Children were 'frightened to death' and hid under seats as a coach had bottles and cans hurled at them by Manchester United fans before their win against Liverpool last night (August 22). The area on Talbot Road was extremely busy last night as fans protested the Glazer ownership of the club, and looked to mistake the coach carrying United fans with a Liverpool coach.
The bus, owned and branded by Moston-based Beeline VIP Coaches, was actually transporting a touring group of mostly schoolchildren from South Africa. The incident occurred just over half a mile away from the stadium outside the Tollgate pub with the schoolchildren left 'cowering under their seats'.
This was the third time the group - boys aged between 13 and 16 - had visited Old Trafford within a week and they were "genuinely excited to be going to such a massive game," said Adam Bradshaw, driver and owner of the coach company.
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He said: “It was a school group from South Africa on a football tour. They’ve come over here to visit as many clubs in the UK as they can and play a few games. Part of the programme was to go to the game last night because they are all massive United fans. They all had the scarves and shirts on and were excited for the game.
“Then we were outside that pub, the Tollgate, they started throwing bottles and cans at us for absolutely no reason. Kids were cowering under the seats and in the aisleways. It wasn’t good at all.
"When the objects were thrown at the coach they all ducked behind the seats and a couple had to get under the tables in case the glass broke, this is disgusting behaviour from the people at the protest are not football supporters at all, just a bunch of idiots out to cause trouble.
“I’m a Manchester-based firm, with Manchester written all over the back of the bus in massive letters and with a big Manchester bee on it. It’s hard to believe they thought we were Liverpool fans.”
Footage of the incident has been shared widely on social media by some witnesses, with Mr Bradshaw following up with his own comments on what occurred.
“Many thanks you idiots, we were bringing a group of kids to the game (Manchester United fans) all were frightened to death,” he tweeted via the company’s account.
It took a few minutes for Mr Bradshaw to get the bus fully clear of the area amid the crowds and slow traffic. He was relieved to get away without serious incident.
“My main concern was nobody got injured,” said Mr Bradshaw, who did not want to give details of the passengers. “If a bottle had come through those poor kids would have got showered with glass.
“There were a couple of dents to the panel work but no broken glass, thank God. I’ve been to away grounds all over Europe and England never had issues.
“When things started being thrown they (the passengers) wanted to know why we were being targeted and I couldn’t give them a reason for it. I was shocked. But I wouldn’t even call those people doing it fans or supporters of United. I’d call them yobs.
"Decent fans go to the game to “support” their team not to throw stuff at passing coaches either that be Home or away fans."
Adam added that the group have now headed down to London to attend some more matches before flying home next week. The organisers of the protest march, ‘The 1958’, and Greater Manchester Police for comment.
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