A Blackpool fan has sadly passed away following a matchday assault outside a pub this weekend.
Now identified as Tony ‘Toe’ Johnson, the Seasider was left fighting for his life after he was attacked outside The Manchester pub in Blackpool on Saturday.
The incident is said to have occurred around 7pm, according to Lancs Live, after 15 supporters were reported to have begun scrapping around the town centre as police were already carrying out derby day patrols for Blackpool’s match against Burnley.
Johnson, aged in his 50s, suffered serious head injuries and received CPR on the scene before being rushed to hospital where ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
A 33-year-old man is said to have been arrested following the interaction and remains in custody; there is currently no suggestion he targeted specifically. His death was confirmed by close friend George Robinson on social media in the early hours on Monday morning, 6 March.
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RIP Tony. Another Tangerine in the sky 🧡🍊 Nobody should go to football and not come home. https://t.co/zibR6oBVKV
The club issued a statement on Sunday following the assault and the news that Johnson was left in critical condition. Blackpool have since issued an update after the lifelong fan was confirmed as dead, informing Seasiders that there will be an “open book of condolence from 4pm in the Moretti Lounge today, with supporters also invited to lay flowers at the Mortensen Statue”.
They went on to assure that they are working with “Lancashire Police as they continue their investigation and are not able to make any further comment at this stage.”
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The tragic news has hit the Seasider supporters and English football at large as a stark reminder that football fan violence is still as present as ever.
Local Sunday league team Armfield FC are one of many sharing tributes to the well-known Tangerine, with so many sharing the sentiment that “no one should go to a football match and never come home under any circumstances”.
All of the squad are devastated to hear about our good friend Tony’s passing this morning. A huge seasider and a regular at the Armfield Club. Our sincere condolences to all his family and friends 🧡🍊
— Armfield Football Club (@ArmfieldFC) March 6, 2023
Sickening news. Not returning home from football is something no one ever deserves. Didn't know Tony well and yet he'd always take a minute or two to say hello and have a quick chat. Top bloke taken in the cruelest way. RIP fellow seasider.
A side of football I will never understand!! Love the rivalries, love the banter, love the passion.. But how the hell does it come to this?! RIP Tony! What a sad day for football, but more so for his family!
— Burnley Estorilista (@1882CLARETnBLUE) March 6, 2023
Fans on both sides of the Lancashire Derby are deeply disappointed and saddened by the news.
no rivalry in world football is deep enough to go to a football game and not come home.
Tony was hailed as a “true Mucker” and a “proper Blackpool bloke” who will be sadly missed by all. Our thoughts go out to his loved ones.
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While his passing marks yet another dark day for football, it has sparked fresh appeals to further combat the prevailing culture of hooliganism in sport.
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation to open in Manchester city centre
Emily Sergeant
Cult US sustainable clothing brand Reformation is set to open its doors in Manchester very soon.
Since it was first founded in Los Angeles all the way back in 2009, Reformation has gone on to become one of the largest sustainable womenswear brands on the planet, and is now known and loved for making beautiful, timeless apparel and accessories that aim to ‘inspire confidence’ across life stages and occasions.
Operating on a business model that pairs a smart approach to merchandising with a responsive supply chain, Reformation now operates more than 70 retail stores across the US, UK, Canada, and France.
At the heart of the Reformation story is a genuine commitment to ‘doing things differently’.
Since day one, sustainability has been woven into everything the brand makes – from the eco-certified fabrics and responsible factories, to its famously transparent sustainability reports.
Currently, Reformation has five UK stores to its name – but, it may come as no surprise to fans of the brand that they’re all in London.
That’s why the news of this new Manchester opening is such a big deal.
Set to be the label’s first UK store outside of the capital, Reformation has secured a prime spot on King Street in the heart of the city centre, and although there’s no confirmed opening date as of yet, if the shop windows saying ‘Summer 2026’ are anything to go by, we can only imagine it’ll be very soon.
“For Manchester, it’s a landmark moment, and for King Street, it’s the latest signal that this is one of the UK’s most exciting retail destinations,” a spokesperson for King Street said in a statement.
Stay tuned for details on opening dates to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – The Manc Group
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Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis
Emily Sergeant
A series of ‘everyday fixes’ to help combat the rising cost of living crisis are soon to be rolled out nationwide.
Kicking off with two measures today, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced that he plans to ban retailers from making ‘misleading’ claims to customers about discounts.
The Government says shoppers have ‘increasingly complained’ about outlets artificially inflating prices to give a false sense of value, such as increasing prices only to then immediately advertise ‘discounts’ to make savings look larger than they really are, which goes on to create an uneven playing field for honest competitors.
The Prime Minister also wants to see an end to so-called ‘subscription traps’, where people find it hard to cancel their subscriptions, and contracts are automatically renewed at a higher cost.
Set to come into force in January 2027 and saving people an average of £14 a month for every unwanted subscription, the changes will mean businesses will need to provide clearer up-front information, regular reminders. and a ‘much easier’ exit to contracts.
Andy Burnham to begin rolling out new ‘everyday fixes’ for Brits amid cost of living crisis / Credit: gov.uk | Piotr Cichosz (via Unsplash)
A new 14-day cooling-off period will also be introduced to let consumers cancel after a trial or long-term contract renews.
Certain charitable memberships, like the ones for cultural and heritage organisations for example, will be excluded from the new subscription rules due to the fact they have a unique role in preserving the nation’s history, landscapes, and cultural collections.
The Prime Minister says he is ‘determined’ to use every chance he gets to restore fairness and take pressure off people.
“I know people are sick and tired of rip-off discounts and subscription traps,” Andy Burnham said. “Westminster has got used to telling people that everyday hassles like this are just part of life, but I don’t think that’s right, especially when the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on so many people’s lives.”
Danny Jones -
6th March 2023 
