I work for Cheshire Police and we are appealing for information following an attack at the recent Halifax v Featherstone game. Below is the full appeal.
Please do not post information on this forum. If you have any information please call the police on 0845 458 0000.
Appeal on Cheshire Police website - http://www.cheshire....ctim-named.aspx
Police believe Rugby fans hold the key to identifying those responsible for an assault which has left a supporter critically ill in hospital.
David Singer, 32, of Halifax had gone to watch Halifax play Featherstone Rovers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday. He travelled to the match with his mum, dad, and some friends.
As David was returning to his coach which was parked in the car park at Dallam Lane, Warrington at around 8.15pm on Sunday evening, he was assaulted, suffering a serious head injury which rendered him unconscious. David's parents did not witness the assault upon their son, and were unaware of what had happened to him until contacted later.
David was taken by ambulance to Warrington Hospital, and later transferred to Walton Hospital. He has undergone emergency surgery and remains in a critical condition. His family have remained by the bedside of their son throughout.
At the time David was assaulted the car park was busy with fans returning to their coaches and cars and making their way from the ground. It may well be that the events leading up to the assault, or the attack itself, were witnessed by fans from either Featherstone or Halifax, and police are urging anyone who saw anything - no matter how insignificant it might appear - to make contact with the Cheshire Police Incident Room on 0845 458 0000.
Police believe there is a strong possibility that the person responsible for David's injuries may be a Featherstone supporter, and have boarded a coach for supporters returning home. Enquiries suggest that those responsible for the attack were behaving aggressively towards Halifax fans in general prior to the attack occurring. Did you see the attack? Can you identify the aggressors? If so, police would like to hear from you.
All coach drivers and companies are in the process of being spoken to by police, but in the meantime police are asking fans to consider their journey home, and the demeanour of those they travelled with. If anyone was behaving unusually, perhaps even boasting of assaulting a supporter from another Club, police would like to hear from you.
Information can be passed to the Cheshire Police Incident Room by dialling 0845 458 0000.
Information can also be passed anonymously to the Crimestoppers Hotline on 0800 555 111.
The Officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Steve Jones of the Cheshire Constabulary Major Investigation Team said, "I firmly believe the information we need lies with the fans. it is very rare for such an attack to take place following a Rugby match, and the majority of fans have come to enjoy the game. Yet we have a supporter lying in a hospital bed.
"My appeal is to ALL Rugby fans - it does not matter which Club you support - to consider if you can help us identify who is responsible for the attack which has left a fellow rugby fan lying unconscious in a hospital bed. I know that there are people out there who will know who is responsible, or will have strong suspicions. It is vital that you call us. This is not what Rugby is about."
Edited by CheshirePolice, 01 October 2010 - 12:04 PM.
