FRENZY FOR FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8103, 4 May 1912, Page 1

FRENZY FOR FOOTBALL

AMAZING SCENES AT ENGLISH CUP-TIE BARRIERS BROKEN AND PLAY STOPPED. LONDON, March 19. The wave of enthusiasm engendered by the grim cup struggles of Bradford City and Barnsley, which has swept over Yorkshire during the past week-end, had an extraordinary and most unpleasant sequel at Leeds yesterday. The history of the Association football game in the county provides no parallel for the scenes which were witnessed.

Unhappily, many were of the undesirable kind, and the third meeting of the two Yorkshire clubs ended iu a miserable fiasco, tlie game having to be abandoned owing to the encroachment of the long-suffering crowd. The selection of the Leeds City ground for so important a contest proved a most unwise move. The accommodation was hopelessly inadequate. That thousands of people expected some such result was demonstrated by the remarkably large numbers who made their way to the Elland road enclosure over three hours before the time of the kick-off, and so early as twelve o’clock one of the big gates was rushed and about 1000 people entered without payment. GATES BROKEN DOWN.

With by no means pleasant memories of a visit to the same ground when Barnsley and Everton met in the semi-final of two seasons ago I reached the ground (says .a'London, writer), nearly two hours before the start. By that time one had to struggle desperately to enter the stand, and on the popular side thousands had climbed tho barriers to escape the crush and they crowded on to the playing pitch.

As time progressed grave fear's were entertained of a disaster. With the supply of policemen by no means large enough to meet the awkward situation, angry crowds broke down the main gates like so much matchwood, and the crush became positively idangonous. In their eagerness to gain admission, many of the excited people even broke holes into the wooden stand under which they forced their way. Mounted police were requisitioned, but their presence did not check the more rowdy section. About two o’clock there was a wild rush from the popular side, and crowds stormed the stands like a swarm of bees, and ticket-holders who arrived later could not be found seats. A GRUESOME SIGHT.

When another big crowd brushed aside a mounted policeman and his horse broke down tbe gate near the stand on tho Elland road side of the ground and rushed into the already much-overcrowded stand, there seemed little possibility of the game being started. As three o’clock approached, however, a hotly of mounted policemen succeeded in forcing the spectators off the playing pitch, which, by the way, was badly cut up by the trampling of thousands of people upon it. It was, though, a matter of impossibility to get all the people over tho touch-line, and in front of the stand' they stood twelve deep. Those who had charge of the arrangements had apparently forgotten to call upon the ambulance men, with distressful results'. It was a gruesome sight to see crowds of people—men and women, young and old, many ill-clad and deathly pale—being carried across the ground and no one to attend to their wants. It must have been a most nerve-straining experience for all those on the popular sides, and one marvels at the discomforts followers ate prepared to suffer to have’ their enthusiasm gratified.

TILL BOBBED—SEVERAL ARRESTS'. In so great a crush there was, of course, a ruffianly element. One band of hooligans took advantage of the occasion to unmercifully attack two poor men in charge of the turnstiles, the contents of which they endeavoured to pilfer. One till was broken open with a hammer, and there was a mad scramble as money rolled out. Fortunately policemen were at hand, and several arrests were made, and I was told by an official of the Leeds Club that Ji2s had been recovered.

Duels thoughts went out to the referee. Obviously the surroundings were such that the game must be interfered with. The problem which faced him was a most trying one, bnt he started the game, and all went fairly well until the interval. There were several stoppages owing to spectators crossing . the touch-lines, bnt no great interference. When the players left the field, however, there was a general stampede across the playing pitch, and fully twenty-five minutes expired before it was possible to make another start. For the third time the lines were obliterated, and had to be re-marked, only to be again tramped out of recognition, and after struggling for two hours the referee was forced to declare the game off. As neither side had scored, no injustice was done to either club. PLAYER’S LEG BROKEN.

Unfortunately there was an incident which intensified the distressful happenings. When play had been in progress twenty-five minutes Leavey, the clever outside-left of Barnsley, in an effort to get the ball under control, fell as he was challenged by Hampton, and he had the misfortune to break two hones in the lower part of his left leg. He was carried off suffering great pain. It was a sad occurrence, but quite an accident. It was not until a linesman could not tell whether the ball had been out of play or not that the game stopped. The referee, however, was wise to proceed with the match, for there was a fear of a' riot, and the ground must have been badly damaged. It was most unpleasant football history. There have certainly been no such scenes during the past decade, and the last instance of a cup-tie being abandoned in such fashion which I remember was at Fallowfield in the late nineties, between Liverpool and Sheffield United, who also had to meet a fourth time, as Barnsley and Bradford City will do. The official attendance was returned as being 45,000.