Police have appealed for information following a disturbance at a football match between Spennymoor Town Football Club and Darlington Football Club on Boxing Day that saw police officers assaulted and the match temporarily halted as tempers flared between the two sets of fans. 

During the match on December 26, several people, including four police officers, were assaulted and damage caused to property within and outside the grounds of Spennymoor Town Football Club after the two local rivals faced each other in a ‘fierce encounter’. 

Both sets of players finished the match with ten players each on the field, but it was the events off the pitch that Durham Constabulary are now looking into. 

Read more: Darlington F.C. appeal for witnesses

The match referee delayed the game for a short period during the first half of the contest, which ended 1-1.

While stewards and police restored order, the players waited for the match to restart.

Today (December 29), Durham Constabulary have confirmed that more than a dozen suspects have been identified while enquiries are ongoing. 

The Northern Echo: The match between the two sides was described as 'fierce' but it's the off field trouble that police are now investigating. Photo: DAVID NELSON.The match between the two sides was described as 'fierce' but it's the off field trouble that police are now investigating. Photo: DAVID NELSON.

However, the police force is also appealing for people to come forward with any information following the Boxing Day incident, especially any mobile phone footage. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Paula Ruck at Paula.Ruck@durham.police.uk or calling 101 with extension 202449.

Following the Boxing Day match, Spennymoor Football Club hasn’t put out an official statement as of yet, but Darlington has issued a separate appeal of their own to investigate the situation that led to crowd trouble. 

The Northern Echo: Darlington goalkeeper Tommy Taylor took to social media after the game to say he was pelted with coins during the match.Darlington goalkeeper Tommy Taylor took to social media after the game to say he was pelted with coins during the match.

In a statement from the Quakers, a spokesperson said: “There have been several incidents inside and outside the Spennymoor ground this afternoon.

“If you have witnessed any disorder, then please email dave.watson@darlingtonfc in the strictest confidence.

“The DFC board condemns any anti-social behaviour, and we urge any Darlington fan who witnessed any such behaviour inside or outside the ground to contact us.

Read more: Spennymoor Town 1 Darlington 1 : Feisty derby ends in a draw

“We stated pre-match that if any Darlington supporter is found to have been involved in anti-social behaviour, then they will be banned from Blackwell Meadows.”

After the game on social media, Quaker's goalkeeper Tommy Taylor also claimed coins had been thrown in his direction.

Taking to Twitter, the Darlington shot-stopper said: “At what point do the governing bodies look at the standard of officiating at all levels of the football pyramid and realise that it is way below par?! On the plus side, I’m a couple of quid up from all the coins thrown at me today.”

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