But this isn't the first incident by any stretch of the imagination. I live in Warrington and I know it's not a particularly violent place, but I've seen a lot of chest beating by Warrington fans in recent years. So many moments where all it would take is one spark to set the incident off. Banning drinking at the games has got to be considered as I'll bet this incident was caused by a group of tanked up young lads walking round trying to display their hardness.

We don't want RL going the way of football and meaning you can't take your family to the games without fear of being assaulted. I just can't get my head around how someone does something like this and the people he's with accept it. If one of my mates assaulted someone for no reason I'd stop them, not that I'd have put up with the ridiculous animalistic displaying they do.

The incident sounds horrific but one good thing is that the area is littered with CCTV cameras, they're all over the offices, the bus station, the shopping centre, the bridge and the bank. So hopefully the fool who did this can spend some time behind bars and the w.@ nkers he was with can get a record too.

If they can identify those involved the club should make a point of banning them from matches.

I hope the young lady gets better soon and her injury isn't severe. I'm sorry for Hogan and his group, but please don't tar us all with the same brush. We are not all scum, but unfortunately you met the minority that don't know how to behave - win or lose. Every club has their hangers-on. these are the ones that appear for the big games to cause trouble, but don't bother with the 'smaller' games. I do agree though that Winwick Street between the stadium and the station does seem to be a flashpoint. It's not the first time there has been trouble there. Unfortunately the Police don't seem to have a strategy to address this and outside of the ground I fail to see what the club can do.

When I was a youngster in the 70s my parents wouldn't let me anywhere near Wilderspool because of the reputation of the fans. We don't want to get into that position again surely?

It's the culture we live in.

Banning the drinking at games does not work, people can drink before they go in.

I think if away suporters visiting our ground should come on here letting us know how they have been treated when visiting our ground, you never know a fan off here just might know the individual and help bring the culprit to justice. This incident IF wholy true seems particulary vile and they way it has been told sickens me someone must have seen what happened maybe someone off here.

I am sorry to hear what happened and if a Wigan fan can please pass on our repulsion and best wishes to to the two fans that got hurt. Although it does not help i would like to think it was someone out on the lash and not a rugby league fan.

However, i am totally naffed off at Omign calling all wire fans scum he was at it more than once last year and i could have put money on him being the individual bringing it to this forum, its almost as if he is gloating, i have just about been to all the grounds in my car, but the only ground i usually catch the coach to is Salford, i have seen various incidents there but never once called Salford fans scum it seems to be outside the ground and the area the ground is in therefore no reflection on the fans. l think this individual omigin should be banned.

Paul

We seemed to have attracted a 'darker' element since before more sucessful the last couple of seasons. Anyone wanted to cause a bit of trouble only has to hang out at one of the 6 pubs within 5 minutes walking distance and are guaranteed some opposition fans to kick off on. They don't even have to go to the trouble of attending the game. Maybe when we were at Wilderspool they couldn't be bothered walking over Bridge Foot.

Over the next few seasons we want to start taking our small daughter but to be honest, this kind of thing really puts me off. We certainly wouldn't go anywhere near Central Station after a game. It should not have to be like that. Opposition fans should not have to run a gauntlet just to get home. Any fans who travel away to watch their team should be respected, after all we're all lovers of the same game. I hope whoever has done this is caught, dealt with and banned immediately from any Warrington game ever.

Isn't there CCTV where this incudent took place ?

I have been coming to Wilderspool since about 1970, and there has always been trouble at Warrington !

Hi,
unfortunately i'm the one who got the smack in the nose. Not broken thank goodness but my eye is blackening and my head is pounding (thats why i'm sat on here at four in the morning!!!)

The police came straightaway as they saw the incident on the cctv but they told us they saw the bloke run off straightaway. We went in the police car to try and see but he has already gone.

To be fair he was a big bloke who had no colours on, came from under the bridge and I knew as soon as I saw him he was targetting craig (Hogan) and headbutted him, he then turned to me and smacked me clean on the nose (OUCH!!!)

I usually drive to the game so I never have the need to walk that way but apparently it was the same place there was trouble last year.

Don't like how all the wire fans are being branded and I bet he never went to the game. This wont stop me going but I do think they need a police presence near that pub just so you can get to the train station safely.

If found the courts should make an example to deter all potential thugs by jailing this man.Mind you he's no man by doing this to a member of the opposite sex,not that it makes much difference whoever it it.And here's me moaning about my £35 parking fine.Get well soon from ALL decent Wire fans.

I, like the vast majority of Warrington fans, are also sickened, saddened, and sorry for what happened to you.
I take my kids to the games at home, BECAUSE it is still a family game, and even last night coming out of the ground, it was Wire walking one way, Wigan walking the other - NO TROUBLE.
As highlighted in earlier posts, unfortunately, what happens well away from the ground I doubt the Club can do much about, but am sure that if we can afford to pay 'allegedly' £40k for a couple of no hopers to 'entertain' us before a game, we can afford to help the police with extra security at known trouble spots.

I hope you get better quickly, am sorry for what happened, and hope it doesn't stop ANY decent people going to games.

I also hope they catch the cowardly scumbag who did this, and he gets what he deserves - which unfortunately, knowing our so called justice system he wont, but please be assured that us decent NORMAL Wire fans do not like what has happened.

thanks I'm fine now just a bruised eye.

I agree about the police. All they need to do is have a presence around the area that is a prime spot for trouble.

and as i said before i wouldnt even call him a fan and it certainly wont stop me from going - I'll just drive next time!

Just been reading the comments & I am applauded by this incident. I have attended Warrington games for a good few years & 1 of the reasons I go is that it is a family game where by & laege fans can mix together in the stands.

Lets face it, the 2 sets of supporters were mixed in the West stand without trouble & it is just a mindless set of fans that bring the club & the town into disripute

A very sensible post Paul. I think its terrible about the trouble last night and I hope all the people involved are brought to justice. But Omign is a complete idiot referring to all warrington fans as scum. Pretty much the same thing happened last season on both our boards when a few lads did the congo at the back of the DW stadium a week after the semi final. We were all scum then as well ? Theres no place on rugby boards for people like Omign who purely comes on here to troll and sensationalise a small minority of fans that exist at all clubs, including Wigan. After the semi final last year I witnessed a guy get set on by 3 Wigan lads near McDonald's. Does that make all Wigan fans scum ? No it doesn't.

A larger Police presence is definately required at games against the likes of Wigan, Saints, Hull etc, especially near Central Station where there is a large cluster of pubs. Alcohol in a tense atmosphere is never a good idea but in the real world it will always be consumed, especially on evening kick offs.

Really sorry to hear what happened Dawn. If he was directly targeting Craig, then he must have known him in some capacity. Saying that though, doing something like that and running is just cowardly and scum behaviour.

I seriously hope they find out who it was and ban them for life from the club.

Hope you and Craig recover soon!

Indeed so. We were in the West and were 'enthusiastic' after a few beers (as were a lot of supporters from both clubs) but there wasn't a hint of trouble.

It looks like some of this is coming from elements outside the support base.