Sandwell Express & Star

MAN HURT AS FOOTBALL LOUTS CLASH!

A man was taken to hospital with head injuries after football hooligans armed with snooker cues clashed following the West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers match. Thirty fans fought a pitched battle outside the Moat house hotel half a mile from the Hawthorns after the game Saturday. Ten police vans and cars were dispatched to the grounds of the hotel, which is used as a match day car park by home and away fans. The trouble came minutes after fighting broke out outside the Smethwick end as fans left the game. Albion fan ***** ****** who travelled from Worcester to the game said the fighting looked pre-arranged. He said there was shouting and there seemed like 20 or so Albion fans standing at the top of an embankment which leads from the motorway island into a car park. They started to kick at the fencing and came running down towards the Bolton fans in the car park. All hell broke loose and it was pretty frightening, the police got there quickly and there was police everywhere. Inspector ****** ***** ***** said the injured man who is believed to be a Bolton supporter did not cooperate with the police investigation. He added, "He received a minor head injury and was taken to Sandwell general hospital where he received stitches. We found two snooker cues in the car park after the incident and officers were put on a state of high alert after the incident". No arrests were made as the culprits melted into the crowds leaving the game but inquiries are on going he said.