Port Vale v Stoke City 2001: Paddock closed

[MattW]

Just watched this game on YouTube. The paddock is closed. Can't remember why though?

[paultvale]

A link would be nice

[Santa]

The Police came up with some reason about fans standing at the front and blocking the gangway so they sanctioned the club for three games.

 

In reality, they wanted the Paddock closed for the Stoke and Cardiff home games because they were worried about trouble in the corner by the away end.

[Row L]

From memory, the police had a big issue with people walking to the front of the paddock 10 minutes before the end of the game and congregating there for a quick exit. They made some half arsed warnings about it and then went totally over the top and closed the paddock.

 

One of the results was the introduction of the metal bars at the front of the paddock (I’m not sure what they are supposed to do) and the introduction of stewards who used to stand in that area to politely ask you to move on. Often that was politely met with a ‘**** off” but the reality is that now, although you do sometimes still get a little congregating, its is nothing like it was.

 

I’m still not sure why it was an issue for the council/safety inspectors, but it was!

[Santa]

I’m still not sure why it was an issue for the council/safety inspectors, but it was!

When the fixture computer threw out Stoke and Cardiff at home in the same week, it suddenly 'became' an issue.

 

Although they managed to string it out for the Bury game as well.

[cheshirevaliant]

Wasn't the Cardiff game rearranged? I seem to remember a game vs them around that time being called off about 20 minutes before kick off after a cloudburst.

 

Not sure what relevance that question has to crowd trouble and the Paddock being closed by the way.

[Santa]

Wasn't the Cardiff game rearranged? I seem to remember a game vs them around that time being called off about 20 minutes before kick off after a cloudburst.

That was the following season when we were in administration.

[MattW]

It's all coming back to me now!!!!!

[MattW]

This better paultvale????

 

[bycars rob]

Staffordshires finest covered themselves in glory by sending 100 robocops in riot gear to control the empty seats 10 minutes from time.

[jjvale_03]

Was a decent Derby game, and the atmosphere in the Bycars was decent with a good couple of thousand in there.

 

Anyone remember two blokes running onto the pitch and having a fist fight on the pitch midway through the second half? One (Stoke fan I think) ran out of the Bycars and another (Vale fan) ran out of the Lorne Street. The pitch was very greasy and the fight became a comedy as both guys struggled to keep their footing.

[CAVALIER]

Brooker miss a sitter near the end?