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Richie is a good guy - I have known him for a long time and he is no hooligan. A moment of madness at a game which was full of emotions. Give the guy a break he needs it!
Yes he broke the law but don't we all every time we get in the car or drop litter or swear in public!

- Jason King, Leicester UK, 11/09/2009 09:57
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When the atmosphere is hate filled and you score against your most bitter of rivals anything can happen. If he gets a life ban it would be ludicrous. It was after all our most hated rivals we were playing. STOP SANITISING OUR GAME!

- Paul, West Ham, 03/09/2009 22:59
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Those who ran on the pitch come into 2 categories, (both stupid but)...The over exuberant fan who got over excited at a very high emotionally charged game and then those who DID try to goad the millwall fans and players, the first set of fans should recieve a fine and last warning, those who fall into the second catagory and where also fighting the stewards and riot police should recieve 5 yr bans from all grounds.
This fixture always has and always will create hostility and violence and those that are unaware of this are being at best naive. The police badly under-estimated this game, especially being a night match and allowing the pubs to stay open all day long.
As has been said before there is normally 1,000 police officers on duty for a west ham V millall match and most of them are riot police, on this night there were 350 police...Banning away fans of either club will not stop the violence but will give those who are intent on trouble an excuse to fight in the streets.
At least if away fans are allowed the police can have some control over them for at least 90 minute and then have coaches to transport the away fans out of the area.
As already stated there will always be touble beteen west ham fans and millwall such is the deep hatered between the 2 sets of fans, sad but very true.
I DO WISH THE MILLWALL SUPPORTER WHO WAS STABBED A SPEEDY RECOVERY to stab anyone is beyond belief but to stab a rival fan in the chest is in my opinion attempted murder.

- J Edwards, East London, 03/09/2009 18:37
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typical iron mug.

- S, london, 03/09/2009 17:10
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Less pies and he would have escaped that steward

- Service Crew, LONDON ENGLAND, 03/09/2009 13:20
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Scum, utter scum. How can he claim to love football when his actions have caused so much damage to football. It's just typical from a hooligan to cause so much trouble, talk up a big show and then run away and hide like a girly coward. The club should ban him for life, we don't need his sort at the club and his pathetic apologies mean nothing to the rest of us.

- Tony, Munich, Germany, 03/09/2009 09:28
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I'm not a fan of football and certainly not of hooliganism but, he only ran across the pitch, he didn't actually hurt anyone. I'm sure he will never do it again.

- Emma, London, UK, 03/09/2009 03:01
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I`m baffled by the outrage showed by the vast majority of posters here. This man is called an idiot and a moron, but what actual harm has he actually did? Come on, really??

This man and the others like him who ran on to the pitch did so because they were delighted we beat our biggest rivals. What is this world coming to when grown men can`t ignore the petty rules just for a rare moment of ecstasy?

- Magnus, Oslo, Norway, 03/09/2009 01:14
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I think a 5-year ban would be sufficient, give him time to mull over his stupidity. Pity the 3 kids who now realise their dad is a numpty.

- Fo, London, 02/09/2009 23:25
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It's a criminal offence for supporters to encroach upon the field of play, so let him be treated like a criminal & punished accordingly & proportionately, but not punitively.
If there is evidence available that he was involved in any violent or other crime, then let him be treated in the same way, as the law proscribes.
If all he really did was run on the pitch a couple of times, then a lifetime ban seems a little draconian. The club & authorities will know, as they have the necessary footage to facilitate prosecution.

- Haydon, London, 02/09/2009 21:27
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The police lost control outside the ground from 6pm. What happened outside was disgraceful and the tax paying public were let down badly (residents, law adiding citizens and genuine fans). People are using what happened inside to deflect attention away from that fact.
Due to what happened outside the available police and stewards were deployed mainly around the away supporters area logically. This left large gaps in the stewards covering the less (potentially) volatile areas. This is were some fans got on the pitch after the goals. They caused no real harm, beyond delaying the restart. They did not attack any players or make any attempt to reach the away fans area. They returned to the stands when asked by players and stewards pretty quickly. Some of these appeared to be children. These people should NOT be banned, but fined and given a final warning.
The people who were fighting with the stewards and police, appeared to be attempting to get on the pitch to reach the away supporters. They should be banned for life from all football grounds. This person appeared to be one of those and he will get what he deserves. With CCTV the authorities will know who did what. Punish the guilty, but show mercy to fans who simply celebrated goals in the wrong place. Finally i would like to praise the players and stewards who handled a difficult situation very well in my opinion. They kept order in the ground, which the police lost outside.

