By Tim Parsons-
Three football hooligans who attacked rival fans in a Bradford pub have been jailed.
The scene of the attack was likened to a “wild west” barroom brawl.
A total of 11 men were charged after mayhem broke out before and after Bradford City’s home derby match against Sheffield United on October 22, 2016.
Prosecutor James Gelsthorpe told Bradford Crown Court that police ‘football spotters’ on duty in the city centre noticed a group of men they recognised as having links to “risk groups of supporters” heading towards The Bradford Arms pub before the game.
A crowd gathered in the beer garden of the Manningham Lane pub, designated as catering for away supporters. The court heard that officers saw a group of men threatening some Sheffield fans before “shouting and general disorder broke out.”
Mr Gelsthorpe said that Michael Hindle, 24, of Norwood Road, Shipley, Declan Brame, 22, of Norwood Avenue, Shipley, James Dunn, 28, of Falmouth Avenue, Wapping, Bradford, and Paul Sharp, 25, of Elderwood Gardens, Bradford, were part of the group of Bradford fans involved in the confrontation.
AFFRAY
Hindle admitted a charge of affray in connection with the incident, with the others later pleading guilty to an offence of threatening behaviour.
The court heard that after the game, at around 8pm, two Sheffield fans had been drinking at the bar of The Ginger Goose pub in Market Street, Bradford, when they were surrounded by a group of around 15 men. After one Sheffield fan reacted by headbutting one of the group, violence was said to have “erupted”, leaving members of the public and staff at the pub “scared and frightened”.
Punches and kicks were thrown during the fight that followed, with bottles and chairs also hurled across the bar. The pub’s manager, Jamie Hayes, said in a statement that it was “pure luck” that none of his employees were injured in the melee