Grown-up fracas hits final

Brawling spectators ruined a junior football tournament and got two boys' teams banned from finishing the final.

The match between Bilbrook and Beechdale under-15 teams had to be abandoned after the adults started rowing.

A report has been submitted to the Staffordshire Football Association about the incident which took place at Penkridge's Monckton Recreation Centre on Sunday. But officials from both clubs today denied that parents of their players had been involved.

Penkridge Junior Football Club, which hosted the Summer Cup 2007 event, has expressed its disappointment in the fracas which caused the final to be abandoned.

Chairman Norman Mence said: "It was a disgraceful incident which Penkridge Juniors do not tolerate.

"A referee's report is going to Staffordshire FA outlining what went on.

"The game was abandoned and those teams involved will not be invited to any future events."

The Summer Cup included matches between 90 teams and was attended by 1,500 people.

But Paul Hendy, from Beechdale FC, said the incident had been "blown out of all proportion" and claimed his club has been told it will be invited back.

He said: "It was something out of nothing. It happened and things carried on.

He added: "We are very strict on parent behaviour and none of our parents were involved."

Colin Taylor, treasurer from Bilbrook FC, said: "The game was abandoned but we did receive our finalist medals." He added: "I know there were no parents from Bilbrook involved because they were standing on the other side of the pitch."

Adam Evans, county governance manager for the Staffordshire FA, said: "We have not yet received the referee's report so we can't comment at the moment."