CB Ambush

CB Ambush
by GRAHAM BAKER Millwall fans stir up aggro by radio MlLLWALL supporters were last night accused of using Citizen Band radio to lay ambush for Bristol City fans. Four coaches had already been wrecked near The Den when the sinister communication system was put into operation City supporters travelling from the Third Division match in one of the official coaches thought they had reached safety at Earls Court, ten miles from the south-east London trouble-spot. But travel club organiser Beryl Fudge revealed that they had not reckoned on their unwelcome escort. “Supporters in the coach saw two motor-cyclists trailing them and a youth in a van was talking on a CB radio,” she said. “It was obvious that he was radioing ahead to tell his mates which route the coach was taking. When the coach got near a bus stop in Earls Court it was bombarded with bricks.” Three official coaches and two other buses were devastated by Millwall vandals — and there was bedlam in the ground during the 1-1 draw.		Mrs Fudge said: “It's about time the League did something about Mill wall. If we are drawn against them in the FA cup I will refuse to organise any travel.” “It was far worse than the riot in our match at Reading last year when our manager Terry Cooper threatened to resign.” He stood alone as coins were thrown a dart narrowly missed a City supporter and Millwall ringleaders tried to get into fee City area. Two of the coaches were unable to go on to the motorway because of severe damage and supporters had to travel home by rail. But Millwall chairman Alan Thorne blasted back angrily at the City allegations. “Bristol City are no virgins when it comes to trouble” he said, “They're the worst bunch of supporters we've had at the Den.” “Problems arose because of two rogue coaches that did not liaise with police. The people were tempted to get in without paying and talk spread quickly around the ground.” Millwall are now considering banning away supporters. “I'm on the brink of doing it,” he said, "You never get more than 500 and what is an extra thousand pounds if it keeps real supporters away every week? “So I'm thinking of a Millwall membership scheme.”

FAN BAN
Now Lions Chief Thorne may quit By BRIAN STATER HOOLIGANISM could drive Millwall chairman Alan Thorne out of football. I understand Millwall are losing over £6,500 per week and Thorne is shouldering all the financial burden. And after coaches carrying Bristol City fans were attacked on Saturday, Thorne warned, “I will not go on propping up the club indefinitely.” “When I come to review my position as chairman, hooliganism is one of the factors I will take in to account. We have to get rid of the problem.” Thorne's outburst followed trouble that broke out after the late arrival of two unofficial Bristol coaches to The Den. He insisted he could: BAN all away fans from The Den or REFUSE admission to any Millwall supporter not carrying a club card Thorne stressed that the schemes cannot come into force before next season. He added, “These rogue coaches are completely outside the normal channels. Official parties stay in touch with police and are escorted by them to the ground. I will contact the police and ask them to turn away all unofficial coaches.” Bristol City chiefs claim five coaches were attacked in all, one in Earl's Court, one in New Cross before the match and three outside the ground. Bristol fans say the attack in Earl's Court came after the coach's progress was monitored by CB radio, though their club admit they cannot confirm this, and are not certain that the ambush was staged by Millwall supporters. One coach had seven windows broken, but passengers escaped with minor cuts. City secretary Bob Twyford told me, “Our fans were threatened inside the ground and they did very well to stay out of trouble.” But Millwall chief executive Tony Shaw replied, “The City officials co-operated fully, but the hooligan element were particularly bad. Eight cars were damaged at the Ilderton Road end of the ground.” Saturday's 1-1 draw, which saw Millwall retain the Third Division leadership, drew a crowd of 7,024. But Thorne yesterday revealed, “To break even on all our expenses, including bank interest charges, we need gates of 12,000.”

Fans run amok

TROUBLE flared at Millwall on Saturday when soccer hooligans vandalised cars and ran amok in neighbouring streets. The trouble started with the late arrival of a coach from Bristol, just as the match with Bristol City was getting under way.

Witnesses said angry fans mounted the massive metal gates of the ground 'like monkeys to get in. Some cars were vandalised in the scramble.

After the game more trouble broke out in the surrounding streets among rival fans. In their effort to control the melee outside one police officer from Rotherbithe had his arm broken and others suffered minor injuries.

A police Transit van had its windows smashed. There were 31 arrests, some af the game and some afterwards. Police were still assessing what had happened on Tuesday.