A KIND RESPONSE WHICH COMES AS NO SURPRISE

THE senseless actions of hundreds of mindless Stoke City ‘fans’ last Tuesday night has seen the proud name of Stoke-ontrent dragged through the mud.

The incidents – including the trashing of the away end toilets at Vale Park – have hit the national headlines, sparked a debate on whether football clubs should pay more for the policing of matches, and triggered calls in Parliament for a fresh debate on the scourge of football hooliganism.

Staffordshire Police have already made at least 14 arrests and warned other troublemakers that they will also be detained.

One of the most-publicised incidents occurred in Hamil Road, Burslem, after the match when Asda worker Gaynor Stanyer and her car made the headlines.

She could only look on in horror as a Stoke City fan climbed onto her car roof and started jumping up and down.

It was all captured on camera and Gaynor was left with massive dents in her roof and no idea whether the damage can be repaired.

The vandal attack was quite rightly condemned. Now Gaynor has revealed how football fans have launched an appeal to raise enough money to buy her a new car. Stoke City have also been in touch with Gaynor.

This is exactly the response that was needed – and, in all honesty, it is no surprise. After all, everyone always says how friendly the people of the Potteries are and how they will always look out for one of their own.

The reaction has left Gaynor overwhelmed and hopefully erased some of the anger she will have undoubtedly felt last week.

Now the man filmed bouncing on the car roof needs to hand himself in - or someone needs to identify him to police – so he can be brought to justice and a line can be drawn under this sorry saga.