Newcastle: Fans' behaviour 'unacceptable'

Newcastle FC branded their fans’ behaviour “unacceptable” today it emerged that supporters disrupted amateur matches being played near the away end of Wigan Athletic’s DW Stadium last weekend.

The Toon fans ran on the pitches, dropping their trousers, ripping out the nets and trying to break the goals by hanging on the crossbars, a local official said.

In a statement, the club said: “Newcastle United are very disappointed with the behaviour of a minority of its fans who were involved in the vandalism of equipment belonging to Wigan Cosmos Football Club and pitch incursions during their game against AFC Leigh Centurions on Sunday 17th March which caused the match to be stopped.

“Our travelling fans have a very good reputation, but the actions of a minority on this occasion were wholly unacceptable.

“Football, at all levels of the game, deserves the same degree of respect whether it is played in the Premier League or at the grassroots level.

“We were sorry to learn that this South Lancashire Counties Premier Division game was disrupted in this manner and we would urge anyone who witnessed this incident to contact Greater Manchester Police.”