Black Country football club issues strong statement condemning crowd trouble following playoff match

A strong statement condemning the crowd disorder which broke out following a playoff defeat has been put out by Gornal Athletic.

The club put out the statement on its social media page after ugly scenes between fans from both Gornal and Sutton United following the conclusion of the Midlands Football League Division One playoff final on Saturday.

The scenes saw punches thrown and flares thrown into the crowd, which was the biggest of the season for the club, and angry exchanges between fans, players and police, while a 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Gornal Athletic have spoken of their disappointment at the scenes and, in the statement, said it would be reviewing all aspects of the situation, while also thanking supporters who represented the club in the right manner.

It also said that the club had asked West Midlands Police to be present through the game, but said the police had only attended after the incident.

The statement read: “The club strongly condemns the scenes of crowd disorder that occurred at the conclusion of yesterday’s fixture against Sutton United.

“Such behaviour has no place in football and does not reflect the values of our club, our players or the vast majority of supporters who conduct themselves with respect and integrity.

“In the lead-up to the match, the club took proactive steps to minimise the risk of any such incidents.

“We worked closely with the Midlands Football League to ensure that stewards were present and appropriately deployed.

“Additionally, we formally contacted West Midlands Police to request a police presence throughout the entirety of the game.

“Despite our clear communication and concerns, officers were only in attendance after the incident had already taken place.

“We will be reviewing all aspects of this situation and will continue to work with the relevant authorities to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all.

“The club remains committed to taking any necessary action against those responsible and to preventing any recurrence of such unacceptable behaviour.

“We thank the many supporters who continue to represent the club in the right manner.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We review all intelligence we receive around planned events and we liaised with club representatives around their plans for the game.

“These included using experienced stewards from a professional club.

“The local team were on duty and aware of the match and they responded within minutes, arresting a suspect at the scene.

“Enquiries are continuing as we work to identify those responsible for causing the disorder yesterday.”