Attending the match on Saturday was like a bad trip down memory lane (Mansfield football matches in the late 70''s) so I was a bit surprised at seeing the Police congratulating themselves afterwards. Taking my normal route to games, we cut through the Cathedral Close and emerged on Prince of Wales Road to see a large number of Police, along with dogs and vans on both sides of the bridge. Someone was being put in the back of a Police van under arrest and we realised that a large contingent of vocal Leeds supporters were heading off from the Compleat Angler to the ground. Normally we''d walk along the river to the ground, but a dog handler and couple of other Police stopped us and made us join the main group of supporters - mostly Leeds fans from the Compleat Angler. This was apparently to keep us from a ''flashpoint'' on Riverside - but sending us into the group of Leeds fans didn''t strike me as being very protective of our safety. At the end of the game I assumed the Leeds fans would be kept behind but seeing what looked like a move to the exits in the Jarrold decided not to stay and savour the atmosphere but to make sharp exit. If it is true that they were asked to remain behind, but were able to ignore the request then this surely requires further investigation. The club should be able to confirm what went out over the PA system. Given the number and range of reports it is surprising to me that Archant haven''t followed this up more. I am also concerned that a return to the Championship may see more occasions like this. I would like to think that the Police would learn lessons and adopt a more differentiated approach. The experience of Saturday was a throw back to a bygone era where you either fended for yourself at matches or were all treated as a public nuisance. Whilst there is a danger of rumours replacing facts and over-hyping this, there does seem to be enough anecdotal evidence to warrant further investigation into Saturday afternoons events.
