Sunday league football fan stabbed at match

Oct 8 2007

A SUNDAY league football match was abandoned after violence broke out among spectators.

Supporters watched in horror as a man was knifed during the game between Croxteth pub teams Western Approaches and Oyster Martyrs.

The referee called off the match and ushered the teams from the pitch amid claims that gunshots had been heard.

Later there were further reports of shots being fired at a house in retaliation for the stabbing.

The trouble flared during the second half of the match at Scargreen sports ground in Norris Green yesterday afternoon.

Witnesses said a fight broke out between two men which resulted in an 18-year-old needing hospital treatment for a wound to his hand.

Manager of the Oyster Martyrs Pat McNulty said the incident had nothing to do with football but was gang rivalry.

He added: “This was nothing to do with the match but simply part of the feud in the area.

“ I am not sure what went on except two people were fighting; they weren’t watching the game but came on to the public park from the road.

“The referee heard a bang and in the interests of safety had to call off the game.”

Locals believe members of the notorious Croxteth Crew and the Strand Gang were involved.

One said: “We knew something like this would happen. It seems things are getting worse again.”

Police today appealed for witnesses to the knife attack but said they could not confirm whether shots had been fired either at the match or later on.

A spokeswoman said: “We were only called 30 to 40 minutes after people had left.

“We carried out inquiries in pubs in the area and managed to trace an 18-year-old man to Fazakerley hospital and he had suffered a stab wound to the hand.

“However, he refused to co-operate or make a complaint so we can only assume he sustained it during the game.

“We urge witnesses to come forward.”

League secretary Glyn Hughes said the league would wait for an FA report before deciding on any punishments and whether to replay the game.

He added: “This does affect and damage the league.”