Hull City fan Louis Cooper 'overwhelmed' by support for Huddersfield travel challenge
A TEENAGE Hull City fan has been overwhelmed with the support he has received over his legal battle with West Yorkshire Police.
The force have said all City fans have to travel to the game at Huddersfield Town on official Tiger Travel coaches from Hull.
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'Ridiculous restrictions': Louis Cooper would have to make a 350-mile round trip to the Hull City v Huddersfield Town game, despite living 30 miles from the John Smith's Stadium.
The clubs are in talks with the police over changing the sanctions, with a new announcement possible today.
However, in the meantime, solicitors Deighton Pierce Glynn have sent a letter to the police on behalf of Louis Cooper, 15, who is challenging the sanctions.
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Louis, who lives in Manchester and travels to every Hull City home and away game, said he would have to make a 350-mile round trip to the game, when the ground is just 30 miles away from his house.
He said: "The support has been overwhelming.
"It has gone crazy since and I feel supported by the whole football family.
"Messages of support have come in from all over England, Scotland, Europe and the Americas.
"They're not just Hull City fans, but fans of clubs all over the country."
The match on March 30 was originally set for 12.30pm, but kick-off has now been changed to 5.20pm because the game is to be televised on Sky Sports.
West Yorkshire Police originally refused permission for the game to be held at this time due to cost of policing and concerns at the prospect of away fans drinking in Huddersfield before it starts.
They changed their mind when a series of sanctions were agreed, which included the travel restrictions and Hull City being allocated only 1,500 tickets for the Championship clash at the John Smith's Stadium, which can hold up to 4,000 away fans.
Disabled supporters will be allowed to travel to the game independently from Tiger Travel, providing they are accompanied only by their sole carer.
Louis, who has set up a blog which has been viewed by more than 3,800 people, said: "How is it that I am treated like a criminal and have to accept these ridiculous restrictions?
"I have travelled to Beijing to watch Hull City and have done so without restrictions.
"The police have made it impossible for a lot of fans to go to the game."
West Yorkshire Police would give no further details as to the talks which are taking place this week with both clubs.
Assistant Chief Constable Craig Guildhall said: "We are currently in negotiations and are speaking to both football clubs to address the issues that have been raised regarding some fans travelling to the Huddersfield Town v Hull City match at the end of March.
"West Yorkshire Police will continue to play a role, together with both clubs, in reducing the risks associated with this fixture."
See the Mail's website – www.thisishull.co.uk – for the latest breaking news on the issue.
19 Comments
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by stantheman
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:11PM
“Good luck to this bright young lad. Also for supporting his home town club whilst living in Manchester. Unlike many in Hull who latch onto the two Manchester clubs for some obscure reason.
I'm 100% behind this lad. And I actually attend City matches home and away and have done for a long long time.
Pity the club didn't take this stance weeks ago and sent all the tickets back.
I will be boycotting the match.
Sadly this campaign is like bread from heaven for the armchair football haters and some of the posts below smack of that.
Sad people with even sadder lives.”
by spiderboy
Friday, March 01 2013, 9:41AM
“SHINEYPOO YOU ARE A MUPPET”
by Footbtourist
Thursday, February 28 2013, 8:03PM
“Shynepo with your comments you are a disgrace to your fellow City fans.
Hull City have one of the lowest arrest rates in the league and zero arrests for alcohol all last season. What Hull City fan action has made this Category C+IR in any way justifiable?
You are probably living so far in the past that your actually annoyed that Hull City have been successful recently! I bet you are so bitter if you won the lottery you would complain about the cheque saying "I wanted cash". As for your comment about executive boxes you could not be more wrong about the lad and if you were a regular city fan you would see him in the Griffin before most home games.
If you dream of a world where Hull City is back at the foot of the football pyramid but you can sit quietly and drink a bottle of red with your middle class mates while the police keep all the poor people out please stay in bed and dream on.
