POLICE “will be recording a hate crime” over the alleged racist comment directed at Worcester City manager Ashley Vincent on Saturday.

West Midlands Police’s football unit responded via Twitter to City’s statement following a report of a racial slur emanating from a group of rowdy youths at the end of City’s 2-2 draw at Walsall Wood.

Chairman Steve Goode confirmed City had no plans to lodge official complaints with the incident having been dealt with to the satisfaction of both Vincent at Goode on the day.

But the social media post suggests police officers do not see it as the end of the matter.

Wood chairman Justin Hodgin apologised to Goode and Vincent and then on Sunday released a statement extending that to “all Worcester City fans, players, management and committee”, revealing Vincent had “gracefully accepted” the gesture.

Hodgin also plans to team up with police and attend assemblies at the schools the youths are thought to go to in the hope of solving the problem through education.

Goode, who witnessed the incident, said: “There is no issue, Walsall Wood has dealt with it and that is the end of it in my opinion.

“Something was shouted at Ashley and he later told me what had been said. I spoke to their chairman straightaway and he had already received a report from one of the stewards, they were dealing with it.

“I thought the response from Walsall Wood was excellent, they just sorted it. As far as we are concerned it is a shut book.

“From what we understand they are going to follow it up but on the day of the match itself the response was exactly what was required, the chairman apologised to me and to Ashley.”

Worcester News is awaiting comment from West Midlands Police.

WALSALL WOOD’S STATEMENT IN FULL

Following the incident at Walsall Wood FC yesterday during and after our game against Worcester City FC, we would like to make the following statement.

Firstly, we would like to apologise to all Worcester City fans, players, management and committee for the actions of the group of 30 or so youths at the game yesterday, it is not acceptable.

The club has had some issues with a group of youths over the past few games and we believe we took all precautions in assuring the safety and comfort of all fans with employing stewards for the game and we also had two police officers in attendance.

The club has been trying to engage with these local youths by actively inviting them in the club so they are not wandering the streets, as all local activities for them are currently not available. We believe the actions of a few are now ruining it for the rest of them.

Any racist comments to anyone at our club will not be tolerated and if we find the person involved we will ban them for life from the club.

I spoke to the manager of Worcester City FC after the game and apologised for any issues he had personally encountered, which he gracefully accepted.

After speaking to the police officers after the game, we in conjunction with them will be going to the local schools where we believe they attend and will be hopefully holding assemblies with the footage the police have from their body cams to try to educate these youths in understanding what local community football should be about, and that their current actions are not acceptable.

We are working with the police and they will be attending our next few games and anyone causing any disturbance or racially abusing anyone with be arrested.

The club hopes that through education we can deal with this problem without any more incidents but we will take the strongest action possible if this is ignored.

We are a local community club with probably one of the most racial diverse player and management teams in the Midland Football League. We want to ensure for our own loyal fans, players and management team that we do not take this matter lightly and with us all working together I am sure this short-term problem can be solved.

Please keep the faith and together we will overcome this.

For the Good of the The Wood

Justin Hodgin

Chairman

Walsall Wood Football Club

WORCESTER CITY’S STATEMENT IN FULL

For the second time this year a representative of Worcester City FC has been on the receiving end of racist abuse.

In no uncertain terms the football club strongly condemns the actions by individuals posing as Walsall Wood FC fans at yesterday’s Midland Football League fixture.

It is a desperate reflection of the world that once again a football club has to state that racism has no place in our society nor in the game we all love. Any individual who thinks it does has no place in our game. Worcester City FC vehemently opposes racism and discrimination of any form.

Walsall Wood FC are equally concerned about this. The football club would like to place on record its thanks to Walsall Wood FC for its professionalism and tact in handling the matter yesterday. Walsall Wood FC has given assurances that the individuals in question are no longer welcome and the incident is being dealt with.

Going forward, Worcester City FC will reflect and seek advice on what more it can do to actively oppose racism and discrimination.

Should supporters witness any incidents in the future they should make stewards or club officials aware, whether at home or away matches.