by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

A STOKE City fan has received £2,750 in compensation after being forced to leave Manchester before the Potters’ game at Old Trafford last season.

Greater Manchester Police made the payment to Lyndon Edwards, from Chesterton, and are now considering similar claims from 25 other City fans.

The compensation follows an apology from the police to Mr Edwards and a small number of other Stoke followers who were among an 80-strong group removed from a Manchester pub and put on coaches back to Stoke-on-Trent.

Police claimed they had intelligence that Stoke fans were looking to cause trouble on the day of the Manchester United game, on November 15.

That prompted them to evacuate the Railway Inn in Irlam using Section 27 of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.

This allows police to remove individuals from an area for up to 48 hours if they believe there is a threat of alcohol-related crime or disorder.

But their action was challenged by Mr Edwards, aged 38, with the backing of the Football Supporters’ Federation and civil rights group Liberty.

Mr Edwards was among fans who complained of being detained for up to four hours and deprived of toilet facilities on the coach.

They claimed they were instructed to urinate into cups, which spilled over the floor of the bus so they had to sit with urine sloshing around their feet for the 40-mile journey back to the Potteries.

Liberty and the Football Supporters Federation are involved in a legal challenge with police, having argued that Section 27 orders should not be used to move groups of football supporters.

Mr Edwards hopes his case will prevent the same happening to other fans.

He said: “I am very pleased Greater Manchester Police have conceded they were in the wrong, and am satisfied with the compensation awarded. Hopefully, the judicial review will also have a positive outcome for supporters.”

“I want to thank the Football Supporters Federation and Liberty for all their hard work. Their support has been absolutely vital.”

Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke also praised Stoke City, who had offered to underwrite £20,000 of Mr Edwards’s legal costs.

He said: “I don’t know of another club who have acted on behalf of their fans in this way, so great credit should go to both Tony Scholes and Peter Coates at Stoke. We are delighted that, as a result of the Football Supporters Federation and Liberty, Stoke fans who suffered this appalling treatment are receiving financial compensation.

“Police need to think very carefully before using this legislation inappropriately on football supporters again.”

“This is an important victory for football fans everywhere, not just those at Stoke City.”

Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins said he was sorry for Mr Edwards’s treatment.

He added: “We are pleased we have been able to resolve this matter with Mr Edwards and appreciate the constructive approach he has taken.

“We clearly got it wrong in his case and have apologised to him. The issue of the use of Section 27 is a difficult one and we have also had constructive dialogue with Malcolm Clarke and the Football Supporters’ Federation.”

“As there are outstanding legal matters, which have been brought by Liberty, around the general issue of our approach to Section 27, we cannot comment further at this stage.”