Yeovil Town's fans have received positive feedback from a Government Home Office report into Football-Related Arrests and Banning Orders for the 2007-08 season. The report paints the Glovers as amongst the best behaved fans in the Football League, with issues at a minimum throughout the whole of the season.
No Yeovil Town fans were the subject of banning orders during last season. Banning orders are implemented by a local court and prevent that person from entering any designated football ground in the country. Any breach of the banning order is deemed to be a criminal offence - they are in effect football's ASBOs. Aside from the Glovers, only Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton Town and Southend United could boast that record at League One level. In League Two, Accrington Stanley, Brentford, Gillingham and Macclesfield Town also had zero banning orders during last season. All clubs at Championship and Premier League level had at least one banning order submitted against one of their fans.
Historically, the Glovers have just one banning order issued from a previous season that is still being enforced. Only Milton Keynes Dons and Accrington Stanley have zero across the whole of the Football League and Premier League. The fact that both clubs are new to the Football League in their current incarnations will no doubt have been a significant factor in their historical records. By comparison, local rivals Hereford United (19), Bristol Rovers (17), Bristol City (36) and Exeter City (14) have significantly more. There are 3,172 banning orders currently in force with 1,048 imposed across the last 12 months.
In terms of arrests in or around football grounds, there were four Yeovil Town fans arrested during the 2007-08 season. The report does not say whether any of the arrests led to a caution or prosecution. This figure is only bettered by Southend United at League One level, who had just two supporters arrested during last season. Worst by far is Leeds United who had 156 arrests, followed by Millwall with 78. There were 717 arrests involving League One clubs across all competitions last season.
The report splits down arrests into sub categories. Of Yeovil's four arrests, two happened at home games, whilst two happened at away games. The four are categorised into two arrests for public disorder, one for a pitch incursion and one for an alcohol-related offence. Every Football League and Premier League club had at least one arrest during the season.
Clearly the club and its supporters should not be complacent at such news, nor should we accept even the minimal figures to be perfection. However, the report consistently details Yeovil Town fans as amongst the best behaved in the country at our level, and that is certainly something to be proud of.
Comment on this News Item on Facebook
or Go back to Top of Page
|
26 November 2008 : 
