24 August 1974 Blackpool 2 Bolton Wanderers 1
Blackpool 2 Bolton Wanderers 1
BOLTON played nearly all the good football against a disjointed Blackpool side in the derby game at Bloomfield-road this afternoon, despite having midfield ace Alan Waldron taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg after a first half accident.
It was a sick afternoon, with a fan seriously hurt after a stabbing on the Kop added to Waldron’s tragic injury.
Blackpool scored twice against the run of play, first to
take the lead, through Keith Dyson before half-time and to go in front with a
breakaway by Alan Ainscow late in the second half after Bolton had looked by
far the slicker side.
Bolton were in confident mood and found their men better,
and invariably looked more dangerous. Blackpool, showing three changes from
Tuesday night, seldom found any rhythm but at least they took their chances
which was a welcome change from previous games.
Blackpool made three changes for the visit of Bolton. Terry Alcock, John Curtis and Stuart Parker were dropped from the team which drew 0-0 against Orient on Tuesday. Paul Hart came in for Alcock, Dave Hatton for Curtis and Alan Ainscow returned after suspension for Parker.
Blackpool manager Harry Potts gave a second chance to 18-year-old Blackpool boy Kevin Moore.
For Bolton, Roy Greaves returned to midfield only five weeks after having a cartilage removed, and Stuart Lee made way.
The match was the first to be sponsored at Bloomfield road and Blackpool Corporation used the facilities to advertise Blackpool Zoo. They parade a camel round the ground with six dolly girls.
Teams:
BLACKPOOL: Burridge, Hatton, Harrison, Hart, James, Suddaby, Moore, Suddick, Dyson, Bentley, Ainscow, Sub: Curtis
BOLTON WANDERERS: Siddall, Ritson, Dunne, Nicholson, Jones, McAlister, Byrom, Waldron, Greaves, Whatmore, Thompson, Sub: Lee
Referee: Mr Harry New (Bristol).
THE GAME
First half
The game started in typical hectic derby style with more huff and puff than guile.
Blackpool had an early let-off when Burridge missed a centre to the far post and the ball skidded across the Blackpool goal. Fortunately for Blackpool, Whatmore was unable to turn the ball into a gaping net with his outstretched boot.
Bolton looked lively in the opening stages and James, twice, and Hatton had to be quick to obstruct dangerous Bolton thrusts.
Blackpool had a chance to break but Siddall was out quickly to prevent Moore reaching an Ainscow pass.
As Bolton pressed, Hatton rose well to head clear a dangerous centre after Waldron bad been pulled down on the edge of the box, following a good run by Thompson.
Siddall was in. action as Blackpool countered, to pluck an awkward back-header from a team-mate from under the bar with Blackpool pressing.
ENCOURAGED
Blackpool were encouraged by a fine piece of individual skill from Ainscow who picked up a Bentley pass on the edge of the box. flicked the ball up and hit a volley just wide.
Blackpool were wide open when centre half Paul Jones foraged down the left, but put through by Thompson, he overhit his cross to the far post and cross to the far post and the ball eluded the waiting
Hart was booked for a foul on Byrom.
Blackpool built a promising move along the right. Bentley found Dyson who passed back to Suddick whose cross was taken by Siddall although he was fouled.
Ainscow was unlucky with a through ball intended for Dyson which could have sent the striker clear had not Jones just reached the ball.
Suddick floated a centre which Bentley controlled and turned to hit a fine left foot shot which Siddall parried, diving to his right.
McAllister intercepted a cross from Hart which sued tantalisingly into a packed goalmouth. Dunne was lectured for a trip on Suddick
INJURED
The stretchers were on on the half hour when Waldron looked to have broken his leg after a simple challenge with Harrison. Waldron seemed to cross his legs as he went down into a very mild tackle and the doctors were called on to take a look before the stretcher-bearers could move him.
Lee substituted as Waldron was wheeled off with his leg strapped up.
The spectators seemed to think that the fall, rather than the tackle, caused the injury.
Bolton were quickly into their stride again after the six-minute stoppage and Thompson was looking lively. Hart tidied up as Byron beat the challenges of three Blackpool defenders from eight yards out.
