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!
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.
Full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Day 2024
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Day is back for 2024 this weekend, and the full list of road closures set to be in place has been confirmed.
Now that schools are officially out across Greater Manchester, and the summer holidays are well and truly here, the hugely-popular Manchester Day is making a return once again this Saturday 27 July, and as always, it’s set to be “the day summer officially starts” in the city centre – with a massive celebration of “all things Mancunian” on the cards.
The theme of this year’s annual event is ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s inspired by the international summer of sport, just 2024 Olympics kicks off over in Paris.
The day will be packed full of free events and activities to get involved with.
Some city centre roads will be closed on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July for Manchester Day.
These will include:
🛣️Deansgate 🛣️St Ann Street 🛣️St Mary’s Gate 🛣️Market Street 🛣️King Street
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 21, 2024
But of course, in order for the all the fun to go ahead as safely as possible, and as tends to be the case for events like these, Manchester City Council says it will need to make some temporary road closures to facilitate it.
The full list of road closures has now been confirmed by the Council, and there’s some major city centre thoroughfares set to be out of action.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Manchester Day is back for 2024 to celebrate the international summer of sport / Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Day 2024 – Road Closures
Saturday 27 July
From 6am to 11:59pm, Manchester City Council has confirmed that the following roads will be closed:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street) – access will be maintained to Marks and Spencer’s car park and Number One Deansgate.
St Ann Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street (Cross Street to Deansgate) – no access for deliveries.
All accessible bays, bus lanes, and taxi ranks within the closed areas will also be suspended during from 6pm on Friday 26 July to 11:59pm on Saturday 27 July.
The parking suspensions set to be in place are:
Deansgate (Manchester Cathedral to John Dalton Street)
St Ann Street – including the bays outside St Ann’s Church (Deansgate to Cross Street)
St Mary’s Gate (Exchange Street to Deansgate)
St Mary’s Street (Southbridge Street to Deansgate)
Southgate (St Mary’s Street to King Street West)
Market Street (Exchange Street to Cross Street)
Fennel Street (Corporation Street to Cathedral Street) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cathedral Street (Fennel Street to Exchange Square) – access will be maintained for morning deliveries only.
Cateaton Street (Exchange Square to Deansgate)
Victoria Street (Cathedral Approach to Deansgate)
Todd Street (Corporation Street to Station Approach)
King Street (Spring Gardens to Southgate)
South King Street (Ridgefield to Deansgate)
Barton Square (St Ann’s Square to St Ann Street)
King Street West (Deansgate to St Mary’s Parsonage)
St James’s Square (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
Cross Street (King Street to Corporation Street)
Museum Street (Peter Street to Windmill Street)
Marsden Street (Cheapside to Brown Street)
Manchester Day 2024: Let The Games Begin! will take over the city centre on Saturday 27 July from 12pm-6pm.
Check out everything you need to know ahead of the event here.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete
Emily Sergeant
Work currently underway on the Rochdale via Oldham line is expected to take several weeks to complete.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has now “slowed”, and this means that detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works have been able to get underway.
In order for trams to run again on the crucial line from the city centre to the two major Greater Manchester towns, TfGM says that a small section of track has to be moved back – also known as ‘slewed’ – into its original position.
The overhead line poles also need to be repaired too, the transport operator revealed.
Rochdale line update
Land movement affecting the Metrolink network near Derker has slowed, enabling detailed ground investigations and temporary repair works to get underway.
To get trams running again, a small section of track has to be moved back into its original position… pic.twitter.com/byERjitdi1
Unfortunately though, due to the “complex” nature of these works, and despite the fact that TfGM says it’s actively looking to “accelerate” the repairs, the project is expected to take up to five weeks to complete in full.
On top of this, the detailed ground investigations will also establish whether any further work to strengthen foundations beneath the track will be needed at a later date.
TfGM has apologised for the inconvenience caused to passengers.
‘Complex’ Metrolink repairs to the Rochdale via Oldham line could take weeks to complete / Credit: TfGM
Speaking on the scale of works currently underway, and how long he expects them to continue for, Pete Sommers, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, said: “I’m sorry for the impact this is having, and will continue to have, on people’s journeys.
“We are working to get trams running through the area again, but this remains a complex and challenging issue and it could still be a few weeks before this happens.
“We will of course keep passengers updated, and I’d encourage people to check our social media channels and website for the latest information and advice.”