"Admirers of the premier game of Victoria, will, no doubt, learn with surprise, not intermingled with indignation, of cowardly and wanton attacks upon unoffending spectators at the match played between the South Melbourne and the Fitzroy on the latter's ground last Saturday afternoon.
There is, it appears, a band of unwholesome young ruffians known as the "Fitzroy Fourties" whose presence in the city is a constant menace to the persons of respectable citizens and visitors who do not belong to the "elect" of the gang.
These "Fitzroy Fourties" have sworn their allegiance, although not needed, to the local football club, and woe betide any fortunate supporter of a visiting club if rival colours are hoisted.
These "colours" are like a red rag to a bull when the "Fourties" are about, and the unfortunate wearers are condemned to maltreatment. Several instances occurred on Saturday afternoon to indicate the ferocious jealousy of the "Fourties," whose reprehensible conduct caused a large number of people to leave the ground early in the game to avoid any unpleasantness.
Not content with exercising their hobnailed boots upon human flesh, the "Fourties' turned their attention upon passengers in waggonettes which left the ground after the match had been decided.
Missiles flew about in all directions, and in one instance a young man named Shine, of South Melbourne, received a deep cut underneath the eye. An attempt was made to secure a ringleader in the attack, but his companions came to his rescue. Shine had to undergo medical treatment for the wound inflicted upon him.
The Fitzroy Club, it is safe to say, have no sympathy for the brutal gang of larrikins who choose to "honour" the club with their patronage. The club should demand extra police protection of all future matches, so that lovers of football may have the opportunity of witnessing the games without being subjected to shameful interference.
In the interests of the game itself, the Fitzroy, and indeed, all clubs, should make strenuous efforts to rid their grounds of the truly larrikin element, which is exemplified in a marked degree in the coward breasts of the "Fitzroy Fourties."
The Association should likewise look throughly into matters of the kind. The "Fitzroy Fourties" also, it is learnt, parade the streets nightly, and turn their hands to all sorts of mischief.
Perhaps the chief commissioner of police will instruct the constables of Fitzroy to go out of even tenor of their way when the "Fourties" show their unwelcome presence at any gathering in the streets.
Unless prompt measures are taken to repress the evil, football is sure to suffer in the eyes of the public."

In the following edition of The Sportsman, on September 23, it was reported that the police had acted, and nine youths went up before the Fitzroy magistrate court and were fined £2 each.
If the stone throwing in Brunswick Street had been proved then the penalty would have been much heavier.
It was hoped that if any of these youths are members of a football club then their names should be deleted from the list.
The youths denied being part of the "Fitzroy Fourties."