The ambulancemen were kept busy by a steady stream of fainting cases in the crowd.
Bolton were finding their men better than Blackpool who were showing little enterprise.
Bentley chipped into the box for Ainscow to knock the ball down to Suddick who ballooned the ball over the bar on the turn.
Blackpool went ahead against the run of play. Hatton beat four men in a dribble towards the edge of the Bolton penalty area, looked to have lost the ball, won it back and poked the ball through a ruck of defenders.
The ball was deflected past Siddall’s right hand and DYSON was on the spot to turn the ball into goal.
It was Hatton again, this time in defence, who saved Blackpool by getting in a desperate tackle on Dunne who had ran unchallenged to a loose ball in the Blackpool box for a shooting chance.
Hart hacked clear as Bolton swept through the Blackpool defence again.
EQUALISED
Blackpool were finally caught napping when Ritson crossed from the right and WHATMORE got the simplest of tasks in nodding the ball in.
Blackpool hit back immediately and Ainscow flicked a neat shot from a difficult angle into the side netting.
Bolton’s equaliser in injury time was just reward for their first half play.
Half - time: Blackpool 1, Bolton 1.
SECOND HALF
Waldron was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
Blackpool brought Curtis on for right back Hatton for the
second half. Hatton was probably feeling the effects of a bruised shin which
kept him out of action for the previous game.
Two fine saves from Burridge kept Blackpool in the match as
Bolton surged forward at the start of the second half.
The surface had been made greasy by light drizzle, but it was
Bolton who kept their footing better.
Ritson was booked for his second foul inside a minute on
Moore.
Ainscow volleyed into Siddall’s hands from six yards when he
might have scored.
Burridge came to Blackpool's rescue vet again in blocking shots
first by Byrom then by Whatmore in the same fierce Bolton attack as the
visitors confidently probed the home defence.
Bolton paid the price for their attacking adventure.
They went assaulting the Blackpool goal when John Curtis slid in and sent a desperate clearance upfield AINSCOW, who was on his own, out-stripped what was left of the Bolton defence, took the ball on and hoisted a shot which the advancing Siddall could only help into the net.
Result:
BLACKPOOL 2
BOLTON WANDERERS 1 Whatmore 44 mins)
Attendance: 15,513
KOP STAB DEATH
Evening Gazette Supplement
26 August 1974
FOOTBALL enthusiast Frank Olsson went to talk to his mates
yesterday on the football pitches near his home in Lawson-road, Blackpool.
From his friends the amateurs of Sunday soccer, he received
Simple words of sympathy for the death of his 18 - year - old son, Kevin, at
Blackpool’s Bloomfield-road football
ground on Saturday.
Born and bred in Blackpool, Mr Olsson started the family
sporting tradition during 12 years’ service as a corporal in the 1st Battalion
Lancashire Fusiliers.
He was a physical training instructor and took part in
loccer, boxing and athletics.
He served for a time in Germany - where Kevin was born.
Fourteen years ago he came back to Civvy-street. Over the
years he watched Kevin gain prowess in the sports he also enjoyed.
Kevin went to Grange Park junior school - the family then
lived in Dinmore-avenue then to Claremont and Warbreck secondary schools.
He did well at soccer, boxing and athletics, and was in the
4th Blackpool Scouts.
Frank is a former member of the Blackpool and Fylde $unday
League Management Committee and he trains and manages a team In the league,
Hudson Villa.
“I think Kevin was going to play in the league but not in my
team because I Wouldn’t want anyone to think there was any favouritism,” said
44-year-old Mr Olsson, a metal cutter with Greenbank Engineering of Squires
Gate.
“He followed me in these different sports but not into £he
Army. Maybe he would have joined but he liked his job as a glazier at Boocock’s
in Blackpool and then there’s the trouble in Northern Ireland.”
Kevin used to watch Liverpool but because of the travelling
involved’ became & regular attender at Blackpool’s home games and a keen
supporter.
He left home at 1 pm Saturday for a haircut on Saturday for
a haircut on his way to the match.
Mr Olsson stayed at home to do some decorating and watched
TV.
“It came on that there was trouble at Blackpool. It said
there would be more details later. My wife said: I hope Kevin will be all
right’ …
“The police came a bit after that.”
