Gillingham FC Supporters’ Club demands an investigation after claims of violent disorder at Port Vale on the final weekend of the League 2 regular season

Gillingham FC Supporters’ Club wants an investigation into disorder that marred the final game of the League 2 season at Port Vale.

The GFCSC say they have twice attempted to raise the matter with Port Vale FC, two Port Vale safety officers, and the Sports Ground Safety department at Staffordshire Council, claiming that “a small minority” of spectators had “a clear intent to cause violence” towards fans in the Gillingham section.

Port Vale were already promoted ahead of the final-day match on Saturday, May 3 at Vale Park, which was attended by a capacity crowd of almost 14,000. Gillingham won 1-0, but several incidents of fan disorder were reported, which prompted an investigation by the supporters’ club.

In the build-up to the game, Vale got approval to release an additional 1,000 tickets for the match to home fans, who were situated next to the 600 away supporters. It was in that area which the GFCSC say trouble occurred.

An email from supporters’ club chairman Neil Klee on May 5 was sent to raise the issues, asking what was being done to address those matters, which included “physical attacks on supporters” that they say “created a scene of chaos and fear.”

The supporters’ club said those emails went unanswered and have now released the letter which had been sent to “formally raise a complaint regarding the serious incidents witnessed.”

It said that: “A number of fans, seated near the area separating the home and away fans, have emailed us regarding the troubling behaviour from a number of Port Vale supporters throughout the game.

“From the outset, there were repeated attempts by some home fans to provoke Gillingham supporters, including offensive gestures such as Nazi salutes and threatening behaviour.”

The letter