Swindon Town topped the table last season for having the worst-behaved fans in League Two.

Home Office figures show 17 Robins supporters were arrested in the 2019-20 season – up significantly from the three arrested the year before.

Town had the highest number of arrests of any of the 24 clubs in League Two last season. 

Nine fans were arrested for public disorder while seven were arrested for violent disorder. One was arrested for pitch incursion.

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Police outside Swindon railway station after the Newport County game last September

Small group of troublemakers

Wiltshire Police blamed a small group of troublemakers. Almost all the arrests were made at the home clash with Exeter City in February this year or the home and away matches against rivals Newport County FC in September last year and January 2020 respectively. 

PC Dan Hatt, Wiltshire Police’s dedicated football officer, said: “The number of arrests often vary from one season to another. Unfortunately, there was some deterioration in the behaviour of a small minority of Swindon Town supporters last season which led to a higher number of arrests than in the previous year but almost all the arrests came from incidents around only three matches. 

“Such behaviour unfairly tarnishes the reputation of the majority of football supporters who attend matches week in week out without causing any problems for other people. We also recognise that it has a negative impact on the community in the town centre. 

“The fact that arrests have been made shows that where there is an incident of football-related disorder Wiltshire Police will work diligently with the club and partners to ensure that the event is safe and enjoyable for all, and those responsible for bad behaviour are identified and brought to account for their actions.”

Swindon Town FC was asked to comment on the arrest figures.

League Two clubs in 2019/20 by number of fans arrested Source: GOV.UK

What fans from the League Two clubs were arrested for in the 2019/20 season Source: GOV.UK

12 fans given banning orders 

A dozen fans were issued with football banning orders last season, figures show.

Home Office figures reveal 12 fans were given the banning orders preventing them from attending games. Eight were given to fans aged 18 to 34, while the remaining four went to people aged 35 to 49. 

James Trott was one of the men who received an order banning him from games. 

Last November, magistrates heard Trott, 26, had showered Newport County fans and their police escorts with verbal abuse before Town’s home clash with the Welsh side last September. He refused to move out of the way of the opposing fans and had to be taken to the ground by police. 

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James Trott and Stephen Groves outside Swindon Magistrates' Court last year 

His friend, Stephen Groves, was part of the same group of fans arrested at the scene. He was later found to have a smoke bomb, which he claimed he’d been given by a friend. 

Trott was given a three year banning order preventing him from attending matches and being in certain areas of Swindon town centre before games. Groves was fined £425.