Newcastle football hooligans exposed

Sep 27 2009 by Adam Jupp, Sunday Sun

THEY are the ugly underbelly of the beautiful game. Travelling home and abroad in search of battle, these four “Toon fans” are today exposed as soccer yobs.

The louts have been involved in a series of dust-ups involving Newcastle United hooligans over the years, but have finally been booted out the game.

Police identified them as key members of the notorious Newcastle Gremlins firm and gathered detailed dossiers of their links to planned rucks in a bid to get them banned.

Brothers Bryan and Stephen Hird have both been hit with three-year bans after Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard of their hooligan histories, which date back nearly 10 years.

Bryan 42, of Burnhope Road, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, has travelled to United European games with several known hooligans, including Frankfurt in November 2006, when they stopped-off in Dusseldorf and terrified pub customers by throwing beer and chairs.

He was also linked to a planned brawl with Middlesbrough fans, who had to be locked in a city centre pub to keep them away from the baying Magpies mob.

Stephen, 37, of Broom Hill, Stanley, County Durham, was present at Eclipse bar, in Newcastle city centre, when a smoke bomb was set off as Sunderland supporters arrived in the city for a derby match in February.

And in September 2002, he was one of 30 Toon louts in attendance following trouble before a United UEFA Cup game with Feyenoord.

Associate Norman Short has been at the forefront of battles involving Magpies hooligans in recent years.

In December, a planned fight with Stoke City rivals turned suburban streets into a warzone and left locals terrified.

He was spotted in Newcastle and Gateshead with a number of the gang who would later be involved.

And when trouble flared, Short was seen with his hood up, leading a group of Toon yobs towards the bus containing their opponents. Officers had to draw and hit out with batons to keep their opponents in the vehicle.

Short was also arrested as he watched the Toon’s game with Leicester City this season. He told police; “It’s coz you know I’m a Gremlin.”

Short, 31, of Colgrove Way, Newcastle, was also banned for three years.

Fellow thug Stuart Watson has now been hit with two banning orders. His first was in 2005 for two years.

But two days after it ran out he was back on the rampage, causing trouble after a Untied game with Middlesbrough.

The 44-year-old, of Rosedale Court, West Denton, Newcastle, was part of a group who travelled without tickets to Middlesbrough, and was also linked to the Stoke disorder.

He has been banned for five years.

Supt Steve Neill said:”It is Northumbria Police’s aim that all genuine fans attending football matches in the North East are able to enjoy the day and participate in supporting their teams in a safe and friendly environment.

“Those individuals who intend to detract from the experience will be robustly targeted with all legislation at our disposal including the use of football banning orders.”

It came as figures revealed there has been a rise in football-related disorder over the last year.

There were 79 arrests at Newcastle home games last season, compared with 38 the year before, with 78 away from home, which was up from 49 in 2007/08.

In 2005/06, there were just 26 arrests at St James’s Park and 30 at away grounds.

Football banning orders can be slapped on supporters convicted of offences at matches or immediately before or after games, which can range from running on to the pitch to throwing missiles at rival fans or police.

Alternatively, officers can build stand-alone cases against “risk supporters” they believe are involved in organised disorder.

The statistics reveal there are now 84 Newcastle followers with football banning orders, most of which ban them from the city centre for four hours before and after games, as well as stopping them following the Toon home or away.

That is up from 29 in 2007/08 and 16 five years ago. There were 121 people picked up at the Stadium of Light this season, compared with 58 the year before, with 45 arrested away, up from 43 in 2007/08. And there are now more than 70 Black Cats’ fans banned.

Page 2: Book helps police arrest louts
Page 3: Stephen Hird
Page 4: Bryan Hird
Page 5: Norman Short
Page 6: Stuart Watson