Sponsored by
Extra police drafted in for Sheffield football derby
Danny Philliskirk, Lesinel Jean-Francois, Leiws Buxton and Giles Coke show off their respective strips
OFFICERS from neighbouring forces are to be drafted in to help police the Steel City Derby at the weekend.
Police chiefs have called on neighbouring forces to provide extra back up and make sure rival fans are kept apart.
The extra officers will prevent Sunday’s big game at Bramall Lane from tying up too many local officers and ensure the force can cope with policing incidents elsewhere in South Yorkshire.
Weekly leave has also been cancelled for all South Yorkshire officers in a bid to boost numbers.
Derbies between Sheffield United and Wednesday have been marred by violence in the past with rival fans clashing.
Superintendent Rachel Barber, in charge of the policing operation, said a new tactic is to be introduced for the first time this year.
Streets will be cordoned off with barriers to keep rival fans apart, with specific streets earmarked for use by Blades fans only and others for Owls fans only.
Police chiefs stress the use of barriers is not ‘kettling’ - a controversial policing technique for controlling large crowds where cordons of police officers try to keep crowds in a specific area and prevent people from leaving.
Supt Barber said: “The use of these barriers is not kettling, supporters will be free to leave the area through the exit points. It is just a method of keeping supporters apart for the safety of everybody at the match.”
The police chief said all known United and Wednesday fans serving football banning orders for hooliganism and disorder are being visited in the run up to the derby to warn them against attempting to get to the game or anywhere near Bramall Lane.
There are currently 78 banned Wednesday supporters and 42 outlawed United fans.
Supt Barber said she wanted fans to be able to watch the game safely and for the policing operation not to impact on incidents elsewhere across the city.
“There is a lot of passion surrounding the derby and for the vast majority it will be an occasion to enjoy and where friendly rivalry is to be expected but for those who think they can turn up and cause trouble - don’t,” she said.
“There will be a significant number of officers on duty, with assistance from colleagues from neighbouring forces, because the safety of everyone at the game is our priority.”
The match on Sunday kicks off at noon.
- LIKE points, good things in football come in threes.
And that’s why Sheffield Wednesday will be providing three enhanced quality big screens for the Steel City derby beam back.
The screens, which are owned by the ADI Group, will be placed equidistant along the South Stand touchline at Hillsborough to offer Owls fans the best viewing experience.
Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric said: “We will be taking over 4,000 supporters to Bramall Lane and I know we would take double that number and more if we could.
“So for those who do not have tickets, we want to make sure they have the best possible alternative.”
More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold and fans are urged to move fast to secure their seats. Supporters will be housed initially in the South Stand and then the Grandstand. Prices are £10 for adults and £5 concessions.
Tickets can be purchased online at swfc.co.uk/tickets, over the phone on 0871 9001867 or in person at the Owls Megastore.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
matey owl
Friday, October 14, 2011 at 10:50 AM#22 Just sums up the type of supporter you have, a total disgrace! interesting this year we have the upper tier as well (compared to previous) only because your fickle supporters cannot fill your ground. Whatever the result proud to be an Owls a better club in all areas
europeanowl
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 05:41 PMAgree with many points on here, and expected certain amounts of venom from both sides, have to agree with allocating Norfolk Park for the mindless thugs, one point that seems to be missed on both sides is that it is the vulnerable or young that get caught up in the mindless actions of a Few idiots with many wannabies behind them. And BEFORE any one states that you shouldn't take a youngster to these matches they are the future, without them what support would either side be getting in 15 - 20 years without them. Just a thought, will now sit back and await the abuse, hey ho UTO
S2 Mancunian
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 08:32 PMAll hooligans and troublemakers stay away from the lane! You only turn up to pick fights with opposing fans! Sometimes this rivalry goes too far!
BL ade
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 08:21 PMCalm down Mr Benn dear, you'll bust a blood vessel. A couple of cupfuls amongst all that 5h1t down below. Get over it, or get it it all over you.
Wiseowl
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 08:13 PMGrayblunt - Typical venom filled comments about the OWLS. What has the style of football Wednesday play to do with seating arrangements at S2 ? - zero as usual. Beware the `lowly` OWLS are coming to Town !. UTO - WTID.
Sir Taxedalot
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 07:05 PMOh great!! The football deadheads commenting on the news pages. Why don't you all crawl back under your stones and hurl abuse at each other on the football pages.
1graybags
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 07:01 PMMR BENN - the Wednesday supporters have the upper tear of Bramall Lane, so no pi55 from above, just the 5hit from Smegsons long ball piggy team.
Benny Boy Returns
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 05:44 PMAt least owls fans wont have to suffer being showered with Urine from the upper away stand this time. The thicko Neanderthals wearing red and white shirts who threw the Urine are sick animals ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and we all know what society does to sick animals......we have them put down at the vets. SCUM is the only word to describe this filth who attatch themselves to the blades. FILTHY SCUM.
sheffield f.c. world club champions
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 05:11 PMBring back standing, because all seater grounds have dispersed the trouble into main stands, where the neutral used to be able to sit at a derby.
truthseer
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 04:26 PMI an very surprised that we are allowed to comment on this story because there is a Blackman in the photo.
jojoblade
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:59 PMSo United fans poured bottles of urine over Wendy fans at the last derby match did they????.......i cant believe in this day and age nobody managed to have some sort of photographic proof!!! nothing on youtube? there are plenty of clips of silly little piggies bouncing around in train stations!!! and really if you want to keep wendy and united fans apart then the police need to have their barriers in front of the away end...we all know where owls yobs like to cause their trouble!!!
Sir Taxedalot
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:58 PMIf fans want a ruck why not find a place where they can do it where no innocent bystanders can get hurt? I would set aside a space in Norfolk Park where the yobs can get together and knock seven shades out of each other. No first aid and no police intervention. Anyone who goes knows the risks and takes their chances. Sorted. Of course, nobody would go because the cowardly morons want to hide amongst a crowd and attack the vulnerable.
Reason
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:25 PMHe's a tip....to ensure that there is no trouble from the trouble makers from both sets of fans - play the game behind closed doors and that way none of these little 'innocents' who claim the police pick on them, risk getting locked up !! Of course this is not going to happen because both clubs like the money fans bring in, regardless of the small number of scum bag trouble makers that they risk letting in. SWFC - you need to get a life mate....and get your facts right - most coppers I know would rather have their days off honoured by the management instead of being brought out to monitor numpties like you, and you can stuff the overtime !! Seems to me that you have got an axe to grind - not been nicked for being a naughty boy at some time have you by any chance ? By the way, the clubs only pay for a very small proportion of the officers on duty at football matches.
Jamesowl
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 02:00 PMThis cordoning off of streets to separate the fans will cause a lot of confusion, I am sure. And is it necessary? When will the police realise that football fans are normal human beings who enjoy the game of football. We are not wild animals who need to be controlled. Are all policemen anti football? It makes you wonder!
PaulSheffield
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 01:28 PMI have emailed the Editor and asked him what the hell is going on!!!! .... Fancy the Star thinking that readers are intelligent enough to comment on a headline story. I was under the impression we could only comment on stories about cats stuck up tress and similar (only if the cat is not a black cat)
Page 1 of 2
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.