A TOTAL of 16 football fans have now been arrested after violence marred a club’s proudest day.

Police arrested eight fans on the day of the Gateshead v Grimsby Football Conference play-off on May 4 and say they arrested a further eight yesterday (May 14).

The latest arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder include four men from Gateshead, aged between 19 and 49 years, a North Tyneside man aged 33, a Newcastle man aged 43 and two 17-year-old male youths from South Shields.

Detective Inspector Andy Fairlamb warned Gateshead fans about their behaviour ahead of Sunday’s play-off final at Wembley against Cambridge United.

He said: "We are also liaising with our colleagues in London ahead of this important match for Gateshead to prevent any problems occurring.

"We know that this is a big game for one of our local teams and we don't want the bad behaviour of a few to mar what will be a great sporting day out for many true supporters."