Latest news with #SittingbourneFC
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fan with cocaine at Southend United game gets football ban
A man has been given a three-year football banning order after he was caught with cocaine at a Millie, 39, of Kenley Gardens, in Hornchurch, east London, was stopped and searched by security staff at a match at Southend United's Roots Hall stadium on 1 February. A packet of white powder was found in his possession, and he admitted possession of a Class A drug on 13 June at Chelmsford Magistrates Court. He was restricted from accessing matches and was fined £484, plus £85 costs and a £184 new legislation, fans who commit Class A drug offences at matches could be banned from games for up to 10 years and also receive a criminal conviction. Southend was playing Kent-based Sittingbourne FC on 1 February. Millie had been spotted by staff going backwards and forwards to the toilets before he was stopped and searched. Essex Police were then called, and the powder was seized and later confirmed as football officer, Keith Baker, said of the force's first match ban order: "Football is known as the 'beautiful game' with people coming week in and week out to support their local team."We know that consumption of drugs fuels disorder at football matches and we are committed to kicking that type of behaviour out of the grounds in our county."We are committed to ensuring football grounds across Essex are places where you can come and cheer on your team, focusing on the players' performance without worrying about the behaviour of other supporters."The football ban means Millie cannot attend any premises where games are held in the United Kingdom and abroad that are regulated by the Football Spectators Act to the Crown Prosecution Service, every police force should have one or more dedicated football officers (formerly football intelligence officers). Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sittingbourne: The fans cheering the club 'on the crest of a wave'
Clive Miller, better known as Clive the Mexican or simply The Sombrero, is a dedicated Sittingbourne FC fan. Home and away, he follows the team in his trademark outfit, belting out songs to spur on his adored club, known by fans as The Brickies. Clive's years of dedication are finally being rewarded as he says the club is "on the crest of a wave".They are unbeaten in 28 games, on course for promotion to the 7th tier, and two games away from Wembley in the FA Trophy - the biggest game in their 140-year history. A £6.4m stadium is also potentially in the works as part of an 8,400-home 'new town', if the development is given the go-ahead. "Hand on heart I can't remember things being this good," Clive added. Sittingbourne was the lowest ranked side left in the FA Trophy when they played Southend on Saturday but came out on top after a shock win. Former player Maurice Dunk, now the chairman, said he "burst into tears" when the goal from Anthony Church gave them a 1-0 lead in added time."Everything came back, from the moment I walked in there with my dad as a six-year-old, to the times we nearly went bust. "There was all this pent up emotion," he said. About 1,000 fans travelled to Roots Hall stadium in Southend, which has a capacity of more than 12, was Neil Cornelius, better known as Southend Brickie, "because I come from Southend and I'm a Brickies fan". He travels three hours each way to the team's home at Woodstock Park for games."It is just the perfect game - especially when Sittingbourne are doing so well and have a fighting chance," he Brickie and Clive 'The Sombrero' Miller, are just a couple of "about 50 'ultras' who will follow the club anywhere," according to the feels things are "perfectly aligning" and he dreams of making Sittingbourne the biggest non-league club in Kent. With crowds growing, Maurice said Sittingbourne FC is "a sleeping giant that's been woken up". On March 1, they'll face Aldershot Town at home."They're not on the best run and we're on cloud nine," said Maurice. BBC South East is running a new feature called 'Behind The Teams' where we'll be looking at the characters who keep small clubs going across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. If you think your team should be featured please email southeasttoday@ or contact us on Facebook, X or Instagram.
