Sheffield Wednesday and council in court this week over Hillsborough Stadium ground access

The club was served with a prohibition notice by Sheffield City Council which stops home fans being released from the north and south stands onto the Leppings Lane forecourt at the west end of the stadium.

The Owls lodged an appeal over the notice.

A two-day court hearing is scheduled for Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 18, and Thursday, December 19, to address the matter.

Court documents state there has been a ‘complaint for an order following a prohibition order being imposed in relation to the sports ground, namely Hillsborough Stadium.’

The ban was imposed following concerns raised about crowd trouble at the Steel City derby between Wednesday and Sheffield United in March this year.

Sheffield Wednesday stated they disagreed with the decision and its timing on the eve of their first home game of the 2019/2020 season.

The club confirmed it lodged appeal paperwork at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court and requested the licensing sub-committee of Sheffield City Council considers the matter.

Supporters have been reminded there is no access to the south and north stands from Leppings Lane and fans exiting the north stand have been doing so via Penistone Road.

Disabled supporters accompanied by a carer have still gained entry to the stands from Leppings Lane through the blue gates to the south stand underpass and have been allowed to exit on to Leppings Lane at the end of the game.

The notice comes after a report was commissioned by South Yorkshire Police and compiled by Manchester Metropolitan University’s Ben Cowcill.

His report highlighted flashpoints at this “particular egress” with rival fans engaging in a heated argument, with police resources needed to intervene and he claimed this was a “common theme”.

The report also claimed there was not enough space outside the Leppings Lane end to hold away supporters.

It added Sheffield Wednesday estimated that around half of home supporters would use the exit from the north stand towards the Leppings Lane end.

The report recommended home fans left the ground towards the east and not towards Leppings Lane.