Mr Olsson and his wife Kathleen, aged 40, have three other
children.
Geoffrey, aged 20, is a trainee manager with a supermarket,
firm and was watching the Manchester United match with friends on Saturday.
Terence is IS and goes to St Georges secondary school and Tracey is four years
old.
“I used to watch Blackpool myself - I used to play amateur
football with Des McBain - he is the secretary now - but the violence put me
off.
“I wouldn’t tell my lads not to go to matches - they are old enough and they’d go anyway if. they’d a mind to.”
Too late, too bloody, late...
SO IT’S happened ... Britain’s first soccer fan death. It is
sickening that it should have happened at Blackpool. But it is equally
sickening to realise that it didn’t take a genius to predict its inevitability.
Now the authorities will rumble into action. They will
gather, shake their heads, make their pronouncements. Too late. Too bloody
late.
This is the time for firm, positive action. Minister of Sport Denis Howell is due in Blackpool tomorrow for an on-the-spot inspection of the site of Kevin’s death and to meet the Football League and Football Association chiefs.
Among the points they must consider:
- Keeping rival fans apart.
- Future policy on admission of young fans.
- Government aid to clubs to install more seats.
- Identity cards for “approved” supporters under 21.
And the Football Association must, at the same time, put its
own house in order by demanding a total crackdown by referees on violence and
dissent among players —actions which only serve to inflame passions on the
terraces.
Here, soccer’s complete strata can help. Club chairmen and
managers must be prepared to make sacrifices by penalising their own players to
this end.
We have reached a situation where soccer’s success is
becoming a cancer, gnawing away at the fabric of itself.
The too-frequent antics of alleged stars determined to win
at any cost shows their contempt for referees. And young fans emulate their
heroes, so they, too, develop a disregard for authority. Too many people have
been too blind to this for too long.
There will be more trouble at Blackpool this season...
because Blackpool the resort is such an attractive place to visit. So the scum
element from Manchester United’s Stretford End, from Cardiff, from
Middlesbrough, from Millwall . . they’ll all be here in force.
Blackpool must be ready for them.
One way of avoiding trouble when a large concentration of visiting fans is due is to keep them away from the Spion Kop. And the club now must face the responsibility of turning away the local bovver brigade. Youths who find it necessary to wear heavy-soled boots to matches will have to be refused admission.
The 5,000 prisoners
THE death on the Kop triggered off the biggest police
operation seen in Blackpool since the killing of Supt Gerry Richardson.
Police cars and motorcycles from as far afield as East
Lancashire areas converged on Blackpool when police sealed off the Spion Kop
There were -more than 15,000 people in the ground and a
third of them were on the Kop.
Watching the game was the Chief Constable of Lancashire, Mr
Stan Parr —the former Chief Constable of Blackpool is often at Bloomfield road
when the team are at home.
Also in the crowd were some of the 50 detectives and 150
uniformed men who took part in the police operation.
They volunteered for duty, when Mr Parr announced that a
“very serious incident” had occurred near a tea bar behind the Kop. He said
someone had been seriously hurt and might die.
Det Supt Arnold Sanders, head of Blackpool CID, was at the
ground within minutes and Det Chief Supt Joe Mounsey, head of Lancashire CID,
arrived to take charge of the investigation.
In screening the thousands of people on the Kop, the police
concentrated on the approximate age group 12-20. They spoke to hundreds of
supporters.
A group of about 50 youths was taken to the police station
to give further assistance.
It was close on 7 p.m. when the last fans left the ground.
Meanwhile, special coaches and special trains were being
searched and road blocks led to big traffic Queues leading out of town.
At a Press conference, reporters were told that weapons were
found on some youths who were searched going into the ground and other weapons
were found abandoned on the ground.
Knives, coshes and chains were among the objects found by
police.
“But as these matches go, it wasn’t too bad before this
incident" said Det Supt Sanders.
Mr Parr told a Press conference that while police manpower
was concentrated on the football ground, there had been trouble in the area
with acts of vandalism
Howell to hold mob violence summit
Mr DENIS HOWELL, Minister for Sport, will meet senior
officials of the Football Association and Football League in Blackpool tomorrow
to discuss soccer crowd problems following the death of an 18-year-old fan at
Saturday’s Blackpool - Bolton match.
