I remember when I was a cop........(bring on the abuse!) working a City versus Blackburn night match in the early 80's. There were about 1500 Blackburn fans in the Kippax and about 10 cops, me included, stood on their side of the segregation fence.
For some reason the Blackburn fans got pissed off, can't remember why and they layed into to us good style. I was only 18 at the time having just joined but I remember the big cop next to me (dead now unfortunately and was a massive blue) telling me to hold my helmat in one hand and cuffs in the other and just smack everything for all you are worth. So we did and beat Blackburn back to the far wall of the Kippax to chants of "you'll never take the coppers" and "Manchester Coppers" from the City fans.
Got to admit, the cops had balls and a couple even turned around and applauded the City fans for the chants in support......................!!
I never had so many cuts and bruises but I worked every match I could because it gave you a huge buzz anticipating and getting stuck into any trouble................?!
I worked the Millwall game also in the 80's think it was, that was a bunch, every one a middle aged fella, about 1000 of them, they were all filmed going into Platt Lane and escorted back into town, bit of fun that night!!!!.
Chelsea was another, loads of boys turned up that day and it went off fine style, might have been Chelsea when other firms came with them, grim.
Now retired, I have to say United are currently causing problems away from home, that shower who came to City in the Semi last season will undoubtably be out in London, it will be messy I suspect so not taking my 9 year old, promised him the final though...... Keep your wits about you and stay safe, certainly at the end. Enjoy the day.....and don't run!!!!!!!!!
