AFC Fylde threaten to report Chester to the police and the FA after dressing-room bust-up

AFC Fylde threaten to report Chester to the police and the FA after a dressing-room bust-up after their National League North clash.

According to Sportsmail, Fylde claimed that up to 20 Chester fans attempted to storm their changing room following their 1-0 win at the stadium, and that their 67-year-old kitman was abused by the hosts’ assistant manager, Colin Woodthorpe – a former coach of AFC Fylde.

Fylde kitman Steve Cowell told Sportsmail on Monday night that Woodthorpe repeatedly took to swear at him and called him ‘dog’s breath’ in the away dressing room, before coming at him ‘like a raging bull’ as he tried to leave the ground in a van.

Some will recall how Woodthorpe had a seven year spell as a coach at Fylde before being axed by them two years ago, which led to him successfully suing the club for unfair dismissal. He then had a blow with his former employers earlier this summer when the club reported him to the Football Association for allegedly posting abusive messages on social media, yet no action was taken.

Chester have said there was an incident involving their supporters after the match which saw three red cards handed out before Fylde scored a last-minute winner, then there is a dispute with fans said to have entered the dressing room. Woodthorpe is understood to have admitted to swearing at Cowell, but has denied charging at him.

‘I opened the dressing-room door to start loading the van and about 20 Chester fans piled in, trying to get at us,’ Cowell told Sportsmail. ‘Luckily there were three police officers there, and they dragged them away before they could do much damage. The police did a great job.

‘I loaded the van, then went back to the dressing room to tidy up when Woodthorpe came at me out of nowhere. He just kept shouting, “f*** off, f*** off, f*** off, dog’s breath!” It was terrifying, but again the police pushed him away and shut the dressing-room door.

‘I never leave a ground until I’ve swept the dressing room, but the police told me to leave for my own safety. I got to the van and he came at me again like a raging bull. He tried to get in the passenger seat and was punching the van. He was fuming, 45 minutes after the game.

‘I was badly shaken up. I had to stop on the way home to compose myself. I still feel vulnerable. I’m 67 and have grandkids. I’ve worked in football my entire life and have never seen anything like this.’

Chester sources add that Woodthorpe did confront Cowell after the game, but insist the altercation took place outside the dressing room.

The former Chester striker is understood to have been furious at Cowell for opening a fire door, which he felt caused the initial flare-up by enabling the home fans to get near the visitors. Chester’s safety officer reported to the club that Cowell breached protocol by opening the fire door.

Woodthorpe told the club that he called Cowell a ‘dogsbody’ and that he followed him to his van as he was unhappy at the state in which the visitors had left the dressing room.

Rather than punching the van, Woodthorpe says he tapped the side of it to get Cowell’s attention and question why he was leaving the changing room in a messy condition.

Fylde officials were angry at aspects of their treatment throughout the afternoon at Chester, but mainly due the fact that the home fans repeatedly abused their manager James Rowe with offensive chants in the presence of his family.

AFC Fylde threaten to report Chester to the police and FA after dressing-room bust-up. Chester fans attempted to storm visiting dressing and allegations of Fylde kitman being abused. https://t.co/khmwruTxLR

— Matt Hughes (@MattHughesDM) August 30, 2022

Chester FC: Tyrer, Coulton, Weeks (56’ Burke), Kenyon, Willoughby (59’ Stephenson), Thomas, Devine, Coates, Lynch, Hall (69’ Heywood), Edwards.

Unused subs: Morgan, Murray.

AFC Fylde: Neal, Morrison, Whitmore, Bird, Cranston, Barrett (66’ Rowe), Philliskirk, Weston, Patten (46’ Osborne), Haughton, Holmes (46’ Rowley).

Unused Subs: Obi, Walker.

SCORERS: Philliskirk 75.

ATTENDANCE: 1,774.

@pnefc__discuss: Any comment @ChesterFC? Met Steve numerous times, really pleasant bloke so sad to see this..

@Matt_At9_: I’m sure @ChesterFC will release a timely professional statement in due course rather than go to a right wing rag.

@JMACJM: A decent guy Steve! Will have seen and heard it all, over his career!

@SLC_DWR: Handbags

@MintyPNE: Dog’s Breath! @baysidepne

@Pneawaydays: Poor Cowelly! #pnefc

@ForeverOUFC: says it all that afc fylde would rather run this story through sportsmail rather than issue a club statement on their website, especially if its an incident with fans. got to admit, some hilarious details mentioned in it like