MATCH BANS FOR 12 SOCCER FANS 12:14 - 23 January 2004 A Dozen members of a group of football hooligans believed to be waiting to join the notorious Derby Lunatic Fringe have been banned from attending games for a total of almost 40 years. All 12 were barred for three years from attending home and away matches involving Derby County, while the ban also stops them going to England games - including the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal this summer. Peter Smedley, prosecuting, said that all of the dozen were members of the "Orphans", a group of mainly young fans waiting to progress to full membership of the Derby Lunatic Fringe - a notorious group of hooligans who support the Rams. They were each fined £250 and ordered to pay £43 costs by Walsall magistrates after pleading guilty to causing harassment, alarm and distress in Walsall on the day that the home side played host to Derby County last September. The court was told that rival fans in a pub were taunted, Nazi salutes were raised and anti-Catholic slogans were shouted out in the street. Police officers had to draw batons when the 12 men surged forward at the town's bus station, the court heard yesterday. Mr Smedley told the court that the behaviour of the group members was "extremely threatening" but there were few police officers on duty on the day of the football match as no trouble was expected. But trouble flared when they spotted a group of Walsall fans inside the Hogshead pub, in Leicester Street, said Mr Smedley. They chanted, made gestures and unfurled a banner bearing a clenched fist as well as making Nazi salutes and shouting anti-Pope and anti-Catholic slogans, he said. The group then moved on to Walsall bus station where they surged forward when they saw some rival football fans. "There was a stand-off and police had to draw batons," said Mr Smedley. Stephen Cobley, mitigating, told the court: "Each one of them has had a chance to reflect on and regret what they did and they have now admitted their guilt." He told the court that giving them orders banning them from football matches would in effect be a "draconian" punishment and that what happened on the day was "a bit of banter which they considered an extension of what goes on at football matches". He denied that they were members of an organised group and said some of the group were Catholics who resented suggestions they had shouted anti-Pope slogans. The 12 were Ben Bridgette (19), of Max Road, Chaddesden, Tom Bradshaw (20), of Park Mews, Riddings, Dominic Humphrey (19), of Wilmot Street, Heanor, Anthony Deacy (35), of Astcote Close, Heanor, Simon Marshment (26), of Shakespeare Road, Burton, Adam Waller (18), of Main Road, Lower Hartshay, Carl Fairbrother (18), of Kensington Avenue, Heanor, Tom Wheeldon (19), of Broadway, Heanor, Nathan Jordan (18), of Keldholme Lane, Alvaston, Nicholas Webster (21), of Cromford Drive, Mickleover, Gavin Brown (18), of Glendon Road, Sinfin and James Crooks (19), of Tor Avenue, Riddings.

Fans are banned for giving Nazi salutes Jan 23, 2004, 10:16 A dozen members of a "probationary" group of hardcore hooligans who gave Nazi salutes to rival Walsall fans before a football match have been banned from games for a total of nearly 40 years. All 12 Derby County fans were barred for three years from attending home and away matches involving their team while the ban also stops them going to England games including the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal this summer. They were each fined £250 and ordered to pay £43 costs by Walsall magistrates after pleading guilty to causing harassment, alarm and distress in the town on the day the home side played Derby County last September. The court was told that rival fans in a pub were taunted, Nazi salutes were raised and anti-Catholic slogans were shouted out in the street. Police had to draw their batons when the 12 men surged forward at the town's bus station, the court heard yesterday. Mr Peter Smedley, prosecuting, said all of them were members of the "Orphans", a group of mainly young fans waiting to progress to full membership of the notorious Derby Lunatic Fringe. He said the behaviour of the group was "extremely threatening" but there were few police officers on duty on the day of the match as no trouble was expected. Trouble flared when they spotted a group of Walsall fans inside the Hogshead pub in Leicester Street, said Mr Smedley. They chanted, made gestures and unfurled a banner bearing a clenched fist as well as making Nazi salutes and shouting anti-Pope and Catholic slogans, he said. The group then moved on to Walsall bus station where they surged forward when they saw some more Walsall fans. "There was a stand-off and police had to draw batons," he said. Mr Stephen Cobley, defending, said: "Each one of them has had a chance to reflect on and regret what they did and they have now admitted their guilt. He denied they were members of an organised group and said some of the group were Catholics who resented suggestions they had shouted anti-Pope slogans.