Two injured during Tolka fire

**dahamsta** · 27/10/2002, 6:03 PM

breaking.examiner.ie

Two people are believed to have suffered light injuries after a broke out at Tolka Park this afternoon during the FAI cup final between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City.

The fire occurred midway through the first half of the game in front of a section of Shamrock Rovers fans.

A number of fans were taken away to be treated for smoke inhalation, but no severe injuries were reported.

Officials and security staff rushed to the stand that had caught fire and the game resumed play shortly afterwards.

**Colm** · 27/10/2002, 9:12 PM

I wonder was it an accident. They said it may have been a cigarette butt but having seen pictures of Rovers fans burning Bohs scarves a few weeks back im not so sure. Is it possible that they were misbehaving and it got a bit out of hand?

**Éanna** · 28/10/2002, 9:20 AM

The commentary on RTE radio said that people were throwing pieces of burning toilet roll on- then later they just said burning objects. What kind of idiot does that?!

**TommyT** · 28/10/2002, 10:01 AM

There were piles upon piles of toilet roll and confetti on the side of the pitch and the front gangway of the stand (where I was), I didn't see what the initial spark was but the fire just should have been stamped out by one or all of the stewards instead of just watching it and allowing it to take hold on the floodlight padding. Definitely no burning objests/toilet roll were thrown

**Éanna** · 28/10/2002, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by TommyT
Definitely no burning objests/toilet roll were thrown

i´ll take your word for that. only thing is, rte seemed to be fairly adament that something was thrown, they spoke to their pitchside reporter who saidhe´d seen something (or thought he had). Must have been a ciggarette or something at least unless it was spontaneous combustion

**Éanna** · 28/10/2002, 10:44 AM

fai site says it was accidental. few people on the rovers forum saying it was a cigarrette butt belonging to a steward

**joe** · 28/10/2002, 4:25 PM

Rico was on RedFM afterwards and said he saw a flare set it off, though no one else seems to have seen it

**Colm** · 28/10/2002, 4:46 PM

According to the star today security officials think it was a cigarette butt but FAI officials believe that the fire was caused by Shamrock Rovers supporters who were throwing burning toilet rolls on to the pitch.

Personally I dont believe for one minute that Rovers supporters had nothing to do with it.

**Shelsman** · 29/10/2002, 1:01 PM

Personally I dont believe for one minute that Rovers supporters had nothing to do with it. [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree completely, it would be typical Rovers behaviour!

**pete** · 29/10/2002, 1:16 PM

Ah sure your always likely to have such an incident in a ground that has floodlight pilons on the pitch anyways. What was with that toxic padding on the pilon as well?

Tolka may have more seats that any other eL ground but thats about all it has going for it. In particular the access points & exits are sadly lacking at tolka.

**Éanna** · 29/10/2002, 1:40 PM

Originally posted by pete
Tolka may have more seats that any other eL ground but thats about all it has going for it. In particular the access points & exits are sadly lacking at tolka.

Yeah. I´m fed up of people calling tolka the best ground in the country. It has more seats than anywhere else, but aside from that it´s a kip. Put 10,000 seats down in st colmans park or gortakeegan (or whatever it is now) and it´d be as good. Tolka is totally over-rated.

**Shelsman** · 29/10/2002, 4:46 PM

Not to mention the fact that the ground is completely lobsided ( different size stand at every side! ). Having that said, Turner's cross is not far behind ( the side opposite the main stand is a bit of a joke but I suppose it does the job, but the Shed End looks ridiculous! ). There's not much chance of changing the shape of either ground as both are right in the middle of their respective city. The likes of Longford and other clubs don't have that problem as they're out in the middle of nowhere.

**Macy** · 30/10/2002, 9:37 AM

Originally posted by Shelsman
The likes of Longford and other clubs don't have that problem as they're out in the middle of nowhere.

Well with Longford it's by design..... moved out of the old Town Centre site to a greenfield site so we'd have the room to develop the ground, training facilities etc...... There's no way Tolka would even get a license in the UK due to the lack of exits, yet it's supposedly the best ground in the country!!??!! Potential to be a death trap.....

**pete** · 30/10/2002, 9:48 AM

Originally posted by Macy
There's no way Tolka would even get a license in the UK due to the lack of exits, yet it's supposedly the best ground in the country!!??!! Potential to be a death trap.....

Too few exits at Tolka plus a couple of bottlenecks that wouldn't help much in an emergency.

Then again $hel$ only get reasonable crowds when renting out for other teams or when they playing fictional teams.