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Men accused of football violence on day of game between West Bromwich Albion and QPR"
by Chris Henwood, Birmingham Mail
Jun 16 2012
Lee Forman, Jason King; Paul James Daniels, Stuart Perkins, Ben Malpass; Kevin Ward, Ashley Ward
THESE men are accused of taking part in a huge pub fight between football hooligans on the day of a Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers.
Paul Davies, 22, Benjamin Malpass, 19, Stuart Perkins, 18, and brothers Ashley Ward, 19, and Kevin Ward, 20, were among nine people charged with violent disorder over the incident.
Dominic Mallin, 18, and a Dudley 17-year-old, who cannot be named, were also charged at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
They were allegedly part of a group of around 40 that descended upon the Wagon and Horses pub, in Halfords Lane, near West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns stadium.
Lee Foreman, 26, and Jason King, 42, were also charged, but claimed they were innocently in the pub when violence erupted on April 14 this year.
Prosecutor Colette Orton told the court the two men were part of an opposing 40-strong group of hooligans linked with QPR.
The clash of the two groups saw “large scale disorder involving weapons and bottles being thrown,” said Ms Orton.
Foreman, of Bathurst House, Shepherds Bush, London, and King, of Lancaster Walk, Hayes, Middlesex, both denied violent disorder.
Mallin, of Wellsbourne Drive, Coseley, was represented by Tamina Greaves and also denied violent disorder.
The 17-year-old, represented by Reyaz Ali, gave no indication of plea, as did Davies, of Wooton Close, Woodcross, Wolverhampton, Malpass, of Barlow Road, Wednesbury, and Perkins, of Moor Street, Wednesbury.
All three men were represented by Stephen Cobley. The Wards, both of Carisbrooke Road, Wednesbury, and represented by Harmail Gill, also gave no indication of plea.
Presiding magistrate J Douglas bailed them all on condition they didn’t go to England games and told them to return to the court on August 6 for committal hearings.
She also told the Black Country defendants they couldn’t go to West Bromwich Albion games while on bail. The two remaining defendants were told they couldn’t go to QPR matches while on bailBirmingham Mail
MIRROR - John Cross - Fergie's Fab idea: Manchester United will loan young defender to QPR
Benfica were also in for the Brazilian, but his Old Trafford boss has decided he wants him playing in the Premier League not Portugal
Manchester United's young Brazilian left-back Fabio will be loaned to QPR next season.
Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson had already said he will farm out the 21-year-old to help his development.
While Portuguese giants Benfica were keen, Ferguson would prefer him to go to another Premier League club.
QPR boss Mark Hughes, who played for Fergie at United, wants a new left-back to provide competition for Armand Traore now Taye Taiwo's loan spell from AC Milan has ended.
The busy Hoops are close to free-agent deals with England keeper Rob Green and ex-Fulham striker Andy Johnson and also want Wigan forward Victor Moses.
While Fabio packs his bags for west London, his twin brother Rafael will sign a new four-year deal with United. Fereday
NEED for New Stadium?
Very interesting Perspective given all the talk of a new QPR Stadium. Obviously Circumstances differ radically. But still interesting.
Guardian
Liverpool owner John W Henry questions wisdom of new stadium
• Owner believes a new stadium will increase ticket prices
• Henry: it is 'a myth' that a new stadium will transform finances
Liverpool's principal owner John Henry insists it is a myth that a new stadium will transform the club's financial fortunes.
The lead figure in Fenway Sports Group has suggested a new build in Stanley Park would most likely lead to increased ticket prices, quoting recent examples taken from the United States. Henry believes the best way of improving Liverpool's ability to compete financially is through worldwide commercial revenue streams and their long-term future is not dependent on the stadium issue, which casts doubt over whether the long-mooted Stanley Park project will ever come to fruition.
"A long-term myth has existed about the financial impact of a new stadium for Liverpool," the American wrote in an email to The Anfield Wrap website. "A belief has grown that Liverpool FC must have a new stadium to compete with [Manchester] United, Arsenal and others. No one has ever addressed whether or not a new stadium is rational.
"New stadiums that are publicly-financed make sense for clubs – I've never heard of a club turning down a publicly-financed stadium. But privately carrying new stadiums is an enormous challenge. Arsenal is centred in a very wealthy city with a metropolitan population of approximately 14m people.
