When Bristol City's trip to Reading in 1984 was marred by...

A memorable day for Bristol City players and supporters alike, as police and supporters battled at Elm Park

The ugliest example of football hooliganism was witnessed on April 7, 1984, when Bristol City travelled to Reading

for a Fourth Division promotion match.

The game between two teams vying for a spot in the top four ought to have served as a compelling marketing

campaign for the Football League’s lower division.

Instead, the play soon became incidental as the worst terrace scenes I have witnessed first-hand before or since

developed at the end of Elm Park reserved for visiting fans.

I can still picture Reading goalkeeper Alan Judge standing outside his penalty area trying to avoid a fusillade of

missiles aimed in his direction from behind the goal.

From the press box on one side of the ground you could see the beer spilling out of cans that were being thrown in

Judge’s direction as police tried in vain to curb the trouble.

Reading took a 2-0 lead during the first half, which was framed by rushing terrace fights.

The hosts took the lead in the tenth minute thanks to a low cross from prolific striker Trevor Senior, which was

scored by Lawrie Sanchez, who four years later would score the game-winning goal for Wimbledon in a huge FA Cup

final shock against Liverpool.

On minute 36, a player with a very different and tragic fate scored the second goal.

Born in Burnham-on-Sea, Dean Horrix died in a vehicle accident in March 1990, just over a week after joining City

from Millwall for £50,000. He was only 28 years old.El

He tried to double Reading’s lead with a cross from the right, but it was clumsily cut and curled over City goalie John

Shaw’s head into the roof of the net.

Rob Newman’s free kick, which Judge tipped around a post, was City’s lone real attempt, but by halftime, not many

people were discussing the game.

When Bristol City’s trip to Reading in 1984 was marred by ‘football hooliganism at its ugliest’