A Coventry City security officer was crushed to death before the
club’s game with Premiership champions Arsenal today.
Ron Reeves, a full-time member of the club staff who had worked at Highfield Road for
around three years, was crushed to death by the Arsenal team coach as he directed it into
the ground. Ron was 55-years-old and from Northfield in Birmingham.
The accident happened just before 2pm at the main King Richard Street entrance. The
victim was treated by paramedics at the scene but died in the Coventry and Warwickshire
hospital shortly before 3pm.
Hundreds of fans witnessed the accident and the Arsenal players were on the coach at
the time of the incident.
The City players, who all knew the steward, were told before kick-off and manager
Gordon Strachan was clearly shaken by the incident.
After the match, which Arsenal won 1-0, he said:
"We have lost a good friend today and there is not much more to say."
Arsenal returned to London on a different coach and the original driver was replaced by
a colleague.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said:
"The players knew a man was badly injured and they kept asking how he was. We did
not know he had died until after the game. We did not see anything because we were sitting
on the bus and it was reversing.
"No-one requested the match be called off – that’s not our decision.
Sometimes calling matches off when the ground is full can cause more problems."
A Coventry City security officer was crushed to death before the
club’s game with Premiership champions Arsenal today.