"They did a tremendous job of carrying it off on a number of levels but how many new football stadiums with more than 30,000 seats have been built in the UK over the past decade or so?
"New stadiums increase revenues primarily by raising ticket prices – especially premium seating."
Henry accepts there is a balancing act to be done when considering the worth of a new stadium against a redevelopment of Anfield, which presents numerous logistical problems.
"We've been exploring a new stadium for the past 18 months. At one point we made it clear that if a naming rights deal could be secured of sufficient size, we would make every effort to build a new facility," he added. "Liverpool FC has an advantage in being a global club and a naming rights deal could make a new stadium a reality. It is something we are working on. There has been interest.
"Going in the other direction, many football clubs have successfully enlarged their seating capacity. LFC has had plans to expand the main stand at Anfield but this avenue has been very difficult for the club over the past couple of decades.
"There are homes behind the main stand. Expansion of the main stand would have to be a priority for the city, community and immediate neighbourhood in order for that to occur. This issue is vital to the neighbourhood's future but we cannot and will not act unilaterally.
"While a new stadium or an expansion of Anfield is beneficial over the long-term for the club, the financial impact of adding seats and amenities should be put into perspective.
"That's why I say that it is a myth that stadium issues are going to magically transform LFC's fortunes. Building new or refurbishing Anfield is going to lead to an increase from £40m of match-day revenue to perhaps £60-70m if you don't factor in debt service. That would certainly help but it's just one component of LFC long-term fortunes.
"Our future is based not on a stadium issue but on building a strong football club that can compete with anyone in Europe. This will be principally driven financially by our commercial strengths globally." Guardian
Guardian
Liverpool owner John W Henry questions wisdom of new stadium
• Owner believes a new stadium will increase ticket prices
• Henry: it is 'a myth' that a new stadium will transform finances
Liverpool's principal owner John Henry insists it is a myth that a new stadium will transform the club's financial fortunes.
The lead figure in Fenway Sports Group has suggested a new build in Stanley Park would most likely lead to increased ticket prices, quoting recent examples taken from the United States. Henry believes the best way of improving Liverpool's ability to compete financially is through worldwide commercial revenue streams and their long-term future is not dependent on the stadium issue, which casts doubt over whether the long-mooted Stanley Park project will ever come to fruition.
"A long-term myth has existed about the financial impact of a new stadium for Liverpool," the American wrote in an email to The Anfield Wrap website. "A belief has grown that Liverpool FC must have a new stadium to compete with [Manchester] United, Arsenal and others. No one has ever addressed whether or not a new stadium is rational.
"New stadiums that are publicly-financed make sense for clubs – I've never heard of a club turning down a publicly-financed stadium. But privately carrying new stadiums is an enormous challenge. Arsenal is centred in a very wealthy city with a metropolitan population of approximately 14m people.
"They did a tremendous job of carrying it off on a number of levels but how many new football stadiums with more than 30,000 seats have been built in the UK over the past decade or so?
"New stadiums increase revenues primarily by raising ticket prices – especially premium seating."
Henry accepts there is a balancing act to be done when considering the worth of a new stadium against a redevelopment of Anfield, which presents numerous logistical problems.
"We've been exploring a new stadium for the past 18 months. At one point we made it clear that if a naming rights deal could be secured of sufficient size, we would make every effort to build a new facility," he added. "Liverpool FC has an advantage in being a global club and a naming rights deal could make a new stadium a reality. It is something we are working on. There has been interest.
"Going in the other direction, many football clubs have successfully enlarged their seating capacity. LFC has had plans to expand the main stand at Anfield but this avenue has been very difficult for the club over the past couple of decades.
"There are homes behind the main stand. Expansion of the main stand would have to be a priority for the city, community and immediate neighbourhood in order for that to occur. This issue is vital to the neighbourhood's future but we cannot and will not act unilaterally.
"While a new stadium or an expansion of Anfield is beneficial over the long-term for the club, the financial impact of adding seats and amenities should be put into perspective.
"That's why I say that it is a myth that stadium issues are going to magically transform LFC's fortunes. Building new or refurbishing Anfield is going to lead to an increase from £40m of match-day revenue to perhaps £60-70m if you don't factor in debt service. That would certainly help but it's just one component of LFC long-term fortunes.
"Our future is based not on a stadium issue but on building a strong football club that can compete with anyone in Europe. This will be principally driven financially by our commercial strengths globally." Guardian
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