Number of Shrewsbury Town and Telford fans banned from matches in clampdown

Shrewsbury Town has banned 22 supporters, while five fans from AFC Telford have been ordered not to enter its grounds, according to new figures released today.

They show that between July 1, 2015 and July 10, 2016, more than 2,000 banning orders for fans were in force across the country, down four per cent from the previous period.

They are preventative measures following a conviction for a football-related offence or a complaint from police or the CPS.

Brian Caldwell, CEO of Shrewsbury Town, said: "There have been no arrests of Shrewsbury Town fans at the stadium the whole of last season and the current season to date.

"Shrewsbury Town fans continue to have a good reputation away from home.

"We continue to work with the police to ensure anyone who seeks to become involved in disorder are dealt with appropriately.

"Since joining the club my aim has been to encourage younger fans to the club with competitive young supporter ticket prices and the recently announced junior group offer.

"Shrewsbury Town always strives to be a family friendly club which is at the heart of the community."

Of the 2,085 orders in place, 542 were freshly issued over the 2015/16 season, a 12 per cent increase from the previous year but also making it the second consecutive year the total number of orders in place has fallen.

Some 30 per cent of the total number of orders in place were for Premier League club supporters.

As of August 1, 2016, the Premier League club with the most banning orders in place for its supporters was Newcastle United with 124 – more than double the number of its closest rival, Chelsea.

Nearly 2,000 football-related arrests were made in the most recent season – the first increase in three years, new Home Office figures show.

Some 1,895 were made in the same period, up one per cent from the previous year when the number was 1,873. A quarter of these (470) were in connection with Championship matches, the Home Office said.

Overall, the number of football-related arrests has been in decline, with a decrease of around one fifth since the 2011-12 season.

The most common causes for arrest over the last season were public disorder and alcohol offences. Arrests for violent disorder were the highest in three years, while those related to criminal damage were the highest in four. Arrests for racist and indecent chanting remained low, at just 17.

AFC Telford was not available for comment.