It’s a Knockout!

Portsmouth v Sheffield United, January 31st 1998

Matthew Bell

The second half of January 1998 was a difficult period for Sheffield United. Brian Deane and Jan Åge Fjørtoft had been sold on the same day in the middle of the month, knocking the stuffing out of the supporters, manager Nigel Spackman and, one would imagine, the rest of the playing squad. United had already begun to slip behind the leaders Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Sunderland before the club’s two main strikers were sold, and in a bid to maintain the play-off push, Nigel Spackman was able to spend close to £1 million bringing in two midfield players from the lower divisions, Shaun Derry from Notts County for £700,000 and Jon Cullen from Hartlepool United for £250,000. According to the then Notts County manager Sam Allardyce, Derry was “the best player in the Third Division bar none”.

Twenty-year-old Derry had made his debut in a midweek home game against Huddersfield and kept his place for the trip to struggling Portsmouth on the last day of the month. Little did he know he was to become one of the central figures of a highly controversial day – but not as central as someone who shouldn’t even have been on the playing area.

Portsmouth, boosted by the arrival of new manager Alan Ball, dominated the first half and United were fortunate to go in level at 1-1 at half time thanks to a blunder by goalkeeper Alan Knight, who dropped Lee Sandford’s cross into his own net. By this time, though, the moment that sparked headlines on nationwide news broadcasts had already happened. A few moments before the break Simon Tracey came sliding outside his area to block Portsmouth’s Sammy Igoe and the ball hit his arm. Referee Mark Halsey went over to linesman Edward Martin to ask if there was a covering defender. Mr Martin said there wasn’t, so Tracey was sent off.

When Tracey had gone off injured at Ipswich earlier in the season midfielder Don Hutchison had gone in goal and did reasonably well so it was a major surprise when young Derry volunteered to take over between the posts – there were no substitute goalkeepers in those far-off days. However, Derry’s brave performance and clean sheet as United clung on for a draw were totally overshadowed by what happened immediately after Tracey’s red card. Before play could restart, all hell broke loose as suddenly linesman Martin was felled by a member of the crowd who had clambered over the perimeter wall onto the track. It was obvious he was a United fan as he was wearing a Blades shirt under his leather jacket. The inexplicable thing was that this man had not just hopped over the wall and bashed the linesman, he had run half the length of the pitch from the away section behind the goal to do so.

The match was delayed for fifteen minutes as the laid-out linesman received extensive treatment from paramedics and Portsmouth’s physiotherapist. Unconscious for fully five minutes, Martin was eventually carried away on a stretcher looking decidedly groggy. He was to spend the night in hospital before returning to his home in Somerset the following day feeling, in his words, “battered and bruised.” He added:

I’m quite sore, but I’ll survive. This came as a complete surprise and it’s something that has never happened before. I did play a part in the decision that resulted in the sending off of one player. The referee came across to confirm that it was an offence and I said, “Yes, it was.” The player was then shown a red card. The next thing I remember is being on a stretcher.

His attacker, meanwhile, was dragged away by two stewards and a policeman. The Blades fan and the two stewards all had muddy patches on their jeans as a result of him being taken down by the security men. The Pompey fans at pitchside understandably showered him with abuse, and probably more solid and liquid things as well, as he was led off.

Blades captain David Holdsworth said after the game: “We got involved in a terrible business that none of us ever want to see again and the players did their best to calm things down.” Manager Nigel Spackman added: “It’s difficult to concentrate on the match after what happened to the referee’s assistant. That will get all the attention because we never, ever want to see anything like that happen again.”

Derry, meanwhile, when asked about his performance as the emergency No.1, replied:

My dad was a good non-league goalkeeper in his day and as there did not appear to be too many volunteers I said I would do it. It seemed to be me or Don and he told me if I fancied it to go ahead. I didn’t really have a lot of pressure on me and I was pretty happy with one good save.

