ACCRINGTON Stanley fans are rallying round a supporters’ group leader who is facing being banned from the club.

Jason Graham, 36, of Avenue Parade, Accrington, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer in the wake of Stanley’s game with Newcastle last week.

The charges relate to a fracas at the end of the televised game in which Graham is alleged to have kneed an officer in the thigh as police arrested another 18-year-old home fan for allegedly throwing a till roll.

At his next hearing, on September 8, police will seek to pursue a three-year banning order against Graham.

However, there has been a groundswell of support for Graham, who created the Stanley Ultras fan group to bring ‘loud, passionate and unique support’ to Accrington games.

The club’s own website has been inundated with messages of support for Graham.

He is credited with creating the many banners that are on display inside the Crown Ground and organises away trips for fellow supporters.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands the banning order is not being supported by the club.

However, chief executive Rob Heys would only say: “From the club’s point of view it’s in the hands of the police.”

The day after his arrest, Graham posted on his Stanley Ultras website, that he ‘could have handled it differently’.

Club safety manager Mick Shultz said Mr Graham ‘does lots for the club’, but said he couldn’t comment on the police investigation.

Amanda Jacks, spokesman for the Football Supporters' Federation, said that many supporters were contacting them, claiming the incident was handled ‘over-zealously’.

She said: “With regards to Jason Graham, we have offered him the services of a solicitor.

"It’s commonplace for the police to go for a banning order if it’s a football offence.

"Any supporter that comes to the FSF, we will give them decent legal representation.”