AFC Telford Investigates Offensive Gary Speed Chants At Racecourse Ground

AFC Telford have launched an investigation after a small group of the club’s fans were heard to make insulting chants about the death of Gary Speed during the side’s 4-0 loss to Wrexham FC at the Racecourse.

During the second half of the game, which took place on New Year’s Day, a group of 10-15 Telford fans situated in the Eric Roberts Stand were heard to sing “Where’s your Gary gone?” referring to the former Wales manager who was found dead at this home in November.

Wrexham fans appeared angered by the chanting, however responded by singing “there’s only one Gary Speed”.

In a statement a spokesperson for AFC Telford said: “AFC Telford United have been made aware of incidents that took place during our visit to the Racecourse ground on New Years Day.

“The club are making further enquiries with a view to banning any individual identified as being responsible for indecent chanting.

“Whilst we have not received an official complaint from Wrexham AFC, the Police or Football Authorities, we are taking this matter extremely seriously, with individuals identified as being responsible likely to receive an indefinite ban from the New Bucks Head.”

The chants prompted several complaints to AFC Telford from Wrexham fans and others e-mailed the Shropshire based club with screenshots of comments made by a Telford fan on his publically accessible Facebook ‘wall’ who appeared to boast about the chants, he said: “Glad Wrexham appreciated our Gary Speed songs. Next time no had grenades lads (sic).”

A screenshot of comments made by one AFC Telford fan on Facebook.

Fans of both teams have condemned those involved; in a thread on Wrexham FC fan site Red Passion ‘bucksfan’ wrote: “I was with the main Telford fans for the game and I’m beyond sorry for the behaviour of those people. We were shocked at what they had done and disgusted to be in the same stand as them. My apologies for them.”

A Police Football Liason Officer from North Wales Police said that his officers were not aware of the chanting despite several of them being stationed nearby at the time of the chanting, he said: “The Police were not aware of the chanting mentioned …. and we did not receive any complaints during the match.”

“It is correct that Evidence Gatherers took a quantity of footage within the ground of problematic groups. All the video footage taken is being collated and West Mercia Police have requested a copy of it.”