PLANS to hold a protest march by hundreds of football fans in Huddersfield on one of the busiest shopping days of the year have been questioned by business leaders.
David Whittle, of Peters department store, in King Street says he is a keen Town supporter, but fears the protest march by up to 1,000 fans from Huddersfield and Hull City on the afternoon of Saturday will deter customers.
Fans are furious that ‘draconian’ police restrictions mean only 1,700 Hull fans will be allowed to attend Saturday’s match against Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium.
But in a letter to Steve King, chairman of the Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association Mr Whittle says: “I support Town, both home and away, and I agree with your comments regarding the ridiculous policing for the Hull City game.
“That all said, I ask you one question. What good will the planned march do? The damage is done, and the police won’t be changing their minds.
“On the down side, you have intimated that it will be a united walk, I question that, I have been to Hull in the past, and there is nothing united about Hull!
“ I have seen grown men fighting , and I mean men who are old enough to know better. Plus I believe that the stupid minority will join in and cause trouble.
“On top of that my customers will be put off coming to town, on what should be one of the busiest days of the year, Easter Saturday”.
And Cathy Burger of Huddersfield Town Centre Partnership added: “Certainly the town and other retailers have really suffered. We had a retail meeting this week and they are really feeling the pinch.
“Marches in the town won’t help the retailers at all.”
With the Tigers pushing for a return to the Premier League, Town could have sold out the 4,000-capacity away end, but West Yorkshire Police have given the match its highest category rating and allowed only 1,700 away fans to attend.
Robert Pepper, Huddersfield Town Supporters’ Association secretary, who also sits on the Football Supporters’ Federation national council, said: “I would add that the demonstration on March 30 is not simply about the restrictions in place for that day.
“It’s also the beginning of a campaign to call for some joined-up thinking by police forces to reduce the post-code lottery of inconsistent policing throughout the country.”
The Easter Saturday game has proved controversial since West Yorkshire Police refused permission for the kick-off time to be switched to 5.20pm from 12.30pm to allow Sky Sports to screen it live.
