POLICE say they will be making arrests after “entirely unacceptable” disorder at a Yate Town football match.
Avon & Somerset officers say they are working closely with colleagues in Dorset – the county of away side Weymouth FC – as they work to identify those responsible for violent incidents at Yate’s Lodge Road ground and the nearby railway station after the match.
The match had to be suspended for an hour after fighting broke out early in the first half, when the visiting side scored an early goal.
Yate Town chairman Mark Thorne said he was “verbally abused and physically assaulted” when he spoke to away fans behind one of the goals.
He said some “supposed” home fans who had not been seen at the ground before were also “seemingly intent on trouble”.
A police spokesperson said “an incident of disorder involving groups of supporters” started at around 3pm March 22, adding: “The match was delayed by around an hour and eventually commenced at 4pm, after stewards ejected several people from the ground.
‘Altercation’ at station
“Avon and Somerset Police supported the British Transport Police by responding to an altercation involving a group of people at Yate train station.”
Police say they are “proactively supporting the club” as part of their enquiries into the incident, and investigating a report of an assault at the ground.
The spokesperson said: “Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured during the incident.
“We are speaking to witnesses, carrying out CCTV enquiries and intelligence checks, and we will be liaising with colleagues at Dorset Police while enquiries continue.”
Neighbourhood Inspector Stephen Baines said: “We will be working alongside officers who attended the incident, our neighbourhood team, our football liaison unit, and our colleagues at Dorset Police to proactively target those who engage in violence at football matches, which is entirely unacceptable.
“Once the offenders are identified, we will be making arrests.
“Enquiries surrounding CCTV and body worn video will be carried out. We would appeal to any witnesses, those with information on the identities of the individuals involved, and anybody with relevant footage, to contact us to assist with our enquiries.”
‘I was verbally abused and physically assaulted’ – club chairman
In a club statement, Mr Thorne described how the disorder started.
He said: “Just prior to kick-off, when the club encouraged the fans of both clubs to be in different parts of the ground and move to the end that their team was attacking, club officials were met with behaviour by certain people that we found totally unacceptable, and the referee was forced to take both sets of players off the field and the match was only restarted after almost one hour.
“When I spoke to the away fans behind the goal I was verbally abused and physically assaulted and this was not a pleasant experience and not what I expected to happen when I became involved in football.”
Mr Thorne said that, like most clubs at non-league level, Yate Town is run by volunteers, and works hard to be a “positive part of the Yate community”.
He said: “As a club we always look to be respectful to others.
“Most Weymouth fans were well behaved but, as often is the case, a small minority can spoil things for the vast majority.
“I also noticed that there were some ‘supposed’ home fans that we have never seen before, who were seemingly intent on trouble.
“The club totally and utterly condemns any sort of behaviour that brings disruption to the club and the town of Yate, that we are all representing, and we also expect that away fans show respect and behave in an acceptable manner.
‘Very small minority’
“The joy of non-league football is that fans can mix and mingle and chat about the game, and move freely and safely within the ground, but on this occasion, just a very small minority of individuals spoilt the afternoon for the vast majority of well-behaved fans.
“It is often commented on that Yate Town FC is a friendly club and a pleasant place to visit and, at our previous home game against Wimborne, we received many positive comments about the club.
“The events of Saturday’s game against Weymouth are thankfully very rare and is something in all the years of watching football I have never seen the like of.”
Mr Thorne apologised on behalf of the club for what other fans witnessed and heard, and thanked them for their patience during the match, which Weymouth went on to win 2-0.
He also thanked the police and said the club will learn from the experience and take action to ensure it is a “safe and pleasant place to watch football”.
Anybody with information about the violence or those involved should call the police on 101, quoting crime reference number 5226 078 154.
Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.