Castleford supporters’ bus attacked after Warrington game

BY JOHN DAVIDSON

A Castleford supporters’ bus had windows broken and objects were thrown at it following the Super League defeat to Warrington last night.

The Tigers went down 34-10 to the Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday evening.

After the game one of the fan coaches, taking supporters back to Yorkshire, was attacked with rocks.

One of the Castleford fans on the bus, Cate Keller, told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads: “I attended the game last night traveling on the Castleford Tigers club bus with my 17-year-old son. 

“The game was dire but we had a laugh in the away. It was a great away day. We all got on the coach laughing about how it was like the 2012 season all over again, what we would have done differently (every RL fan was a coach in another life), how we were looking forward to playing at Whitehaven again, the usual Cas banter.

“As the bus pulled away from outside the ground a group of youths started banging the bus, we all just laughed and told them to go home – it was past their bed time. They followed our bus down Dallam Lane – moving slowly through the match day traffic we couldn’t get away. 

“Some young lads were gesturing at some of our fans to get off the bus for a fight to which they were told again, go home. A group of them then blocked the front of the bus and this is where the story becomes more sinister because the reason they stood in front of the bus was so another group of Warrington fans – let’s use that term very loosely – could then throw things at the bus window. 

“When it went through right by my head, I won’t lie, I was terrified and very glad I’d decided to sit by the window and not my son. The group stood laughing, throwing more things repeatedly. 

“The stewards eventually came out from the ground (and we called the police but they were 10 minutes away). The stewards stood there and did NOTHING, they didn’t move the kids, they didn’t seem interested at all, they just stood there and let them put two more of the bus windows through. 

“There must have been 40 of them in total. We were moving very slowly so they followed us down to the Train Station car park when they all dispersed. 

“The police arrived and escorted us to anout-of-townn retail park (KFC, Costa Coffee, Wren Kitchens) where they left us waiting for another bus to come from Pontefract to collect us. The bus driver was amazingly calm, how he didn’t react amazed me. 

“Whilst we were sat/stood waiting four youths found us and started singing Warrington songs and gesturing. The police returned and the little thugs made themselves scarce. The replacement bus arrived about 12.30am and took us home.

“What really gets me is they won, resoundingly. We were rubbish, we never claimed to be anything other than that last night. My son and I went expecting a loss – as a Cas fan it’s something you get used to. 

“If we had won, I could understand there being some banter, some ribbing, but when your team wins and you still behave like animals it means it’s not about rugby anymore, it’s about thuggery and an intent to cause harm. 

“These were children – 14 to16 maybe, boys and girls. I bet their parents are so proud!”

Both Castleford and Warrington have been approached for comment this morning.

In a statement this afternoon the Tigers said: “Castleford Tigers are appalled by a group of people who attacked a travelling supporters bus following the league fixture between the Tigers and Warrington Wolves.

“The incident happened around 10pm on Thursday, 17th February 2022 shortly after the bus had left the Halliwell Jones Stadium on the junction of Dallam Lane & Tanners Lane.

“This left our supporters, who traveled on a cold and stormy Thursday night to cheer on their team, waiting hours for a replacement bus service to get home safely.

“The Tigers are working closely with both Cheshire Police and Warrington Wolves to identify the people directly involved and those associated with the troublesome group. Castleford Tigers will be actively pursuing lifetime bans from entry to not only our own home ground but all rugby league stadia.

“Cheshire Police are appealing for any information related to the incident, CCTV, phone, or dash cam footage to please contact Cheshire Constabulary online at www.cheshire.police.uk/tell-us or via 101 quoting IML 1204059.

To the supporters who were affected by this incident, we will be offering you free coach travel to a 2022 away fixture of your choice. We ask you to please contact our Ticket Office to arrange your free travel tickets – please call 01977 529 264 or email markgill@castigers.com“

The RFL has told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads that it will be working with both clubs to investigate this incident.

In August 2019 a St Helens supporters bus had three bricks thrown at it after an away match against Warrington.

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