Last updated 15:09, Friday, 19 September 2008

A 36-YEAR-OLD Barrow man has been banned from every football ground in England and Wales for three years.

THREE-YEAR BAN: Brett Cihlar REF: 0450572

By Fraser Robertson

A court crackdown follows his part in disorder that marred Barrow AFC’s return to Conference football.

As well as the banning order – the first ever made in Barrow – Cihlar was also given a 12-month community order with 12 months’ supervision.

He was also told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and the Think First rehabilitation programme, as well as pay £60 costs.

The order also bans him from an area around the Holker Street ground on match days.

The incident, at around 9.25am on August 8, came after Barrow’s winning return to the top flight of non-league football when they beat Oxford United 3-0 in front of live television cameras.

Cihlar had pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him.

by any person.The court was told that it was to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by him or whereby that person was likely to believe that such violence would be used, or it was likely that such violence would be provoked, as well as

He also admitted failing to surrender to custody at Furness Magistrates Court on August 26.

Sentencing him yesterday, presiding magistrate Mr Derek Heron said: “This was an impulsive action which was not instigated by you.

“However, you did use actual violence on this occasion and threaten a heightening of further disorder.

“But after great consideration, the bench have given you credit for your guilty plea and you won’t be going to prison today.”

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, said around 12 Oxford United supporters were standing in the car park next to their minibus as around 25 Barrow supporters, including Cihlar, walked along Wilkie Road.

Some of the Barrow supporters shook the metal fence and shouted threats of violence.

Mr Dacre said: “The defendant was seen clearly at the head of the group. They then walked to the end of the metal fence and turned into the car park to confront the Oxford United supporters.”

A police officer positioned himself between the two groups and aimed his taser at the Barrow fans. More officers arrived but the defendant and others lunged forward.

Cihlar was seen running towards two Oxford fans and swinging five punches in their direction before he was arrested.

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said Cihlar contended that he was walking ahead of a group of fans with a 14-year-old boy, who was the son of a friend.

Mr Graham said Cihlar was adamant that he was not part of the group.

“His companion confronted an Oxford United fan and was kicked and because of that Cihlar acted on impulse as the group moved forward.”

Mr Graham said: “There certainly wasn’t any planning and he didn’t isolate any particular victim.

“It wasn’t a group action and he maintained he wasn’t at the head of that set of individuals and became involved when the young lad he was looking after went forward and tried to look big and hard.”

Barrow AFC chairman Brian Keen said yesterday: “We work very closely with the police and our intention is to keep Holker Street as clean as we can from bad behaviour. That is totally unacceptable to the club. We won’t put up with it and hope this sets an example to other fans.”