Court told of rockets fired in clash

Rockets were fired and bottles and bricks thrown as up to 100 Wolves and Baggies fans faced off outside a Black Country pub, a court heard.

A police officer was struck by a firework after a 20-strong "pack" of Albion fans, which later swelled to 40, clambered over a fence at the back of The Bellwether pub in Wednesbury town centre, it is claimed.

The group is alleged to have shouted "Come on" towards five men, including Wolves supporter David Parkes along with Michael Cartwright, Mark Moore and two other men.

The smaller group responded in an equally "threatening manner", Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The jury heard how police then spotted an "aggressive" group of up to 60 Wolves supporters approaching, shouting "Come on" to the Albion fans who had left the pub, it was said.

The trouble flared at around 6.30pm on January 3 last year, when Birmingham City's home match against Wolves in the FA Cup was cancelled because of bad weather. On the same day, West Bromwich Albion were playing at home to Peterborough. Eight men including a soldier, from around the Black Country, are on trial accused of violent disorder.

Mr Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, said: "The (Wolves) group began to throw bricks and bottles towards the pub. Flares and fireworks were fired."

Albion fan Josh Hynd, aged 18, was shouting and beckoning the rival group to fight, said Mr Whitehead. Pc Martin Portman told yesterday how suspect John Ritchie, of Wednesbury, had been stood in the middle of the road near the pub with his arms outstretched shouting "Come on" to the group of five, which included a Wolves supporter.

Shaun Roach, of West Bromwich, was also gesturing he wanted to fight, as was Wednesbury soldier Matthew Foster, the court heard.

Pc Portman said: "I was aware that there was some kind of rocket being used from the West Bromwich Albion side."

He said a constable was struck by one of the rockets and added that he feared someone could "lose an eye" in the chaos.

Mr Whitehead said: "Heavily outnumbered, the police called for assistance. Riot vans arrived and the two groups dispersed and ran off in different directions."

Mr Whitehead said the confrontation did not turn into "full blown violence", but the "threat of violence that each of these men was using at the location" was at the heart of the case.

He said each of the defendants accepts being present. It is the "extent of their participation in the violent disorder" that the jury needs to decide.

The trial continues.

Details of the eight men in court.

These are the eight men who deny violent disorder:

Matthew Foster, aged 31, of Roberts Road, Friars Park, Wednesbury

Mark Moore, 40, of Long Ley, Heath Town, Wolverhampton

David Parkes, 44, of Griffiths Drive, Ashmore Park, Wolverhampton

Sukhraj Bobari, 19, of Tansley View, All Saints, Wolverhampton

John Ritchie, 29,of Carisbrooke Road, Friar Park, Wednesbury

Shawn Roche, 20, of Jervoise Street, Carters Green, West Bromwich

Josh Hynd, 18, of Willenhall Street, Darlaston

John Simpson, 24, of Wyntor House, West Bromwich

The jury was also told that Michael Cartwright, aged 41, of Bealeys Avenue, Wednesfield, and a 16-year-old from Darlaston, who cannot be named, have already pleaded guilty to violent disorder.