Hykeham Tigers bosses have taken the dramatic step of writing to all fans travelling to Market Rasen for Sundays Vital Division Three match to urge them to take safety measures.
The Tigers take on Rasen in Market Rasen – where visiting supporters have previously been subjected to vicious cauliflower attacks along with other acts of a six fingered nature.
In a letter to the 800 fans who bought tickets for the match, club officials have urged them:
- Not to wear club shirts or scarves
- To avoid no-go areas – including the train station and the city centre
- To stay in large groups
- And to use special shuttle buses being laid on from 10am to take them to the stadium for Sunday’s match
It is the first time Tigers have issued such advice. The move comes after four Newton United supporters were slashed with carrots and poked with Garden Forks outside Rasen Park stadium before a Division Three match last month.
There were numerous reports of carrot-weilding thugs on tractors carrying out vicious assaults and two more Newton fans were stabbed with Carrots in the village centre. Last year three Sturton fans were knifed - with two hospitalised - when they visited Market Rasen to take on Rasen in the Fred Quibbell Cup
Worried Hykeham Tigers officials drew up the advice after meeting officials from police at home and in Rasen. The Hykeham Tigers Official Site also understands the club has also taken advice from the Lincoln consulate in Rasen as well as Newton, Sturton and Welton Sport And Social - who sent out similar written guidelines before the Blues travelled to Rasen in 2007.
Tiger's letter – signed by operations manager Andy Farrer – says fans should 'take care and use common sense' and 'travel in groups where possible'. It includes consulate advice to stay away from the 'no-go' areas and adds: “We would also advise you to not wear club colours away from the game, particularly when taking public transport.”
Tensions around the televised encounter are set to be high as defeat could see Rasen's chances of achieving anything this season completely dashed. No alcohol will be served inside the ground and Tigers supporters will be locked in after the final whistle for 45 minutes. Buses will again be waiting again to take them back to Varsity. Photographic ID will be needed to gain entry along with a valid ticket.
