Torquay and Wrexham issue statement after fans are attacked

Torquay United and Wrexham have chosen to issue a statement each after fans are said to have been attacked during the game on Saturday.

Reports have emerged from supporters who attended the National League encounter and now the police after being called in to investigate matters.

It’s not just Wrexham and their fans who have been criticised, but also the stewards at the Racecourse Ground with claimed objects were thrown at Gulls spectators.

The Wrexscum fans, the inept stewards, the feckless ‘police’, absolutely disgraceful you allowed our fans to get hit by glass bottles, coins and lighters. Congrats on inheriting such a ‘wonderful’ club @VancityReynolds . Your big day spoiled by little ol Torquay. COYY! #tufc pic.twitter.com/4GeA16dEjZ

— TUFC of the 2000’s+ (@Gulls2000s) October 30, 2021

TORQUAY UNITED STATEMENT:

Torquay United AFC is aware of a number of reports relating to incidents our travelling supporters were subjected to at our game away to Wrexham yesterday.

The safety of our supporters will always be of paramount importance to us, and any actions that threaten this will not be tolerated.

The Club can confirm they have made an official complaint to the National League, informed the FA and are working with the Police to identify those involved.

Everybody at Torquay United would once again like to express its appreciation to the Yellow Army for the fantastic support they continue to provide to the team, both home and away.

WREXHAM STATEMENT:

Wrexham AFC regret to say we are aware of reports of unacceptable incidents and behaviour at our match against Torquay United, directed towards opposition supporters, by a very small minority of attendees at the game.

We would like to reassure the supporters of both teams that we are reviewing footage and working with North Wales Police to identify those responsible.

Such behaviour will not be tolerated at the Racecourse Ground, and those identified will face the strictest punishments available to the Club. You are not welcome at our Football Club. The safety of all people attending games at the Racecourse Ground is of paramount importance.

We would like to thank the 242 Torquay supporters who made the long return trip from Devon to North Wales for the game, and our true fans who supported us in great numbers once again.

TORQUAY SUPPORTERS TRUST:

TUST has been made aware of disgraceful and un-provoked scenes towards the end of yesterday’s National League game at the Racecourse Ground between Wrexham and Torquay United.

We have received reports of coins, plastic and glass bottles, a lighter and coffee being thrown at Torquay fans sitting in the lower tier stand from Wrexham supporters sat above them shortly after Torquay equalised in a match that ended 1-1. Original seating allocation had away fans in the upper tier but were moved before kick-off.

Eye witness accounts tell of several people being hit – one lady was hit on the head by a bottle, another by a coin on the side of the head, a man had a cut below an eye from a coin while a child was left frightened and bleeding from coins on the back of his head.

TUST condemns these actions as totally unacceptable and would ask that those among the 242 Torquay United ‘Yellow Army’ contact the police so that further action can be taken.

What had started out as an enjoyable, happy occasion as the home crowd of over 9,000 welcomed their two Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, ended with the Torquay Supporters’ coach having a police escort to the motorway and fans on foot escorted to the train station.

TUST request that the appropriate authorities investigate these incidents so that those responsible are made accountable for their actions and has contacted Wrexham FC and our friends at the Wrexham Supporters Trust to raise our concerns.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

SEE MORE: Ryan Reynolds told off by reporter for swearing during Wrexham press conference

Twitter users reacted as Torquay and Wrexham issue a statement after fans are attacked in the away end…

@ZakZak13326107: Shocking by Wrexham that was by the way just for money

@elovabloke: As a @Wrexham_AFC supporter truly sorry and am disgusted by the lack of action by both stewards and the police during the incident. Hopefully those responsible will be identified charged and banned.

@Nic_Nac_Ola: So disappointed at the behaviour of these “supporters”. They do not belong at our club & will hopefully be identified and now allowed back. Hope the fans impacted are ok & had a safe journey home

@78Spirit: And there goes the chance of around 900 fans getting a ticket again. A few dickheads spoiling it for the masses. Just f*ckin behave will ya?

