THREE football thugs have been found guilty of violent disorder after attacking Barrow AFC fans at a game. 

The men, including a serving soldier, have been convicted of taking part in the violence which marred an FA Cup game between Atherstone Town and Barrow AFC in 2013. They were among six men on trial at Warwick Crown Court accused of violent disorder following the incident at half time in a third-round qualifying match.

The jury had heard the violence broke out when Barrow were 4-0 up away at Atherstone. 

At half-time a group of Atherstone supporters climbed over a wall at the front of their stand and brushed past stewards to get to the 80 Barrow fans. Red flares were thrown into the stand, and as violence broke out, during which a number of the mainly older Barrow fans were injured, dozens more ran across the pitch from the Atherstone stand.

Among those who crossed the pitch was Hall, who was pictured trying to pull a flag from young Barrow fan Freya Dawes.

Commenting on a motive for the incident, prosecutor Mr David Lee said the attitude seemed to be: “If we can’t win the match, we can at least win the affray.”

After the jury had been out for just under 11 hours, they found Roy Hall and Ben Brookes guilty by unanimous verdicts. Their cases were adjourned for them to be sentenced next month with a number of other men who have either pleaded or been found guilty of the violent disorder charge. 

Hall, 51, of Denham Close, Atherstone, and Brookes, 22, of Daniel Road, Atherstone, were granted bail with conditions of residence and are to have pre-sentence reports prepared on them. Lewis Cooper, 21, of Leicester Crescent, Atherstone, was also convicted and his case was also adjourned for a pre-sentence report.

Matthew Evans, 22, of Long Street, Atherstone, and Daniel Austin, 29, of St George's Road, Atherstone, were found not guilty.

The jury is still deliberating in the case of the sixth defendant, Samuel Barsby, 24, of Austin Close, Atherstone.