A TOP amateur footballer has been charged with alleged drug offences.

Chorley FC’s star striker Terry Fearns was arrested on Tuesday, November 24, following a series of raids across Merseyside.

Fearns, 32, of Lincoln Green, Maghull, is the UniBond First Division North’s leading scorer this season with 14 goals.

He was detained as part of a joint operation between Merseyside police and Tayside police in Dundee, Scotland.

Twelve search warrants were executed and 14 arrests were made.

Fearns had been expected to line-up for Chorley that night against Prescott Cables, but instead spent the evening in custody being questioned by detectives.

He has since been charged alongside seven other men with conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Another man was charged with possession of a shotgun.

He appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court last Thursday, November 26, and was released on conditional bail to reappear at Liverpool Crown Court next Wednesday, December 9.

Chorley FC have now suspended Fearns, who joined the club in the summer from AFC Telford.

Commercial director Geoff Haslam confirmed Fearns had been ‘suspended, pending further clarification’ by the club.