Flare fans to get bans for a year

Thirteen Maidstone supporters are facing season-long bans following investigations into flare-throwing. Incidents against Maidenhead and Ebbsfleet saw the club release a statement appealing for help in finding those responsible. Fans have come forward to assist and United are taking action, with one fan already cautioned by police and 12 more to follow. Supporters will be banned for the rest of the season but the club will stop short of pressing charges. In his programme notes for Tuesday’s match against Aldershot, chief executive Bill Williams said: “There was a large response from our supporters, the police and the different security agencies to our request for help to dig out the individuals responsible for the flare throwing at Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet and Ebbsfleet International railway station. “As a result, one individual has already been cautioned by the police and will be banned by the club for the rest of the season. There are 12 other individuals who will be getting a similar visit. “Banning supporters does not give me any pleasure but the safety of everyone who enters our ground will remain our main priority and we will not tolerate the throwing of any form of pyrotechnics. “The identity of all of these individuals will remain private for the time being and the club has asked for no one at the moment to be charged. “Hopefully, these individuals will appreciate our decision and will be able to see the seriousness of what they have been playing with, serve their time away from us, miss what they had and return one day as sensible supporters. “For us to insist on charging them would have meant that all of these individuals, mostly young men, would have a criminal record for life, which we believe would have had a major effect on their lives. “Could I thank all of you who came forward with help and I just hope they do not take our bit of compassion for a sign of weakness, as it won’t take us long to get out and issue the charge stamp!”