Blackpool and Fleetwood condemn behaviour of fans and incident with tram smashed

Blackpool and Fleetwood Town have both took to condemn behaviour of fans and incident with a tram windows smashed amid the local derby.

The League One fixture last week turned sour, leaving some injured, leading to medical treatment and police taking action.

After looking into the matter, while also monitoring CCTV, the clubs have issued a statement, while witnesses have spoken out about what happened.

Fleetwood Town Fan’s Smashed 7 Tram Windows (Last Night) 🔴…

(#)- #ftfc | #UTMP pic.twitter.com/KrAUQGa8z6

— Away.Ends (@away_ends) November 2, 2023

BLACKPOOL STATEMENT:

Blackpool Football Club is disappointed to report that a number of incidents occurred both during and after last week’s fixture at Fleetwood Town.

The Club can confirm that an FA investigation is currently underway, following reports of homophobic chanting identified within the stands at Highbury Stadium. The Club strongly condemns this unacceptable behaviour in the first instance, and this will be investigated by the relevant authorities. CCTV footage will be reviewed as both Blackpool and Fleetwood Town work with the FA to ensure this kind of behaviour is eradicated from our game. Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated. 

The Club is also aware of an incident where a tram was attacked following the conclusion of the match, in which supporters were injured. This is an ongoing police matter and both clubs are continuing to cooperate with this investigation as the perpetrators are sought. 

If anyone is aware of any incidents which took place in relation to discriminatory behaviour during the Fleetwood Town fixture, please email customerservices@blackpoolfc.co.uk

Blackpool Football Club would like to take this opportunity to remind supporters that the Club remains in the spotlight following the introduction of the FA Action Plan imposed at the start of the season. 

More information on this can be found here: www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/20/club-statement–fa-charge/

Absolutely disgusting this by Fleetwood fans I didn’t go to the game because I couldn’t get a ticket so watched knappers vlog and the disgraceful chanting by the fans, which uses homophobic wording I’d like to make a formal complaint… @EFL @LancsPolice @SeasidersPolice pic.twitter.com/HfjSWkKmLd

— callum (@calwilkie7) November 10, 2023

FLEETWOOD STATEMENT:

Fleetwood Town would like to acknowledge a number of incidents that occurred on the day of our Fylde Coast Derby against Blackpool FC at Highbury Stadium.

As Blackpool FC have reported on their website, we can confirm an FA investigation is currently underway, following reports of homophobic chanting identified within the stands at Highbury Stadium.

Fleetwood Town, alongside Blackpool FC, strongly condemn this unacceptable behaviour in the first instance, and this will be investigated by the relevant authorities.

CCTV footage will be reviewed as both Fleetwood Town and Blackpool work with the FA to ensure this kind of behaviour is eradicated from our game. Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated. 

Aaron Johnson spoke about the incident, as per Blackpool Gazette, in which he he was on the tram with family when it came under attack after the game.

He watched on with children in tears, while other passengers on the vehicle had been forced to crouch down when stones were aimed at the tram, smashing holes through windows when it travelled from Radcliffe Road and reached the junction with Wingrove Road, Fleetwood, at around 10pm.

The report adds that one man received a minor head injury.

“It’s a big shame because there has never been much trouble in the derby matches, its always been pretty friendly, and it was a really interesting game.

“Now this mindless act of violence has scared quite a few youngsters traveling home with there families after a football match.

“Some of the young ones were crying, it was really wasn’t good.

“My year old daughter Thea comes to a lot of matches – I’m just glad she wasn’t at this one.”

Aaron said it would have been clear that the tram was carrying a large number of Blackpool supporters.

He added: “There were Fleetwood fans on the tram too – the camaraderie on the tram was really good.”

He said a person had pulled on the emergency cord with the tram stopping, passengers had to get off and walk along the tram tracks to the next stop, making sure they didn’t slip on the wooden slats and small ballast stones.

Aaron adds that police eventually came to the scene and helped the injured male, while surrounded the tram in case it came under attack again.

He goes on: “I’m surprised that extra staff weren’t laid on by Blackpool Transport for a derby match.

