REDHILL THUGS TARNISH DOVER ATHLETIC FA CUP WIN

Earlier in the week I had decided to cover the Friday night match at Park View Road, Welling, between Kent League leaders Erith & Belvedere, and Ryman League Division One South outfit, Ashford Town.

And the true romance of this wonderful Cup competition came to light, as the Deres, playing with ten-men for 78 minutes, knocked out their higher league opponents by two goals to nil.

Could there be a giant killing on the Saturday when Sussex County League side Redhill, managed by Maidstone based boss Tommy Sampson, took on the giants from Dover Athletic, who like Ashford, play in the Ryman League Division One South, and are currently top of the table.

So I made my arrangements on the Thursday, printing maps, because I’ve never been to Redhill before, etc.

It was Saturday morning, won’t go on about what I do during the morning, but on arriving at High Brooms train station, my direct train to Redhill - the 11:26 - was delayed - no change there then!

One stop down the line, at Tonbridge, a girl in a Crystal Palace shirt, another girl, and two blokes, drinking out of cans of Carling, boarded and sat on the table next to me.

On arrival at Redhill, I noticed that I only had about a minute to jump on another train, to Earlswood, that had just pulled in on the other side of the station, so swiftly burst down some steps, underneath the subway, up some more steps, glanced the departure board and jumped on the train.

Two men, wearing white Dover shirts asked me if this train was going to Ealrswood, “yes,” came my reply, and all of a sudden a group of Whites fans jumped onto the train.

On arriving at Earlswood, one stop south of Redhill, we went our separate ways, them to the nearest pub, and me to Redhill’s ground.

First impressions? Not impressed! I’ve been to many County League grounds here in Kent, and how can Kiln Brow pass certain ground criteria, I don’t know.

But the Sussex County League club do have plans to extend the covered terracing in one corner of the pitch, to all the way along behind the goal to the other corner flag, and build a seater stand in front of their clubhouse.

I did feel sorry for the two senior gentlemen, who stood to my left, in-between the dug-outs - the only seats in the entire ground, apart from inside the clubhouse, happen to be inside the two dug-outs, and inside the changing rooms!

The first thing that I noticed when I entered the portacabin clubhouse to buy a pint of coke was a shaven headed man in a short sleeved green shirt, shouting very loudly and causing attention and swearing at a female.

I sat down, read the programme, and familiarised myself with my new surroundings - you’d be lucky to find a press box at this ground!

There was also a poster from Surrey Police warning about the dangers of using drugs, which was slapped on the wall beside the exit to pitch side. Maybe this wasn’t a quiet Surrey suburb after all?

The game itself, Dover dominated from first whistle to last. Redhill were restricted to just one real chance, in the 14^th minute, when debutant, Jamel Johnson burst through the middle of the Whites defence, but American goalkeeper, Dean Ruddy was alert and tipped the shot over his crossbar.

Dover deserved to win by more than one goal, but I was so pleased for Dover Legend, Matt Carruthers, on his return to the first-team with his beloved home-town club, scoring the only goal of the game; a deft 42^nd minute header from close range, following a superb whipped in cross from Frannie Collin out on the right-flank, close to the corner flag.

A satisfied Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler, who missed the game through injury, did his interview with Tom Crawley and Dave Shirley for www.dafctv.co.uk so I spoke to Carruthers as he came out of the dressing room - he was so pleased to be given the chance to put on the White shirt of Dover again, having worked on his fitness in pre-season and impressing for the reserves.

Then it was my turn to speak to Hessenthaler, a manager that I’ve only interviewed once before face-to-face, but very impressed with him - he gives you plenty of words to write about.

After a conversation with Dover Athletic chairman Mr Jim Parmenter, inside the spacious “boardroom”, and an interview with Redhill boss Tommy Sampson, I purchased a can of coke and a mars bar and felt it was time to make my journey home - thinking that was my reporting over for another day!

It takes about 20 minutes to walk from the ground to Earlswood train station, and on arrival I noticed some local youngsters on the platform, who later left the scene, so decided to walk down the platform and took a seat, got out my dictaphone, pen and notepad, and started listening and writing down my interviews - as I normally do after matches on the train journey home.

I checked the clock and realised that I had around 45 minutes to walk for the train to Redhill.

If only I had someone that could drive me to matches!

At 18:25 my phone rang, it was Mike Green, and we spoke about Margate beating Tonbridge Angels 3-1, with Charlie Side netting a hat-trick inside the opening nine minutes, and some of the FA Cup results, Dover’s match, and some of the juicy Kent derbies in the next round of the FA Cup.

After that call, I introduced myself to a Dover fan and we had a chat.

Then all of a sudden, a man in a white shirt, with his back to me, started bellowing, in a northern accent - he was offering the Dover fans a fight outside.

