A GROUP of Bromsgrove Sporting fans have told of their anger after a number of banning orders have been issued by the club.

Ten banning orders have been distributed for at least the remainder of the season after pyrotechnics were set off during a home game vs Nuneaton on November 19.

Chairman of the club, Mike Burke, said “it was very dangerous that day” and the club “had to take action”.

However, a group of fans, including some individuals who have been banned, said they feel like it’s a ‘witch hunt’ and people are being silenced as they have spoken up ‘about how the club is run’.

The group have described the banning order letters, which were hand delivered by to addresses associated with the ten people banned, as ‘mickey mouse’.

The letters read: “We write to you following your recent behaviour at our home match v Nuneaton Borough FC on Saturday, November 19, 2023, not limited to but including the use of smoke bombs and/or recent online activity involving the club.

“After due consideration and in consultation with the police the decision has been made to issue a club banning order to those identified via CCTV and other online platforms.”

The letters included the wrong year when the match took place, and one letter was addressed to an incorrect name.

Anthony Theophanous has criticised the letter which was delivered to him as it was addressed to ‘Theo Papadopolis’

He said: “It’s an attack on my Greek heritage.

“I volunteer with Bromsgrove Supporters Society, painting, and fixing things on the ground.

“People have been banned who were not even at the game and no new letters have been reissued without the mistakes.”

In response to Theo’s comments about his letter, Mr Burke said: “It was a mistake - there were a few errors in the letters, some letters have been reissued and those who haven’t had their reissued will do soon.

“Some have been banned regarding online activity, we don’t have to give a reason for banning people, we have to look after the families who come to watch us and keep the ground safe."

Chantelle Aguera, who has not been banned from the club but feels the actions of the club are ‘oppressive’, said: “We are a group of people who love Bromsgrove Sporting, but the board are suppressing people’s views as they don’t like them”.

Another Bromsgrove Sporting fan, who also has not been banned, said: “Our football club banning people is an emotive subject, it’s a big part of our lives, a big part of their lives has been taken away.

“There were 200 people in the stand where the flare was set off, I was there but I haven’t been banned.”

In response to the group's claims, Mr Burke said: “They don’t know how the club is run, they still have their freedom of speech online, I’m sure lots of clubs get a lot of aggro online but when it gets personal and serious it's different.

“They are not on the inside - the shareholders own the club.

“We have three promotions in three years, finances aren’t bad, and I do not know what we could do to make it better.”