Violence & Brawls ·
Pitch violence delayed Watford–Luton cup tie
Rival supporters fought on the Vicarage Road pitch before the match, which began 15 minutes late. A planned silence for the victims of the 11 September attacks was scrapped; 14 men were later jailed for their part in the violence.
The minute’s silence did not take place. Before Watford’s Worthington Cup first-round match against Luton Town at Vicarage Road in September 2002, rival supporters fought on the pitch, delaying kick-off by 15 minutes. One supporter was taken to hospital with a head wound, and police made two arrests. The planned commemoration of the victims of the 11 September attacks was scrapped, but the match went ahead.
The clubs had not played each other for four years. Around 50 Luton supporters jumped the advertising hoardings at the away end before kick-off, according to a BBC report. Running battles followed between rival supporters on the playing surface.
There had also been disorder in Watford town centre before the game and a heavy police presence outside the stadium. Inside, the BBC reported, stewards tried to keep the rioters apart before riot police emerged from the players’ tunnel five minutes after the pitch invasion. A Hertfordshire police spokesman offered a different emphasis: “A number of individuals were able to gain access to the pitch but a heavy police presence before the game ensured the disorder was dealt with quickly.”
Police forced the pitch invaders back into their seats and blocked off the areas behind both goals. When play began, officers in riot gear formed protective walls there. The hostility had not ended: the match report described both sets of supporters standing behind the goals and hurling abuse at one another during the opening exchanges.
Luton won 2–1. Matthew Spring and Steve Howard scored in the first half, and Watford’s Dominic Foley pulled a goal back after 74 minutes. The visitors held on. The delayed fixture produced a result; the memorial silence had been cancelled.
Watford manager Ray Lewington spoke about the people who had come to watch. “We don’t want it. Young kids come and watch games. It’s terrible. I thought we’d got rid of all this years ago.” Luton manager Joe Kinnear said he had kept the trouble from his players, telling them the delay was to let supporters into the ground. “They didn’t need to know what was going on. They had to focus on the game. We didn’t speak about it.”
The Football Association and Football League launched a joint investigation. Watford also began examining the incident and said it would comment when it had all the facts. The FA awaited reports from Hertfordshire police and referee Peter Walton; the League said it was liaising with the FA, which was responsible for disciplinary matters surrounding crowd trouble.
In December 2003, 14 men were jailed at Luton Crown Court for their part in the violence before the match. All had pleaded guilty to violent public disorder. Judge Seddon Cripps sentenced 10 Luton supporters and four Watford supporters to terms ranging from seven to 15 months.