'Totally different circumstances' - Leeds United Supporters Trust respond to Bournemouth concerns - YEP 17/6/22
Leeds United Supporters Trust have expressed their surprise that Bournemouth's Cherries Trust have not made contact over their April 2023 Bank Holiday concerns.
By Graham Smyth
The two clubs are due to meet on a Bank Holiday almost 33
years to the day that the town was hit with £1m worth of damage during riots
before and after Leeds' win over the Cherries. That victory sealed the Division
Two title and promotion back to the top flight but the day was soured by
trouble, which has led to concerns being raised to Dorset Police by the
Cherries Trust. The Bournemouth supporters group have taken to Twitter to
insist the game 'cannot go ahead' on a Bank Holiday weekend and Bournemouth
police have issued a statement in response to concerns, saying: "We will
assess and monitor how the season progresses and will be able to make a
representation to the authorities to change the home fixture against Leeds
United in April 2023 if required."
LUST have now responded to acknowledge the anxieties
surrounding the fixture's April 29 date, during the first May Bank Holiday
weekend, but also to take issue with any assumption of a repeat performance of
1990's events.
A spokesperson told the YEP: "We are very surprised
that the Bournemouth Trust haven’t made any direct contact with us. While we of
course appreciate there may be anxieties around the timing of this fixture,
given what happened 30 years ago, we don’t think it’s constructive for the
assumption to be that anything like that will happen again and we’ve have
subsequently played Bournemouth on numerous occasions since, the game had
totally different circumstances surrounding the fixture. The Trust along with
Leeds United have made great strides in trying to shed the stigma around Leeds
fans, and comments like this are not helpful."
The Trust say they will welcome any dialogue with their
Bournemouth counterparts yet stress the moving of the game to midweek - which
has occured on Leeds' last three trips to face the Cherries - presents huge
difficulties for Whites supporters.
"We are of course open to talking with any fan groups
and Trusts ahead of upcoming fixtures to ensure games are an enjoyable
experience for all supporters," said a spokesperson.
