Police praise Ayrshire derby fans

Jan 16 2009

RIVAL fans were praised for good behaviour as football took the headlines on Saturday.

Police kept a lid on trouble with only a handful of arrests inside a packed Somerset Park.

And supporters have been urged for the same again when Ayr and Killie clash in next Thursday’s replay.

Chief Inspector Andy Sweeney said: “I have to praise the fans, taking into account the very small number of arrests in such a large crowd and the nature of the fixture.

“We had no major incidents and most fans co-operated both before and after the match in deplorable weather.

“We were delighted with the outcome of the afternoon.”

A mobile CCTV unit helped stamp out flashpoints inside the ground, while police horses patrolled Ayr town centre into the evening. The huge police presence was one of the biggest seen at Somerset in recent years.

Cops will now mount a similar operation for the Rugby Park tussle.

Planning Sergeant Jim Gillespie revealed: “We will police the replay in a similarly robust manner.

“The message is that we want people to come and enjoy the game, but there will be a significant police presence in place.”