It was more than a rumour - it was a big fat lie from our very own ''Mr Manchester City'' Bernard Halford and he got caught out.
I was Secretary for the Centenary Supporters' Association at the time and Halford came out in the local media announcing that the Lokeren plod had decided the town would be a no go area on the day of the game for City fans and all fans had to meet at some kind of service station on a highway outside of town and would be bussed in.
Prior to this, I had been involved with a run in with Sara Billington who had announced that tickets would only be given to fans travelling on official travel - which was only available via the clubs very own shirt sponsor (Thomas Cook) which was a 175 quid flight for a day trip. I told her this was illegal and anti competitive. She told me that 175 quid was a fair price and then picked her jaw off the ground when I said I had booked flights from Stansted for 11 quid each way including tax! Eventually the club dropped their stance on the ticket sales for official travel only. At one point I had told her we were producing a banner saying ''Thomas Cook - We Don’t Give A Fuck" which particularly got her back up lol
Then enter the arena one Bernard Halford......
As above Halford stated City fans would be escorted out of the town if found before 5pm and had to meet at this pre-arranged site to be bussed into to town. I went on BBC Radio Manchester or GMR as it was then, stating I have a European passport that allowed me to travel anywhere in Europe and unless I was committing a crime, I was free to walk around anywhere in a public place I wished too. Halford, in the local media, continued to insist City's hands were tied as this was instructions from the Lokeren police that they had received.
The following evening I received a call from a news producer at GMR saying they had the Chief of Lokeren Police coming on in the morning to state that no such order has been issued. The producer added that he was having Halford in too, by phone and would I like to come in to the studio. The catch for Halford was he didn't know the Chief was coming on.......
I arrived just after 8am and into the studio. This was going to be fucking good......
The presenter (can't recall who it was to be honest) outlined the story and got me to talk first. I repeated the mantra about having a European passport and as a law abiding citizen I was free to visit any public place in the Union.
Next came on Halford, who went straight on the defensive, solely blaming the police whose decision it was and that the club were simply passing on instructions to fans.
The presenter now introduced the Chief of Police for Lokeren......
''Good morning, we welcome all Manchester City fans to come to our town, enjoy what we have to offer and have a good time - as long as everyone behaves themselves, then everyone is welcome''.
Presenter: ''Mr Halford, can you comment on that?
Halford: ''Well, er, I...
(Me and the presenter pissing ourselves as silently as we could)
Halford: ''Well we as a club have been in discussion with the authorities in Lokeren and that is what they have been saying''.
The Chief of police came back on again to refute such instructions had been made. He was thanked for his time as was Halford and myself as the topic was wrapped up. Classic moment as Bernard Halford was caught with his trousers down.
And yet he was awarded a Sainthood a few years later and lauded by fans.......