Then, that man in the short sleeved green shirt, arrived on the scene. The man that I noticed in the Redhill clubhouse on my arrival at the ground, at around 12:40.

One female Dover fan, however, tried to calm down these two nutters who were offering the group of WELL-BEHAVED Dover fans a fight outside the train station.

I would like to confirm that not once did I hear any football chanting from these Dover fans outside - or inside - the train station.

This all happened within a five minute timescale of the Dover Athletic fans arriving at the train station and the 18:33 train to London Bridge pulling into Earlswood train station.

I telephoned Tommy Sampson as I was boarding the train, and he confirmed that the guy in the green shirt was “nothing to do with the football club, he’s a member of the social club”.

It became clear that one Dover fan, Phil Smith, 28, had indeed been assaulted, he had a cut on his lower lip on the left-hand side of his mouth.

Once we arrived at Redhill train station, I pulled Phil to one side, away from his mates, and interviewed him and got his version of events (see below) - and as Earlswood is an unmanned station, we both went up to a female employee of Southern trains to report the assault.

“There’s no-one here”, she said. “You’ll have to fill out a form.” A form that didn’t materalised. We tried to find a ticket office that she directed us to - it was closed.

As the two assailants, the men in the white, and the green, shirts, were on the platform following the assault, surely Southern trains can use CCTV cameras inside - and outside - Earlswood train station and throw the book at them.

Whilst on the train to Tonbridge, I sat with the group of Dover fans, and it was clear that their perfect FA Cup day, was spoilt by the THUG LIFE that tarnish our beautiful game - and society in general.

“Redhill thugs, not being funny, I can’t see them being Redhill fans throughout the season, the way they was today,” Phil Smith said to me at Redhill train station.

“We turned up in numbers, like we usually do, to be treated like we was from the goal onwards, was totally disgraceful.

“And to be intimated after the game, like we was, we couldn’t have a beer in the bar, so we moved to (The Old Chestnut) Pub.

“We watched the second half of the Manchester United against Sunderland (game on television) - fine.

“We left there to get the 18:33 train and we went over to the off license, opposite the train station and the pub.”

Phil, spitting out blood, continued: “Anyway to come out the pub with five minutes to get on the train, I’ve got my girlfriend with me today, it’s her first away game.

“The first thing I’m greeted with, is a smack, (from) the man in the green shirt.

“But the man in the white shirt, from the final whistle was instigating everything - he was wearing glasses.

“He only came to my attention after the game, the man in the white shirt.

“Once Matt Carruthers scored, the rejuvenated Matt Carruthers scored the goal, within two minutes this man in the green shirt, all he wanted to do, first of all “I’ll take on 40 of you,” second of all “I’ll take on eight of you”, and then “I’ll take on a couple of you! - “come on, come on, outside, outside,” and it was that until the end of the game.

“Then the second half, there was nothing but in the bar that was when the man in the white shirt, who was an Evertonian, had a chat with him.

“Even the bloke in the green shirt, don’t know his name, he knew my name because I introduced myself, bought me a beer, bought me a Magners and Ice. And I thought everything was allright.

“They said “what you’re doing later?”

Phil replied: “Well, we’re going back to Dover.

“What station?

“I said Earlswood.” came Phil’s reply.

“Probably the big mistake I said was going to the pub we said we was going to be.

“At the end of the day, I told them where I was and they’ve turned up (outside Earlswood train station).

“Even without saying anything, the bloke in the white shirt is giving it all this (enticing trouble) and the next thing I felt a punch (from the man in the green shirt).

“I stood the punch, but I’ve just walked away.

“According to Redhill officials, they’re actual supporters, and like, this is Sussex County League, and if that’s Sussex County League, what’s all that about?

“I’ve supported Dover since 1989 and I’ve never experienced anything like today.

“But to be twatted in the face at a train station in the preliminary round of the FA Cup, with your back turned with your girlfriend, what is the world coming too?”

Smith DEMANDS that Redhill Football Club do the correct thing and BAN and get Surrey Police to arrest these two THUGS.

“Well, if I could press charges, I would,” insisted Smith “But in this day and age, what are the chances?

“I’ve never been hit before, I’ve never been punched, I’ve never been in any trouble, what can I do?”

But we must realise that Redhill Football Club officials allow their public address announcer to bellow out the team line-ups whilst the players are lined-up around the centre circule for a minutes’ silence; one of their supporters to use a megaphone - behind Ruddy’s goal during the second half - to blast out insulting messages to Dover’s players, and a club whose match reporter was obviously watching a different game.

They will probably brush these unsavoury incidents underneath the carpet.


Stephen McCartney
Editor
www.kentishfootball.co.uk
Sunday 2nd September 2007