- Tony Jones, Vinaros Spain, 02/09/2009 20:59
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He does exactly what a hooligan is known for !

- Joe, Swanley Kent, 02/09/2009 18:32
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Does any one remember how many fans including myself spent more time on the pitch than in the terraces during the infamous bond scheme period penalty zilch , come on people this man has really done nothing wrong its the politically correct society in which we live sensationalizing a fat bloke celebrating his team beating our biggest rivals.We all moan about our governments trying to nanny us now you are all supporting them .Lets just put it all behind us and for gods sake there were hardly any arrests compared to a man u v liverpool match any way . CMON YOU IRONS

- Kiwi Hammer, wellington nz, 02/09/2009 18:21
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I am sorry Richard but you know the score, fans who invade the pitch instigate trouble, so stewards and police are supposed to know you are not a nutter trying to cause harm to opposing fans. I go crazy when Spurs score yet seem to manage not to waddle in my shorts half way around the pitch (twice) and if I did would fully expect to be barred as you should be. All of those caught on camera and TV should be banned from West Ham. Pitch invasions are going back to the dark ages of the 70's and 80's. So get used to watching your team on the TV from now on!

- Sd, WICKFORD, 02/09/2009 18:17
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...its not like he doesnt need the exercise.

Keep it up Dicky... only another 4 million miles to go.

- Sir Arthur Bottom-Smackley, Putney, 02/09/2009 17:33
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imagine his kids at school getting stick cause their dad has a coin holder round his neck

punish him by making him watch dvd`s of carlton cole in action while drinking diet coke not full fat

- Billyboy 1967, london, 02/09/2009 17:12
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I bet the fella who sits next to him is relieved.
COYI

- Slim, Essex, 02/09/2009 17:10
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i think he should lead millwall out at every match
so then he gets the abuse not the players

- Steve Adams, royston, 02/09/2009 17:00
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He ran around on a football pitch??!! Shock horror, ban him for life, lock him up and throw away the key!! I really think some bods on here need to get a sense of grip big time.

The only concerning thing about all this is that he's a rather rotund grown man in a replica shirt who appears to be wearing a money pot around his neck!! That is the only thing he should be punished for!

- Smiler, Bermondsey, 02/09/2009 16:55
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Now we have the technology to age facial features using CGI, surely it is time to track down the mindless hooligans who invaded the pitch against West Germany in 1966. Some of them will now be in their 80s or 90s, but if we are talking about lifetime bans for such an offence this shouldn't be relevant. Those Zimmer frames can be used as dangerous weapons.

- Kev, New Cross Gate, 02/09/2009 16:47
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Oh My god.....Poor Kids

- John B, Essex, 02/09/2009 16:41
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The guy ran on to the pitch big deal he ran off the pitch did he hit anyone? No, did he hurt anyone I guess no. What fuss being made. I can remember a time as a kid (me) it was o.k. to run on to the pitch at the end of the season. But hey you can't even do that any more. No wonder the stands are empty not just due to ticket prices but the lack of Genuine Atmosphere. I feel sorry for the guy who being made a scapegoat in all this when the real reason that there wasn't enough Police on the ground when normally there's 1000 bobbies on the beat for the Millwall game but only 350 turn up for that night. Hmm you go and figured no wonder the Police had trouble keeping to two sides apart. Did you also know that the Police even opened the gates to let none-paying Millwall fan inside the Sir Trevor Booking stand, about 200 Millwall Fans got in through those means. You think Jesus haven't they learn anything from the Hillsborough? In all fairness the Police were struggle to contain the crowds and probably save a few more people lives by opening the gates which does beg the question the real reason for the smoke and mirrors we have all been reading and hearing lately.

- Loppy, London, 02/09/2009 16:41
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Lb, London

Were you at the game, all you see is a fat funny bloke running around a pitch, did you see what happened prior to this.

Thought not

- David, London, 02/09/2009 16:35
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I was at the match in the West Upper above the corner of the new Trevor Brooking stand which is where this guy was, next to the Millwall fans with a block of seats, policemen and stewards between them. It was a passionate match and yes it was great to score three goals, but had I been where this guy was I wouldn't have laid into stewards or ran on the pitch. Chanting is ok, celebrating is ok, but anything more than that and it usually ends up costing the club money in fines.

It seems to me that this guy chose that location in the ground deliberately in order to carry out what he did. He deserves everything that’s coming to him and well done to the other Hammers fans for showing this guy up for what he is, an idiot. As for the ticketless morons outside, as far as I am concerned they may as well organise their rucks in town centres across the country at closing time every Friday or Saturday night because that’s where they belong and they are nothing to do with football, and they are obviously too stupid and know too little about how the modern game works to be called fans.