In a statement, Mr Howell said he was concerned about the
general situation which had revealed itself in the past week - the first of the
new soccer season - at Bristol, Blackpool and elsewhere.
He will also be receiving a report on the ugly incidents
after the Bristol City game last Monday when 135 fans were arrested.
Among those attending tomorrow’s meeting will be Lord
Westwood, president of the Football League and Sir Harold Thompson, the
vice-chairman and Mr Vernon Stokes, chairman of the FA disciplinary committee.
Mr Howell, a former top-class referee, said: “We shall, of
course, visit the Blackpool ground and hold discussions with the Lancashire
police and club officials, to gather an on-the-spot report about the general
crowd situation.”
Meanwhile, FA chairman Sir Andrew Stephen has said that the
outlook for professional football would be bleak if this type of violence
continued.
“It is bound to have a serious effect on attendances at a
time when the game is already in financial difficulties,” he said. “I think the
ultimate solution is all seat grounds. If there is trouble it is usually on the
terraces.
“It is more difficult to misbehave in the stands and easier
for police and stewards to maintain control. But putting in seats is expensive
and money is scarce.”
Blackpool’s football chiefs may find themselves on the
carpet if Mr Howell learns that one of his vital recommendations for safety at
soccer matches-has not been carried out.
The Minister’s working party on crowd control urged in May
that fans from rival clubs should be segregated during matches
And Mr Howell said last night: “It certainly looks as though
this was not the case at Blackpool.”
But finding out about safety rules at the Blackpool ground is just one reason for Mr Howell’s anti-hooligan summit talks tomorrow.
He will be meeting soccer’s overlords at the Football League
headquarters at St Annes — then going on to the scene of the killing, and
meetings with police and club officials during the afternoon.
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment said
today: “The real hope is to find a new approach to solving the whole problem of
soccer violence.”
Mr Frank Dickinson, Blackpool’s chairman, said today: “I
don’t think an occurrence like this has got anything to do with crowd safety.
Even if you had everybody seated, which I think is the ultimate in crowd safety - certainly to stop the invasion of the pitch - I don’t think it would stop
something like this.”
I do not feel putting people in pens and seats is an answer
to this. It starts much deeper in schools where there is a general falling off
in discipline. Football is being made the scapegoat.”
“The decline in discipline on all sides seems to be focused
on football.”
He felt a more practical solution would be to search people
before entering the ground
Tonight Blackpool FC are holding their annual meeting when a
loss of £160,000 last year will be reported to shareholders.
Mr Howell will be arriving at the Football League headquarters in St Annes at 1 pm and going into Bloomfield-road at 2-30 pm.
Mr Frank Dickinson, Blackpool FC chairman:
I have been in the game since I was 9 and I’m now 63 so I
know what it is all about. This is my saddest day in football.
“It is tragic for this to have happened, not only from the
point of view of the boy’s parents but also for Blackpool FC. It is going to
keep people away from Bloomfield road and other grounds elsewhere.
“Blackpool FC does not deserve this kind of thing
Harry Potts, manager of Blackpool FC
“It is tragic that this could happen. . Jimmy Armfield
(manager of Bolton and former Blackpool captain) is as grieved as I am about
this.”
Peter Blaker, MP for Blackpool South
“THE thoughts of all people in Blackpool will be with
Kevin’s family.
“The penalties for soccer hooliganism must be toughened up - and I have already been in touch with the Minister of Sport about this.”
Collection for Kevin
ABOUT £45 was raised over the weekend in a collection by
young friends of Kevin’s in the town.
“Four lads came round with the money this morning and gave
it to my mother,” said Kevin’s brother Geoffrey Olsson. “They didn’t know
whether to buy flowers with it, or what to do. so they just gave it to her.
“We are all deeply touched by this. We just want to say
thank-you to anyone who gave money to this collection. We haven’t decided what
to do with it yet.”
“Kevin had a lot of friends. As far as we know he went to
the match on his own but he might have met up with some friends there.
“He used to go in Roland s Bar in Victoria-street quite a
lot and I think they’re were collecting in there for this money.”
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