I'm glad it wasn't just me that thought it was all a bit over the top. We were sat with the Saints fans so didn't see anything like that. But we brought a couple of cans of Lucozade in with us, not knowing you weren't allowed. We did see people getting searched at the away turnstiles. When we were drinking them in the concourse a female steward asked us how we got them to which I replied "we bought them from the shop". She told us to drink them quickly before the cameras picked us up. Then one of her colleagues came over and asked if she'd dealt with us and made a couple of jibes. Nothing malicious but very petty.

We got there 2 hours before kick off and I like taking pictures of the grounds I've been to. I asked a steward if I could get into the other stand to take some photos. He told me no but I could ask the head steward. I walked up to the head steward who in the most blunt way told me "absolutely not. This is a sell out." - didn't even make any eye contact with me and his tone was as if I was a piece of dirt on his shoe. Again, nothing massive and I know it's the rules but I've never had a problem getting into stands before. Was hardly gonna do a runner and leg it into another seat when the ground was 1/10 full. That wasn't a problem, it was the way he spoke to us. You get the feeling with the stewards and the Police that they'd have been better at a Football game.

Yet when that bloke ran on the pitch none of them had a clue what to do.

How do you know all this Bigredwarrior? You're either a copper, spent the whole pre-match walking round the turnstiles, or are making it up.

I'm not trying to deny any of it happened, I'm just intrigued as to how you know it all did.

I'm a Wigan fan but right first time. I'm a police officer and I work in St Helen's.

Unlucky

Case closed

In which case; do you know the numpty with the stick?
If so, tell him how much pleasure he gave us in entertaining us for half an hour matching round yet not knowing his elbow from his .

I know him very well. He's a great bloke but even I was amused by him on Friday.

Can I ask you Bigredwarrior (in your capacity as a Police Officer) if you think it was appropriate action to evict a lad (he looked under 16) from the ground for alledgedly throwing a toilet roll?

Personally, although not condoning people throwing toilet rolls, I think it is way over the top. I also wonder how the steward managed to pick this lad out of the crowd?

As a policeman could you tell me if it's an offence for a police officer to spread malicious, unfounded rumours and untruths about an innocent group of fans?

It is a condition of entry and that decision is one for the stewards. The police assist the stewards to prevent a breach of the peace. Basically, to stop people kicking off with the stewards!

It's supposed to be a deterrent to stop others doing it. Clearly it didn't work. It does semm OTT but I understand the reasons for it. There have been times when bricks and bottles are put in the roll and hit other fans.

Did they have the lids on?