- Paul R, London, 02/09/2009 15:45
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He was a thug he could have started a mass invasion.

I was in the lions end and for some reason he stood out ...........I wonder why !!

- Danny, deptford london, 02/09/2009 15:30
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BAN HIM!!!

LOCK HIM UP!!!

DISGRACE!!!

SCUM!!!

HOOLIGAN SHAME!!!

AT LEAST 10 YEARS IN PRISION!!!



Some of the comments on this site really are laughable. Nearly as bad as the PC, left wing softly softly approach are the ridiculous, over the top, terrified, brainwashed sheep who see any type of behaviour outside the daily norm of paying our taxes then dying as the end of the world and a example of broken Britain.

Second story on London's new website, 30+ replies of disgust.....for a bloke running around on a football pitch!

- Lb, London, 02/09/2009 15:28
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He should be banned just for wearing a coin holder sad man.

- Madwall, Milton Keynes, 02/09/2009 14:56
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Er, yes you are actually. If you don't want to be called a hooligan don't act like one. This guy is old enough to know better and should be prepared to take the consequences of his actions, rather than bleating about how sorry he is. If he joined in, then he is as bad as the people who started it.

- Lw, london, 02/09/2009 14:43
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Can you not see what you have done?
Understand what has happened to the reputation of the club!!
Nothing is going to happen to these idiots!
Truely disgusting?

- Agra Do, Epic Chode Valley, 02/09/2009 14:20
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As if life in Dagenham wasn't hard enough. Couldn't he say he was from Elm Park or Rainham (that'll get the "South Hornchurch" lot going) just to give dagenham a break for a change.

"I live for football and now I stand the chance of never being allowed into a ground again or taking my boy to see West Ham."

I think the colloquial term here is, MUPPET! I wonder if he has apologised to his children for letting them down too?

- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County, 02/09/2009 14:08
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I think the Millwall players deserve a lot of credit for their behaviour. They were confronted by thugs running on the pitch and abusing them to their faces with words and gestures but in contrast to a large minority of the West Ham fans they remained calm and dignified.

At least this idiot now has his own special video to immortalise his fifteen minutes of fame.

- Tony Dolby, London, England, 02/09/2009 14:07
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haha the comical fat guy has his own website!

http://www.fathammer.co.uk

- Doublet, london, 02/09/2009 14:06
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Geezer is a hooligan... ban him for life!

Why does football attract so much racism and violence (and idiots like this guy!)?!

You just don't see this problem with cricket where fans consume alcohol the entire day but it's always high spirited and friendly!

I guess cricket is for the real men and footie is for people like 'Chunky' here who just aren't getting any at home

- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 02/09/2009 13:34
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He should be banned and sent to Orient.

All those caught on the pitch are going to recieve fines, top it up and give the difference to the victim of the stabbing, then at least something worthwhile would have come out of all this.

- Roaminglion, London, 02/09/2009 13:30
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shame really but at least he has the great video on youtube
to look at while his team play
what a show up for his family
and he's trying to deny it hahaha

- Sue, SE, 02/09/2009 13:26
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I'd just like to thank Richard on behalf of all Millwall supporters at the game for providing us with such first class entertainment,
the most shocking thing I've discovered from this article is he's just 29, maybe he could see if weight watchers hold meetings on a saturday afternoon now he won't be able to see his beloved Hammers.

- Matt, Dartford, 02/09/2009 13:13
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You are all daft.

Its football for god sake, not world war three. Grab some perspective in life. You have child molesters serving pony sentances and yet people run on a pitch at football are deemed as being the vilest of the vile.

Thats from a Millwall fan

- Mfcsky, Bromley, 02/09/2009 13:06
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Let them all invade the pitch, maybe West Ham and Millwall would play better with 300 players each

- Justin, North London, 02/09/2009 13:02
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Violent hooligans have no place in football and quite rightly should be banned for life. However I think a lot of people are overreacting regarding the people on the pitch. Nobody seemed to have a problem when people were on the pitch when England won the world cup in 1966. As Kenneth Wolstenholme put it "some people are on the pitch. They think its all over. It is now".

- Florida Hammers, Florida USA, 02/09/2009 12:48
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That's mean Carl, just plain mean.

- Peter M, London, UK, 02/09/2009 12:46
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His athletic physique contributed to one of the best youtube montages ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwaFXPNKQwU

- Nick, East London, 02/09/2009 12:35
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i like his money pot round his neck best.....

