Little girl hooligan: Shameful new face of football thuggery as ponytailed schoolgirl joins violent pitch invasion



V-sign: Ponytailed schoolgirl in jeans and a polo shirt swears at the Bury goalkeeper as Chesterfield take the lead

Even among the crowd of shockingly young football louts swarming on to the pitch, one stands out.

A pony-tailed girl, who looks like she is yet to reach her teens, lunges out to make abusive gestures towards the opposition team's goalkeeper.

A teenage boy wearing a checked shirt also lashes out and punches the player in the face.

Bizarrely, the incident came at what should have been a moment of celebration for the young thugs, after their team had scored an equaliser in a tense top-of-the table match in English football's fourth tier.



But rather than cheering the Chesterfield goalscorer, they rushed on to the pitch to taunt Bury goalkeeper Cameron Belford, screaming abuse and making obscene gestures.

The 6ft 2in tall goalie remained calm throughout the onslaught by the so-called fans during the League Two match on Monday.



His restraint is all the more admirable given that earlier this year he had a metal plate inserted in his face after shattering his cheekbone in a horrific injury sustained in a challenge with an opposition striker.

That may also explain why the thug grimaced so as he landed the blow – for his fist is understood to have connected with the side of 22-year-old Belford’s face which houses the titanium plate.

The shameful scenes were condemned by football officials and law-abiding fans alike yesterday, as police confirmed they have arrested a 13-year-old boy on suspicion of assault and a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of a public order offence in connection with the incident at Chesterfield’s B2net Stadium.

Disgraceful: Fan appears to punch Bury goalkeeper Cameron Belford in the face as supporters invade the pitch during League Two match yesterday

Taunts: A 'fan' gives the goalkeeper the middle finger as he is surrounded by fans at the B2net Stadium

Derbyshire Police have also arrested a 38-year-old man. He and the two youths have all been bailed.

Officers, who are scanning CCTV footage, studying photographs and working closely with Chesterfield FC, anticipate further arrests in the coming days.



The club is appealing via its website for supporters to help identify the offenders.

Chesterfield's stadium manager Colin Nellist said the troublemakers could face indefinite bans from the ground in addition to whatever sentence might be imposed on them by the courts.

The trouble flared when Chesterfield scored in the second half to make it 2-2. Witnesses said the youth who threw the punch then fled back into the crowd of more than 9,000. If Chesterfield had won on Monday, they would have secured the League Two title.



However, Bury went on to win 3-2, meaning they will not only be promoted alongside Chesterfield, but with two games of the season remaining could even beat them to the title.

Lifelong Chesterfield fan Edward Talbot, 44, a legal executive, said the atmosphere inside the ground was 'frenzied', adding: 'Lots of kids got in cheap who were only there for the hoped-for celebration, and with Chesterfield failing to secure the title it spoilt their celebrations so like a bunch of idiots they caused a nuisance.'

After the incident, Belford made an official complaint.



Yesterday one fan on Chesterfield’s online supporters forum branded the troublemaking youngsters 'feral scumbags'.

A Bury FC source said: 'Cameron is a very level-headed guy and rose above it. But this kind of behaviour from fans is just not needed in football. These people deserve to be banned from matches and have only themselves to blame for that.'



Bury players celebrate promotion after their 3-2 victory in yesterday's game during which the team's goalkeeper was punched by an opposing fan



