AN ELDERLY football fan was left lying in the mud with a broken hip and now faces months of recovery after crowd trouble at an SPFL match this weekend.
Mary Getty, 75, was taken to hospital after falling and breaking her femur in the midst of a rammy on her way back to a supporters’ bus.
Ochilview, the home ground of Stenhousemuir[/caption]
Ms Getty, an Arbroath fan, was attending the match against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview on Saturday with her grandson, Allan.
A gang of around 50 youths reportedly charged at Red Lichties supporters after the conclusion of the game, which ended in a 2-0 win for the home side.
Ms Getty has had to undergo surgery, which she received on Sunday, and has been told it could take up to six months for a full recovery.
She admits the ordeal has put her off from going to away games in future.
Ms Getty told The Courier: “It was awful, just awful.
“We have been to lots of football matches and kids will be shouting at each other but this was awful.
“We left early to get to the bus as I can’t walk very fast and next thing I knew they were next to us – about 50 of them.
“One of the lassies spotted the bus and they all surged towards it and I fell and broke the biggest bone in my body.
“It was my femur but they class that as a broken hip.
“I fell into the mud and was lying in muck and waited a while for the ambulance to come.
“It was terrible. I will go back to my normal matches when I can as I love going to the football but I don’t think I will be back at away matches.
“Maybe if it is not a long journey I will.
“The doctors say it could take four to six months to heal but I will get back to it as I love the club.”
Ms Getty will remain in Forth Valley Royal for at least a week to begin her recovery.
Grandson Allan was right beside his gran when she fell and recalled hearing kids shouting and screaming and that they clearly wanted to cause a fuss.
He said: “I was standing beside her when it happened.
“We came out of the game and where our bus was parked we had to walk down a darker bit of road.
“When we turned onto the main road there were loads of kids shouting and screaming.
“We went to go down to the bus and heard them shout, ‘Let’s get the bus’.
“It was clear their intention was to cause bother to the Arbroath supporters on the bus.
“They then started running towards the bus and the momentum of it all made my gran fall.
“There was lots of bother at the bus too but we didn’t make it that far.
“I was just shocked, you don’t expect to go to a football match and for that to happen.
“We have been to countless games across Scotland and we are regulars on the bus and have never experienced something like that.
“She was scared, there were kids who were scared.
“It is something you don’t expect to see at that sort of game and in that sort of league.”
He also paid tribute to the locals who live next to the stadium and members of the supporters’ club who rushed to help.
“The neighbours brought out blankets for her and the people in the supporters’ club were out helping.
“Someone from the supporters’ club is actually going to visit her in the hospital.
“The man who organises the bus is a nurse and he stayed with us in the hospital, we were there until 5.30am the next day.
“She is always usually out and about and she’s never had any bother with her walking so we are hoping she recovers well.
“Going to games with my gran is always the highlight of my week.”
Inspector Neil Wotherspoon said on behalf of Police Scotland: “Around 7.35pm on Saturday, 22 February, we received a report of disorder involving a number of youths in the Tryst Road area, following the football match between Stenhousemuir and Arbroath.
“One woman was taken to hospital for treatment after falling nearby whilst avoiding the disturbance.
“It is particularly disappointing that such an incident took place following a fixture not known for disorder in the past. We take any football-related violence seriously and work is ongoing with the clubs and the local community to identify offenders and ensure they face consequences for their actions.”
SunSport has contacted both clubs for comment.
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