Police ask fans for help

Correspondent

Police believe Rugby fans hold the key to identifying those responsible for an assault which has left a supporter critically ill in hospital.

David Singer, 32, of Halifax had gone to watch Halifax play Featherstone Rovers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday. He traveled to the match with his mum, dad, and some friends.

As David was returning to his coach which was parked in the car park at Dallam Lane, Warrington at around 8.15 p.m. on Sunday evening, he was assaulted, suffering a serious head injury which rendered him unconscious. David’s parents did not witness the assault upon their son, and were unaware of what had happened to him until contacted later.

David was taken by ambulance to Warrington Hospital, and later transferred to Walton Hospital. He has undergone emergency surgery and remains in a critical condition. His family have remained by the bedside of their son throughout.

At the time David was assaulted the car park was busy with fans returning to their coaches and cars and making their way from the ground. It may well be that the events leading up to the assault, or the attack itself, were witnessed by fans from either Featherstone or Halifax, and police are urging anyone who saw anything – no matter how insignificant it might appear – to make contact with the Cheshire Police Incident Room on 0845 458 0000.

Police believe there is a strong possibility that the person responsible for David’s injuries may be a Featherstone supporter, and have boarded a coach for supporters returning home. Enquiries suggest that those responsible for the attack were behaving aggressively towards Halifax fans in general prior to the attack occurring. Did you see the attack? Can you identify the aggressors? If so, police would like to hear from you.

All coach drivers and companies are in the process of being spoken to by police, but in the meantime police are asking fans to consider their journey home, and the demeanour of those they travelled with. If anyone was behaving unusually, perhaps even boasting of assaulting a supporter from another Club, police would like to hear from you.

Information can be passed to the Cheshire Police Incident Room by dialing 0845 458 0000.