I would like to express my shame and disgust and apologise to all York City fans following the actions of so-called Luton Town supporters at the end of the game.

I live in Acomb and travelled to the game with my friends, who are three generations of York City season ticket holders. I sat with my fellow Luton supporters close to the the Oak Road end where the City fans were congregated and could see my friends in the stand (we even waved to each other in the second half).

As a Luton fan I was desparately disappointed at the defeat, especially after three years of successive relegations, but my despair quickly turned to anger as fans (of all ages) around me started to go onto the pitch, their intentions quite obvious.

The question of stewarding and policing, or lack of it will, I’m sure, be discussed as part of any ongoing disciplinary procedures against Luton Town. It must have been a very frightening experience for all York City fans, and I was just relieved to meet my friends later at the car park and discover they were none the worse for their ordeal I have been a Luton fan since the 1960s and I have never felt so annoyed and ashamed about the events that unfolded after the game.

Indeed, on Tuesday morning I went down to Bootham Crescent to apologise personally to to York City directors, Jason McGill and Sophie Hicks. May I also wish York City success in the play-off final.

Mike Pye, Acomb, York.


* THE disgraceful scenes involving Luton Town fans following York City’s outstanding win at Kenilworth Road on Monday serves to remind us of how the world has changed – did I hear somebody say “not always for the better”?

In 1948, my father took me as a small boy to Hampden Park, Glasgow, where England beat Scotland 2-0. There was a crowd of 135,000 there that day. There wasn’t any segregation, there was no fighting and no arrests. We stood next to ardent Scottish supporters and enjoyed the banter for two or three hours. One policeman stood at each corner of the ground and there were no security men on view.

At Luton there were nearly 10,000 people, compulsory segregation, and some 150 to 200 police and security men to look after the crowd, many of whom invaded the pitch afterwards to try to intimidate the York supporters.

Where did it all go wrong? Finally, congratulations to your sports staff for the superb coverage of City’s two play-offs in The Press.

Malcolm Huntington, School Lane, Heslington, York.


* I WRITE in connection with the scenes of appalling violence which followed the Luton Town v York City play-off match and, in particular, the comments by Sophie Hicks which I heard on BBC Radio York.

Sophie seemed surprised, principally because she thought such dark days were far behind us. Hardly.

Does no one remember just a few years back the actions of Leeds United’s hooligans in the match against Ipswich? Again, fans invaded the pitch and threw missiles and, again, the actions (or, thankfully, lack of them) by away fans prevented still worse trouble occurring.

Some clubs have a rank “bad element” in significant numbers (Leeds and Luton have always been two of them). As for sanctions against Luton, what sanctions were even imposed upon Leeds for that crowd violence? (The points deduction, remember, was for the club going into administration).

Too late in that case, but let us hope Luton have something thrown at them for a change – namely “the book”.

Finally, congratulations to everyone at York City and the very best of luck (not that I expect them to need it) at Wembley.

Mr C Corbett, Bull Lane, Lawrence Street, York.