug-dealers who steal from people's homes.

I'll repeat......if they didn't have to bother with the idiots at football they may have more time.......simple really.

We can only hope it changes!

 

[S64 Blade]

Well i think we're going to have to agree to disagree here Steve otherwise we'll just keep going around in circles.

 

[silverfox]

Well i think we're going to have to agree to disagree here Steve otherwise we'll just keep going around in circles.

Not a problem Joel.

 

[Foxy]

Why not, easy overtime for them isn't it.

Why dont they make more of an effort to stop other more, serious anit-social problems.

I could understand the football point then. But all priorities are out of proportion.

They didn't get overtime, they ALL had their leave cancelled until there were enough people rota'd to police the match.

As the copper who eventually got on the tram said... he'd rather be at home with his missus than stood getting a load of abuse from football fans and taking orders from people who don't actually know whats happening.

The increased police presence in football escalated from the increase in trouble back when it used to be real trouble. It'll not drop whilst ever people decide to cause hassle. Whether that be because they see a police presence or otherwise

 

[shorehamview]

The police at football matches are not taken from other duties. They have their leave cancelled, and none of the officers on duty yesterday were offered overtime. Just the normal rate.
If you were one of those in the Swim Inn before catching the tram you will have seen the van opposite full of police officers. These guys were all from Rotherham, and were working on their day off so that normal people like most of us in the pub had some protection from the minority of hooligans. Several of the officers outside Swillsborough after the match were also Rotherham-based.
This post is based on the fact that one of my brothers, who went to the match with me yesterday, is a Rotherham based officer.
The statement about police causing trouble and beating up supporters is based on what? Nothing that would stand up to any kind of examination.

 

[S64 Blade]

I was on about in general. Not just yesterday.

 

[Samantha]

Why a few years back did they stand either side of the doors to the Sportsman, dragged everyone out and battered them. Yes there was BBC in there, but there were also women and children.

They had closed all the pubs down in the area to make sure that everyone they wanted were in The Sportsman - why they chose there I don't know but they did. There was no trouble in the pub leading up to it, there never is, even the troublemakes have too much respect for the landlady. What happened there should never have happened. A lady who goes in there several times a week and worked there for many, many years was hit by a truncheon on her lower back - I have never seen bruises like hers were - she had a big stretch of black, blue and purple - what had she done? Nothing - she never has and never would, along with hundreds of others that go in there week in, week out. What happened that fateful Sunday will never disappear from the minds of those who attend that pub regularly. That was one big cock-up of the police - no reason for it and it got them nowhere.

taking orders from people who don't actually know whats happening.

Rumour has it - the person who was in charge of policing the game yesterday had never been in charge of a football match before.

Think about this - how do they go on in Glasgow when there are 4 derbies a year with thousands more fans than there are in Sheffield? Manchester and London (Arsenal/Spurs) too.

 

[Foxy]

Rumour has it - the person who was in charge of policing the game yesterday had never been in charge of a football match before.

Mr friendly policeman yesterday said that the higher powers since last time around had changed and a lot of experience had been lost. In his opinion, there were mistakes that had been made and things that could have been done a lot better. But that is always the case.