Fans banned after Macclesfield Town match

Ten people have been given Football Banning Orders (FBOs) after being involved in disorder at a match between Macclesfield Town and Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 9 February.

Towards the end of the game, at the Moss Rose Stadium, both sides scored within a minute of each other finishing on a score of 3-3, when a number of Crewe and Macclesfield Town supporters invaded the pitch.

At Stockport Magistrates’ Court on Monday 15 July ten men pleaded guilty to a number of offences and received three-year FBOs and fines.

Howard Barton, 58, of Hungerford Road, Crewe; John Griffiths, 53, of Newdigate Street, Crewe; Martin Jones, 56, of Sorbus Drive, Crewe; Adam Irwin, 19, of Mere Road, Weston; Jamie Whiteland, 19, of The Maples, Winsford; Aiden Wright, 18, of Abbey Park Way, Weston; Cameron Reed, 21, of Gainsborough Court, Crewe; and Wesley Gibbons, 23, of Chadwick Terrace, Macclesfield; all admitted going onto the playing area at a football match. This is an offence under the Football Offences Act 1991.

Brandon Murrell, 19, of School Lane, Smallwood, also admitted going onto the playing area at a football match, as well as throwing a missile at a spectators’ area and a public order offence. He had gone onto the pitch – running towards the players’ tunnel and a group of Macclesfield Town supporters – before striking someone in the ear and being moved away from the rival fans by stewards. At that point he picked something up off the floor and threw it at the Macclesfield Town supporters before being ushered off the pitch by stewards.

Jamie Thorpe, 26, of Western Avenue, Macclesfield, admitted going onto the playing area at a football match and a public order offence. He went onto the pitch and threw three punches at a male who had walked over to the Macclesfield Town fans. He grabbed him around the neck before a steward intervened. Thorpe then squared up to another man before being ushered off the pitch by a steward.

The banning orders stop all the men from going to any football matches for three years.

They must surrender their passport when there are international matches and they are not allowed to go to the city or town where an England international is being played.

PC Shayne Smith, dedicated football officer at Cheshire Constabulary, said: “These sentences show how seriously the courts take disorder at a football match. Spirits were high at the match because of the exciting end to the game, but that is no excuse to go onto the pitch and goad opposition supporters.”

Chief Inspector Simon Newell, of Crewe Local Policing Unit, said: “We want people attending football matches to enjoy themselves, making it a fun day out for all the family. If people attend these games with the intent of causing disorder, or actually cause disorder whilst they are there, we will ensure that all CCTV, mobile phone and body worn camera footage is reviewed and that those responsible are identified and brought to justice and that the appropriate sanctions in terms of football banning orders are secured against them.”

The sentences handed out were:

Howard Barton, 58, of Hungerford Road, Crewe: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £200 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

John Griffiths, 53, of Newdigate Street, Crewe: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £346 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34

Martin Jones, 56, of Sorbus Drive, Crewe: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £261 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Adam Irwin, 19, of Mere Road, Weston: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £153 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Jamie Whiteland, 19, of The Maples, Winsford: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £80 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Aiden Wright, 18, of Abbey Park Way, Weston: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £184 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Brandon Murrell, 19, of School Lane, Smallwood: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991), throwing a missile at a spectators’ area (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) and using threatening/abusive behaviour (in breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986) – fined £120 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Cameron Reed, 21, of Gainsborough Court, Crewe: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £184 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30. He was also sentenced for breaching a six-month conditional discharge, receiving a £92 fine.

Wesley Gibbons, 23, of Chadwick Terrace, Macclesfield: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) – fined £80 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30

Jamie Thorpe, 26, of Western Avenue, Macclesfield: Going onto the playing area at a football match (in breach of the Football Offences Act 1991) and using threatening/abusive behaviour (in breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986) – fined £200 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £30