Isle of Wight police called to Newport football game

Flares were let off by both sets of supporters, fencing around the speedway track which surrounds the football pitch, was damaged, and there were scuffles between both sets of fans, according to eyewitnesses yesterday afternoon.

With tensions rising among the 500-strong crowd, officials at Smallbrook called for police support from the Ryde Neighbourhood Policing Team.

"No offences were disclosed and officers remained at the match in a preventative capacity," a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said.

Laverstock and Ford fans set off a flare on the Smallbrook pitch at full time. Photo: Simon Dear

One of the footballing dignitaries attending the game was Wessex League chairman, Nick Spencer.

He told the County Press: "The authorities have been notified and they will take action in due course.

"It started with an element of emotion — an element of what started out as friendly banter, which became unfriendly, largely fuelled by alcohol consumption.

"There was a scuffle at one point. The stewards dealt with that very well.

"Having flares set off is bad enough at any level — done by very irresponsible people. They were set off by both sets of supporters."

Dejected Newport players shellshocked at full time, amid the green smoke of a flare set off by Laverstock fans. Photo: Graham Brown

When asked about whether any sanctions will be issued by the league against either of the two clubs, Mr Spencer added: "I'm sure there will be. I haven't seen the referee's report yet. I'm not aware of a police report at this moment in time.

"The police were present in numbers and kept it under control by being there. They were not there initially, but when they did arrive, things became a lot calmer"

The Wessex chief said the scenes made him feel disappointed and that he had only ever seen one such similar occurence at grassroots level, in an FA Vase quarter final match.

When asked about whether safety policy at football grounds would be raised with the Wessex League board, Mr Spencer said: "Absolutely."

Newport captain Martin McDonough, in yellow, trying to follow the ball amid the green smoke of a flare. Photo: Graham Brown

"It's a matter for the board to discuss and make a decision on."

Regarding an inquiry into the incident, he added: "Discussions are taking place at this time. We need to be careful about action the FA are going to take and what the police are doing, so it's not straightforward.

"We need to be aware of what else is going on."

Newport chairman, Pete Westhorpe, who was in Spain at the time, told the County Press: "I'm trying to find out about it. I don't know a lot, other than what I can see on Facebook.

"I can't really judge anything from the Facebook pictures. I am emailing our secretary to find out what the situation is.

"I can't comment until I find out what the league's position is."