'Shock, disbelief and frustration' - police reports from games when Everton kept losing in comical ways
Bags of white powder left outside the away end, stickers on a steward's back and....Portsmouth fans all feature in the reports.
Welcome to today’s post - I hope you find it entertaining.
Thanks to David Moyes being good and the three promoted clubs being bad, it looks like Everton will survive another season in the top flight.
Which is just as well, as they are about to move into their brand-spanking new stadium in the summer (now the local council has stopped people from falling over).
But things were not always looking so promising for the blues.
There was a point in the season where they were downright painful for their fans - and comical for everyone else.
They started the season with a home game against Brighton.
It ended with the away side trouncing Everton 3-0.
Here’s what the police report said:
(‘Risk’ is what police call ‘potential troublemakers’).
Pre-match
Brighton took the full away allocation of 2,976.
There was a good atmosphere around the stadium, with all pubs busy with supporters who appeared to be in a positive mood for the start of the season.
The Arkles pub was full - a mix of Brighton fans (no risk) and Liverpool supporters watching the 12.30pm game (Ipswich v Liverpool).
The city centre was quiet, with few supporters reported to have travelled via rail.
Seven away coaches and one away minibus were on Priory Road, along with 20 Everton coaches.
Drugs and alcohol
Several hundred good-natured Brighton fans were waiting outside for the turnstiles to open 90 minutes before kick off.
Minimal issues around the away turnstiles (10 refusals - three for drugs indications and seven for high levels of intoxication).
Prior to kick off, there were large number of flags and banners displayed in the Lower Gwladys Street organised by Everton supporter group The 1878s.
During the match
No reported issues on the segregation lines during the match.
When Brighton scored their first goal, two vapes were thrown onto the pitch from the Lower Gwladys Street (home stand).
Club CCTV checked, but no offender identified.
Racial abuse
During the first half, there was a report of a race-hate incident in the home section of the Lower Bullens Road stand.
A home supporter was heard to racially abuse Brighton players.
It would appear the offender realised his conduct was being reported to the police and left the stadium prior to being identified.
On 66 minutes, an Everton player was given a red card, which resulted in several hundred supporters leaving.
Max exodus
On 84 minutes, when Everton brought on a subs, several thousand supporters left the ground.
On 86 minutes, when Brighton scored a third, there was a mass exodus of home supporters from all four stands of the ground, which resulted in the road closures having to be implemented early.
There was a natural holdback of away supporters celebrating the victory.
Post-match
Report of criminal damage to a motor vehicle in a club car park (Bullens Road/Diana Street), following a falling out between supporters.
Things got worse the following week when Spurs battered Everton 4-0.
Perhaps they could turn things around with their next league home game against Bournemouth.
Everton were 2-0 up until the 87th minute and then….
Well, let’s see what the police report says.
Pre-match
Bournemouth opted to take 1,826 tickets, as physical tickets.
Pre-match sales were 1,525.
No issues with the safe arrival of the two away coaches into Goodison Road.
Reports of significant issues on the M62, causing significant delays to some supporters.
An unauthorised street collector moved on from Gwladys Street by police after refusing to move for stewards.
Also report of a street injury of an elderly male on Goodison Road.
Placing stickers on a steward’s back
Pub checked revealed about 10 away fans causing anti-social behaviour in the Arkles pub.
The men, who were aged 18 to 20, were asked to leave and they walked across Stanley Park.
One group was refused entry for being heavily intoxicated and placing stickers on the back of an Everton steward.
One away supporter also refused entry for possession of cannabis.
There were 250 'no shows' by Bournemouth supporters.
During the match
Everton supporters carried out a tribute to a former player (Kevin Campbell) prior to kick off on the ninth minute.
No reported issues on the segregation lines during the match. No issues on any of the concourses reported.
Thrown bottles
On 85 minutes, the score was 2-0 to Everton.
On the third goal being scored by Bournemouth, there were two separate incidents of bottles being thrown onto the pitch by Everton supporters.
The first incident was a male from the Main Stand, whilst the second incident was a male in the Lower Gwladys Street stand.
The final score was 3-2.
On the full time whistle, the majority of Bournemouth supporters naturally held back celebrating the last-minute win.
Shock and frustration
Whilst some Everton supporters remained inside the stadium, in shock and disbelief at the defeat, the majority left in shock and frustration.
Post-match
There was a small verbal interaction between home supporters and a few vocal Bournemouth supporters on Bullens Road.
A police presence prevented any escalation.
No other reported issues and supporter coaches all loaded quickly then departed.
At least Everton fans had the international break to calm down a bit before their next match at Aston Villa.
Remember how that went?
A lot like Bournemouth…
Here’s the police report.
Home attendance: 36,545
Away attendance: 2,822
Total attendance: 39,367
Match category: Medium (this is how highly police rate the likelihood of trouble).
Pre-match
Birmingham city centre was busy but very few football fans were drinking in the pubs.
A small older anti-social Everton group was located in the city but they were drinking in the Trocadero and mixed well with Villa fans.
There were no Villa risk identified in the city centre.
