A COACH carrying Bury FC fans was "bricked" by rival supporters after Saturday's (April 17) match at Grimsby.

The vehicle, carrying 50 people, was pelted by a gang of Grimsby fans who lined the route as the coach left Blundell Park at the end of the drawn game.

The unprovoked attack came after bosses at the Humberside club had requested that the vital First Division match remain "police-free".

A brick was hurled as the coach pulled off, smashing the outer pane of a double-glazed window. More than £2,000 worth of damage was caused but no one was injured.

The incident came just hours after Shakers fans were delayed by gridlock on their way to Grimsby when the M180 motorway was closed in bad weather because of three accidents.

Mr Peter Cullen, Bury FC travel-co-ordinator, who was a passenger on the coach, said: "It was a terrible day. We saw only 30 minutes of the match because of the delay and to be attacked by fans on our way out was just appalling."

He continued: "A Bury coach has not been attacked like that since 1985 - it just goes to show the mentality of the idiots who did this.

"The brick was twice the size of a house brick and it was very distressing for all of us. The only consolation was Bury coming away with a draw."

Mr Dennis Kay, owner of Choral Travel in Rochdale, claimed the incident could have been prevented if adequate policing had been provided.

"The instructions I received from Humberside Police stated that all coaches had to be escorted off the ground by police. But this was not the case on Saturday. It is very annoying when it seems that we are the only ones making an effort to comply with the regulations."

He continued: "The coach is now out of action which is causing all sorts of problems. The Bury fans were superb. They did not retaliate."

A spokesman for Humberside Police said: "Grimsby FC requested a police-free match which is why no police were in attendance."

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