Fans mourn Darwen dad who died at Blackburn Rovers game (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Fans mourn Darwen dad who died at Blackburn Rovers game

11:00am Monday 8th February 2010

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The devastated family of a Blackburn Rovers fan who was fatally injured at Saturday’s game at Stoke have paid tribute to “a local legend”.

John Steven Taylor died of head injuries in hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning.

It is believed he was hit on the head by a bin in the concourse of Stoke’s Britannia Stadium just after half time during Saturday’s clash.

Yesterday his family spoke of their shock at the loss of the 30-year-old, of Avallon Way, Darwen, who leaves an eight year son.

Mother Susan Taylor, 51, who lives in Lisbon Drive, close to her son’s house, said: “The police said it was a group of them having a laugh, and a bin started flying around, and the next time it came over it hit John on the back of the head.

“He just went to watch his team play football, and now I can’t bring him home.

“He only lived around the corner, so he could just pop home for tea.

"He always had a cheeky grin. He was always smiling, all his life and was the life and soul of any party.”

Mr Taylor, who worked as a bricklayer, was the oldest of four brothers and a Blackburn Rovers season ticket holder.

In October he was due to be joint best man at the wedding of younger brother Mark, who had travelled down on the coach from the Craven Heifer pub with him ahead of Saturday’s match.

Mark, 24, of Somerset Avenue, Darwen, said: “We were organising the stag do on the way down. Now it won’t be the same.

“He was a massive Rovers fan, and everyone knows him in Darwen.

"I was always referred to as ‘John’s brother’ everywhere I went. He’s always been a legend.

“All the brothers went to Feyenoord in a big group in 2006 for the UEFA cup match, it was the best away day we have ever had.

“But the game he was really looking forward to the Burnley match. He had been talking about that non-stop.”

Mark said eight-year-old Jacob “idolised” his dad, who took him to Ewood Park in the Darwen End.

Over the weekend tributes to the former Darwen Moorland student poured in from fans of clubs across the country, and a Facebook group in his memory quickly generated more than 1,000 members.

Scarves and a programme for the Stoke match were left at the Sir Jack Walker statue outside Ewood Park, with the message “football’s number one fan.”

And a statement released by Blackburn Rovers said the club was shocked and saddened to learn of the fan’s death.

Chairman John Williams said: “This is a tragic situation and our thoughts are with John’s family at this deeply distressing time.”

Mark added: “The tributes have been incredible - from every club you can think of. Even Burnley fans have put down the rivalry.”

The two brothers had been sitting in different sections of the 1,300-strong away support during the match, and the family said they were still unaware of exactly what had happened.

Staffordshire Police are still investigating and are studying mobile phone and CCTV footage from the incident.

Mr Taylor was treated at the scene for a head injury and cardiac arrest, then rushed to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire but police confirmed he died at 1.55am yesterday.

A Staffordshire Police spokeswoman said: “A Home Office post-mortem was carried out earlier today and the cause of death was due to a head injury.”

A 25-year-old man from Preston, who the family said they did not know, has been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

Staffordshire Police said the 25-year-old, from Preston, had been “bailed pending further inquiries”.

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onlyonesimongarner, ewood says...
7:05pm Sat 6 Feb 10

I am have to say that the Stoke Stewards and Police were brilliant today, they did not get heavy handed and were very patient with the few nutters who baited them.

An old guy near me was pushed to the floor by a nutter who tried to jump out of his row just as the 2nd goal went in before half time, and the stewards were straight to him , and took him off for medical care. He was back later so I guess he was OK.

I hope and pray that this guy is OK, but by the way his Girl was sobbing as we left ( after the 3rd goal) I think it was looking grim for him.

Nobody deserves this at a football match