Smoke bomb man
At the ground, a previous offender for a smoke bomb was identified and details were obtained.
About 1,000 fans were outside at kick off due to a turnstile failure.
Everton supporters lively and vocal on the concourse.
During the match
Everton went 2-0 up and there was goading across the R block divide. This did not step over the line.
At the start of the second half, a Villa fan ran on the pitch and was detained by stewards.
Away fans in home end and VIP
(With Everton taking a two-goal lead) there were six ejections in the home end of Everton fans and seven from hospitality.
On Villa’s winning goal, vapes were thrown across the divide from away fans into home in the lower North Stand.
Also on the third goal, several hundred Everton fans left the stadium early.
Reports of a small disturbance at the full0time whistle in the disabled viewing area, after an Everton supporter took umbridge with being spoken to by a club steward.
Male then made off outside the stadium.
Post-match
All fans left the ground and there were small verbal exchanges near to the coach park.
This was managed by police. The footprint of the ground cleared quickly and the coaches left without issue.
Despondent and deflated
Everton supporters left stadium subdued, despondent and deflated following defeat.
Small numbers involved in verbal altercations with Villa fans.
There were reports of a couple of glass bottles being thrown from inside the coach park towards home supporters on Witton Lane.
The bottles didn't hit anyone and the offenders made off.
A small group of Everton supporters, including risk, were stood on Witton Lane outside the coach park, as Villa supporters were walking past.
However, due to the heavy police presence, the group headed back into the coach park.
Once Witton Lane was clear, the coaches loaded left without issue.
Between the Brighton and Bournemouth games, Everton hosted Doncaster in the League Cup and recorded a 3-0 win.
I thought this police report was worth a share while we’re on the subject.
Pre-match
Doncaster had 2,755 tickets.
There were 16 away coaches and two minibuses along with five home coaches.
The Thomas Frost and Arkles pubs were busy with away supporters. They were good natured and engaging.
Bags of white powder
Fourteen away fans were turned away at the gate by stewards.
Refusals included drunkenness, foul and abusive (language) to stewards and possession of cannabis.
Two bags of white powder also found discarded at the entry point to the away turnstiles.
Three away fans were arrested at the gate for drunk and disorderly and then de-arrested.
During the game
An away fan was ejected at half time.
He had been twice turned away from the gate, then bought a ticket in the home end and was ejected.
No other issues during the game.
Post-match
A group of 30-plus Doncaster supporters came out and were extremely vocal, drawing attention to themselves and were clearly looking to provoke Everton supporters.
Police attempted to speak to the group to find out their intention, however the group were non engaging and continued to be vocal and drawing attention to themselves.
A few of the group were involved in a small skirmish with a couple of Everton supporters next to the bus service on Walton Lane.
Fight breaks out
Punches exchanged between the two sets of fans.
However it quickly split up and the group continued walking up Walton Lane.
A small Everton risk group of eight fans were monitoring the Doncaster group from the opposite pavement, before eventually turning around at the junction with Fountain Close.
The Doncaster group walked towards the Everton pubs.
Police stopped them and turned them back towards the station.
The ringleader stated they were looking for a train station, as they were staying overnight in Kirkby.
During the interaction with the group, a police officer was assaulted, after being pushed to the face, causing reddening.
One male was arrested for the assault.
Quite an adventurous night for the Rovers fans - and a victory for Everton at least.
They were through to play Southampton at home in the next round (after the 3-2 Villa defeat).
Here’s the police report from that game.
Pre-match
Southampton took 1,826 tickets in physical tickets. Pre-match sales were 1,420.
There were five away coaches and six home coaches.
A small number of shirt-wearing Southampton supporters were in the Arkles pub.
Cocaine at the gate
It was extremely quiet, lacking atmosphere and subdued in the build up to the match.
Bullens Road was very quiet indeed.
One away fan was found in possession of cocaine. Dealt by community resolution and refused entry.
There were 539 'no shows' by Southampton supporters.
During the match
Four home fans removed in the second half from the Park End stand and spoken to by club stewards, after revealing to the away fans they were wearing Portsmouth shirts.
This clearly caused an adverse reaction by some of the Southampton fans, who booed them as they were being led out the stand.
Following advice from the stewards, they covered their tops and were allowed to go back to their seats.
Police identified a fan in the Lower Gwladys Street stand subject to a club ban. Stewards ejected him.
In the 81st minute, a plastic bottle was thrown from the Lower Bullens Road stand (near to Gwladys Street) towards the linesman - no contact made.
Club CCTV checked and unable to identify the suspect.
The match ended 0-0 and, despite the match going to penalties, several hundred Everton supporters left the stadium.
‘Very little anger’
Penalties taken at the Park End stand. No incidents to report during the penalty shootout.
Post-match
Despite another defeat for Everton, very little anger displayed by Everton supporters as they left the stadium, more a state of dismay and acceptance.
Very little to no interaction between both sets of fans.
Supporter coaches all loaded without issue.
One Everton supporter arrest for drunk and disorderly on Walton Lane, following an argument with his girlfriend when leaving the stadium.
Thanks for reading, and see you on Wednesday. All feedback welcome.