- Jim The Hammer, Romford, 02/09/2009 12:34
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I quite agree Lb. However, perspective is not a trait known to the Media when it comes to football fans. I advise the fella to go on a crash diet if he gets a ban. He would be unrecognisable to the Police if he wanted to attend games, and his kids would benefit from having a fit and healthy father. So, some good may come of it after all.

- Danny, NW5, 02/09/2009 12:27
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I was in the upper tier. What I want to know is if he brought his kids to the game, what and where were they when he ran on the pitch? Did he just leave them sittingin their seats while their dad ran on the pich? How embarrasing for them when they go back to school to see their dad's picture plastered all over the newspapers. Ban him for lfe, there's other supporters who want that seat. On the walls by the pitch it says "please keep off the pich", he obviously can't read either.

- Andy, Esex, 02/09/2009 12:23
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I'm a lifelong West Ham fan and saw this guy, twice, with my own eyes, run on to the pitch and battle with the stewards. In doing so he let the club he claims to love down, and he let me and tens of thousands like me down. He knew exactly what he was doing and he didn't care. He's only pretending to care now because he's not man enough to take what should be coming to him - a life ban. No mercy should be shown to this clown at all, or any of the other idiots that dragged our name through the gutter that night and ran on to the pitch. Ban them all. And though I don't condone football violence of any kind I will say this: back in the 'eighties those who went to football for a scrap knew where to find it, and at least a peculiar code existed among the reprobates who got involved. No random attacks, no innocents, no kids, just one firm to another. And never, ever on your own doorstep. Whoever stabbed that Millwall fan was a vile coward, those on the pitch cretins. And though this excuse for a man won't have it they are one and the same.

- Darren, Edenbridge, Kent, 02/09/2009 12:21
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No sympathy for the dozy plonker - stupid enough to go on the pitch once but to do it twice beggars belief!

As for whining that "what hurts most is I have been lumped in with the thugs who just went for a fight,”: if you act like a hooligan don't complain when you are grouped with them.

Should get a 10 year ban (minimum) for each invasion and not just from West Ham but every football ground in the land.

- Ian, Cambridge, 02/09/2009 11:44
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Ban him for life. There is no room for idiots like this.

One look at the photo is enough reason alone.

Be interesting to see if he has a season ticket or just went for the millwall game.

He is not a supporter, he is just a thug using West Ham as an excuse for a fight.

I heard them shouting Awooga and such like and knew there would be trouble.

- Nnz, the forum, 02/09/2009 11:30
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give him a second chance for god sakes i balieve in wot he is saying' they should be worrying wot whent on out'side the ground that is were the hooligans wer up the ironssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

- Ironssssssssss, bath' england, 02/09/2009 11:23
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To err is human. But to run onto a football pitch twice is just sheer stupidity!

- Jock, London, 02/09/2009 11:06
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We at least we now have an answer to that old football riddle: "Who ate all the pies".

- Carl, London, 02/09/2009 10:57
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Nothing to do with West Ham what so ever.

Didn't do it once, but twice!

God help his kids, moron!

- Peter Moore, Dunmow, 02/09/2009 10:52
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Lock him up and throw away the key. That's just for supporting West Ham!

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 02/09/2009 10:44
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Mr Burgum may not consider himself a hooligan, but his behaviour undoubtedly encouraged others to commit acts of hooliganism. A lengthy ban should encourage him to behave himself at soccer matches in future.

- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 02/09/2009 10:35
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Cry me a river Fat boy.....

- Mark, St Albans, 02/09/2009 10:33
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This article is total total lie. I am a West Ham United season ticket holder of 15 years and was sitting 15 rows behind where this idiot attempted to get onto the pitch in the corner of the west stand lower. He did not try to get onto the pitch when we had scored in celebration, it was in about the 75th minute a good ten minutes beforehand. He was trying to get over to the Millwall support and was fighting with the stewards (at one point swinging punches at the head steward) until he was rugby tackled to the ground on his second attempt. As a 4th generation west ham fan with family connections to the club I am not going to sit back and watch this thug try and get away with dragging the clubs name through the mud. If this guy is ever let back in the ground it will be a disgrace.

- Nick, London, 02/09/2009 10:32
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He should be banned definetly but not a life ban if he got a severe ban others will be reminded not to run on to the pitch at any time

- Anthony Bertie, Canvey Island Essex, 02/09/2009 10:29
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Sledgehammer to crack a nut

This fool made a mistake. But lets put it into context here, yesterday we saw stories of gun fights, decapitated gangsters, other stabbings and shootings. He deserves to be punished but lets not let the hysterical and a terrified middle England turn this man into some kind of monster. His 'crime' is not in the same universe let alone the same league as the thousands of vile criminal scum that operate freely in this country

- Lb, London, 02/09/2009 10:26
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