A football fan from Sittingbourne who has followed England to major tournaments around the world says the trouble at the European Championships in France is the worst he has experienced.

Terry Matson was in Marseilles on Saturday for the match with Russia which ended with violent clashes in the crowd.

The 55-year-old bricklayer was part of a group of 20 fans from across the country who meet up regularly for England games.

He said they witnessed ugly scenes from the moment they arrived in the port area of Marseilles on the day of the game.

“As soon as we came out of the underground station tear gas came down the street at us,” said the father-of-one.

“We had a choice, turn left and join England fans at all the bars, or turn right and watch what was going on. We turned right.

“We could hear shouting and screaming and see the tear gas.

“I have never experienced anything like it in 50 years of going to football.”

“I have never experienced anything like it in 50 years of going to football” - Terry Matson

After a tense trip on the underground, where Terry said they feared being attacked, the group came to the stadium.

They were allowed onto a concourse, only to find themselves pinned in when gates were shut leaving just one way in and out.

“Russians started running through to attack us but we had nowhere to go,” Terry said.

“There were women, children, OAPs, a real cross section of people. We were trapped.

“We relied on a few riot police to send off tear gas. The security was absolutely dreadful.

“They started throwing bottles in. Luckily, they let off more tear gas and they did not get in. That was a scary moment.”

Inside, they watched most of the match without incident, until the end when Russia scored an equaliser and their fans charged at England supporters.

Terry, who was at the opposite end of the ground, said: “The security was terrible. It should never have happened. Never ever.”

He added: “The difference was this was so well organised. When England cause trouble it’s usually drunks having a fight, swinging their arms, falling over, like you see in pubs here or down the High Street.

“These were dressed all in black. It’s like they have been in the army. There was one bit when they came down the street and must have been to a bar and picked all the chairs up and came marching towards you with them on their heads.

“The chairs were launched and then bottles came out of their pockets and they ran in. It was like a military machine coming at you.”