Why I’m glad we’re banned from the Den
Clinching proof that we don’t just publish stuff we agree with from one of our occasional contrary correspondents...
I live in Docklands, so Millwall is one of the nearest clubs for me to attend.
During last season’s match we were bombarded with thrown coins. There was one guy dressed quite noticeably on the top hurling coin after coin. I was hit twice, but fortunately sustained no injury.
After last year’s match we were held back by the police for around 30 minutes, then told we would be escorted to the railway station but if we wanted to go anywhere else we were on our own. My car was around half a mile from the ground. Yes, I survived, but was genuinely frightened for the first time at a football match, not only for me but for my son and daughter.
I phoned Millwall on the Monday and spoke to a Preston fan who worked there, who told me that Burnley fans also threw coins at Millwall fans and one had hit a young lad in the eye. I asked why the obvious Millwall thrower was not arrested. He said that may be they would do it later rather than risk trouble doing it at the ground, and added that the police were caught on the hop. Because the game was coming to an end they were leaving the ground to take up positions outside when the on / off penalty and sending off incident happened that sparked the trouble. I told this man that we, 2,000 Burnley fans, had put circa £45k into the game that day and deserved better protection and treatment. It was obvious we were never going to get that.
I wrote to this site in January [click here] and said we should not go to away games because although we put say £45k into Millwall their crowd at Turf Moor was so small that the imbalance was unfair. I said I would not go back to Millwall again. Whether I would have held that line was always debatable, so an enforced ban suits me fine.
I cannot justify the Clarets giving that club such a sum of money by our visiting support. I’m glad we’re banned. Our money should go to our club. Why help the opposition? Would you buy bullets to give to and invading army?
Phil Richardson
June 2002
As with all articles on the site, the
views expressed in the comments section are those of the individual contributor, and do
not necessarily reflect the view of the Burnley FC London Supporters Club
