STATEMENT of WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS -...
Transcript of STATEMENT of WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS -...
S T A T E M E N T
of
WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS
I am employed as aI was born on the
supervisor for
I have been a steward at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club for
the last 5-6 years. I have always served as a steward in the
West stand.
I was a season ticket holder and my next door neighbour was a
steward. I used to talk to him during matches and the chief
steward one day asked me to stand in as a temporary steward.
The Chief steward, Stuart Thorpe, took my name and address and
asked me to be a reserve steward for the rest of the season.
I acted as a temporary steward on the odd occasion but after
the first season I became a regular or permanent steward.
As a temporary steward, I was told by the other regulars such
what to do. I was instructedas and
on where to stand and how to check the tickets.
At the start of every season there is an open night, or annual
meeting. There is an annual meeting for the gatemen,
turnstile operators, car park attendants and another meeting
for all stewards. At that meeting we are addressed by a senior
Police Officer, Doug Lock (the club security officer), a fire
service officer, and possibly someone from the Ambulance Brigade.
Instruction is given on any changes in emergency codes or
procedures. The evacuation procedures are explained. Doug
Lock or a senior Police Officer normally does this. This
season we have had two evacuation practices at Hillsborough.
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I did not know when they were to take place, but I heard the
message over the public address system. The code for an
emergency evacuation is
As a steward in the West stand my duties alternate between
being positioned in one of the gangways to the seated areas, or
alternatively at the bottom of one of the two staircases
leading up to the seated area. During an emergency evacuation,
it is important if positioned on a staircase to ensure that the
gates at the bottom of the staircase are open and to make sure
that that area is kept clear. Similarly, if positioned on a
gangway, the steward's responsibility is to make sure that the
gangway is kept clear, and also the entrance or exit to the
gangway.
The gatemen are of course responsible for ensuring that the big
concertina gates are kept open. The emergency evacuation can
be called off by another message repeated on the public address
system which is
I do know that there is a first aid room under the North stand.
If someone is injured in the crowd, we can only carry them down
the steps onto the snack bar area, and we then have to carry
them down even further to the ground level where they can be
attended to. The alternative is to fetch a St Johns Ambulance
Brigade man but that can take a long time. It has occurred to
many of the stewards since the tragedy that it would be
advisable to have St Johns Ambulance men available in the West
stand, and not simply on the perimeter track.
I have not encountered any serious injuries to spectators in
the West stand . However, we might well face difficulties if
someone suffered a serious injury such as a heart attack. The
chief steward is not in radio contact with the Police, although
he is in radio contact with Doug Lock.
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Prior to any big match, the stewards are normally briefed by a
senior Police Officer. For the last few seasjns^it has been
the same Police Inspector. He is known by his beard. This
briefing normally takes place before the turnstiles are opened.
The Police Inspector usually states how many people are
expected, and whether one or both staircases will be opened.
For most league games, there is only one staircase open behind
1^16 turnstiles. Noone is allowed up the other staircase and 6
stewards are deployed on that other staircase to prevent
access. The gates are shut but unlocked. This has to be
done in the event of any emergency evacuation. On these
occasions, the gate to the partition wall is also kept shut
and normally there are stewards or police on the gate.
Six stewards are normally deployed on each staircase. The
remainder are deployed on the gangways to the seated area and
on the emergency exits to the seated area.
It is normal practice for the Police at league games to put a
barrier across the South West corner. The North West pen is
kept closed and the gate to the partition wall is shut. This
means that any away fans coming through the A-G turnstiles are
channeled into the centre pens on the terrace. When these pens
become full, the Police then remove the barriers to the South
West pen. I have seen Police on occasion at the entrance to
the tunnel, and noticed quite a few directing fans to the South
West pen. I have not seen a barrier in place across the
tunnel, nor have I seen the doors closed.
This practice I have described has been in place all this
season. If _necessary, the Police open the gate to the
partition wall and allow access to the North West pens.
At those league games where large numbers are expected,
Police Officers are normally deployed at the bottom of the
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staircases to assist the stewards.
I have never seen stewards on the terraces. There are stewards
on the Kop but they are safe there. I have seen Police in the
South West pen but not the centre pens, but it is important to
note that the West stand does overhang the West terrace, and
there may have been Police at the rear of the terrace. There
is a direct view of the centre pens from the Police control
box.
