Fans tried to smuggle flares in trousers into stadium

The men attempted to smuggle flares into Cheltenham Town FC's football ground

Two men have been banned from going to regulated football matches after they were caught trying to smuggle flares in their trousers into a stadium.

Away fans Ashley McGowan and Ryan Heathcote were stopped by security staff while trying to enter Cheltenham Town FC's ground for a match against Wigan Athletic FC.

McGowan was found to have hidden two flares inside his trouser leg, while Heathcote had concealed one in the waistband of his trousers.

PC Adrian Tuft of Gloucestershire Police said "the use of pyrotechnics at football grounds presents a real risk to fans".

McGowan, from Chorley in Lancashire, and Heathcote, from Manchester, both pleaded guilty to possession of a firework (flare) while trying to enter a designated sports ground, where a regulated football fixture was to be held on 11 November 2023.

They were given three-year football banning orders at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on 23 May.

The men, both 20-years-old, were also told to each pay costs of £165 and a £200 fine.

The men were stopped by security staff

Chief Constable Mark Roberts said: "Recently we have seen a concerning rise in the use of pyrotechnics at football matches across the country.

"In the past two seasons the number of incidents and arrests in the UK have more than doubled, and we have seen a number of near misses for fans due to the extremely dangerous nature of these devices."

Flares are designed not to be extinguished easily or quickly and can burn at temperatures of 1600°C.

PC Tuft added: "Our primary aim is always to keep fans safe.

"The use of pyrotechnics or even trying to get them into a football stadium is a criminal offence.

"Anyone who is caught with flares faces becoming the subject of a football banning order like McGowan and Heathcote have."