@nick_french: Thank you to @Wrexham_AFC and the lack of organisation that allowed Torquay fans to be pelted with bottles, coins and lighters. Would be nice to hear the reasons for penning our fans in and doing NOTHING to protect the men, women and children who wanted to enjoy their day out too

@edclementsuk: Totally agree. Been to Wrexham many times and had a good day. Today was predictable, pathetic and disappointing.

@salming2121: Hire Deadpool for traveling security.

@wrexhamafc: The CCTV cameras will have captured all of the ‘action’ and given the high quality of the recording equipment, I expect the local constabulary will be making visits. Really poor decision to allow home fans in the away seats though, anyone could have predicted this happening.

@keevs_89: Seemed like an absurd decision in the first place to allow away fans on the bottom tier. Was never going to work. Hopefully the minority are punished, just a shame as it will put fans off travelling here again in the future.

@RyanPeters10: Caught the water bottle incident, I sincerely hope the woman is ok, unfortunately a minority of our ‘fans’ are cavemen, something should have been placed inbetween the top and bottom section to stop missiles being hurled.

@elovabloke: Apologies mate, idiotic decision by @Wrexham_AFC to put these idiots above you. Hopefully those responsible for the incidents will be tracked down and given a life ban. They weren’t @Wrexham_AFC supporters and it spoiled the day.

@gazcarman: Can only apologise for the disgraceful behaviour of some of our so called fans. Not brightest idea to put your fans in there.

@SHAG23997980: I hope those responsible are dealt with and sanctioned.. please dont feel this handful of idiots represent our town. One love ✊❤️💛❤️⚽️

@AlanTay77768744: @Wrexham_AFC disgusting scenes at your ground today bottles missiles and coins thrown at section in which torquay fans were housed and a lack of crowd control by those employed to ensure peoples safety!!!!!

@daveosh27: @RyanReynolds Wrexham fans throwing bottles etc at Torquay fans all through the game you should be ashamed

@danrowe28: Rightly so, it was embarrassing from a section of our fans. I’m sure the majority of Wrexham fans will support lifetime bans and criminal prosecutions for those involved!!

@tonywhilding88: i can only apologise on behalf of the club, we like most have an element of our fanbase who let the club and it’s good reputation down, a minority of morons.

@LeonWilliams15: Ban for life, not welcome at our club can’t be true supporters

@m_w890: Glad it’s being dealt with. A disgrace to the club.

@Nos1981: The line about not being welcome at the club is very good and in general isn’t said enough in such times

@jayjaydlj71: Find them and ban them for life

Twitter users continued to react as Torquay and Wrexham issue a statement after fans are attacked…

@Chris_G67: If all this keeps carrying on I might just go support Swansea

@aiculk50: In what world was that never going to happen when you put home and away fans on top of each other. It’s no surprise anyone could see it coming from miles away

@Richinns: Putting the away fans where you did (a decision made purely to increase income) made them vulnerable to the incidents that happened. You need to look at yourselves as well as those who behaved in such an abhorrent way.

@fugazi3973: Nobody forced them to do it. The majority didn’t. The majority weren’t pricks. The only people to blame are the twats who threw things.

@Paskins_tache: Abhorrent behaviour by the few…. Evidently, @Wrexham_AFC Will work with the police an identify the culprits. I trust that Torquay will be working equally hard to identify those torquay fans mocking our deceased fans??

@simonwxm: I promise you it is only a minority of Wrexham fans that behave this way and I hope they can be found and banned. Apologies to the travelling Torquay fans who were caught up in this. Best of luck for the rest of the season.

morning @RMcElhenney @VancityReynolds pic.twitter.com/1BdLV99BLE

— tom (@tjd01_) October 31, 2021

MATCH REPORT:

Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were denied victory in their first home game as Torquay United came from behind to claim a much needed point.

The A-list actors saw Harry Lennon score from Ben Tozer’s long throw after just four minutes at a packed Racecourse Stadium.

But there was to be no Hollywood ending as Connor Lemonheigh-Evans levelled late on for Gary Johnson’s men.

The Dragons slip down to 13th in the table, with Torquay only two places behind them in 15th.