THE 1990 invasion of Bournemouth by the Leeds so-called football supporters was a weekend I will never forget or forgive.

The fixtures just issued by the Premiere League have created a possibility of a repeat of that dreadful weekend.

Back in 1990 the police were well aware that serious trouble was brewing and requested the Football League to move the fixture to the following midweek but they would have none of it.

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What followed was a mass invasion by upwards of 10,000 Leeds followers who started arriving on the Friday with the match being played on the Saturday leaving Sunday and the Bank Holiday Monday free for the town to be wrecked.

The fixture for 2023 is due to be played on the Saturday April 29, followed by the bank holiday on May 1, almost a repeat of the timetable from the riots in 1990.

This coming match must not be allowed to be played on this date it should be moved to the midweek after the bank holiday.

I was present at the 1990 riot and without comparison it was the most frightening football match I have ever been to.

The so-called visiting fans were allocated around 1,200 standing tickets at the Brighton Beach end of the ground but those without tickets were clearly the worst for excessive alcohol and chose to throw stones rocks and bottles at the home supporters who were being made to queue outside the ground whilst each ticket was examined by the police – causing a tailback of fans who were being pelted.

They even had t-shirts printed warning of trouble. The Leeds supporters were very threatening.

I had my youngest son with me and I was very close to turning back and not attending the match. At the end of the game I made a quick exit to get clear.

The match was significant in that if Leeds won which they did they would secure promotion to the old division one and Bournemouth needed a win to stay in the second division.

Apart from the football match the town centre was wrecked during Saturday night and Sunday with an estimated million pounds worth of damage caused to shops bars and property.

There is a very full account of the invasion which can be Googled which shows just how much carnage was experienced in the town including their taking over at the bar at the Pavillion it is well worth a look and will go someway to explain why I will never have any forgiveness for what this army of thugs did.

The saddest end for me this season was Leeds staying up on the last day of the league and thus the ingredients are in place for a possible re-run if the match is not moved next year.

ALAN BURDEN

Catalina Drive, Poole