UPDATE: |Chaos erupts on pitch after Rochdale AFC game as parents ‘cover children’s eyes’ News

Fans from both sides ‘invaded’ the pitch after the final whistle

Scenes of chaos erupted on the pitch after the Rochdale AFC game on Saturday (April 5) with parents forced to ‘cover their children’s eyes’.

Following a 2-2 draw at the stadium on Sandy Lane, Spennymoor Town will be heading to Wembley following the penalty shoot-out in the FA trophy semi-final.

But moments after the game, fans from both sides clashed and engaged in chanting, before it spilled out onto the grounds. Fans said other supporters ‘invaded the pitch’ and clashed with stewards and police.

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Footage shared online also showed a number of police vehicles arriving at the scene on blue lights, including Tactical Aid Unit vans, following the end of match on Saturday evening.

Police confirmed officers were called after fans from both sides ‘entered the pitch’ but that the mob was quickly dispersed and that no arrests were made.

One Rochdale AFC supporter said: “Spennymoor fans ran on the pitch in celebration with some taunting our youth. Our youth then ran on the pitch and started punching the Spennymoor fans randomly.

“It took a while for the police [to arrive], the stewards tried to manage the situation but became overrun with skirmishes. A parent near me had to shield her sons eyes.”

Another posted on social media: “Fans invaded the pitch at full time and started scrapping with fans and police” as a third commented: “To be fair both sets of fans had their idiots. Their fans came on the pitch and taunting our fans, so our fans then got involved too (idiotic minority of both sets).”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “We were called after fans from both sides entered the pitch after the final whistle. We always have resources available across the force area and extra officers responded to the incident after we were called.

“However, working with the club’s stewards, the fans were quickly dispersed, and the away fans left on their assigned coaches. No arrests were made.”

Rochdale AFC have been approached for comment.

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