Banned football hooligan's warning to Scots fans

A DAD-OF-TWO banned from football matches for being a hooligan has warned Scots thugs how hard it is to give up watching the game.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/upload/300806nhooligans.jpg
EX-FOOTBALL hooligan
Andy Nicholls said a
banning order hurts more
than being sent to prison.
Picture: Mark Gibson

Andy Nicholls is serving a life ban from Everton (http://www.evertonfc.com/), the club he supports, and spent time behind bars for football-related violence.

Speaking as the Scottish Executive launched the introduction of Football Banning Orders at Hampden Park, he said: "I've been the subject of two banning orders and a life ban from my football club.

"A banning order hurts more than any thump you get or kick you get and more than any fine. They even hurt more than getting sent to prison.

"The banning orders changed my life because it's taken away something from me which, even as a hooligan, I was passionate about. Taking away that part of your life hurts."

Andy became a football thug in the mid-70s when he started attending Everton games and getting into fights with other fans.

He was arrested 22 times and was one of the hooligans involved in the 1985 Heysel disaster, despite not supporting either team involved.

The clashes resulted in the deaths of 39 Italian fans at the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus in Brussels.

The 43-year-old from Flintshire, North Wales, told how a banning order, introduced in England and Wales in 2000, went way beyond just football.

Fans found guilty of bigotry, racism or violence after Friday - when the orders come into force in Scotland - will not be allowed to visit grounds, go to town centres on match days, or travel on overseas trips when they coincide with matches for up to 10 years.

Anyone failing to comply with an order can be fined up to £5000 and jailed for up to six months.

Andy finally turned his back on trouble after his life ban in 2003 and has now written several books about the subject. He said: "It meant I had to hand in my passport when teams were going abroad and couldn't go to any ground in the country.

"Try telling your wife you can't go shopping at weekends or explaining to your little girl you can't go to a pantomime. It had a big impact on my life."

Assistant Chief Constable Kevin Smith, who speaks on football issues for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, said: "Fortunately in Scotland we do not see the level of organised football disorder experienced elsewhere.

"However, we cannot be complacent and football banning orders will give us an extra option in dealing with hooliganism."

Publication date 30/08/06

Source: EveningTimes (http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5056533.html)