this is from Warrington newspaper;

"A RUGBY fan has is fighting for his life after being attacked after the Halifax verses Featherstone clash.

The 32-year-old man, who is a Halifax rugby supporter, was returning to his coach at the car park on Dallam Lane, when he was attacked at around 8.15pm, yesterday, Sunday.

He suffered a serious head injury and is being treated at Walton Hospital after receiving emergency surgery.

Police say the car park was extremely busy with many fans returning to coaches.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or can assist in the investigation should call the police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111. "

anyone who saw anything ought to get in touch as above. . its rugby we dont have this sort of thing happening in our game

Terrible news i really hope whoever it is makes a full recovery and the scumbags get caught. I must admit even as a neutral the Fev fans were playing up. I could see in the stand across some idiot stood up on somebodys shoulders causing a scene and upon leaving the ground you could feel eyes all over you as if they wanted to start a fight. Luckily we were dressed in normal clothing so avoided any hassle. The Halifax folk we were sat with all seemed decent down to earth folk.

in the 30 odd years i have watched rugby fev fans have always been the same

It looked a very aggresive prank if that's what it was. However, you are right, it certainly wasn't a largew group of people laying into him

Your a really intelligent bunch tarnishing the whole Fev support because of the behaviour of a few mindless idiots!! There's idiots amongst every set of fans, it reflects society. Remember one of your "ladies" started a deliberate fire in the toilets during the match, does that mean your all twisted firestarters?

Probably a few apologies needed then on here after many people have jumped to conclusions. What we do know is that someone in your stand started a fire. Wait, it'll have been the Oldham fans right?

Guys

Ive spoken to Neil Arber this morning. The young man attacked was on one of his coaches. He's now in Walton hospital in a coma having had two blood clots removed from his brain. The hospital are hoping that he will be OK once he comes out of the coma.

This is appalling and takes the gloss off what should have been a really great day out for Fax Fans and the Club.

When we were evacuated onto the pitch there were a few hot heads from both sides up for more than just banter. I and Steve Whitaker, one of the Fax stewards, were involved in trying to get Fax fans to move away from Fev fans and it certainly was intimidating just being there. The police brought dogs on to move the Fax fans which did seem a bit overkill to me .. And the fact that the police were video taping just fax fans did not help the situation.

However there is absolutely no excuse for the fact that a rugby fan is in hospital today seriously ill. If anyone who was making their way back to a coach be it a fax fan or a featherstone fan saw anything connected with this assault, you must tell the police what you saw.

Rugby League is a great game and we cannot let it be spoilt by idiots or incidents like this

Mike Riley

Phil.

I have to say that I agree with most of your post. I have been following fax for around 20 years now and I have been to Post Office Road on numerous occasions, for first and second team games and have to say that, whilst the Featherstone fans have been the most vocal that I have seen, they have in the most been nice enough people. I think to generalise that all people from Featherston are scum is completely and utterly out of order, we have had our problems in the past but it does not mean that everyone from Halifax are the same.

On the subject of the stewards, I think that they did the best they could in that situation. I have since watched it back on the tv and I have to say that the reason some of the fax fans were goading the Featherstone crowd is because as soon as they were evacuated onto the pitch the Featherstone crowd sang at them "W@anky, W@nky Halifax". This promped some fax fans to stand and wave their hands/fingers at the Featherstone crowd, so they are not entirely blameless.

All this apart, it cannot not ever justify the mindless thuggery that took place in the coach park and I agree with you that all should be done to find the perpetrators and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.

lets just stick to facts -

know one can be sure who and how the fire started - FACT

We know that a fax fan is in a critical condition due to Fev supporters - FACT

So apologies for what exactly?

faxhali
Yes, sadly the damage has been done and if I could undo it myself I would but we need to look forward and move on. It's a pity you won't come to Fev, I hope when the dust settles you will reconsider. Your fans produce a fantastic atmosphere when you visit and it would be a shame if you stayed away because of a tiny minority who try to ruin it for everyone else. I was at the Fev v Fax games at our ground this season and can't remember any trouble being reported but that is what has to happen, forums are okay but the club officials need to know at the time if something is amiss so they can sort it at the time.


I don't want to get into an argument about who started what but hands up, our fans were chanting as Fax fans went onto the pitch. It's a chant I find unnecessary.

I would like to see a lifetime ban for troublemakers and perhaps if these bans were advertised and fans realised that they were subject to the same treatment for misbehaving then they might think twice but sadly I doubt it.

Sadly I have heard different and David is not in a good way and has 2 blood clots on his brain.David is one of the nicest blokes you could meet and would not hurt a fly. Just hope he gets over this.

Don't want to generalise ALL Fev fans too much BUT I was speaking to one of the policeman when we were on the pitch (first time!!) and he told me the police presence and dog handlers were only at the final in the scale they were as Warrington had played Fev in a Challenge Cup tie (I think this season) and there had been lots of trouble in the build up and after the game. Therefore the police presence was as such only because Featherstone were in attendance.

I certainly don't remember such a presence last season or the crowd been flanked by so many stewards to prevent any trouble.

Featherstone as a club should be deeply embarrassed.

My heartfelt sympathy go out to all David and his family and hope you mate a very quick recovery mate.

THE RFL NEED TO TAKE A LEAD ON THIS, every club has a minority of idiots but Fev seem to have a majority.

I for one will be boycotting future away games to Fev until something is done about the hooligans!!!

[sizeRighto, there is understandably a lot of anger and confusion on here.

The overall message is that if anybody saw anything that may be relevant to the incident please contact the police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

In the interest of stopping a lot of hearsay and potentially getting stories confused as memories come back from last night I am going to lock this thread.
As Mike said, if you have any information please contact the police on 0845 458 0000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If somebody would like to, please feel free to start a new thread for get well soon messages etc. All our thoughts are with him and his family.[/size