Nine plead guilty after FA Cup violence in Black Country
Nine men have admitted either affray or threatening behaviour after violence marred an FA Cup qualifying match in the Black Country.
Fighting broke out at the biggest game in the history of Sporting Khalsa when they played FC United of Manchester at their Noose Lane, Willenhall ground in a fourth qualifying round tie on October 24 last year. Trouble started before kick-off and a flare was later thrown onto the pitch.
Those who admitted affray when they appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday were: Lee Dougliss, 21, of Brookeridge Close, Willenhall; Adam Hickman, 26, from Bolton Road, Wednesfield; Mark Hodgetts, 27, of Green Park Avenue, Bilston; Jerome Nicholls, 19, from Clarence Road, Bilston, and Steven Walters, 29, of Leacroft Avenue, Bushbury.
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Pleading guilty to threatening behaviour were: Ashley Bennett, 24, from Aston Road, Willenhall; Joe Hodson, 22, of Julian Road, Eastfield; Thomas Webb, 22, from Deansfield Road, Eastfield, and Charles Mason, 21, of Pinfold Lane, Walsall.
They will all be sentenced at a date to be fixed.
A tenth defendant, Max Bradley, 18, from Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, denied affray and is due to stand trial after October 31.
