MAGISTRATES have made a three-year football banning order against a fan following trouble in the run up to the Swindon Town match against Coventry City last October.

Harry March is not allowed within a restricted zone around the County Ground on match days and is banned from going to any town or city where the team is playing an away game.

The 26-year-old of Deacon Street, was a “known risk” supporter of the club and police were watching for trouble ahead of the match on October 24, prosecutor Nick Barr told Swindon Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A group of men were seen leaving the Mailcoach pub and heading in the direction of the stadium. A few minutes later some of them left the group and went towards the Magic Roundabout, he said.

Police heard March, shouting “You bring it to us” into his mobile and believed he was organising a fight.

The men ran across the roundabout towards the Drove Road fire station. Outside the chip shop opposite there was a gathering of Coventry fans and the two groups began crossing the road, gesticulating and shouting at each other.

Police were concerned for the safety of members of the public said Mr Barr.

“The defendant was seen running into the middle of Drove Road, forcing cars to stop.”

An officer used her baton to push people back.

“Then she sees this defendant angry and trying to get past her. She strikes him on the thigh and tells him to get back,” said Mr Barr.

Later, when interviewed by police, March made no comment.

March admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

Mark Glendenning, defending, said: “He was not part of any particular firm expecting to cause trouble.”

And he stressed March, who works as a labourer, was only using his mobile to arrange to meet people.

“The Coventry City fans were clearly goading. He accepts that he responded in kind. It was a spur of the moment reaction.

“He didn’t intend other members of the public to be caused harm. Emotions were running high, it was a football match.”

The magistrates imposed a community order for four months with a tagged curfew between 7pm and 6am and told him to pay £85 court costs with a victim surcharge of £60.

March was told the banning order meant he had to stay out of a designated area three hours before kick-off and two hours after the end of home games.

He was also told he must not go within the boundary of any town or city when Swindon is playing an away game there.