Comments on: Arsenal’s ground closed because of “incident” http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2009/10/12/arsenals-ground-closed-because-of-incident/ The blog of the AISA Arsenal History Society Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:03:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tony Attwood http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2009/10/12/arsenals-ground-closed-because-of-incident/comment-page-1/#comment-6221 Tony Attwood Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:48:15 +0000 http://blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2009/10/12/arsenals-ground-closed-because-of-incident/#comment-6221 Amazing amazing amazing. You are a mine of endless information. tony Amazing amazing amazing. You are a mine of endless information.

tony

]]> By: Andy Kelly http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2009/10/12/arsenals-ground-closed-because-of-incident/comment-page-1/#comment-6215 Andy Kelly Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:21:48 +0000 http://blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/2009/10/12/arsenals-ground-closed-because-of-incident/#comment-6215 Tony, I've been trawling through your achive and came across this article which was a bit sparse on information. Once again, I have a match report for this game. The report starts of by saying: "The game was without doubt the roughest ever seen at the Manor Ground, the visitors being the greater offenders." The ground was hard due to the cold weather and there were a number of nasty falls but no one was seriously hurt. The game was played at a fast pace and Arsenal opened the scoring. Arsenal then had a goal disallowed as they had appealed for a free-kick before the ball entered the net. The free-kick came to nothing. After this there was some rough play until half-time (1-0 to Arsenal). The second half started with chances from both sides but no goals were scored. After this Burton started playing rough again and the game became a non-event. The trouble began at the end of the game when Burton were awarded a penalty. Arsenal contested this vigourously and Burton scored from the penalty. The crowd took exception to some of the referee's decisions especially the penalty and when he appeared to send off one of the Burton players and then called him back on to the pitch. The referee was Mr Brodie who I cannot say whether or not was Graham Poll's great grandfather. Anyway, this would probably have been the end of it all had one of the Burton players not "interfered" with Arsenal's Patrick O'Brien as they left the pitch. The crowd then flocked around the front of the dressing rooms trying to get to the visitors' team. The Burton players were ushered safely into the pavilion by the Arsenal directors. The referee was still on the pitch (he MUST have been related to Graham Poll) and was knocked out by blow from a spectator. Joe Powell threw the offender to the ground and the rest of the crowd tried to hold him but others in the crowd prevented this. The ground was then cleared by the police. The referee was treated by the local doctor and then moved to the doctor's house close to the ground. A crowd of about 2000 waited outside the ground for the Burton team but they were smuggled out of the ground via a back door and they got to Plumstead station safely. The referee stayed with the doctor until Monday when he caught a train back to his home in Wolverhampton. Arsenal played two league games and two friendlies during the 6 week period: Burton Swifts (at New Brompton, Gillingham), Leicester Fosse (at Leyton), Liverpool (at Hornsey) and Gainsborough Trinity (at Gravesend). The respective crowds were: 5000, 4000, 1000 & 2000. There was trouble at another game a few years later. On 24 April 1900 we played Tottenham at home in the Southern District Combination (a first team competition played to boost income). The game was abandoned after 75 minutes due to comments being shouted at the referee from the crowd. Unfortunately I haven't got a report from this game. No action was taken against either club. Tony, I’ve been trawling through your achive and came across this article which was a bit sparse on information.

Once again, I have a match report for this game.

The report starts of by saying: “The game was without doubt the roughest ever seen at the Manor Ground, the visitors being the greater offenders.”

The ground was hard due to the cold weather and there were a number of nasty falls but no one was seriously hurt.

The game was played at a fast pace and Arsenal opened the scoring. Arsenal then had a goal disallowed as they had appealed for a free-kick before the ball entered the net. The free-kick came to nothing.

After this there was some rough play until half-time (1-0 to Arsenal).

The second half started with chances from both sides but no goals were scored. After this Burton started playing rough again and the game became a non-event.

The trouble began at the end of the game when Burton were awarded a penalty. Arsenal contested this vigourously and Burton scored from the penalty.

The crowd took exception to some of the referee’s decisions especially the penalty and when he appeared to send off one of the Burton players and then called him back on to the pitch. The referee was Mr Brodie who I cannot say whether or not was Graham Poll’s great grandfather.

Anyway, this would probably have been the end of it all had one of the Burton players not “interfered” with Arsenal’s Patrick O’Brien as they left the pitch.

The crowd then flocked around the front of the dressing rooms trying to get to the visitors’ team. The Burton players were ushered safely into the pavilion by the Arsenal directors.

The referee was still on the pitch (he MUST have been related to Graham Poll) and was knocked out by blow from a spectator. Joe Powell threw the offender to the ground and the rest of the crowd tried to hold him but others in the crowd prevented this.

The ground was then cleared by the police.

The referee was treated by the local doctor and then moved to the doctor’s house close to the ground.

A crowd of about 2000 waited outside the ground for the Burton team but they were smuggled out of the ground via a back door and they got to Plumstead station safely.

The referee stayed with the doctor until Monday when he caught a train back to his home in Wolverhampton.

Arsenal played two league games and two friendlies during the 6 week period: Burton Swifts (at New Brompton, Gillingham), Leicester Fosse (at Leyton), Liverpool (at Hornsey) and Gainsborough Trinity (at Gravesend). The respective crowds were: 5000, 4000, 1000 & 2000.

There was trouble at another game a few years later.

On 24 April 1900 we played Tottenham at home in the Southern District Combination (a first team competition played to boost income). The game was abandoned after 75 minutes due to comments being shouted at the referee from the crowd. Unfortunately I haven’t got a report from this game. No action was taken against either club.

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