I have never been instructed by the Chief Steward or the Police
to direct or control fans. If, of course, I am approached by
any fan, I would direct that fan to either the tunnel or the
South West pen or indeed the North West pen if open.
The partition wall was originally built to segregate home and
away fans in the West stand. The away fans went through
turnstiles A-G to gain access to the centre pens and South West
pen and about one third of the seated area. A railing divided
the seated area which is still in place.
The remainder of course belonged to the home fans. Before the
partition wall was built, the home and away fans were able to
mix behind the stand. There may have been a bigger police
presence in those days to stop the fans from mixing and to
ensure segregation. I cannot really remember.
The Police system I have described of sealing off the South
West pen has been in existence for many seasons. The system
has changed slightly as the West stand became an away
supporters only area some three seasons ago.
The steel gates to the staircases are always unlocked for
matches together with every other exit or entrance to the West
stand. The gate in the partition wall is always unlocked. I
have seen Police Officers go round to check to make sure that
gates are unlocked.
When attending any game, a steward must hand over a ticket from
his booklet which is issued at the start of each season. The
ticket provided is used as a means of recording attendance so
that payment can be made before the end of the match. At the
back of this booklet there is a section entitled "Instructions
for match day staff". There is also a seperate document
recording the same information handed out at the start of each
season, and very probably at the annual meeting of the
stewards. I should also mention that any temporary stewards
are always placed with an experienced steward. The chief
steward receives the tickets and provides a steward's jacket
which is a yellow plastic covering. All stewards must wear
their photopass, and without this photopass, access to the
ground cannot be obtained. The photopass is normally issued at
the annual meeting.
Xt is impossible to ascertain the numbers of fans in the pens
on the terrace. It is not possible to see the full extent of
the terrace from the gangways in the seated area, and of
course it is impossible to see from the staircases at the rear
of the West stand. It has occurred to a number of stewards
including myself at matches that the pens may be full. Fans
have complained to us that they cannot see or cannot get
through as the pen is full. Although fans do complain, we are
not in a position where we can leave our posts. The Police
have on occasion asked stewards to direct fans from the back
of the South West area if full, or where fans have come out of
the centre pens as they cannot obtain a good view or the area
is too full.
Including this years semi final, there have been four FA cup
semi finals -since 1981. The first took place in 1981 between
Spurs and Wolves, and although I was at the match I was not a
steward. In 1987 a semi final took place between Leeds United
and Coventry. That was a morning kick off and the start was
delayed by half an hour to three quarters of an hour because of
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traffic problems. For semi finals, the gate to the partition
wall is always kept open.
I now turn to my involvement in the events which took place on
the 15th April 1989 at Hillsborough. I arrived at the ground
at 11.00 am. I reported to Stuart Thorpe to hand over my
ticket and was given a jacket in return. I was told my
position in that I was deployed on gangway X. I was also told
that a temporary steward would also be with me. Stuart Thorpe
brought the temporary steward to me. I have forgotten his name
but I think his first name was John.
b/ .The Police Inspector, the same man with a fertg beard, gave a
briefing to the stewards. This occurred before the turnstiles
opened. He explained the three types of ticket by referring to
the colours. He told us to be vigulant and to look out for
forgeries. He took the names of the stewards manning the fire
gates. He told us that both staircases were open and that we
should make sure that fans do not jump over seats. He reminded
us not to get involved with any trouble. Reference is made to
this in the instructions to match day staff. If there is any
crowd misbehaviour, we must fetch a Police Officer.
He told us to keep the gangways clear. I did ask if a
programme seller could be deployed by the snack bar. Fans do
try to go downstairs in order to buy a programme and this can
cause confusion as we normally tear off the corners off the
tickets to prevent fans from throwing their tickets down to
fans below. The programme sellers are normally located on the
ground level. I thought it would save confusion if a programme
seller was put in the snack bar area. The only difficulty is
that programme sellers are normally put behind barriers or in
porta cabins as we have had instances of programme sellers
being mugged or hassled.
