The battle of Everton Valley Feb 21 2005
By Tony Barrett & Mike Hornby, Liverpool Echo
IT WAS described as the worst football violence ever
to take place in Merseyside - and the most sustained
attack on Liverpool's police since the Toxteth riots
more than 20 years ago.
If the 500 officers on duty had any doubts there would
be trouble following Saturday's match then the sight
of already-bloodied Manchester United fans getting off
the train at Lime Street just hours before the game
surely removed them.
This was a flashback to the 1970s with a hardcore of
United fans getting the "ordinary" train to try and
stay out of the way of police and with one thing in
mind - causing mayhem.
But Merseyside police had already been informed by
officers in Manchester that around 100 people, who
appeared to be United supporters, were involved in
scuffles at Piccadilly Station as they crossed paths
with Leeds United fans.
A handful of people were arrested at the scene and the
remaining crowd boarded the lunchtime train to
Liverpool where they carried on drinking.
Chief inspector Chris Armitt, who was commanding the
operation, said: "Before they arrived in Liverpool, we
were aware of problems and as we escorted them to
Goodison officers wore protective clothing.
"We knew were were going to get problem supporters but
they were taken to Goodison without incident."
However, four hours later, the United fans were met
with a torrent of bricks and bottles as they were
escorted back to Lime Street along Everton Valley and
Scotland Road
Despite there being around 35 police vans just yards
away, dozens of trained police dogs and the force
helicopter hovering above, the hooligans were not put
off
How no-one was seriously hurt is a mystery. The
assault was as ferocious and sustained as anything
seen in Liverpool for decades.
Chief Insp Armitt said: "Around 300 rival supporters
appeared and there was a violent and large-scale
confrontation.
"Officers intervened and came under attack. The rival
fans were ripping up fences and bricks and throwing
them at the crowd.
"These people who attach themselves to football clubs
are not fans."
Four officers suffered cuts and bruises and a fifth
was taken to hospital for five stitches and a broken
hand.
Chief Insp Armitt added: " Obviously it was a slow
process to move the crowd along Scotland Road and the
bombardment lasted for a full hour.
"I have been in this job for some time and I can say
it was the worst football-related violence ever seen
in Liverpool."
The riot-helmeted officers closed ranks and somehow
managed to pin the United fans between them as missile
after missile rained down on them. Other officers
emerged from the melee and headed straight in the
direction of where the missiles were coming from, only
to see most of the hooligans escape into the labyrinth
of side streets.
One officer fell to the ground after apparently being
struck by a missile and was pulled away from the scene
by a colleague.
A woman looking for a taxi to take her into town had a
lucky escape when a bottle thrown from about 50 yards
away smashed against a wall behind her.
The sense of chaos was added to by the appearance of
hundreds of people from nearby housing estates and
pubs and yet more Everton fans who had heard the noise
and decided they wanted to see what was happening.
The fact that the violence was unfolding at the heart
of a residential area only made matters worse.
Terrified mothers grabbed the hands of their children
and dragged them back home away from the melee.
It is unclear exactly who was behind the attack.
People at the scene talked of hearing rumours all day
that a combination of Everton and Liverpool fans were
intending to join forces to take on any United
hooligans who dared to walk through their "turf".
What is clear is the assault was on a far greater
scale than anything the police had expected. Weeks of
preparation aimed at minimising the risk of such an
eventuality had come to nothing under a hail of bricks
and bottles.
The hooligans were hell-bent on bringing mayhem to the
streets and on this occasion nothing was going to stop
them.
The situation had hardly been helped by the sound of
the 400-plus United fans in the convoy walking through
the streets singing anti-Liverpool songs and goading
opposing fans with songs about departed Blues hero
Wayne Rooney.
But, in truth, these songs were no worse than those
that are heard week in, week out at football grounds
across the country.
They were not the cause of the violence, but they did
not help.
As one bystander asked: "Why didn't they just put them
all on buses instead of bringing them through here?"
The potential for trouble had first become clear
before the match as the human convoy took a route from
the city centre, along Islington, Everton Road and
Mere Lane before arriving at Goodison.
But perhaps the fact the fans were being marched to
and from the ground, as happened in the 1980s,
triggered something in the minds of those intent on
causing trouble.
They knew that, just as they had walked to the ground
before the game, they would be walking back to the
station afterwards.
With a clearly defined route back into the city centre
the hooligans were able to come up with a location
where they would mount their vicious assault.
Chief constable Bernard Hogan-Howe condemned the
clashes and said: "I will be asking for a report into
the events of Saturday and I will also be urging a
review of the behaviour of both sets of football
supporters and talking to the BBC about the kick-off
time."
Mr Hogan-Howe is expected to tell the BBC that
sensitive football games should never be scheduled at
that time again - a view backed by the minister for
sport.
But Chief Insp Armitt said: " Obviously it was a
factor, but if 200 individuals turn up looking for
trouble, it doesn't matter if the game starts at
midday, 3pm or 5.30pm."
The 33 supporters who were arrested were held over
night at separate police stations and released
yesterday.
Assistant chief constable Mick Giannasi said: "We are
anticipating a significant number of postincident
arrests.
"This was an orchestrated incident and there were
known football hooligans at this game."
Mr Giannasi also defended the force's decision not to
object to the timing of the game.
He said: "The decision to run the game at 5.30pm is a
matter for the club and the FA.
"If we felt that we could not police the match
sufficiently it at that time we would say."
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'It was like a military parade'
RESIDENTS told today how they watched the violence
unfold as Manchester United fans were escorted through
the city.
Both groups of fans were allowed out of Goodison Park
within 10 minutes of the final whistle.
Stephen Davidson, whose home overlooks Scotland Road,
said: "It appeared the Everton supporters were in
front of the police.
"The police were pushing their way through - I don't
think I saw missiles being thrown."
Susan Angelis, 47, from Everton Valley, said: "I could
see the police had the United supporters completely
surrounded - it was like a military parade. Tony
Barrett & Mike Hornby examine the violent scenes that
marred Saturday's FA Cup clash
"It seemed very calm, and it wasn't until they got to
Scotland Road that the trouble started."
One witness said the violence was bound to happen.
Electrician James Lesley, 19, said "All you could see
was a mass of people.
"It doesn't surprise me that the home fans were angry
- Manchester United fans chant horrible things about
this city and then Rooney decides to go to Old
Trafford.
"There was bound to be a kick-off away from the pitch
- it's a pride thing."
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