Letter To Port Vale - Fan Behaviour

After receiving complaints from Gillingham supporters regarding the behaviour of a minority of Port Vale fans following our 0-1 victory, we sought the opinions of both Gills and Port Vale fans regarding the incidents.

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UPDATE - 04/06/2025 - Staffordshire Police interviewed a 48-year-old man today for throwing the barrier in the Bycars Stand. He was also served with a club ban that will last for an indefinite period. The videos and letter played a part in the conviction. I am told by the Police that they will be updating those concerned today.

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We would like to thank both sets of supporters, who took the time to write to us and send us videos. Several Gillingham supporters, all with families enjoying the final game of the season, have informed us that this was the first time they have ever felt genuinely unsafe at a football match.

Port Vale supporters told us the behaviour was “disgusting” and “like many Vale fans I was appalled to see these scenes and hope those responsible are identified and banned by the club.”

Gills supporters enjoying the Port Vale match - Photo copyright of Colin Nash, Kent Pro Images

Following the match, on Monday, 5th May 2025, the Gillingham FC Supporters' Club sent an email to Port Vale FC, two Port Vale safety officers, and the Sports Ground Safety department at Staffordshire Council. We would like to thank Wayne Jones, the Policing and Safety Consultant at Port Vale, for answering our concerns on Monday 19th May 2025 (reply can be viewed below).

The letter sent to Port Vale, and the persons listed above, said:-

Dear Sir / Madam,

We, Gillingham FC Supporters’ Club, are writing to formally raise a complaint regarding the serious incidents witnessed at the conclusion of the recent match between Port Vale FC  and Gillingham FC. A number of fans, seated near the area separating the home and away fans, have emailed us regarding the troubling behaviour from a number of Port Vale supporters throughout the game. 

From the outset, there were repeated attempts by some home fans to provoke Gillingham supporters, including offensive gestures such as Nazi salutes and threatening behaviour. One individual in a blue t-shirt was particularly disruptive—although stewards briefly removed him, he was inexplicably allowed back into the stand and continued his behaviour.

Another Port Vale fan, identifiable by his shoulder-length grey hair, repeatedly approached the barriers separating the fans, shaking them violently and shouting abuse. Despite his aggression, stewards only asked him to return to his seat and failed to intervene more decisively.

The situation escalated dangerously at full-time. While Gillingham fans were applauding our players, a group of Port Vale fans climbed over the segregation area and entered the away end. They acted with clear intent to cause violence—throwing barriers, physically attacking supporters, and creating a scene of chaos and fear. One young Gillingham supporter was left in tears and had to be escorted away, while another Gillingham fan sustained injuries during the incident. One individual was seen throwing a heavy metal barrier at Gillingham fans—not just pushing it, but launching it through the air. Another fan had the metal fence thrown at him. These were not isolated actions but part of a coordinated surge from a group of home fans who appeared to attend the match intent on causing trouble.

A key concern was the failure in stewarding. At full-time, many stewards left their positions to attempt to prevent a pitch incursion, leaving the away section exposed. This lapse in judgement allowed Port Vale fans to breach the segregation and confront away supporters unchallenged. The fact that the stewards only returned once the violence had already erupted is deeply troubling. Several witnesses have also questioned why the disruptive fan in the pale blue jacket—who was involved in incidents throughout the match—was not removed much earlier, particularly given his apparent role in throwing the barrier.

While a small number of Gillingham fans may have reacted in the moment, it is clear that the violence was initiated by Port Vale supporters and that the situation was exacerbated by the inadequate stewarding and poor crowd management on the day.

Several Gillingham supporters, all with families enjoying the final game of the season, have informed us that this was the first time they have ever felt genuinely unsafe at a football match. It is unacceptable that visiting fans—many of them families with children—were put in this position. We believe Port Vale Football Club must urgently investigate what went wrong, take disciplinary action against the individuals involved, and review its stewarding protocols to ensure the safety of all fans in the future, especially when the away end is being used to also house “home” supporters.

We realise this is a small minority of Port Vale supporters and congratulate you on promotion to League One.

