`Lock-up` units may be tried to curb hooligans (11 July 1997)

Friday 11 July 1997

`Lock-up` units may be tried to curb hooligans

Peter Deeley finds that counties are debating tougher action to combat unruly spectators

INCREASING cricket hooliganism is forcing counties to consider draconian measures to eliminate trouble-makers. The issue is high on the agenda of club chiefs at their twice-yearly Lord`s meetings.

Steps contemplated include provision of `holding units` on grounds for locking up `rowdies`, limiting one-day games to members only, secretly filming offenders and a further clamp-down on alcohol.

A survey of clubs by this newspaper shows the problem is almost always drink-related and that trouble is largely confined to the various one-day competitions. Smaller counties appear most plagued, while the Test-playing grounds are least troubled. The response by clubs to our questionnaire suggests small bands of young men travelling to away matches initiate most antagonism with chanting, foul language and drinking.

When Northamptonshire played Nottinghamshire in a recent Sunday League fixture at Milton Keynes a group of about 12 visiting `supporters` - who ruined the day for many - were secretly filmed by security officials.

After the Gloucestershire-Worcestershire game at Bristol, the home club were forced to announce the closure of public bars on future Sundays.

A Worcestershire supporter recalls: "There were no more than 10 of them - all from Worcester - and from the word go they were intent on trouble. They were drunk, abusive and out for aggro - preferably with any Gloucestershire supporter - and, failing that, with anyone else who crossed their path."

This led to brawling and, as Gloucestershire`s chief executive Chris Sexstone commented: "While cricket`s problems are minor compared to football, we need to act swiftly to cut out potential trouble. Cricket cannot have it both ways. It will not increase the general spectator support we all want if it allows excessive alcohol consumption to ruin the majority`s pleasure."

When Herefordshire arrived at Taunton for the first round of the NatWest Trophy, Somerset expected few problems. But, to chief executive Peter Anderson`s "amazement", about 20 so-called fans from Herefordshire became "an absolute menace". He added: "We called the police and ejected them. They regained entry and we had to do it again. Some of these were local Herefordshire club cricketers/supporters."

Somerset, like many, now employ security guards at one- day matches to supplement the attendants - Glamorgan use stewards from Cardiff City football club. Counties have to pay around -L40 per man, per hour if they want a police presence.

Anderson envisages the possibility of a complete ban on alcohol brought into the ground "which would upset the vast ma- jority". He even suggests "it may come to members only for onedayers. This would exclude a vast number of decent people and cut off a valuable stream of income".

Somerset have ejected up to 10 people at each one-day game this season - only to find them re-gaining entry over the walls. "We are not constructed to repel invaders" Anderson observes.

Security officials can only eject - police must be called for an arrest. "This means the police disappear with prisoners, leaving the scene exposed," Anderson adds. "We are go- ing to build a police `holding unit` on the ground to alleviate this problem."

However, major grounds such as the Oval, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Lord`s and Edgbaston report a low level of problem.

At Warwickshire, chief executive Dennis Amiss cites Mike Atherton`s view that the Test match atmosphere was "wonderful and inspirational".

Amiss says that, in a match crowd of 73,000, there were eight arrests and 49 ejections. "Of 40 letters of complaint, one or two were very similar regarding spectators with large alcohol intake standing up and chanting in front of others."

Steve Coverdale, Northants` chief executive, sees two root causes: a few individuals attending with the sole pur- pose of causing trouble and the consumption of drink which spectators themselves bring in. "Having been `fuelled` as quickly as possible they then become `topped up` by using the bars in the ground."

Our survey suggests that the solution could lie in a total ban on alcohol at one-day games and barring entry to known rowdies.

But, as Glamorgan`s secretary Mike Fatkin says: "One- day cricket attracts an altogether different audience. One cannot expect such games to be played in a funereal atmo- sphere."

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/)