Cup riot policeman thanks saviour

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Pc Mick Regan said the violence displayed by a hardcore minority of "a few thousand" troublemakers was unbelievable and frightening.

Violence broke out among the 100,000 fans who watched Rangers' 2-0 defeat to Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester on Wednesday. Fans turned their anger on to police when a big screen due to broadcast the game to 20,000 fans in Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre failed before kick-off.

Pc Regan said: "From the outset we were bombarded with bottles and cans as we tried to contain and disperse the crowd.

"It was unbelievable when we got there, it was already in motion. It was frightening, on a different scale from any other match I have worked in my 23-year career. It seemed the vast majority were drunk and they just wanted to cause trouble."

CCTV images showed Pc Regan and six other officers retreating down a city centre street at about 10.15pm as fans hurled cans, bottles and rubbish at them. Pc Regan confronted the pack and was punched before one of the mob tripped him up and he fell to the ground. A gang of about 20 fans kicked and stamped on the 47-year-old before he escaped.

Pc Regan said: "I could feel the crowd kicking me in the side but my body armour was protecting me. I could see their feet in front of me even though my head was on the floor. I wanted to curl up but I remember saying to myself 'I have got to get up'. I knew if I stayed there I was in serious trouble."

The Manchester City fan said: "When I got up and ran off, I saw two lads coming towards me. I thought 'If they stop me, I'm in trouble' because I was winded.

"One tried to kick me. One of them shouted at me saying 'I'm British Army, I'm a medic'. He grabbed me by the collar and he propelled me up the street.

"Then one of our vans came round the corner, he threw me in the back of it and off he went. Thank God. I feel lucky. Whoever that army lad was, he wants a medal. I'd like to say to him thanks very much and I'll give you a few beers if I see you."