Football club complaining to police over ‘kettling’ of fans

A FOOTBALL club will be complaining to Greater Manchester Police after a group of around 80 fans were sent home before their match with Stockport County.

Chester FC supporters had travelled by train for the Vanarama National League North clash at Edgeley Park last Saturday, which ended 1-1. Minutes after arriving at Stockport station, they said they were ‘kettled’ by riot police and officers on horseback while trying to get into a pub for a pre-match pint.

‘Kettling’ is when police form a tight cordon around a crowd. It is a tactic sometimes used to control large demonstrations.

The group say they were held for up to an hour before police then issued a dispersal notice which forced them to go back home on the train.

A number of Chester fans were angered by the incident and have written to local politicians and the Football Supporters Federation (FSF).

Chester FC director Andrew Morris said: “We will be contacting Greater Manchester Police and the relevant bodies in regards to the concerns our supporters have raised.

“We are seeking observations on what happened and would welcome any fans who wish to get in touch with us regarding it.”

One Chester fan, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “There was no rowdiness, no singing, just people out for a good day. In the group there were parents with kids who said that their kids have now been put off, and also a man with a walking stick – so it wasn’t the kind of group that some may associate with football.”

Chester MP Chris Matheson and Labour councillor Ben Powell are both looking into the matter, according to reports.

GMP said in a statement that three people had been charged after failing to comply with a dispersal order in Stockport on December 8.