Violent clashes at Matlock Town FC match

Matlock Town FC chairman Tom Wright said he had not seen anything like the violence at Saturday’s Matlock versus FC United match in the 37 years he had been with the club.

The police were called after fights broke out in the second half of the match – attended by nearly 1,000 people – at the club’s Causeway Lane ground.

Witnesses reported seeing a group of men congregating at one side of the terrace, followed by punches being thrown.

A video shot by one witness shows stewards struggling to keep the factions apart.

Mr Wright said: “There weren’t any Matlock fans involved in the incident.

“FC United have played against us the last five years. We have always had a good relationship with them, so there is never any trouble.

“I think they were just some people there who were not connected with the club.”

A Sheffield–based FC United fan commented: “Proper non-league football fans in general and FC United, specifically, wants nothing to do with violence.

“Matlock is one of the most pleasant and welcoming places normally, it’s a shame that was spoiled, even for just a few moments.”

Mr Wright said the club always puts on extra staff at large matches.

“There were 14 stewards for the small incident and they managed to sort it out,” he added.

A Derbyshire police spokesman said: “We did have an incident reported to us of some minor crowd trouble after a drink was thrown. Officers attended and the situation calmed down and resolved itself and no complaints were made to police.

“Officers remained in the area after the game and visited local pubs but there was no more trouble. No one was arrested and no injuries were reported to us.”