Express & Star

Stourbridge fan condemned for throwing flare during historic FA Cup tie

Stourbridge FC's cruel FA Cup defeat to Wycombe Wanderers was made worse by the actions of one fan who threw a flare onto the pitch.

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The match was halted around the half-hour mark after the pyrotechnic was lobbed onto the playing area and started spewing out orange smoke.

One fan was ejected from Adams Park by stewards and police after the unsavoury incident during the historic third round fixture.

The Glassboys were already facing an FA charge after a flare was thrown onto the pitch after Jack Duggan's winning goal in the second round tie against Northampton Town.

This sparked a plea from chairman Andy Pountney to fans ahead of the Wycombe clash.

In a statement on the club's website two days before the third round match, he wrote: "As supporters will know, we have recently been charged by the FA following an incident involving a flare during the cup tie against Northampton Town.

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"Any repeat of this incident will almost certainly have significant implications for the club, financial or otherwise.

"Such incidents also involve club officials in time, effort and administration that would be much more productively spent on other matters."

Dudley Council leader Pete Lowe, who was among the hoards of travelling Stourbridge fans, condemned the incident - saying it was the behaviour of a single fan.

Smoke fills the air

He told the Express & Star: "Every real Stourbridge fan made it clear what they thought about the flare.

"It was only one individual who threw it on the pitch."

The Glassboys suffered late heartbreak in the fixture as Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa netted an 83rd minute winner.

Mr Pountney has previously warned any fans who bring flares to the War Memorial Ground in future that they will be banned.

The club has previously been warned about flares and smoke bombs.

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