THE chairman of Accrington Stanley and the police today spoke out to reassure fans that the Reds were a football hooligan-free club.

Eric Whalley and PC Les Sholicar joined forces to send out the message after a lout, initially said to be connected to the club, was given a football banning order.

David Grimshaw, of Oswald Street, Accrington, was referred to at Burnley Magistrates' Court as an 'Accrington Stanley hooligan' even though he is a Leeds United fan.

He was given the three-year banning order for hurling threats and insults at a man 15 minutes after the final whistle of the game between Burnley and Derby on April 24.

The court was told that it had been a coincidence that he had been in Burnley town centre so soon after the game.

Mr Whalley said: "It was a bit disappointing that the court was told something like that. It was nothing to do with Accrington Stanley. It is a family club and we pride ourselves that we try to look after everybody.

"Certainly over the past 12 months we have never had hooligan elements."

PC Sholicar, licensing officer for Accrington with responsibilities for policing football, said there had been no incidents of disorder in the vicinity of Accrington Stanley's Interlink Express Stadium this season, following a trend set in previous years.

He added: "We want to get across the message that there is no hooligan element attached to Accrington Stanley.

"Unfortunately he has been described as an Accrington Stanley hooligan but I certainly would not say that -- Grimshaw is a Leeds fan."

Stanley average 1,797 for home games. By comparison, neighbouring Blackburn Rovers, average 24,282, are said to have 25 known troublemakers, while Burnley, average 12,255, have more than 50.