‘All kicking off’ – Chaotic end to non league playoff final marred by troubling scenes

It was a chaotic end to a non league playoff final between Gornal Athletic and Sutton United FC (Birmingham), marred by troubling scenes.

1,500 fans were in attendance to watch Sutton United go on to win the Midland League Division One playoff final 2-1.

Gornal Athletic finished the regular season 2nd, with 100 points from 40 games played, while Sutton United were 3rd with 86 points from 40 games.

Gornal Athletic won 2-1 against Birmingham OJM in the playoff semi final, the other was a 5-0 win for Sutton United against Heather St. John’s.

@instructormannn tweeted along with footage after the playoff final: “All kicking off at @GornalAyWe 😱😱 This Sutton fan who threw the flare into the Gornal fans needs sorting…

“Literally 15 riot vans/police cars rocked up 10 minutes after this 😲 If they were all free at the time, it makes you wonder why 1 or 2 couldn’t have been lurking at the end of the game in case anything kicked off on or outside the ground.

Express & Star have contacted West Midlands Police for comment.

All kicking off at @GornalAyWe 😱😱 This Sutton fan who threw the flare into the Gornal fans needs sorting… pic.twitter.com/J8TtM6bVCW

— Andy C (@instructormannn) May 2, 2026

“Every little thing… 🎶”
Lads on vocals, vibes on max, and zero notes hit correctly 🤝

More full-time scenes pending… but for now, Bish has spoken — everything’s gonna be alright.

Enjoy your Saturday night, Greens 💚
See you at the clubhouse 🍻#UpTheGreens pic.twitter.com/eeKsXCSxM9

— Sutton United FC (Birmingham) (@SuttonUtdFC) May 2, 2026

Gornal Sutton pic.twitter.com/AUZ0GRiC0g

— dot (@mpwolf94) May 2, 2026

Here’s how fans reacted following a chaotic end to non league playoff final marred by troubling scenes…

Oldham Groundhopper: This was caused by a Sutton United “fan” throwing a smoke bomb into the crowd of Gornal supporters. And then there was the aftermath

@jonsmithUC: Utterly disgusting. This has to be stamped out with punitive action. National banning orders and fines for the club whose supporters let off flares inside any ground have to now be actioned.

@wutenderman: All this because 1 idiot threw the pyro into the home end…… I was there and if it wasn’t for that twat none of this aggro would have happened. Find him and ban him

@sammightsay_: It’s so shit that non league clubs and fans have to deal with this. Imagine after a long hard season you get the reward of a play off final, only for it to be spoiled by day trippers who turn up one game a year and act like fucking knuckle dragging neanderthals

@DEVO1875: Children in there coward !!!! Throwing a flare into the crowd is unacceptable anything that comes after is justified how would you feel standing with your kids wife family and that happens to you guys ?

@sammightsay_: And those children could potentially be scared off from going to the footy again. These tossers only think of themselves. Utterly selfish behaviour

@Nreeves1: Went to @GornalAyWe Vs @SuttonUtdFC today very good game with both sides going at it, which was spoiled by one stupid individual throwing this flare into the crowd towards women and children. Congratulations @SuttonUtdFC

@ben_dallimore: This is why Flares shouldn’t be allowed in football stadiums.

@matt_chidlow: Why do people bother? Made me chuckle though. Pity Gornal never won too!

@dunmore_sam: Fuck sake, can’t even go to a game without setting a flare off 😂🙄 wow

@BelstaffBadge: Shocking scenes at the end of @GornalAyWe v @SuttonUtdFC

@Richardwood5Me: Gornal fans was on terraces didn’t Enter the pitch till one of your stupid fans threw a flare into the Gornal crowd none of that would have happened after.

@Step5AndBelow: @GornalAyWe Feel for your manager , players let him down on the pitch with that performance and also off it after , as a club I hope you take action against your players especially 9 & 3 I have videos of you want me to send them to you. I won’t post online but it’s sad to see

@contact_rogers: Absolute joke control your fans had loads of scared kids after

@TrevWright_: I understand the videos look bad , but when you have children in the stands and a Sutton fan comes over trying to throw a flare at them it’s out of order mate. But we shouldn’t have reacted like that fair play to Sutton

@Step5AndBelow (replying to Gornal): Bet you wish your players turned up instead of the 800 or so drunk thugs who did and embarrassed your club at the end of the game , those same fans who don’t bother throughout the season

@Shropshirewba (replying to Sutton): I hope that you’re going to ban that little fucka for life

Mark Farrell: All this will do will cause clubs at lower levels to have more security and an increase in costs

Steve James: I think as the non league game is growing (a good thing) there’s a good few coming over from league football as it’s less hassle. Some of them take advantage of the fact that there’s less restrictions.. not so much policing and you can get a beer while watching the game. Suddenly it’s the 80’s again!

Paul Baldry: It’s perfectic and it is only a game and football should have fun and banter but that’s it .

Si Boyle: I go to non-league to stay away from this type of “fan” but seems even Step 6 isn’t safe from it now.