The Police Inspector told us to enjoy the match. I went to my
post. The turnstiles opened at about day. There was a
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trickle of fans to begin with. They were very friendly. Many
of those who came in early were Liverpool fans but were not
from Liverpool. I remember chatting to two Liverpool fans who
lived very near the Arsenal football ground. Up to 2.15 to
2.20 pm there was a steady stream of fans coming into the West
stand. I remember passing comment to the temporary steward
that there was a good atmosphere, but I could not understand
where all the fans were. Normally, the seated area and the
terrace would be filling up but by 2.30 pm the seated area was
half full. This is very unusual for a semi final.
At 2.20 pm I went to the toilets in the snack bar area and from
that position I could see down Leppings Lane. I was surprised
by how many people were outside. I also noted that at last
years semi final there was a cordon of Police to the forecourt
area and by the edge of the road. On this occasion, the Police
appeared to be at the external gates before the turnstiles.
After I returned from the toilets, I noticed that the fans were
coming in a lot quicker. I noticed that many had been drinking.
Some of the fans were acting rather stupidly and were being
cheeky. They were not violent but there was a great deal of
abuse. This is nothing unusual.
At 2.50 pm, there was a big rush at gangway X. Some fans did
not have any tickets. Some had only a stub. I asked these
fans to wait so that I could check the tickets but owing to
the rush, I was knocked down the aisle and the temporary
steward was knocked sideways. Everyone charged in and
scattered. I suspect that some did not have tickets. The
stub part is in fact retained by the turnstile operator. Many
may have got through without showing their tickets and then
provided a stub to someone who did not have a ticket.
About 100 fans got through during this rush. I was knocked
over trying to stop them. When this subsided, I decided to
check the tickets again. By this time the seated area was
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packed. Many of the fans were sitting or standing in aisles or
gangways behind the exit. I noticed that there were many fans.
two to a seat.
There were also fans who had seat tickets but could not get to
the seats. I then noticed people being pulled up at the
front of the seated area from the terrace just after kick off.
During this period, fans still came up the staircases and I
noticed more and more people going over the perimeter fence on
the terrace onto the pitch. At first, I suspected a pitch
invasion. At this stage, I was hemmed in by the volume of
people.
I then noticed Police Officers attempting to help fans on the
terrace up to the seated area. I saw the players taken off the
pitch.
The crowd quietened down. A woman passed up was unconsious.
Some of the fans took her down onto the landing where the snack
bar is situated. I went down to see that she was alright. She
was still unconsious and a Police Officer started to apply
first aid. I went back up the steps. By this time people were
being laid out onto the pitch.
The attitude of the fans changed. I was faced with abuse and
was thumped a few times. I was not frightened as such. I was
very wary of those around me. In fact, I could not get up to
the seated area as the steps were full of people. I could
smell drink from a few people.
I went to the snack bar area and was approached by a man and a
woman who said that they were a doctor and nurse respectively.
They wanted to know where to go. I took them down the
staircase to a Police Officer who directed us to the pitch. I
took them to the uncovered seats in the South stand from where
access could be gained to the pitch.
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I went back to the West stand.
Many fans were walking about in a shocked state. I assumed
that these fans were those who had been pulled up from the
terrace. The girls from the snack bar were giving them drinks.
A crowd of Liverpool fans were shouting and fighting amongst
themselves in the snack bar area.
I looked at one person who was suffering from injured fingers.
It was not a serious injury. I should mention that I have
undertaken a first aid course as part of my job. I directed
them to the first aid room under the North stand. Some of the
fans were looking for their friends or relatives. I told them
to go to the bottom of the staircase.
There was still a great deal of abuse being suffered by the
stewards. Some fans were saying that it was our fault and
they should have had the other end, ie the Kop. I went over
to my brother-in-law who was in the next gangway. He told me
to take my jacket off. The Police told the stewards to take
off their jackets. By now it was about 3.30 pm. I put my
jacket in my pocket.
I went down the staircase and tried to help those people who
were injured and lying near the tunnel. As I say, I am a
first aider, but I did not administer any mouth to mouth
resuscitation or any other resuscitation technique. Around
this area behind the West stand, there were still fans walking
about being abusive but many were in tears. I noticed urine
cascading down from the West stand. The Liverpool fans in the
seated area were urinating at the rear of the stand. This has
happened before.
