Bradford 'invasion' fans are banned
Four Bradford City football fans have been given lifetime bans by their club after they invaded the Yorkshire club's pitch and taunted Cobblers fans on their last home game of the season.
Northampton Town fans were caught up in the ugly scenes and required a police escort out of Valley Parade after trouble ?ared following the ?nal whistle of the match on May 1.
Chron columnist Steve Riches, who was at the game, said a small section of the home fans threw bottles, shook their fists and made gestures at the visiting Cobblers supporters.
The troublemakers marred efforts to mark the 25th anniversary of the Valley Parade stadium fire disaster, with many Northampton fans buying 'I remember' T-shirts, in aid of the burns unit which was set up for victims of the tragedy.
A fifth Bradford fan has been given a 12-month ban and four others, who harassed Cobblers fans outside the ground, have been banned until June 30 next year and will be required to sign a good behaviour agreement before entering the stadium again.
Bradford City bosses have also released images of pitch invaders at Valley Parade with a view to banning more supporters.
The Bantams' facilities manager, David Dowse, has appealed to all "true fans" to help identify the people who invaded the pitch at the end of the game and were filmed by the CCTV system.
Mr Dowse said: "The troublemakers showed disrespect to the club and its fans on a special day, and the club hopes everyone will join them in removing this element from our following.
"By being on the pitch they were committing a criminal offence which will be up to the police to deal with. What should have been an absolutely tremendous day was marred because of a few idiots.
"The Northampton fans joined in with the commemoration more than you might have expected and they did not deserve that. We have got to nip such behaviour in the bud."
After the game, Bradford's joint chairman Mark Lawn apologised to Northampton fans and said the occasion had been ruined by "a group of morons".
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