But Derry’s pride in his performance was quickly forgotten as the usual scaremongering and kneejerk news reports followed in quick time. The question of just how the attacker managed to run fifty yards unhindered down the edge of the pitch was a valid one but mention of the possible sanctions to the two clubs were typically over the top. Portsmouth, as the home club, were seen as being more liable, but the idea of them having to play three games behind closed doors, as some suggested should happen, was ridiculous. All sorts of people with no real knowledge of the practicalities of football were hauled up to offer their opinions on television and radio, clamouring for more police inside grounds, better-trained stewards (a rare good idea) and, heaven forbid, the return of perimeter fencing.

In its normal plodding way, the Football Association ‘launched’ an enquiry, which thankfully came to the same conclusion that all sensible people called for. United club secretary David Capper correctly believed that Portsmouth shouldn’t be punished as there is nothing any club can do when a ‘lone gunman’ scenario presents itself. The only way that could be prevented would be either with high perimeter fences or stewards literally ringing the pitch, and neither of these measures was realistic. There was also no way United could be punished as the club could not be held responsible for the behaviour of one of its supporters in another club’s stadium. FA spokesman Steve Double concurred, saying: “We are satisfied not only that all reasonable precautions were taken on the day but also with the safety policy at the ground.” Neither club would be punished – rightly.

But what about the individual who perpetrated the attack? He was charged by the police with assault causing actual bodily harm, affray and illegally entering the playing area in contravention of the Football Offences Act 1991. Once his identity was learned he was banned for life from Bramall Lane. It turned out he was a 34-year-old hotel employee named John Michael Corker, originally from the Woodhouse area of Sheffield, who was living and working in Eastbourne, Sussex. He wasn’t a regular United supporter and he had only journeyed to Fratton Park because it was an easy trip from his current abode. Whether he thought it wasn’t handball by Simon Tracey or whether he thought it shouldn’t have been a sending off is not really important as neither belief is enough to warrant an attack on a match official. It would be interesting to learn just what thought processes went through his mind, but it wasn’t in the least bit surprising to discover that the consumption of alcohol – he admitted to having drunk “seven or eight pints” before the match – had adversely influenced his behaviour.

At Portsmouth magistrates’ court Corker pleaded guilty to two of the charges (the charge of affray was withdrawn) and admitted: “I don’t remember much about it actually, I was quite drunk.” Asked why he attacked the linesman, he said: “Because I thought it was his fault.” You can’t argue with that kind of logic.

Corker was bailed to appear at magistrates’ court again a month later for sentencing, having been told by magistrates’ chairman Stanley Kirton: “We believe the offence is so serious a custodial sentence could be justified.” Chris Randall, defending Corker, said his client was of previous good character, adding: “He doesn’t ordinarily get worked up by a football match at all.” Corker, father of a 17-week-old baby, had written letters of apology to Edward Martin, Portsmouth FC and Sheffield United FC. He was, apparently, “embarrassed [and] very regretful”.

On his return to court, Corker was given a three-month prison sentence and banned for a year from attending football matches in England and Wales. Acting stipendiary magistrate Richard Clark told him: “You had a considerable amount to drink and behaved in a way which was totally unacceptable. Such an attack in a public place of entertainment can be punished only with a custodial sentence. Actions of violence such as these may provoke other acts of violence and public disorder which may sometimes have tragic consequences.”

Corker may have been pleased that his sentence prevented him from attending any more games as United – under caretaker manager Steve Thompson after Spackman resigned in March – stumbled to a sixth-place finish, gained only when Birmingham City failed to win their final game as United lost at Stockport County. United did well to beat Sunderland in the home play-off leg but were outclassed at the Stadium of Light and lost 3-2 on aggregate.

Shaun Derry left United in 2000, ironically signing for Portsmouth for a fee of £300,000. He went on to have a long and successful career, retiring in 2015 after twenty years as a player. He then managed Notts County and Cambridge United and is currently part of Gary O’Neil’s coaching staff at Wolves.

Edward Martin, owner of a greengrocer’s shop as well as being a football official, admitted to having recurring nightmares following the attack. He returned to running the line on the opening day of the 1998/99 season – at Fratton Park! He was last heard of living in the Somerset coastal village of Williton, and running a computer shop.

But what is John Michael Corker doing today?