IT was one of Bolton Wanderers biggest home games of the season so far.
Thousands of fans descended on the Reebok for the 'Superwhites' clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It is a footballing fixture which police chiefs had their concerns about -- a Category C match, the highest rating for a game.
Order must be kept, traffic must flow, troublemakers must be kept under constant surveillance in an operation, the cost of which, in the main, will be paid for by the football club.
BEN reporter Dave Roberts spent the day with Bolton police officers to see how they ensure supporters enjoy a safe day out at the big match. FOR the majority of fans in the Reebok, the only time they notice the people responsible for their safety is when a bright yellow or orange jacket flashes past the corner of their eye.
They are the police officers and stadium stewards who are there to maintain order and safety in the melting pot at the stadium on a match day.
As the fans footballing heroes charge around the field and emotions run high the police and stewards are there to ensure passions are not fuelled too much.
An impressive network of crowd control measures beyween the stewards and the police is in place designed to ensure the fans enjoy their Saturday afternoon in safety.
What follows is an insight into the complex policing operation which surrounded the crunch game with Wolves:
I am greeted by Chief Insp Dave Wolstenholme. He is one of three senior officers at the ground who will command a team during the afternoon, all of whom are under the overall control of match commander Supt Stuart Bailey.
1pm: Control Room.
On the south side of the Reebok, this glass-fronted room affords police chiefs with a superb observation post. With two hours to kick-off it is where senior officers have gathered for the commander's briefing. Supt Bailey briefs officers about the 2,000 Wolves fans who are expected and the 17 official away supporters coaches which will arrive at the Reebok.
Football intelligence has revealed the small core of Wanderers "prominents" -- those 20 or so supporters who police have marked down as troublemakers. There should be no problem from them.
Up to 30 Wolves "prominents" are travelling to the ground by rail. They will cause little trouble, with information revealing they are to meet up with Stockport County fans -- with whom they have an affiliation -- at the Waldorf pub in Manchester city centre.
Wolves play West Brom on Tuesday night and police chiefs are hopeful the targets will not want to cause trouble and so be banned from attending their local derby game.
1.25pm: Reebok Conference Hall.
Chief Insp Dave Wolstenholme briefs the 19 officers who make up Bronze Two -- the team which will patrol outside the ground and the Horwich Parkway rail platform as the thousands of fans make their way to and from the stadium.
It is one of three Bronze teams, with Bronze One, under the command of Insp Sean Hogan, controlling fans inside the stadium, and Bronze Three a dedicated traffic unit.
Again bobbies are briefed on safety measures with the senior officer reminding them: "If you get called into the crowd make sure you let your supervisors know you're going in."
Supt Bailey and Reebok Safety chief Rod Cross give a quick briefing to the four match officials, with mention made of the pyrotechnics display which will herald the teams' arrival on the pitch.
The referee's only concerns surround any problems with the teams' mascots. Trouble had flared up between Lofty the Lion and the Wolves mascot in a past match but the ref's mind is put at ease.
2pm: Reebok Concourse.
Soccer fans are now milling round the stadium as the kick-off nears. Chief Insp Wolstenholme makes a patrol of the area chatting to members of the Tactical Aid Unit and mounted officers.
The prison bus is already in place close to the two holding cells in the stadium ready to transport anyone arrested back to Astley Bridge police station.
2.15pm: Horwich Parkway.
We make a check of the rail stop and talk with a First Trains representative who has travelled to monitor the train service provided for supporters.
2.30pm: Control Room.
Final checks are made on the arrival of fans and traffic flow around the ground, with jams on the A6 - caused by football traffic and rugby fans travelling to Old Trafford, causing a few headaches.
Specialist computer software keeps a running check on crowd numbers, ensuring no part of the stadium goes beyond capacity.
CCTV operators Dave Critchlow and Norman Warwick, both Reebok stewards, keep an eye on the crowds inside and outside the stadium, with the use of 39 cameras.
Kick off and already fans are beginning to bait each other in the stadium's south east corner, where rival fans are kept apart by stewards and two columns of empty seats.
"Stand up if you hate the Wolves" is the chant from a small number of the 'Superwhites' contingent but it draws little response from the travelling fans.
A group of 10 or so police officers are stationed here to ensure trouble does not flare up.
Stewards warn a young Wanderers supporter who is spotted making gestures to rival fans. CCTV cameras will be trained on him throughout the rest of the game.
The first arrest of the afternoon. Chief Insp Wolstenholme explains officers have arrested a Wolves fan for a public order offence. A West Midlands police spotter had voiced concerns about his behaviour before the arrest was made.
A goal sparks celebrations and insults hurled by both sets of fans. "This is when you really start to see the baiting," Chief Insp Wolstenholme warns.
Officers spot a Wolves fan drinking alcohol as he watches the game. Four stewards and two officers move in to seize the drink. The fan complies fully.
3.45pm: Control Room.
The half-time whistle blows and it's time for a briefing with the match commander. Things are going very well, with no crowd control or safety issues. The "little bit of bother" in the south-east corner is as per usual.
Traffic officers and mounted police officers confirm there were no problems outside the ground before kick-off and fans arriving by train have all behaved.
Wolves equaliser is put away from the penalty spot sparking jubilation from the travelleing band and warnings from Chief Insp Wolstenholme, who tells command: "Radio through to make sure that nobody goes on the pitch."
A Wolves supporter approaches a police officer claiming that a coin has been thrown at him by a Wanderers' fan. The suspect is pointed out to officers and he is kept under constant surveillance before eventually leaving his seat.
Wanderers second goal sparks renewed on-pitch celebrations but officers keep their gaze fixed on the fans to ensure there is no trouble.
There is trouble in the Wolves section, with officers moving in to arrest a drunken fan and a second travelling supporter being arrested on an assault charge and public order offence.
Chief Insp Dave Wolstenholme joins British Transport Police officers at the platform to ensure fans get their train without problems.
Hundreds of supporters brave the incessant rain and begin to head towards the rail stop after the final whistle and board a four-carriage train to take them on to Bolton.
Chief Insp Wolstenholme stops the young Wanderers fan who has been under surveillance after being spotted making gestures. "We've been watching you all the time, don't do it again," he warns, with the fan leaving visibly shocked to know a camera has been trained on him during the match.
Away supporters have been marshalled on to their coaches and police motorbike riders form an escort for the convoy which leaves the complex within 15 minutes of the final whistle, heading for the M61.
The quick action prevents the chance of any confrontation between rival fans and helps ease traffic congestion.
The operation is over and deemed a success, with little trouble and few arrests. Officers are told to stand down as the fans head away from the Reebok.
Now officers can turn their attention to Tuesday night's clash with Nottingham Forest.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article