A FOOTBALL club official spoke of a team’s shock following an assault on the pitch which was said to have involved masked men armed with golf clubs.

Dave Copeland, secretary of Seaham Red Star FC, said the club member who was attacked was left needing stitches in hospital after the incident ahead of Tuesday’s game against Sunderland RCA.

The Northern League, Division One, derby match at Seaham Town Park was delayed as a result of the attack.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Copeland said it was understood transit vans pulled up outside the ground at about 7.05pm.

Witnesses and the club official described how men “wearing masks and scarves on their faces” ran into the ground, identified an individual and assaulted him.

The club member, who was on the pitch for the pre-game warm-up, was taken to hospital.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment and had stitches in the wounds on his legs,” said Mr Copeland. “He had ex-rays taken but they were happy to send him home last night.”

The Northern Echo:

The match between Seaham Red Star and Sunderland RCA. Picture: Connor Lamb

Police attended and the match went ahead – with Sunderland winning 5-0.

Mr Copeland said: “We didn’t want the game to go ahead but the referee asked us to lock the doors and as long as there was no danger wanted it go ahead.

“They (the players) were visibly shaken before the game. It delayed the kick-off by about 15 minutes.

“After in the club house it was very quiet and everybody was shaken up. There were people there with children and some people were leaving the ground (before the match). We just want to get to the bottom it it - where it came from and what the police are doing about it.”

Durham County FA has condemned the incident as a “disgrace”.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The Durham County FA have been made aware of an incident which occurred at the Seaham Red Star v Sunderland RCA fixture and we will be investigating the matter by writing to both clubs and match officials for their comments.

“We are also aware that the police are involved and also investigating. The incident reported has no place at all in football and it is very concerning especially as it was witnessed by members of the public which included children.”

Some fans and onlookers took to social media after the incident.

Among them was Connor Lamb, a sports journalism student who in a match report wrote: “It’s hard to not mention what happened half an hour before kick-off.

“I was just walking into the ground when it all started.

“I’ve never seen anything like it at a football match, and I hope to never see anything like it again.

“To be honest, I was surprised the referee let the game go ahead after such an incident.”

Durham Police confirmed the force was investigating an assault at the ground, on Seaton Lane.

Call 101 with information and quote reference number 383 of August 28.