New appeal after attack on RL fan

POLICE will appeal at tonight’s Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford tomorrow for information relating to the serious assault which took place at Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium on September 26.
The appeal will feature on Sky’s televised coverage of the match, while the Rugby Football League will display the police appeal on the screens at Old Trafford to those at the match.
David Singer, 32, from Halifax was attacked as he left the game between Halifax and Featherstone Rovers and was left unconscious with serious head injuries. He remains in a coma, in a critical condition, in the specialist neurological unit at Liverpool’s Walton Hospital. His parents, who were with him at the match but were unaware he had been assaulted afterwards, are at his bedside.
Police believe that Halifax and Featherstone fans at the game will include valuable eye witnesses to the assault, and the appeal at tomorrow’s fixture will provide supporters with the opportunity to offer crucial information to the investigation. Police also believe there may be other Halifax supporters who were subjected to abuse or violence, prior to the assault on David, who may have vital information.
Police enquiries have identified a group of Featherstone supporters who were gathered in an area which falls between the security barriers at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, and the car park. The group was large in number, and assembled in the area of a covered loading bay which falls between these two points. While there were a large number in the group, police believe there was a smaller group of individuals within these numbers who were verbally abusive, but also aggressive towards Halifax fans, including throwing plastic bottles. Police are appealing to fans if they were subjected to such aggression, to come forward and speak with police. This will enable police to build up a fuller picture of events leading to the assault on David.
Police are also appealing to fans who passed by, or were on coaches, who may have witnessed any part of the attack, to make contact with the Cheshire Police if they have witnessed anything which may be relevant. It is possible that key witnesses passing by at the time did not realise the full import of what they had seen.
Finally, police are calling upon Featherstone fans to consider whether they can assist in identifying those responsible for the attack upon David. This appeal extends to Featherstone supporters who may have been part of the larger group responsible for the aggression directed towards Halifax fans, but who will not have been part of any violence, and may well be sickened by the outcome.
Featherstone Rovers and Halifax RLC have supported the police appeal for information.