I then remember hearing an announcement to evacuate the ground.
I cannot remember the exact words. The Liverpool stewards
together with the Sheffield Wednesday stewards helped people
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leave the ground. I was directing people out of the exits.
There were 8-10 Sheffield Wednesday stewards present .
including Albert Marsh. I left the ground at 5.45 pm. I hadp. ttj,
not realised the seriousness of the situation until I got home^ \ C \ v j_ /
and was told what had happened by my wife.VJKo Ko.«A o-Va ■*
This statement is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
DATED
SIGNED
Li/
WITNESSED
Incident IOE
/ *
160589 OP 1494 DOCUMENT RECORD PRINT ■
4*STATEMENT NUMBER S451(.''
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On Saturday 15th April 1989 at approx 10.50am my wife d r o v e .me' to\tH|
f ootbal1 ground, we were travelling from the direction.
Bridqe railway station towards f ootball ground, : as wev,apftr^ath#id^^S
on with Bickerton road I saw a man I beleived to be a t i c k e t ^ j
This man had several', ticke'ts in his hand and was, .walking up ‘'fvfj
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tout. This
and down the
with short greyish hair, clean shaven
Style)- As we were passing him I men1' . Style ) -
/"..ticket tout ’
As we drove
towards the ground another ,irtale a|
‘ ' t i c k e t s " . This man was white y.appj
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balcony and into the seated area* These initial fans were dealt uii%p-V ig t
..by Police Officers. ' . ; M p m
As it approached kick-off time people were coming in, m larger *
numbers, some of the fans were getting aggressive and refusing to
^ i • _ * j T ^ n u l .4 ’ c i T i « i 1 v n r\ L* n -P £ ' a . i n i t r r i K o K V 0*v'4riashow me their tickets. I,could
they passed me but I wouldn
came from the gangway and was carried forward down ‘the!^st«fxs, ';fI rwa’s^
- U'A^ not m lured at this stage and regained my f*et £nd w e n t : back % b > y ' i
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I then got onto the landing where I was approached by a woman who
stated she was a nurse and could she help, I directed her to the
bottom of the steps and advised her to ask the Police, I I- new at,‘thiis
staqe something serious had happened.
14-13 came up to me andA youth appro
hurt
didn t ■*. w • r r - .o T , ~ :.» := Vy*» VLvXfJ'VrrVSV!%
can bea doctor
» was sitting he saw more than I did. I % scortedi,th'e(r4o^t|r
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• v/here he
down
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crete, some of- the' "pe
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, The one Policeman was'giving a person ..the l,iss^o^ Jif e ‘when a ,,f an
started man handling the Policeman and shouting'at him "I X' fe %your£*id shouting .at him - "It s ■,yo.ur>;^|v
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■ ■ ■ - • - . ■ ■. 'Fans then started to leave the ground, I then heard broken glass a n d ;|i
'i ylooking up I saw fans punching the windows out in the upstairs W e s t -V
.
Stand toilet windows, on the South Stand side. I then moved'.peopl'£^
away from underneath to prevent glass f al 1 i ng on 'them. $ ^ y ^ y y y ^ ^ M A■ :/-■'■:: yy^-w0§
At this stage some fans were, still .shouting^ abuse ;.at us t h s r s wers';|
thanking u s .
pf t. t.pft the oround'and the eme Irenes' 'Vehi
r . staff ;were;>6ut
'■ \. j'. . the snack b^r,
H.: • and ■ to 1
‘ / ' - ' A l l the stewards then 'congregated , by ;the ,-s
“When, we looked at pens':three j^rid,f our^t
there tall-mg to a few youths.- •8
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I believe that, the fans causing the surge on my
They would have entered into the area and f orcibly' -pas|,( >v
at the seating steps entrance up to ’S ’ stand.
problem b e l o w .
Also im rny opinion
gangway would have come from the crowd who entered after gate C ha'd/^j
been opened
through the stewards
Having spoken to the
Chief Steward was at
i njured by the surge
the day my first reactions
■ injured/ several days later the r
stewards after the incident I \now the * assistant
the bottom of the steps, was knocked over ’a n d ^
I would like to say that the major!
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