Early kick-off bid to keep Everton match peaceful

Sep 14 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A SERIES of contingency plans are being put in place by police to prevent fans clashing at Everton’s home match against Manchester United tomorrow.

Fears of violence prompted the kick-off to be moved to midday to avoid any repetition of the violence which marred the 2005 FA Cup clash.

Merseyside police are advising fans that no tickets will be on sale on the day of the game, and supporters should only travel to Goodison Park if they have a valid match ticket.

In addition, Man Utd fans are being warned they risk being ejected from the stadium if they are found in the home end. There is also a possibility visiting fans will be held back in the stadium after the game. When the fixture list was originally produced in July, the game was set for a 3pm kick-off, but Merseyside police voiced concerns to both clubs and the switch was agreed. The game is not being shown on TV.

Last season’s match, which United won 4-2, passed without incident. But in 2005 an FA Cup game between the two sides brought one of the biggest clashes of hooligans ever seen in Merseyside.

The infamous “Battle of Everton Valley” followed a Saturday kick-off time of 5.30pm. More than 500 police officers were deployed to keep the supporters apart before the February 9 tie, the first time boyhood Evertonian Wayne Rooney had returned to Goodison after his move to Old Trafford.

But a mass brawl erupted in Everton Valley as away fans were ambushed when police tried to escort them along Kirkdale Road.

Officers arrested 33 people during the hour-long brawl.

Since then, police have been jumpy about games between the two clubs and pushed for tomorrow’s kick-off to be as early as possible to cut the potential for drunken fans to spoil the game.

An Everton spokesman said: “Kick-off was set at noon on the advice of the police.”

Merseyside police declined to comment.

MEMBERS of the Keep Everton in Our City (KEIOC) group will stage “a peaceful protest” after tomorrow’s game.

It is part of their continuing campaign against the club’s proposed move to a new stadium in Kirkby, despite last month’s ballot result which showed that 59% of fans polled supported the move.

A message posted on KEIOC’s website says: “Since the ballot result was announced, KEIOC have been inundated with requests from ‘No’ voters and other disgruntled supporters who didn’t qualify for a vote, to organise a protest against any proposed move to Kirkby.”

alanweston@dailypost.co.uk