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During the game it was necessary for spectators comfort to remove a further
350 from this terrace. Estimations are that once spectators had been removed
about 1,700 people remained but they were still closely packed.
As stated previously this was the first time since the Semi Final on 15 April
1989 when the area had been at capacity, and it was abundantly clear that
the number of spectators shown on the certificate, ie: 2,300 could not be
accommodated, but at the rife of the Se~d Final the fixed capacity for this
area was 2,800. Im=nediate discussions took place between Chief Superintendent
Nesbit and the Sheffield Wednesday Football Club Secretary, Nr Graham Mackrell,
and they agreed an emergency figure of 1,500 maximum. On 23 November 1989
I wrote to Mr H II Webster - copy letter enclosed - the Head of Sheffield
Administration and Legal Department advising him of our concern and a special
meeting of the General Purposes Panel was called for 2.00 pm on Monday 27
November 1989.
Between times, it was discovered from an officer of the Council, Nr John
Derricott, the Safety in Sports Ground Officer, that the plans which the
Local Authority used to determine the capacity for the North West Upper Terrace
had been drawn to a scale ~hich showed the terrace to be larger than it actually
was,
At the meeting on 27 November 1989 an emergency item was introduced which
encapsulated the information contained in this letter to this point. A copy
of the notes for this r~eting are included.
There was prolonged discussion as,to the revised capacity for this area of
the ground and Mr John Strange, who was representing Eastwood and Partners
at the meeting, suggested that the capacity to be fixed at 1,400 will allow
tir~ for exact calculations to be made, but he was sure that the figure of
1,400, whilst erring on the side of safety, would not be too far from the
exact figure. So, on i5 April 1989 we had a capacity of 2,800 which has
now been reduced to 1,400, a reduction of i00%!
At the meeting, the question was never asked, or indeed, considered relative
to the accuracy of the plans for the Leppings Lane Terrace on which the capacity
had aeen calculated, a question which I have now addressed to the Local Authority
in my letter, a copy of which is attached.
I need not spell out the implications which surround the facts now brought
to light, but if I can be of further help to you in this matter, I would
be pleased if you could contact me.
Yours sincerely
A/Assistant Chief Constable
Operations