“There could have been better supervision and marshalling as people tried to make their way to the next tram stop while another tram came,”

I’ll tell you what that was one of the most enjoyable nights of football in a while. Incredibly good value food/drinks. Great atmosphere and some decent football. Lee Johnson’s got the cods firing #ftfc pic.twitter.com/2nFyoUwI8c

— Terrace Paul (@TerracePaul) November 1, 2023

This is what social media said with Blackpool and Fleetwood taking to condemn the behaviour of fans and an incident with a tram smashed…

@LScamilton: @ftfc Who was it that smashed the blackpool tram to bits last night. Fleetwood and Blackpool fans were on there. Kids were on there. One young lad had to be taken away in an Ambulance due to being hit bu a massive rock thrown in the window. I hope they were not fleetwood fans?

@MuckersThe: You lot are taking the piss @BlackpoolFC you are not our headmaster and how about sorting the shit show that happened after the game👍 also our CEO and Jonty need to check emails before it bites you in the arse.

@powellBFC93: 1 – What homophobic chant? 2 – why are we commenting on Fleetwood fans attacking a tram as if it’s our fans responsible and 3 – Why no mention of them singing ‘Tony’s in a box’?

@Podesta1989: Until the FA have all fans sat on their arses in absolute silence and only clapping when a goals scored, this will keep happening. Wonder if other clubs get fined or just ours

@HeskethEdwin: Getting well fed up of this, constantly condemning our behaviour yet never a fuckin word whenever away fans or opposition fans act up. The cowards have turned off the comments as well, typical as they know they’ll receive backlash and rightly so

@Orme_Jacob: Interested in which chant is classed as homophobic… “Pilleys getting bummed” or “Pilleys dropped the soap” 🤔🤔🤔

@stgrimmers: Never a statement condemning opposition fans chanting ‘Tangerine, Tangerine, your mum’s a crack whore your dad’s the queen’ though.

@RoyCalley: This constant ‘telling off’ supporters is becoming tedious. You’re a football club and nothing more. You aren’t an arbiter of people’s behaviour. I assume some admin made themselves feel important by writing this. You’re disappointed? Patronising fools #BlackpoolFC

@ClaireBartle2: Can’t help thinking there’s going to be similar on a larger scale at Bolton this weekend. Hope not, but with this being our top away day this season, these events often turn into d**kheads day out! #behave 🍊

TO POLICE

@GeordsTangerine: Can you investigate why all the police treat us like the bad guys and then loaded us all back onto a broken tram for 25 minutes and closed the doors. Once again top notch work. Must be all very proud of yourselves 👍🏻

@DanielFranks85: Investigate yourselves I’d suggest

@MatthewOakley_: Surely not another absolute mess by Blackpool police? Surely not? Who’d of thought it? 😱

@bfc7280: Useless as usual

@Dt100580: No police at Landel Road tram stop, get offered out by 4/5 cod heads with my 12 year old daughter and 11 year old son, “who fuckin wants it” . Shambolic policing . Then the tram incident . Absolute circus

@donald_friday8: It was absolutely disgusting that a fan was arrested after a police officer assaulted said individual, who was then bailed and subsequently banned until a court hearing. What a farce🤬

@c15nay: Please can someone explain to me why there was zero Police presence at the most obvious spot for trouble after the match last night? Resulting in a tram full of young Seasiders & young FTFC fans being bricked. 🚔 on the scene were more clueless than Neil Critchley’s starting 11!

@AusBFC1887: It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the majority of Blackpool fans would have gone to a tram stop heading back to Blackpool after the game. You let a load of coked up wannabe hooligans let loose after the game which caused this.

@ftfcRedford: Oh no. They don’t like it when they’re herded on to public transport like cattle. Shame, that’s how we’ve been treated every time we’ve gone down there way. No investigation when it happens to us tho 👌🏼

@BfcCtn: If it wasn’t so serious it would be quite amusing your lack of understanding about policing football fans.

@TinaTwinkle75: I was on the tram behind and an officer came on and said the problem was the Blackpool fans breaking the tram windows!! This is after I’d already seen the stuff on twitter, I told him to piss off and get his facts straight, sick of Blackpool fans being blamed every bloody time!