Football Disorder Log for Season 2000 / 2001
National Criminal Intelligence Service, Football Intelligence Section
Swansea City v Wigan Athletic 12/08/00 – Nationwide League Division 2
Following this fixture a group of 40 Swansea supporters made their way to a public house. On leaving the pub some of the Swansea supporters came across a group of students. The Swansea group mistakenly thought the students were from Cardiff and attacked them. One of the students had a bottle smashed into the side of the head, causing a wound that later required 40 stitches. The other seven all received injuries. The eight students eventually managed to escape and ran to a nearby pub pursued by the Swansea supporters. With the assistance of the staff the doors to the pub were shut and locked preventing the pursuing mob from getting in. The Swansea supporters proceeded to smash every window in the pub with an array of missiles found nearby, resulting in several of the customers who were already in there being cut by flying glass, some later requiring stitches. Police arrived and five Swansea supporters were arrested for serious assault and criminal damage.
Millwall v Swansea City 11/09/2000 Nationwide League Division 2
150 Swansea City hooligans travelled by train to London and made their way to London Bridge. A large police presence prevented any disorder before the match. After the game known Millwall supporters were forced back past South Bermondsey station. Serious disorder occurred with Millwall supporters throwing bricks, bottles, pieces of wood and scaffold poles at police officers. The Swansea group was escorted direct to Victoria. At Victoria, CS gas was discharged by one of this group. Eventually they were taken to Paddington and placed on an escorted train. When this train reached Cardiff Station the Swansea group attempted to alight and fight with a group of Cardiff hooligans who were waiting for them. Batons were drawn and order was restored. One man was arrested.
Swansea City v Stoke City 14/10/00 Nationwide League Division 2
A group of 80 Stoke supporters made their way to a local public house in Swansea. A group of around 200 Swansea supporters had gathered at another public house. There was a great deal of mobile telephone organisation between the two groups. The Swansea group then started to make their way to where the Stoke supporters were. A strong police presence prevented the two groups from clashing. The Swansea group then made a concerted effort to attack the coaches carrying visiting supporters. A large police presence with batons drawn forced them back. The Swansea group were dispersed and taken under escort to another pub, where a police presence was maintained. A decision was made to clear the lane of people drinking and to house them in the pub. Requests were made and warnings given, before the fully protected officers moved to clear the area. At this time missiles were thrown at the officers, batons were drawn and the majority of the violent supporters were cleared from the lane into the pub Some of this group made their way back to where the Stoke supporters were. The Stoke supporters were then walked under police escort to the stadium. Several attempts were made by the Swansea group to attack the Stoke supporters, but they were unable to do so due to the presence of Police.
Swansea City v Bristol City 31/10/00 – Nationwide League Division 2
A coach carrying Bristol City supporters made their way to a public house used by Swansea supporters. This group caused criminal damage estimated at around £10,000. There followed running battles with police as Swansea supporters attempted to get at the Bristol supporters. During these periods of serious violent disorder three police officers were injured and a police dog was blinded in one eye by flying glass.
Swansea City v Millwall 10/02/01 – Nationwide League Division 2
As the Millwall supporters were being escorted to the ground the escort came under a missile attack by a large group of Swansea numbering in excess of three hundred. A marine flare was fired towards the direction of the escort. The Swansea group was forced back by police officers with batons. They were supported by mounted and dog units. The Millwall group under escort was placed inside the ground. At the same time four coaches containing around 200 Millwall supporters were stopped on the outskirts of the City and a search carried out. A number of weapons were recovered from one of the coaches including an axe, Stanley knife, knuckle duster, lock knife, wing knife, Chinese rice flails and pool balls together with a small amount of drugs.
Just after the game had re-started, an attempt was made by Swansea to get at the Millwall fans. By climbing up on to the trackside the Millwall supporters attempted to climb the 8ft high perimeter fence to attack the Swansea supporters. After the match the Swansea group again subjected the train escort to continued attacks. They were again kept apart officers supported by mounted and dog unit officers. Prior to the escort setting off a search was made of the route and a cache of petrol and milk bottles with rags together with marine flares were discovered concealed in undergrowth near the foreshore.
Port Vale v Swansea City 16/04/2001 – Nationwide League Division 2
This was a ‘police-free’ match and there were no problems at all until the Vale fans discovered that there were about six Stoke fans in with the visitors. At the end of the game, there was a gathering of more than 100 Vale fans near to the visitors’ exit gates. The stewards guided the Stoke supporters out of another part of the ground but the Vale fans continued trying to find them amongst the Swansea fans. The stewards and police kept them apart until police resources arrived and dispersed the Vale fans to the town. Due to this, no disorder occurred and no arrests were made.
Oxford United v Swansea City 28/04/2001 – Nationwide League Division 2
A group of Swansea supporters were in a pub on the edge of the city and remained drinking there until their bus was bought to them at 2 pm. Just prior to the bus arriving the group began to smash the pub up and police entered the pub to clear it. Some arrests were made. The group was then escorted to the ground. This group left the ground after 30 minutes. They were rounded up and placed on the coach and which were escorted into Wales.
Merthyr Tydfil v Swansea City 08/05/2001 – Welsh FA Cup Semi-Final
Fifteen minutes after the start of the game, a group of around 12 Swansea supporters left the ground and went to a lounge bar nearby. An hour later 35-40 Cardiff supporters made their way to the same bar and began to confront the Swansea supporters. Police officers forced the Cardiff supporters away, batons were drawn and one Cardiff fan was arrested after a struggle with police officers. The Swansea group then attempted to leave the bar, but was forced to remain by police. The Cardiff group was then escorted out of the area and into the town centre. Subsequently, the group of Swansea supporters were taken to the station and placed on trains, with no further incidents occurring.
100 Years of Swansea City FC 