Five teenage Oldham Athletic fans have been slapped with three-year football banning orders after violence flared at a derby match, police have revealed.
Greater Manchester Police said all five were involved in 'related disorder that took place between Oldham Athletic and Salford City at Boundary Park in April, 2022'. The force said it came 'moments before' Oldham's relegation from the English Football League in the 2021/22 season.
Several incident, said police, took place throughout the campaign and early into the 2022/23 season, where football-related violence and disorder occurred at fixtures.
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All five pleaded guilty to affray in relation to events on April 23, 2022. Salford won the game 2-1. They all appeared at Manchester and Salford magistrates' court last Wednesday.
Charlie Chrisham, 19, of Wildbrook Crescent, Oldham, was detained for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work. Aaron Deakin, 18, of Westminster Road, Failsworth, Oldham, received the same sentence.
Dane Hoy, 18, of Deanshut Road, Oldham, was also detained for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months, but was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.
Police said two boys aged 17, who can't be named for legal reasons because of their age, were sentenced to 12-month referral orders.
Commenting on the sentencing, PC Matt Ford, football banning officer at Greater Manchester Police's Specialist Operations Planning Unit, said: "It is clear from the sentences given that their actions on that day were unlawful and reinforces the football authorities, clubs and police joint stance on eradicating and taking robust action to prevent football disorder to ensure supporters can attend games in the full knowledge they will be safe to enjoy the match.
"Conditions of the Football Banning Order include restrictions that means they will not be able to reoffend at matches in the area for the next few years and hopefully this time away will be used to reflect on their actions."
Superintendent Phil Hutchinson, of GMP's Oldham district, added: "As always, most supporters are extremely well behaved and the behaviour of only a small minority ruin that for a fanbase.
"We are continuing to work with the relevant other forces into disorder at a match from the last campaign and as it nears its conclusion, we are continuing our approach to ensure justice is served.
"Now, as the new season approaches, we want our local club to carry on with its trajectory of going from strength-to-strength and urge anyone to report anti-social behaviour when they witness it at matches by speaking to stewards as well as officers present or by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
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