Luton fan injured by coin thrown at play-off semi-final

Trevor Emery was treated by St John Ambulance workers at the end of the game

A football fan has said he has been left with a head injury after coin was thrown at him at the end of a Championship play-off match.

Trevor Emery, 85, from Bedford, travelled to Huddersfield to see his club Luton Town lose their semi-final and miss out on a trip to Wembley.

"Of all the years I've been to away games, I've never experienced anything like that," he said.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed arrests were made at the ground.

Mr Emery travelled by coach with his grandson, Daniel Bennett, to the second leg of the play-off semi-final.

Mr Bennett said after the full-time whistle, Nathan Jones, Luton's manager, came over to where they were sitting, about four rows from the pitch.

"We were clapping him and the players to show our appreciation, as they played really well, but they [Huddersfield supporters] wouldn't let us do that," he said.

"The stewards weren't helping the matter.

"All they had to do was keep the fans 10 yards away from us and none of this would have happened."

Daniel Bennett (left) has been going to Luton Town matches with his grandfather since he was five

He said they were being "baited and goaded" by some supporters. His grandfather was so worried he said "let's go".

As they were leaving the John Smith's Stadium, "something hit his head - it was a 2p coin and the blood just kept coming", Mr Bennett added.

Mr Emery said: "Thirty-four years I've been watching football with Daniel - I've taken him since he was five years old.

"I'm disgusted the police did nothing."

He said when the first aiders stopped the bleeding, and knew he was OK, he was able to get on the supporters coach.

Huddersfield fans invaded the pitch at the end of the second leg of the Championship play-off final on Monday night

Matt, who was at the game, told BBC Three Counties Radio, that it was "terrible" when Huddersfield fans invaded the pitch.

"The stewarding was appalling," he said.

"There were loads of young kids goading people; they started chucking things at us - coins, and I was hit by an e-cigarette."

A spokesman for Luton Town FC said the club was "appalled to see the picture of Trevor" who was a long standing member of the club's John Moore Lounge.

"We are proud of the way our supporters conducted themselves in the face of some severe provocation and, in Trevor's case, physical harm," he said.

"We have contacted Trevor to make sure he is well and assure him that we will be pursuing the matter, along with several others, with the police, Huddersfield and the EFL [English Football League]."

'Positive atmosphere'

West Yorkshire Police said the disorder was "in contrast to the rest of the game and involved a minority of those present" and the force appealed for information or footage.

Ch Insp Jim Troisi said: "The sight of away fans applauding the winning home team at the end of the match summed up the positive atmosphere and attitudes of the vast majority of the those attending this fixture.

"Officers were deployed on the pitch as part of our policing plan and pockets of trouble were quickly dealt with.

"Some arrests were made for offences including public order."

The BBC has contacted Huddersfield Town for further comment.

Huddersfield fans celebrated their club making it to the Championship play-off final at Wembley