SIX Oxford United fans have been handed curfews and football banning orders for clashing with police outside the Kassam Stadium.

Trouble broke out near the ground’s east stand before the match between United and League Two rivals Bristol Rovers on February 9 this year.

The disorder started at around 2.45pm, Oxford Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday , following earlier fights between fans outside the Priory pub next to the stadium and around its car park.

A group of between 30 and 40 Oxford supporters began arguing with police who stopped them from approaching the pub.

Some of the group had been drinking at the Blackbird pub beforehand and started being aggressive and abusive towards police.

Violence broke out when officers, including mounted police, used batons to push the fans back towards the stadium.

A district judge heard yesterday that the supporters chanted “we’re Oxford United we do what we want”.

Prosecutor Clare Barclay said they also made references to the South Midlands Hit Squad, a hooligan gang.

In the wake of the violence Thames Valley Police launched Operation Boot and arrested a total of 32 people – 20 from Oxfordshire and 12 from Bristol, Swindon and Reading.

Now nine of the local supporters have appeared in court, with six admitting they played a role in the trouble and pleading guilty to public order offences.

Richard Scott, a 47-year-old engineer of Cumnor Road, Boars Hill, Tom Booker, 19, of Alexander Close, Abingdon, and Michael Butler, 19 of Jackman Close, Abingdon, were sentenced for causing fear or provoking violence.

Richard Farmer, a 41-year-old groundsman, of Foliat Drive, Wantage, Christopher Taylor, 47, of Allnatt Avenue, Wallingford, and Martin White, 47, of Sinodun Road, Wallingford, all admitted causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress.

Taylor, a landscape gardener who cares for his elderly mother and father, was described by Miss Barclay as the “instigator” of the trouble.

However Charlie Moss, defending, said this was not true. She said: "I think it would be hard to say there was any one individual or any one ringleader.

"He accepted he was at the front but then somebody always has to be at the front and that is just the way it worked out."

Butler and Booker admitted throwing a metal barrier towards police, though Miss Moss, defending, said they were only trying to move it out of the way.

District judge Tim Pattinson sentence all six defendants to a three-month curfew, made them subject to a three-year football banning order, and told them to pay a £60 victims’ surcharge and £85 costs.

He said: “Violence and abuse at football matches in these circumstances will not be tolerated at the Kassam Stadium or any stadium.

“You spoilt the match for a number of people and there is no doubt that you frightened people as well.”

Craig McNulty, 47, of Croft Road, Marston, Mick Harris, 41, of Stubbs Avenue, Headington, and a 17-year-old from Abingdon who cannot be named all denied similar public order offences.

They will appear again at Oxford Magistrates’ Court for trial later this year.

  • The original version of this story excluded the denial from Miss Moss that Mr Taylor was the ringleader. It should have been reported at the time and we apologise for that.