A Maidstone supporter who was celebrating a goal when he fell from the top tier of a stand at Ipswich has shared a video of his landing on the spectators below.
After the altercation, John Ryan,59, was ejected from Portman Road and forced to watch the remainder of his team’s historic FA Cup fourth-round victory on the radio.
Ryan reported that as fans celebrated Lamar Reynolds’ goal in the 43rd minute of Maidstone’s 2-1 triumph, he was sent flying and made a “unpleasant” landing on unwary home fans in the bottom tier of the Cobbold Stand.
Even though he had a few beers, the fall could not be stopped.
“We’d just scored and we were celebrating and, next thing I know, I fell over the front because there’s nothing to hold on to,” said Ryan, who was two rows back in the upper tier.
“I fell and landed on the folks underneath.
“People run forward, like they do when you score, and I think I might have got a shove from behind and I fell over.
“The barrier at the front isn’t that high and when I got pushed, I was over it and there was nothing to hold on to.
“I was unable to stop myself. The landing was uncomfortable, with a mishmash of passengers and chairs.
“Nobody was harmed, but it was clear that they weren’t happy and were all moaning.
“They all stood up and began yelling at me, after which the stewards arrived and removed me.
“I was examined by the doctors, and that was that.”
Ryan was not permitted to watch the remainder of the game, despite having only missed 12 games in his 11 years of Stones fandom.
It meant he missed Sam Corne’s winner and the full-time scenes as Maidstone celebrated the greatest result in their history.
“I wasn’t thrown out by the stewards,” he declared. They were outstanding. I even had my hat returned for me by one of them.
They were talking to others on the phone, and it was widely reported.
“I was really disappointed not to be able to watch the entire game, but what are you doing?
“I was outdoors standing. I listened to the remainder of the game on the radio while I could still hear the crowd. We advanced to the next round, at least.
When he got up on Sunday morning, Ryan—who watches games with his son Saul—was OK.
“I’m fine,” he declared. “My arm is bruised from a hangover, but it will get better, right?”
Following the game, Ipswich published a statement.
“The club is aware of an incident that occurred during today’s Emirates FA Cup fourth-round match involving a Maidstone United supporter in the Cobbold Stand at Portman Road,” the statement read.
“The club is looking into the matter in great detail.”
Maidstone have been drawn away to Sheffield Wednesday or Coventry in the last 16.
GET MORE NEWS HERE
Leave a Reply