SHAME ON YOU”
by shynepo23
Thursday, February 28 2013, 5:31PM
“At the end of the day: If City fans behaved this probably wouldnt happen. I wouldnt take my kid to see City away anyway due to some of the filth which I see and hear. Thats why I go alone. If you dont want to go by bus dont. End of.....oh and PS....Have you ever been to Boothferry? were you in the crowd amongst the 700 odd in the Auto windcreen shield game against PNE? Where you in the 16 fans who travelled to Carlisle the same year? No?? yes, I did presume you were the ones who jumped on the bandwagon as City improved.....In fact if you look at the executive boxes on match day you'll probably see this boy getting his pat on the backs.....As for in Hull standing up for principals....I can think of much more important things we as a City we could get behind.....Well behaved fans dont get these sanctions, our own fans to blame im afraid.”
by Footbtourist
Thursday, February 28 2013, 4:31PM
“Finbar you are the worse kind of troll.
You are both thick AND a hater.
How sad is your life that you not only have to be contrarian to a kid standing up for fans basic rights? You make all sorts of assumptions and digs based on your own prejudices yet have you ever met the kid? Why would he lie about being in china? Why would you assume about mummy and daddy? Given his Grandma is his advocate in this case do you even know if he has a mummy and daddy that are alive?
Now....
Why not go to youtube where you can find all the other alienated misunderstood keyboard warriors flaming each other over this-that-and-the-other whilst here serious people can comment on this serious matter for public freedoms and basic human rights.”
by Finbarr
Thursday, February 28 2013, 4:06PM
“I don't hate this kid but he is clearly a "figurehead" put up by others.
If he can afford to see city play in china (as he claims) I am sure his mummy and daddy can pay for his court case too.
It's just not important enough to waste tax payers money on. The police have this statutory power and are choosing to use it.
How many of you would be applauding if they used it to stop millwall fans travelling to the KC ? Plenty of you I expect.
After all it's only a football match, and no-one HAS to go ! You are not being FORCED to attend via coach - you can stay at home.”
by Footbtourist
Thursday, February 28 2013, 3:12PM
“The haters have NO idea about Louis and who he is or his personal stance on this issue. Louis has been at virtually every tigers game home and away since he was a bain and living in Manchester he has to be admired for staying true to his roots and supporting the team of his mother city. Yeah he will get legal aid but would you rather it be spent on freedoms for all football fans rather than keeping foreign crimminals from being extradited. Shyne how on earth is he doing it for his own personal gain? He is not seeking compen, he is questioning the legality of a police decision not claiming for anything. You are clearly an idiot if you think he should travel to manchester via huddersfield to hull to get on a bus and all over again in reverse. If you think a loyal fan home and away sees TV as an alternative then you are not in the same league.
Your comment is clearly WEAK and the justification of your own capitulation shows that you would rather be ridden over than stand up for yourself. If you go to the game under these restrictions it means you say up yours to all those who cannot. The kid has more minerals than ALL the haters put together.”
by cafesociety1
Thursday, February 28 2013, 2:00PM
“Shyne with your approach I would imagine we would still have bowing as a standard greeting with a toff.
In Hull we have a proud tradition of standing up for principles rather than meekly putting up with the status quo.
I am proud of the ye old white hart conspirators and the anti slavery campaign.This is a lesser issue but worth campaigning for.
Put Up And Shut Up?NO thanks”
by shynepo23
Thursday, February 28 2013, 1:40PM
“Lets not forget the kid isnt doing it for ALL Hull City fans, hes doing it for his own personal gain. None of the Hull City fans who go to away games using methods other than buses are happy. However, if this is they way its got to be then so be it. If you are a true supporter you'd walk to support your team. Im afraid this whole story is just another example of our compensation culture, of people stabbing others in the back and moaning. For heavens sake just stop whining and get on a bus and get to the game......IF you have an issue then watch it on TV simple. Its not like your missing anything, in fact your seeing the game and saving £25-£100. Could I just also state that I travel by car, Im having to get on a bus. Im annoyed but we could be heading to the premiership so Ill do it, just so the lads have one more voice to cheer them on to 3 points.”
by cafesociety1
Thursday, February 28 2013, 1:27PM
“Marsbarr.Are you claiming to be a tax payer?You seem to have alot of time on your hands for someone in work”