A FOOTBALL fan attacked after wearing a Blackburn Rovers shirt to a Burnley game at Turf Moor today made a heartfelt plea to fans and said: "It's time to stop all this violence."

Lionel Walsh, 43, was beaten up as he left the ground following the 2-2 draw with Brentford on October 2 and had to have seven stitches in his forehead.

Mr Walsh, of Lammack, Blackburn, was wearing a black and red Rovers away shirt under his jacket and had been sitting in the visitors' end of the ground.

He said he had been wearing Burnley Football Club shirts in Blackburn and Blackburn Rovers shirts in Burnley in a bid to bring the rivals fans together.

He said: "I had no trouble whatsoever from the Brentford fans but as I was walking back to my car streams of Burnley fans were leaving the Bob Lord stand.

"One of them spotted my shirt and start spitting and shouting abuse. Soon half a dozen more were doing the same. I'd never seen these people in my life before.

"The next thing, one of them walked up to me and gave me a great big kick on the back of the thigh. I thought there were a lot more of them than there were of me and began to wonder what was going to happen.

"Then another came up and punched me in the back of the head. Suddenly, I couldn't see. My legs went from under me and I fell, smack, on to the pavement. "Then someone kicked me in the head and I went unconscious. When I came round I tried to pull myself up but I couldn't and then a Burnley fan asked me if I was all right.

"If it wasn't for him, I think they would have carried on kicking me to death."

Burnley police sergeant Dave Croll said: "We are investigating the incident. We want to interview a man called Derek who went to the man's assistance and even took him to hospital in his own car. Anyone with information can contact us on 01282 472106."

Mr Walsh said: "Before the game I had worn a Burnley shirt in a Blackburn gym and was questioned a few times. I'd also worn a blue and white Rovers shirt at the Burnley game against Colchester.

"One guy told me I'd gone loopy, but I was only wearing the opposite shirts because I was trying to challenge the attitudes of the fans and their hatred of anybody wearing the colours of the other team."

Mr Walsh, a former lecturer at Blackburn College, clockmaker and student in cabinet making, sign-language and theology, said he had also worn a Burnley shirt in Blackburn shopping centre.

He went on: "I was thinking from a Christian viewpoint, perhaps foolishly, I don't know.

"Jesus was the sort of guy who would wear a Burnley shirt in Blackburn and would not be afraid of anybody."

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