Football chairman ‘physically assaulted’ as non-league match suspended | Football | Sport

Yate Town Football Club have released a statement explaining a serious incident among spectators that led to their match being suspended. The fixture between Yate Town and Weymouth FC was halted for approximately an hour in the opening minute on Saturday.

The chairman of Yate Town, Mark Thorne, said club officials were met with conduct from “certain people” which was considered “totally unacceptable.” He alleged that he was physically assaulted and verbally abused while speaking to away supporters behind the goal, stating that a “small minority” had “spoiled things.”

The incident occurred as the club encouraged supporters of both sides to move to the end where their team was attacking, said Thorne.

He added that “supposed home fans” that he had never seen at the club were allegedly seeking to cause disruption at the match.

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In the statement published on Yate Town’s website, Mark Thorne said: “There were some regrettable incidents at Yate Town FC during the Southern League Premier Division South match, between Yate Town and Weymouth, on Saturday.

“Just prior to kick-off, when the club encouraged the fans of both clubs to be in different parts of the ground and move to the end that their team was attacking, club officials were met with behaviour by certain people that we found totally unacceptable and the referee was forced to take both sets of players off the field and the match was only restarted after almost one hour.

“Yate Town FC is run by volunteers, as most clubs are at this level of football, and the club has worked hard to involve the local community in projects and be supportive as we develop new initiatives, and the events of today have not been what we expected as we look to be a positive part of the Yate community.

“When I spoke to the away fans behind the goal I was verbally abused and physically assaulted and this was not a pleasant experience and not what I expected to happen when I became involved in football.

“As a club we always look to be respectful to others. Most Weymouth fans were well behaved but as often is the case, a small minority can spoil things for the vast majority. I also noticed that there were some ‘supposed’ home fans that we have never seen before who were seemingly intent on trouble.

“The club totally and utterly condemns any sort of behaviour that brings disruption to the club and the town of Yate, that we are all representing, and we also expect that away fans show respect and behave in an acceptable manner.

“The joy of non-league football is that fans can mix and mingle and chat about the game and move freely and safely within the ground but on this occasion, just a very small minority of individuals spoilt the afternoon for the vast majority of well-behaved fans.

“It is often commented on that Yate Town FC is a friendly club and a pleasant place to visit and, at our last home game against Wimborne, we received many positive comments about the club.

“The events of Saturday’s game against Weymouth are thankfully very rare and is something in all the years of watching football I have never seen the like of.

“As a club we can but apologise for what some fans witnessed and heard and will endeavour to learn from the experience and to take all the necessary actions to ensure that Yate Town FC is a safe and pleasant place to watch football.

“I would like to thank the police for their support and the vast majority of people attending the game for their patience and cooperation on what was a difficult afternoon.”