Mansfield fan acted like a football hooligan court was told

Simon Percival of Hanbury Court Mansfield pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Magistrates were told Percival had been among a group of Mansfield Town supporters who had chanted goaded three Tranmere Rovers fans in the Talbot pub on 4th April.

The court heard three Tranmere supporters had been in the Talbot when 15 Mansfield Town fans ran through the pub towards them chanting Mansfield Town slogans at them.

They hid in the bar area away from the Mansfield Town fans.

When police arrived Percival ran out into the car park and jumped over the fence.

Percival admitted to police his behaviour had been “reminiscent of football hooliganism.”

He admitted there were elderly people and families with children at the pub but he had been excited by the situation and shouted and waved his fist.

He had not wanted to punch anyone but admitted his behaviour would have made people think violence would be carried out.

The defence said Percival, who had no previous convictions, had been very much in the periphery of what had been happening in the Talbot.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports until June 23. The defence is contesting a Football banning order.