# Woman Recalls Fan Fall During Ipswich Match

> Joanne Peters says she could have died after fan John Ryan fell on her at Ipswich Town game.
- Title: Woman Recalls Fan Fall During Ipswich Match · BBC News
- Summary: Joanne Peters says she could have died after fan John Ryan fell on her at Ipswich Town game. Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she…
- Keywords: joanne peters, john ryan, ipswich town, maidstone united, portman road, scoliosis, fa cup, crown court, assault by beating, actual bodily harm, cobbold stand, sloping roof
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6d93ly7p9qyo
- Published: 2026-10-13T13:46:08.503+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: joanne peters, john ryan, ipswich town, maidstone united, portman road, scoliosis, fa cup, crown court, assault by beating, actual bodily harm, cobbold stand, sloping roof
## Joanne Peters
Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she could have died when 62-year-old John Ryan fell on her during a football match at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024.

> I thought the box behind us had collapsed into us
## John Ryan
John Ryan, 62, denies one count of assault by beating and one count of actual bodily harm after falling from the upper tier of Portman Road during a match.

> I don't know if I bumped somebody or my foot slipped or what; I just ended up going down the stairs
## Injury Details
Peters suffered elements of whiplash, numbness in her hands, internal bruising, and her partner was kicked in the head.

> He landed on my shoulder. The pressure of that fall, he could have broken my neck
## Court Hearing
The trial heard Ryan had been celebrating a goal in the Cobbold Stand upper tier when he fell, slid down a sloping roof, and landed on Ipswich supporters below.

> Momentum took me into a roll
## Ryan's Defense
Ryan claimed he couldn't stop himself after his leg hit a wall, saying the momentum took him into a roll as he slid down the stairs.

> I just started tilting over. As I put my arm out I just started rolling over
## Trial Outcome
Ryan missed work due to injuries and one count of assault by beating was dropped from his original charges.

> No. It wasn't like that. All I know is that I ended up going down the steps and I couldn't stop myself
## Key takeaway

Joanne Peters, who has scoliosis, told a jury she thought she could have died when 62-year-old John Ryan fell on her during a football match at Ipswich Town's Portman Road ground in January 2024.