'Passers-by fled as rival fans fought mass brawl'

THREE SENTENCED AFTER MINDLESS' STREET VIOLENCE WHICH ENDED WITH A HUG AND A HANDSHAKE

- AMY WALKER

TWO large groups of rival football fans fought in an "organised" brawl - before shaking hands and walking away.

The violence erupted before a match between Oldham Athletic and Wrexham at Boundary Park in 2021.

In the hours leading up to the game, while Wrexham fans drank in a pub in Oldham, disorder boiled over with fans goading each other, chanting and punching out at each other.

Police attempted to split up the melee, which went on for around 10 minutes, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. As riot police arrived the groups suddenly embraced, shook hands and went their separate ways.

Alban Hart, 21, Luke Groome-Harrison, 22 and Louis Davies, 24, were each arrested for their involvement in the disorder and have now been convicted of violent disorder.

The court heard that at around 12.50pm a large group of Oldham supporters made their way to the Millgate pub in Failsworth, where around 100 Wrexham fans were drinking.