For the attention of
Ken Bates
Chairman
LUFC
Elland Road
LEEDS
LS11 OES

Dear Mr Bates

Away Game Travel Restrictions

We are writing to register our concern regarding the police impositions that are again being placed upon those fans travelling to the forthcoming Cardiff game. The decision to restrict away supporters to only those travelling to the fixture on organised coaches with a Coach/Voucher/Ticket system we consider represents a clear breach of their right to free movement around the country. This is particularly galling for Leeds fans as the trouble that was caused at this penultimate fixture was rightly regarded as being instigated by the home support.

We understand that both the home and away clubs have to fall in line with police instructions with regard to supporters’ travel arrangements, as the alternative would be the postponement of the fixture. However, notwithstanding this we feel that Leeds United AFC could have shown a measure of solidarity with its travelling support, by publicly issuing a statement that they deplored the impositions placed upon our fans by the police.

We are concerned that this may become the ‘thin end of the wedge’ with regard to Leeds United’s away games travel arrangements and that more police forces around the country may decide to take the easy option and impose similar impositions for our other fixtures. Accordingly we would hope that Leeds United ensures that in future any relevant authority, attempting a similar course of action, fully justifies any restraint on our law- abiding supporters.

We would hope that all Leeds United fans’ organisations would deplore such restrictions and ask them by copy of this letter to support our request for future restrictions to be opposed as strongly as possible.

We are sure that you are aware that many of our supporters are not in a position, geographically, to actually travel to games that have this restriction imposed on them. We appreciate that you have made allowance in such instances for the cost of tickets already bought to be refunded, however we also note that you have only allowed a very few days in which the refund may be claimed. In view of this time of year when many people are in the middle of summer holidays (ahead of the season starting) this extremely short timescale is not possible to meet and we would ask that you consider relaxing this refund response time to allow for such instances.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Michael McGowan
Chairman

cc: John Hemmingham
Leeds United Supporters' Club
Peter Lorimer