Hooligans fought running battles after AFC Telford match

Trouble flared in Wellington town centre after the FA Trophy first round clash between Telford and Chester.

The game, at the New Bucks Head on December 13, 2014, ended 1-1.

But a court heard the teenagers were more interested in looking for trouble than following the football.

They were involved in running battles that had been pre-arranged, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Daniel Lloyd, 19, of Longfellow Road, Sedgley, was one of the three involved. The teenager is currently serving a two-year prison term for his part in an attack on Watford fan Nic Cruwys.

Mr Cruwys, 44, spent three weeks in a coma and was left with brain injuries after being attacked by Lloyd, who punched him to the ground, and a group of others following a game between Watford and Wolves at Molineux in March last year.

One man and eight teenagers had been due to stand trial on charges of affray at Shrewsbury Crown Court in relation to the Telford trouble, starting this week and expected to last for 10 weeks.

But three of the teenagers entered guilty pleas to a lesser charge of causing fear or provocation of violence at court.

Two 16-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty to causing fear or provocation of violence in relation to the Telford trouble at court yesterday.

Barristers said the pleas were entered on the basis the three did not use any violence themselves, but "lent support" when they saw violence present.

As a result of the pleas the prosecution offered no evidence against the rest of the defendants in the dock – Bradley Gosling, 21, of View Street, Hednesford; River Greenfield, 18, of Brands Meadow, Muxton, Telford; and two 17-year-olds and two 16-year-olds who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Not guilty verdicts were formally returned.

No evidence was also offered in relation to a second charge of affray against Lloyd from a separate incident on the same day, and he was also found not guilty of that charge.

Judge Peter Barrie said: "This relates to an incident of violence that took place after a football match that had taken place in Telford between Telford and Chester.

"The prosecution case was a number of supporters of the two teams engaged in violent behaviour on the streets of Telford after the match, some of it organised and arranged.

"Comings and goings were captured on CCTV but not very much of the actual fighting. It also happened after dark, so working out who does what is a challenge for everybody concerned."

The three will be sentenced at a later date to be confirmed after the probation service has compiled pre-sentence reports.

Prosecutor Mr James Coutts said football banning orders would also be sought for the trio, although Lloyd is already subject to an eight-year banning order and a lifetime ban from Molineux as a result of the attack on Mr Cruwys.

Football hooliganism and organised brawls between gangs at matches were commonplace in the 1970s and 1980s but are thought to be much less frequent in the modern era.

While violence among fans is generally less of a problem, the rise of social media now means it is easier than ever to organise fights between rival fans.

Messages found in the mobile phone of Daniel Lloyd indicated the teenager was regularly involved in fights with opposing football fans.

The texts, sent a month after he was caught on CCTV in a confrontation with Chester fans in Wellington, were logged as evidence in the case against him and showed arrangements to meet up with other fans for potential violent activity.

Lloyd also sent a message to someone saying he had been fined £90 for a public disorder offence in another area where Wolves were playing.

Shrewsbury Crown Court had heard the teenager was part of a gang who were regular visitors to AFC Telford.

They had been thrown out of the New Bucks Head during the game with Chester in December 2014, a couple of hours before the confrontation took place with Chester supporters in Wellington town centre near the train station.

AFC Telford today made it clear those involved in the hooliganism were unknown to the club. It said the trouble did not happen at the ground but at Wellington Station, which is a mile away.