Crewe derby match warning

Audlem shoppers might prefer to avoid Crewe this Saturday as Port Vale soccer fans arrive for a derby match at the Gresty Road stadium.

Cheshire Police have ordered pubs around the ground and in Crewe town centre to close their doors to prevent drunken fans causing trouble.

Superintendent Luke McDonnell said: "A large-scale and robust policing operation will be in place. All the pubs in the vicinity of the stadium and in the town centre will be closed from 3pm until well after the game has ended, so there will be nowhere for any ticketless fans to stay and drink while the game is in progress. The time the pubs reopen will be at the police's discretion."

Port Vale sold out their ticket allocation for the match very quickly and fans without tickets have been warned not to travel to Crewe to try to get into the game.

Any supporters of either team found in the opposing ends of the stadium have been warned they are liable to be ejected.

"We strongly advise that if you are a supporter without a ticket to the match, don't travel to Crewe on the day," added Supt. McDonnell.

A similar derby fixture in 2011 was marred with trouble with fist fights breaking out in the Nantwich Road and Mill Street areas before the kick-off.

Bricks were thrown at police as about 60 supporters from both teams were involved in street violence. Fifteen fans were charged with public order offences after violent clashes.

Inspector Christian Watkins added: " It is imperative that supporters of both clubs can come to Crewe and enjoy the game, and that the actions of a minority don't spoil the match day experience for the majority of well-behaved and law-abiding supporters."

Pubs on the outskirts of the town will remain open but some plan to step up security for the big match and employ bouncers on their doors to keep out troublemakers.

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