Seven over-50s among gang jailed for football hooliganism

A gang of football hooligans, including seven over the age of 50, have been jailed following an attack on a pub.

The men, some grey-haired or balding, caused trouble during Newcastle United’s trip to Burnley in December 2019, Northumbria Police said.

Two of them entered the Turf Hotel near the Turf Moor ground and were thrown out after singing Newcastle United songs.

The Turf Hotel Burnley
The Turf Hotel Burnley

A couple of minutes later a larger group of men burst in and clashed with locals.

One man brandished a pool cue and bar stools were used as weapons.

A police spokesman said: “While the overwhelming majority of fans who travelled down to Burnley behaved impeccably, the actions of a minority were totally unacceptable.

“We hope this outcome acts as a lesson to any supporter who intends to cause trouble on match days.”

They were dealt with at Preston Crown Court last week, police said.

Those involved were:

• Craig Heward, 39, of Barton Close, Wallsend, North Tyneside, was jailed for 25 months and handed an eight-year football banning order.
• Brian Hindmarch, 52, of Leam Lane Estate, Gateshead, was jailed for 25 months and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Peter Wakenshaw, 51, of Muswell Hill, Scotswood, Newcastle, was jailed for 27 months and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Michael O’Brien, 55, of Beresford Gardens, Byker, Newcastle, was jailed for two years and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Nicolas Henderson, 52, of The Birches, Sunniside, Gateshead, was jailed for 28 months and handed eight-year football banning order.
• Douglas Waugh, 53, of Stoneleigh Avenue, Longbenton, North Tyneside, was jailed for 19 months and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Darren Wade, 49, of Druridge House, North Shields, was jailed for 18 months and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Michael Maylia, 54, of Coniston, Gateshead, was jailed for 19 months and handed a six-year football banning order.
• Anthony Smith, 57, of Burn Gardens, Easington, was jailed for 24 months and handed a seven-year football banning order.
• Luke Smith, 20, of Quarry Road, Sunderland, was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours’ community service, a four-month electronic monitored curfew between the hours of 7.30pm and 6am, and a three-year football banning order.
• Thomas Young, 53, of The Haven, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, is due to be sentenced in January.