DERBYSHIRE Police has appealed for witnesses and footage of the crowd trouble that tainted Worcester City’s match at Ilkeston Town on Saturday.

Police attended after a group of people known to City chairman Steve Goode as Worcester followers twice had to be prevented from confronting other members of the crowd during the final 15 minutes of the first half.

Goode was on hand to help defuse the situation alongside stewards from the host club. Ilkeston’s chief operating officer Anthony Redwood confirmed one person was subsequently ejected.

Goode said he had been “told by a couple of the Worcester lads that a punch had been thrown at one of them as they went past some Ilkeston fans on the way to get food” but had not seen that for himself.

Redwood did not know how the fracas began but had been told “the Worcester City fans encroached into our fans and a melee ensued” and that “the culprits were underage kids who were drunk”.

On Sunday, there was a post on a Facebook group for City supporters, St George’s Lane – Just Follow The Lights – Worcester City History Archive, from someone claiming to be one of those involved in the incident.

The post read: “Me and the lads would like to apologise for our actions in the ground, the drink got the better of us even though we started at eight but there was no need for any of it, so we are sorry. Keep the faith.”

Derbyshire Police confirmed no arrests were made on the day but that officers would welcome help with their ongoing enquiries.

A Derbyshire Police statement read: “We were called at around 3.40pm on Saturday, January 26 to reports of a disturbance at Ilkeston Football Club.

“Officers attended and no arrests were made.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed any incidents within the ground, including people with mobile phone footage.

“If you have any information which may assist with our enquiries, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information or evidence can call 101, send a direct message via Facebook (facebook.com/DerbyshireConstabulary) or Twitter @DerPolContact or fill out an online contact form on the police website: www.derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us

Any correspondence should quote reference number 710 of January 26.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Redwood also indicated his belief that referee Peter Woodfield and the match observer would “have to” put the incidents in their respective reports.

A representative of Derbyshire FA, the county association that would have to deal with any reports, said details of cases or charges raised would not be disclosed.