Football fans sparked terror

Terrified shoppers fled to safety as teenage football thugs went on the rampage following a big match at Love Street in January 1985.

Police made a number of arrests after clashes between rival fans in Paisley town centre.

Dozens of officers raced to the Piazza shopping centre as supporters of St Mirren and Aberdeen – some as young as 13 – chased through the streets, we reported in January 1985.

Fighting had broken out on the terraces early in the second half of a stormy Premier League clash, as rival factions taunted each other.

Home fans chanted: “We’ll chase you all over Paisley.”

But there was only one arrest made inside the ground.

As the 6,800 crowd made its way home through streets already packed with shoppers, more than 100 of the infamous‘casuals’gang from Aberdeen broke through police segregation to challenge locals.

Vans packed with police reinforcements were soon on the scene, as passers-by – many of them elderly – were jostled by hooligans.

Half an hour after the game arrests were still being made as youngsters walked about the shopping precinct.

Police officers escorted Aberdeen fans on to trains at Gilmour Street Station to avoid further clashes.