In 1984, when 'football hooliganism at its worst' disrupted Bristol...

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.

As the worst terrace scenes I have ever witnessed in person appeared at Elm Park’s end, which was reserved for

visiting fans, the performance swiftly lost its significance.

I can still picture Reading’s goaltender, Alan Judge, standing outside his penalty area and trying to avoid a flurry of

missiles that are being hurled at him from behind the goal.

As police attempted in vain to quell the unrest, you could see the beer leaking from cans being thrown in Judge’s

direction from the press box on one side of the pitch.

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.

Dean Horrix, who was born in Burnham-on-Sea, passed away in a car accident in March 1990, a little more than a

week after paying £50,000 to join City from Millwall. He was only twenty-eight.El

He attempted a cross from the right to increase Reading’s lead, but it was awkwardly cut and curved.

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.

Twelve minutes into the second half, a pitch invasion caused the violence that had been simmering around the

ground to explode, and referee Danny Vickers wisely removed both sides from the pitch.

City’s players were enthralled as the game was delayed for fifteen minutes due to crowd unrest that veteran captain

Tom Ritchie said “the worst I have ever seen.”

When striker Glyn Riley and defender Bruce Halliday braved a barrage of projectiles to confront the rioters and

plead for calm, there was no more room for argument with the so-called Robins supporters.

“Someone yelled, ‘You deal with the game and we’ll deal with the coppers,'” Riley subsequently told me. It was

horrible.

My match report began: “City’s players arrived at Reading in buoyant mood for what promised to be their match-of-

the-season and talked excitedly about the sea of red and white scarves which greeted them.

“Four hours later the team left Elm Park, stunned by events off the field and feeling a mixture of frustration, anger

and disgust.”

Thankfully, due to the diligence of Cooper and his assistant Clive Middlemass, there were no lasting mental scars.

Their team bounced back the following Saturday with a 4-1 home victory over Northampton Town.

Reading: Judge; Williams, Hicks, Richardson, Price; Horrix, Sanchez, White, Crown; Price, Senior.

Sub not used: Beavon.

Referee: Danny Vickers (Ilford)

In 1984, when ‘football hooliganism at its worst’ disrupted Bristol City’s trip to Reading