by HoldTheFrontPage staff

Hull Daily Mail front pages from Monday and Tuesday

The Hull Daily Mail is co-operating with West Yorkshire Police to help them bring to justice the yobs who marred Hull FC’s appearance in the rugby league Challenge Cup semi-final.

Detectives were yesterday visiting the Mail’s offices to collect photographs and negatives showing some of those involved in the trouble that erupted after Hull’s match against Leeds at Huddersfield’s McAlpine Stadium on Sunday.

Dozens of Hull fans invaded the pitch and ran to the other end to taunt rival fans. The trouble then escalated, with Hull supporters fighting with stewards and the police and tearing down goalposts in scenes the like of which had never before been seen at a rugby match in this country.

The Mail contacted senior officers within hours of the disturbances and offered them photographs and negatives showing those who participated in the scenes of violence, damage and intimidation. The images will be taken to the force’s audio visual unit for analysis and enhancement – and the Mail has promised to publish clearer pictures of culprits who have still not been caught.

Mail photographers Dave Barker and Dan Rushall produced what editor John Meehan called an outstanding portfolio of pictures, despite intimidation from some of the troublemakers.

The pictures were published across nine pages on the day after the game. On each page, the paper urged readers to use a freephone police hotline to name the yobs. The following day, it identified some of the fans at the centre of the trouble.

About 9,000 fans followed the club to Huddersfield and the vast majority were appalled by the behaviour of less than 100 so-called supporters. Back in Hull, genuine fans called the Mail newsroom to voice their disgust, within minutes of the trouble erupting.

Mr Meehan said: “It is desperately sad that what had been a marvellous occasion will be remembered forever for the disgraceful scenes at the end. Those responsible must be brought to justice.

“We had no hesitation at all in making all our pictures available to the police and in urging our readers to name the troublemakers. We hope we can assist in identifying the mindless minority who have heaped disgrace on their club and city.”

The scenes, televised live to millions of viewers, came at a time when city leaders are striving to regenerate Hull and improve its image. Mr Meehan is a leading figure in the campaign.

Chief Inspector Gary Hammerton, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “The Hull Daily Mail will assist us tremendously by supplying these photographs which will allow us to identify clearly those people who caused the most serious offences.”

Hull FC now faces a Rugby League inquiry into the disturbances, with a substantial fine and/or suspension from future Challenge Cup competitions being mooted as possible punishments.

Mr Meehan said there had been tremendous demand from newsagents for copies of the Hull Daily Mail yesterday and Monday.

He added: “We put out 5,000 extra copies on Monday, and although I don’t have final figures yet, the indications are that it has been a big seller.”
Click here to see some of the Mail’s pictures

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