Fans set to be sentenced for violent clashes during Grismby Town v Sheffield United friendly

Fighting broke out between the two sets of fans in Cleethorpes on July 23, 2016 a five day sentencing hearing has started at Hull Crown Court today.

Eight Grimsby Town fans, the most seriously involved, were due to have their cases heard today.

The Grimsby Telegraph have reported that 30 fans are set to be sentenced this week.

The eight Grimsby Town fans are

- Tommy Austwick, 20, of Grimsby

- Jordan Chaplin, 20, of Cleethorpes

- Lewis Dobbs, 22, of Grimsby

- Ryan King, 21, of South Killingholme

- Jackson Rawlins, 23, of New Waltham

- Macorley Robinson, 20, of Holton-le-Clay

- Tommy-Lee Webster, 23, of Grimsby

- Jordon Wilkinson, 23, of New Waltham

There were ten 'major incidents' that broke out during the day, starting a at midday and finishing at 6pm.

Shocked holidaymakers, some with children, fled as fans began throwing bottles and had running battles with baton-wielding police officers.

Following the match, Sheffield United fans were confronted by opposition fans before clashes involving 80-100 people.

All pubs in the Cleethorpes area voluntarily closed between 5pm and 7pm on Saturday following the match for ‘public safety reasons’.

As violence flared, a police officer suffered a head and ankle injury after bottles were hurled at him.

The overall violence was described by police as some of the worst they had seen with witnesses describing the scenes as 'utter carnage'.

At the time Humberside Police warned that the force would 'come down hard on offenders' and seek football banning orders for those involved.

Match commander, Superintendent David Hall, said at the time: “Quite frankly this sort of behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

"Football matches should be friendly sporting events that families can attend and enjoy. We will not allow the minority of people to spoil such occasions."

Around 2,000 Sheffield United fans travelled to the match.

The trouble followed violence involving Grimsby supporters in Sheffield city centre in April 2015 in which two police officers were injured and a large group of fans smashed bottles and glasses on the street outside The Graduate pub.