We have included links to three videos of the incidents, which we have been provided with, two from Port Vale supporters who told us the behaviour was “disgusting” and “like many Vale fans I was appalled to see these scenes and hope those responsible are identified and banned by the club.”

Video Links Provided

I am happy to provide further information if needed and sincerely hope you take this matter seriously.

Yours faithfully,

Neil Klee Chairman - Gillingham FC Supporters’ Club - GFCSC.co.uk

Port Vale Reply

We would like to thank Wayne Jones, the Port Vale Policing and Safety Consultant, who has replied to our email and addressed the concerns raised. He stated:-

• A group of Port Vale fans removed segregation netting and approached stewards and Gillingham supporters in the Bycars Stand.

• CCTV footage, social media clips, and body worn video cameras were used to identify and sanction the individuals involved.

• The club apologised for the delay in responding to the email and expressed disappointment and embarrassment over the incident.

• The club and the police have identified a significant number of supporters involved in the incidents.

• The club initiated an investigation immediately and will continue it until all those involved are identified.

•  The club is willing to share investigation updates with the Gillingham FC Supporters' Club to update all supporters.

The full reply from Wayne is:-

First of all, let me apologise for the delay in the club response to your email of the 5th of May.  The first time that either I, or any member of the Safety Team and club leadership group became aware of any email into the club was yesterday.  Having read it and noted both the content and tone, I replied immediately and as promised, am now sending you an update on our investigation.  Please use my email address for any further correspondence with the club so that you can be assured of a speedy response.

From within the Control Room at full-time, I saw the movement of a group of people in the home end of the Bycars Stand and witnessed their behaviour as they removed the segregation netting and approached the stewards and Gillingham supporters in the way that your email describes.  CCTV cameras and additional stewards were immediately deployed into or onto that location.  Police Spotting Teams then assisted our stewards with moving the Port Vale group back into their allocated blocks. 

As soon as the stadium cleared, I commenced an evidential download of relevant CCTV footage and still imagery taken during the game.  That same evening, I contacted our Dedicated Football Officer and made the decision that there would be a full and thorough investigation to ensure that any person seen breaching Ground Regulations or committing a criminal offence, would be identified and sanctioned by either the club, the Police or both.

The club, along with the very vast majority of Port Vale fans, were hugely disappointed and embarrassed by a small group of people in the Bycars Stand who let the club and their own supporters down badly.  We have located clips on social media that have been helpful in progressing identifications, including two that you have forwarded.  Our own body worn video cameras that were worn by a number of stewards in the stand have also captured faces and actions of the same group of people.

Without going into detail that could undermine the ongoing investigation, the last 2 and a half weeks of work conducted by the club and Police have resulted in the identification of a significant number of those supporters, and in particular, individuals that you describe in some detail within your email.

The club started an investigation within a couple of hours of the final whistle and needed no prompt or nudge from either yourselves or anyone else to do so.  It will continue until all opportunities to identify those involved in the behaviour have been completely exhausted.  You can be completely assured that the club and the Police (where evidence allows them to do so), will apply robust sanctions to those involved in spoiling the match day experience of the Gillingham and those genuine Port Vale supporters who were in the Bycars stand.

You can also be assured, as should be expected, that the club has already reviewed the stewarding plan and its effectiveness across the whole of the stadium during that fixture, to learn any lessons that can inform our work ahead of future matches.

I am more than happy to remain in direct contact with you and to update you on the outcomes of our investigation over the coming weeks.  If any of your supporters wish to make a criminal complaint against any specific individual, these should be directed to Staffordshire Police, so that those complaints can be recorded and then jointly addressed by myself and our Dedicated Football Officer.  

If you could forward me the emails that you have had from Gillingham supporters describing the incidents they witnessed, it would be both helpful and appreciated.

Thanks 

Wayne

We will keep all supporters updated on the progress of the investigation.

The Gillingham FC Supporters' Club will take up any incidents with other clubs on behalf of all supporters. Should you wish to join, membership information can be viewed here.