Lincoln City Fans Left Stranded: Further Collective Demonisation Of Football Fans

March 9, 2026 Gary Lincoln City, News 0

Some Lincoln City supporters were left stranded in Cardiff on Saturday evening after a coach company refused to transport them home following the discovery of alcohol on board one of the vehicles.

The incident occurred after City’s 2-0 victory over Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium, a result that sent the Imps to the top of League One.

Two coaches operated by Black Cat Travel had transported supporters to South Wales for the top-of-the-table clash, but the company later confirmed neither vehicle would be used to take passengers home after South Wales Police reportedly discovered alcohol on one of the buses.

The company later issued a statement explaining its position.

“We have always welcomed football fans onto our vehicles and asked them to follow the simple rules.

“Yes we all like to have a drink and good day out, however as adults we should know how to behave. Today, not only have they not done so, but they have also brought Lincoln City into disrepute with the Welsh Police and Traffic Commissioner.

“We will be reassessing our football policy following the events of today and may lead to future bookings being cancelled. As usual the few ruined it for the many.”

First-hand experience

I left the ground around the same time as the buses, and spoke to some people who had been left stranded. I felt a huge amount of guilt that we didn’t have room in the car to take people home, and speaking to a supporter today, I feel it is important to write about the issue.

This isn’t just from the point of view of a single incident, but looking at what happened in a wider context. One fan on the trip, who asked to remain anonymous, explained how the situation unfolded.

“We came out the ground to be told that the coaches weren’t taking us home.

“The guy who got chucked out at half time caused a bit of a ruckus when he got chucked out. He was on one of our coaches. The police then searched the coaches and found alcohol on that coach.

“They basically said they would not take anybody home on the coaches.”

The supporter claimed that Lincolnshire Police had asked the coach company to return the fans to Lincoln so the matter could be dealt with afterwards, but the request was refused.

“From what I’ve been told, Lincolnshire Police asked the coach company to take us home and then it would be sorted out in Lincoln once we were back.

“Black Cat management refused that and basically said that if the drivers took us home then they would lose their jobs. Eventually we were left there stranded.”

According to the supporter account, the person believed to have triggered the situation had been removed from the stadium earlier in the day.

Fans said the buses were carrying a mixture of supporters, including families and older travellers, who then had to find alternative routes back to Lincoln late in the evening.

“There were children, old people, disabled people, miles away from home, not able to do anything whatsoever.

“When it became obvious we weren’t going to get home via coach, everyone stuck together. We all banded together and made sure no one was left behind.

“Everybody did eventually get home one way or another.”

Many supporters are believed to have travelled back by train, with some journeys reportedly costing more than £80 and taking several hours.

While the coach operator was within its legal rights to refuse transport after the incident, supporters on the trip felt the situation stemmed from the actions of a single individual rather than the wider group travelling that day.

If someone is drunk and disorderly on a plane, then it is that person who is dealt with, and the flight goes on to the destination with the innocent parties on board.

There is also a deeper discussion here about the ongoing demonisation of football supporters, which we broached on the podcast yesterday. It follows allegations that Katie O’Brien’s Irish Tavern in Lincoln refused entry to a Lincoln City fan who had the badge on their coat after the recent win against Blackpool at home.

Credit Graham Burrell

Is this a class issue?

Football supporters are often portrayed as a problem to be managed rather than communities to be understood. When incidents occur, the response often paints all supporters with the same brush. The stereotype of the irresponsible football fan still lingers in media coverage, policing and public debate, even though the vast majority simply travel the country to watch their team and support their club.

Events such as the Black Cat controversy illustrate how quickly that perception can take hold. An isolated incident involving alcohol on a coach ended with dozens of supporters stranded hundreds of miles from home, despite all but one having done nothing wrong. Families, older fans and regular supporters who had simply gone to watch a football match suddenly found themselves caught up in a situation created by the actions of one person, yet the consequences applied to everyone.

Even those who did have a few beers hadn’t caused the issue. We all go to football and have a few beers at some point, on buses or in cars. Even if we don’t drink in the vehicle, we do when we get to a ground. Hell, you can buy beer in the ground, so what on earth does banning it on coaches achieve? Nothing, it’s ridiculous.

That is why many supporters see the demonisation of football fans as a class issue. Working people who follow their clubs week in and week out are often treated collectively when something goes wrong, while the context and the behaviour of the majority are ignored. If football culture is to remain healthy, the conversation needs to move away from blanket suspicion of supporters and towards recognising the reality that most fans are simply people travelling the country to follow something that has been part of their lives for generations, and enjoying a beer while they do.