Buckland Athletic co-chairman John Piller has issued a statement about “unsavoury behaviour” at his side’s pre-season friendly with Yeovil Town in Devon this afternoon.
The incident occurred just after half-time when ‘fans’ from Torquay United turned up at Homers’ Heath to clash with a small section of the travelling ground, leaving a few cuts and bruises on either side by all accounts.
In a statement issued just after the game, the co-chairman said: “Buckland Athletic FC would like to address the unsavoury behaviour displayed at Homers Heath today and confirm that we have a zero-tolerance policy for violence on our premises.
“Buckland Athletic is a community football club and a welcoming facility for families to watch local football and we are saddened that today’s events impacted a small number of our spectators.
“We would like to thank Yeovil Town FC for today’s fixture, which was played in a great spirit and we hope that their travelling support enjoyed their visit to Homers’ Heath.”
Commenting on it on his Twitter account following the match, Yeovil chairman Martin Hellier described the incident as “a minor scuffle.”
Myself and the club #YTFC would like to thank Buckland Athletic #OfficialBAFC for your superb hospitality at your lovely club today. Wonderful to meet JP and staff, and be made to feel so at home. ?????
It was football as it truly should be, and I will be sure to return the…
— Martin Hellier (@MartinHellier) July 8, 2023
Unfortunately, these Gulls’ ‘fans’ were unable to watch their own team pick up a 5-0 win over Reading Under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly and therefore seemingly had nothing better to do than manufacture a rivalry.
Let’s hope everyone has now got it out of their systems, eh?
Completely absurd…
Can I add that everyone at Buckland Athletic was so helpful to us, my partner being on crutches. What a lovely little club with superb facilities and very welcoming. Barry Mills