Camden News: Police called to pitch brawl

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Camden News - By PAUL KEILTHY
Published: 17 April 2008

Police called to pitch brawl

Calls for tighter security after football player is hurt in attack

A PITCH invasion by teenagers wielding sticks cut short a youth football league match on Friday and prompted the volunteers running Camden’s largest youth activity to demand better security.
The melee at an under- 15s game in the Camden and Islington Youth League left one player needing medical treatment after up to 50 teenagers unconnected with the game stormed a council-owned astro-turf pitch.
The incident at the Market Road pitches in Kentish Town (pictured) was filmed by the attacking youths, who posted gloating footage on the YouTube website.
One club organiser – who asked not to be named in case his team was singled out for reprisals – damned security at the centre and said: “About 50 youths with sticks just went on the rampage. But it has been brewing for a while – anyone can just walk in and out down there, there’s no control.
“If something doesn’t improve there will be something much worse.”
After urgent calls from league organisers in the aftermath of the attack, police agreed to conduct additional patrols at the twice-weekly matches, which use pitches run by Islington Council’s sub-contractor, Aquaterra.
The league’s honorary secretary Delina Connor said: “These youths weren’t attached to the league at all but they attacked one of our league members who was on the pitch.
“It is a shame, because Market Road is an important venue for our league, which has 1,700 players and keeps an awful lot of young people off the street with no support from anyone except volunteer parents. I am pleased that the police have agreed to provide extra patrols and we are in discussions with the council and Aquaterra about providing long-term measures.”
A Met police spokeswoman said: “Police were called to a report of a large group of male youths fighting with sticks at Market Road. Officers spoke to the youths, however no allegations were made. One youth received minor injuries.”
An Aquaterra spokeswoman said yesterday (Wednesday): “We are shocked by what has happened. Any incident of this nature is clearly a matter for the police, and we will work with them. All the parties will meet shortly and discuss what needs to be done.”

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