WHAT should have been a great day out turned into a complete shambles and made me think of some of the worst disasters that have happened in football. Something similar could so easily have happened at the recent Wigan v Burnley match, as anyone who attended could tell you.

On arriving at the North Stand, with my right leg in plaster, at approximately 2.50pm, my 11-year-old son and I, accompanied by two friends, gave our tickets in at the turnstiles and proceeded up the stairs to the part of the stand where you can purchase drinks and refreshments at half time.

We were met by 10 stewards occupying five tunnels but were told that the stand was too packed, so we must go to either end of the stand.

We walked up the stairs and were met by another steward who told us that there were no available seats. People were standing in every aisle.

I asked the steward on duty where would it be possible to sit and told him that I had my leg in plaster. His reply was that he didn't know and he didn't know what to do about the situation.

I asked him to radio to the head steward to find out what was going on. Yes, you've guessed - he didn't have a radio.

We made our way down to the front and I again asked a steward what was going on and asked to see the chief steward. I approached the chief steward who told me that he was trying to get clearance from the the police in order to open the empty Adidas Stand. Finally, he said that we could all go into the Adidas Stand. Then as we made our way around the ground's perimeter, from nowhere a steward ran at me, shoved me very hard, nearly knocking me over.The steward told me to get back over the barrier or else he would eject me from the stadium.

I told him that the chief steward had said it was all right but he then grabbed hold of me and, had it not been for the rest of the Burnley fans, I fear I would have been ejected or arrested.

What happened next was unbelievable. About 300 Burnley fans ran towards the South Stand which was holding the Wigan fans.

Confrontation was inevitable. Stewards and police were running about like headless chickens and despite reports that there was no trouble, I personally saw at least one person being escorted away with what looked like a laceration to the head.

It took at least 30 minutes for the whole situation to come under control. At half time, my son and I went for some light refreshment from the bar area under the stand, and were told that all the bars were shut because they could not cope with so many fans.

God help Wigan if they make it to the First Division.

It all could have been avoided by taking a few simple commonsense checks in advance that even Wigan could have organised.

BRIAN PARKER, Morse Street, Burnley.

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