Blyth Spartans ban fans from drinking alcohol after incident during game against Darlington

Blyth Spartans ban fans from drinking alcohol inside ground after an incident during the game against Darlington on Tuesday night.

The Quakers picked up a 2-1 victory to move them out of the National League North relegation zone, but it was marred after a fan chucked something at the Darlington keeper.

Now a statement has been issued on the matter, but fans have been left annoyed that the majority are being punished because of one person.

𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

🔗 https://t.co/xTZHZynDxj#HowayBlyth 🟢⚪️

— Blyth Spartans (@Blyth_Spartans) March 14, 2024

A short statement was posted on Thursday morning, and it reads: “Blyth Spartans can announce that fans will no longer be able to be consume alcohol within the ground.

“This is following an incident from last night at Croft Park wherein a plastic glass containing beer which was thrown at a Darlington FC player during Tuesday night’s match.

“The Club are extremely disappointed it’s come to this after many warnings to fans surrounding alcohol in the ground.”

The game itself saw the Quakers picked up three huge points at Croft Park to lift them out of the relegation zone in National League North.

Matty Cornish put Darlo ahead with a cracking goal early in the game, and after withstanding some strong Blyth pressure, Cameron Salkeld added a second just after the hour.

Blyth didn’t give up though, and pulled a goal back with a couple of minutes left of stoppage time, and right at the end Tom Platt cleared one off the line.

The victory means that Quakers have climbed out of the bottom four for the first time since August, because Rushall Olympic lost at home to Brackley, and swop places with Quakers, who are now level on points with Blyth and King’s Lynn.

Under manager Steve Watson and assistant Terry Mitchell, they have won six out of their last eight matches, scored 19 goals in the process and conceding eight.

The result sees Darlington moving out of the drop zone into 20th, with 43 points from 39 games played and two points above Rushall, who are in the drop zone with 41 points from 38 games played. Blyth Spartans are 18th also with 43 points, from 38 games played.

This is the reaction as Blyth Spartans decide to ban fans from drinking alcohol inside ground after an incident in the game vs Darlington…

Smiglet Smiggy Smith: You need alcohol to watch them at the minute 😳😳🍺🍺🤪🤪

Liam Robinson: If watching the team recently hasn’t been torture enough now we have to do it sober 🥲

Dave Ramshaw: If it been a plastic glass full of water, would we have been banned drinking water too? #NorthKoreaFC

Dave Ramshaw: So for the actions of one person, hundreds get punished. Well done Blyth Spartans. 👏

Kirsty Randle: If someone wants to throw something, they will… It could be a can of pop or bottle of water… Please let me have the alcohol. I need it to get me through 🙏🏻

Blyth Spartans Greek Community: I would say that the incident is somewhat extreme, you could punish the person who did it and not all the fans.

Gemma Birnie: There’s always one who spoils it for everyone 😠

Cannock Spartans: We were supposed to be coming up in April.. might have to rethink now 😮!

Jack Bainbridge: A ban on all supporters having a beer in the ground for a plastic cup being thrown is a bit much. Maybe just ban the actual fan that did it? Grown adults all being punished by a single childish act is a tad extreme.

Dan Wilson: No pies and now no beer. New owners making big changes. Best of luck 😂

Mark Collins: So one fans stupidity and everyone suffers , that is a very poor decision, that will be revenue loss and no doubt a drop in attendances 🥴

Steve Trinder: This was thrown by someone directly behind me, as he caught me with his arm as he threw it. Perhaps he should come forward and take the punishment, so others don’t have to take it for him.

Alan Giloney: q: if someone had thrown a cake would the ban the cake stall?

John Laws: Makes a change been thrown onto the pitch, usually gets dropped on the floor

Alan Giloney: First statement from the new regime and its this. I don’t disagree its out of order but maybe try to identify the culprit. And maybe issue a warning/reminder first may have been sufficient. How to win friends & influence people?

Michael Tilmouth: Wasnt aware you could get a plastic glass 🤣

Colin Giloney: First PR mistake of the new regime

Dan Meggison: Are you banning cans of coke and bottles of water too? Would rather have a pint thrown at me than a full bottle or can. People still smoke and vape, apparently that’s banned though? Chips are regularly thrown at the keeper, BAN THEM! If the ‘security’ weren’t watching the match, they’d see what was going on and be able sort the individual rather than making daft decisions like this. Maybe making sure people aren’t getting in for free or using cheaper tickets bought online would be a better use of time for the club. As long as the away fans have a cracking time though with their snuck in beer, throwing bottles at players, flares, drums and banging on the stands/boards all game 👏 The football, mood and atmosphere is bad enough without banning the majority from enjoying a couple of beers watching Shaw’s Green and White shite.

Jordan Armstrong: There’s middle aged blokes behind the goal joining in with daft kids calling players pedos or sex offenders. Laughing and cheering when pints get chucked onto the pitch and then whinging on socials when the consequences come from it. I’d suggest that if you’re outraged at this admittedly heavy handed announcement, you police yourselves behind the goal and stop the aresholes that cause bother and throw stuff onto the pitch doing it. Name and shame the individual(s). Stop encouraging the divvies and don’t leave the club in a position where they feel they have to do this.