More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A number of football hooligans who invaded a pitch following an end-of-season game have been charged with a number of offences.
As the full-time whistle blew, supporters of Gillingham Football Club and Rotherham United charged onto the turf at Priestfield Stadium in Gillingham.
A fight broke out between factions of the supporters with objects being thrown as the home side suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Gillingham FC needed a win to stay in the third tier of English football while away side Rotherham were battling for second place.
In the end the Yorkshire team ran away with the result securing automatic promotion to the Championship while the Gills were relegated.
The resulting pitch invasion has been under police investigation ever since, and now 29 fans have been issued postal charges for public order offences.
That includes 15 supporters from the home end with 14 being issued to away fans - one of whom has also been charged with common assault after allegedly pushing a steward.
All those charged are due to appear at Medway Magistrates' Court on either December 8 or 9.
Supt Warren Franklin said: "Kent Police takes incidents of public disorder and violence at sporting events very seriously as they have the potential to place other innocent bystanders including children, the elderly and disabled at significant risk.
"We have a good relationship with all football clubs in Kent and remain committed to helping to keep their grounds as safe as possible for the enjoyment of all."
Gillingham FC's co-chairman, and chief executive, Paul Fisher, said: "The football club is pleased to see that the police have dealt with the unsavoury incident which occurred following the final whistle against Rotherham United.
"Such behaviour will not be tolerated at a family club such as Gillingham.
"We would like to remind all supporters that entering the field of play is a criminal offence under the Football Offences Act."
Those charged from the home section include:
Those charged from the away section include 11 men and a woman from Rotherham aged from their 20s to their 50s, a 22-year-old man from Doncaster and a 42-year-old man from York.
