NINE men have confessed to their roles in a disturbance at Burnley Miners Club in the aftermath of the Clarets tie with Sheffield Wednesday last season.
And another 14 have denied violent disorder in relation to a confrontation with a group of the South Yorkshire club’s supporters at the Plumbe Street venue last January, when they appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court.
Father and son Stephen and Jordan Burnley, both of Emily Street, Alexander Dean, 23, of Mary Towneley Fold, Nicholas Speak, 35, of Holly Street, Andrew Rigg, 50, of Paythorne Avenue, Anthony Speak, 23, of Lower Tentre, all Burnley, Phillip Palmer, 29, of Langdale Road, and Paul Higginson, 38, of Lawrence Street, both Padiham, and Stephen Rimmer, 54, of Gale Street, Rochdale, pleaded guilty to the charge and were bailed for pre-sentence reports.
And three separate trials are now set to take place in early 2015 on the remaining defendants, after a plea hearing conducted by Judge Heather Lloyd.
The first hearing, from January 19, will include Gareth Bromley, 37, of Weldon Street, Michael Harrison, 36, of Brunshaw Road, Tony Holgate, 42, of Tabor Street, all Burnley, Andrew Hardman, 31, of Fairfield Avenue, Waterfoot, and a 17-year-old Barrowford youth.
The second trial, from February 2, covers Simon Massey, 49, of Avondale Road, Nelson, 63-year-old Timothy Wilkinson, of Sowclough Road, Bacup, Gavin Ellacott, 21, of Burnley Road, Colne, and Ian Spencer, 52, Wren Street, Burnley.
And the third trial will see Terry Wall, 19, of Creswick Avenue, Mark Butler, 23, of Deerpark Road, Lee Tattersall, 43, of Bluebell Grove, Graeme Scott, 50, of Mitella Street, all Burnley, accused of the same offence.
Judge Lloyd issued an arrest warrant for Christopher Ashton, 18, of Garsdale Avenue, Burnley, who failed to attend court.
All defendants were bailed, with minor exceptions for home and work commitments, on condition they do not attend matches at Turf Moor, or any away fixtures, or any national team games.