Five men jailed after violence in pub before football match in Blackpool

Five men have been jailed and given football banning orders after violence broke out in a Blackpool pub before and during a Lancashire derby match.

It happened at the Armfield Club, Bloomfield Road, before the Blackpool v Burnley game on 4th March 2023.

About 10 minutes before the Championship fixture kicked off, four Burnley supporters went into the Armfield which is a designated home team pub.

They were spotted by Blackpool fans who were drinking in the pub, words were exchanged between the two groups, before punches were thrown. Glasses and items of furniture were thrown.

All five men before the court – Dale Ryan, Ryan Lowe, Craig Elliott, Ian Greenwood and Christopher Banks - were involved in the disorder, two of them throwing items off the outside balcony towards the Burnley fans as they left.

Later that afternoon, around 3.55pm - during half-time of the game – two Burnley fans went to the Armfield.

Again, disorder broke out, with Lowe, Ryan, and Elliott, seen on CCTV footage.

The five defendants were subsequently identified during an investigation by Lancashire Police officers and later voluntarily interviewed.

They all appeared before Lancaster Magistrates Court on Wednesday (30th July) after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to affray.

Dale Ryan, 38, of Washington Avenue, Blackpool, was jailed for 12 months and given a 10-year football banning order.

Ryan Lowe, 38, of Lakeway, Blackpool, was jailed for 10 months and given an eight-year football banning order.

Craig Elliott, 42, of Rydal Avenue, Blackpool, was jailed for eight months and given a six-year football banning order.

Ian Greenwood, 52, of Knox Grove, Blackpool, was jailed for eight months and given a six-year football banning order.

Christopher Banks, 38, of Rathmell Close, Blackpool, was jailed for four months and given a six-year football banning order.

PC Byron Worrall, our Football Risk Management Officer, said: “This was a disgraceful outbreak of disorder and violence in licensed premises immediately before and during the Blackpool v Burnley match.
“We want supporters to be able to go to football matches and enjoy the experience safely, and those who choose to become involved in disorder near to stadiums and inside grounds, will be investigated and put before the courts.
“I welcome the sentences and football banning orders which the court imposed in this case and hope it acts as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to engage in such behaviour.
“With the new 2025/26 season almost upon us, I know that the vast majority of supporters will enjoy the football and support their team.
“But we will take action against those who choose to use matches as an excuse for getting involved in disorder.”