Teenager among several west country football fans banned from matches
The 16-year-old assaulted a Scunthorpe player during Bristol Rovers' promotion clinching victory
Several football fans, including a 16-year-old boy, have been banned from going to football matches after pleading guilty to inappropriate behaviour at various games in the South West this season.
Five men have also been fined for their actions at a mixture of Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and Yeovil Town matches between October 2021 and this month.
Callum Coen, who is 20 and from Lawrence Weston, has been banned from football matches for three years after being convicted of using words or behaviour "in a way likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress" during disorder with Cardiff City fans before Bristol City's home game against the side on 21 January, 2022.
James Chipchase, who is 26 and from Bournemouth has also been banned from matches for three years.
He was convicted of taking a firework, flare or pyrotechnic item to Bournemouth's match at Bristol City on 16 October, 2021.
On that same day 29-year-old Aaron Guildford from Yeovil took a firework to Yeovil Town's game against Weymouth.
He has been convicted of the same offence as Chipchase and is also banned for three years.
Bristol Rovers fan Richard Hathaway, who is 19 and from Southmead, has been banned for five years after behaving in a way "likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress" and storming the pitch, during Rovers' 0-0 draw with Forest Green Rovers on 23 April, 2022.
Lastly of the five men, 38-year-old Lee Wells from Oldland Common has been banned for three years and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service after he stormed the pitch and was found to have a firework, flare or pyrotechnic item at the same game.
The teenager mentioned at the start has been convicted of assaulting a Scunthorpe United player during Bristol Rovers' thrilling 7-0 victory on the last day of the season, which secured the club's promotion to League One.
The 16-year-old was one of a large number of fans who invaded the pitch when Rovers scored their seventh goal.
Inspector Mark Nicholson with Avon and Somerset Police said: “There have been several incidents in recent weeks up and down the country of football fans running onto pitches and being violent towards players.
"Rightly, that has been condemned across the football community.
“We appreciate football is a passionate game and Bristol Rovers fans wanted to celebrate a 7-0 victory that would clinch promotion.
“On another day though, a minority of fans – albeit a significant minority – could have cost the team promotion by running onto the pitch because the referee gave serious consideration to abandoning the match."
Other games to feature similar incidents recently include Manchester City's 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday (May 22), which saw the blues clinch the Premier League title.
Villa's goalkeeper Robin Olsen was attacked by City fans who stormed the pitch after the final whistle.
On May 19, when Everton secured their Premier League survival by beating Crystal Palace 3-2, one Everton fan filmed himself aggressively mocking Palace manager Patrick Viera.
Viera was seen to kick out at the fan in response, but has reportedly been told he will not face criminal charges.
Prior to that, on May 17, a Championship play off semi final second leg also ended in a pitch invasion, when Nottingham Forest beat Sheffield United 3-2 on penalties.
During the celebrations a Forest fan was caught on camera headbutting Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp who reportedly needed stiches.
“It’s important fans of all football clubs understand their actions have consequences; violence and endangering public safety is not acceptable," Inspector Nicholson added.
"Several fans supporting clubs across the South West will miss out on attending games next season and for years to come because of their irresponsible actions.”