you might reach a more focused audience:
I don't know how the incident started. I saw an injured Southampton
supporter on the ground; a damaged Barnsley coach; a minor pavement
scuffle. What I do know is that, after the match at St. Mary's on
Saturday, there was not a single police officer in Britannia Road, where
the opposing supporters gather to board their coaches, insults are
exchanged and confrontation is not unknown.
Neither Barnsley or Southampton are among the football clubs with a
reputation for violent fans. Nevertheless, every club has a small
percentage of belligerent idiots who insist on jeering and haranguing
after the game. For some notorious visiting clubs a heavy police presence
is necessary; for Barnsley just one or two coppers would have been
adequate. But on Saturday there were none. Rest assured we Southampton
fans were not happy about this and are busy complaining to the
autrhorities.
Barnsley fans were not totally innocent. The Southampton supporter lying
on the ground was evidence of this. But they do deserve an apology for the
stupid behaviour of a small section of Southampton's worst; and another
one for the lack of police protection in the area. It was only the
sensible behaviour of the vast majority on both sides that prevented
serious conflict.
Peter Jennings