21 July 2023 , 20:05
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Gateshead's pre-season friendly with Dunston was abandoned after two cars - including a HEARSE - drove onto the pitch and performed doughnuts in front of stunned fans.
The game was poised at 1-1 going into half-time when the incident occurred. The drivers managed to get past the safety barriers and made for the centre circle before doing multiple burnouts and throwing sheets of paper out of the car windows.
After leaving skid marks all over the pitch, two men exited the hearse, ran to the silver car and hopped inside before it drove back off towards one side of the stadium. The hearse was left dumped on the pitch.
The incident left many fans inside the ground stunned, as supporters were eventually evacuated while police attended with a helicopter then present at the scene.
Dunston vs Gateshead was abandoned after two cars drove onto the pitchAn eye-witness told the Daily Star: "It was surreal. As my wife and I were driving down, there were these three guys with snoods high up and hats on about 500 yards from the stadium. She said 'Those three guys look dodgy', but it was one of those comments that you say and think nothing of.
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"We get into the stadium and look across to the right and those three guys are there. Again, she said they look dodgy but thought nothing of it. The referee blows the half-time whistle and the players walk in, then one of the guys tried to open the blue railing around the pitch to get on. 'Open the gate, open the gate' they were shouting.
"There is a bit of an altercation between two guys trying to close the gate, but they were adamant to open the gate. Then the first car comes flying out. There are loads of people around, kids, men, women. It goes flying through the fence onto the pitch, starts doing doughnuts, then the hearse comes out.
Two cards drove onto the pitch during Dunston vs Gateshead"Two guys jump out of the hearse, jump into the car and reverse their way back out. By this point, the gate is shut and they drive through the closed gate.
"At that level of football, you don't get security, so it took about 10 minutes before police came, then there were seven or eight police cars and a helicopter. It was scary. You have got young children there."
Another eye-witness said: "It was horrible to see. There were loads of kids in tears. It all happened so fast, in probably less than a minute.
"At first people were just watching what was happening but then people started running away. I heard people say they had guns and people were running for cover. I've never seen anything like it. I just hope everyone is okay."
Later on Friday evening, Northumbria Police released a statement. It read: "Police have launched an investigation following a disturbance during a football match in Gateshead. Shortly before 8.20pm Friday it was reported that two cars drove onto the pitch during half-time of the Dunston UTC v Gateshead match at Dunston Football Club on Wellington Road.
"Following this, both cars – a Subaru and a Hearse – have proceeded to drive around in circles and a group of males wearing balaclavas have then exited onto the pitch. They have then proceeded to throw a number of leaflets onto the pitch, before driving away from the area in the Subaru before police arrival. The Hearse was left abandoned on the pitch.
"Officers attended the scene within minutes where nobody was reported to have been injured or threatened. An investigation was immediately launched – and a number of enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the report, and locate those involved.
"Disorder will not be tolerated in the community, and anyone found to be involved will be dealt with robustly. While enquiries are at an early stage, it is believed that those involved are known to each other and there was no wider risk to the public.
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"We are also aware that images and videos of the disturbance are being circulated on social media. Members of the public are urged not to speculate and are encouraged to share any footage with police to assist the investigation.
"Police remain in the area to carry out enquiries and offer reassurance to the public – and those with concerns are encouraged to speak with an officer on duty. Anyone with information or footage capturing what happened should contact police using the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or call 101 quoting reference number NP-20230721-1154."
As for the game itself, Gateshead, who play in the National League, took the lead through Aidan Rutledge after he took the ball around the goalkeeper and slotted home.
But The Heed's one-goal advantage didn't last long as Sado Djalo converted for eighth-tier Dunston in the 39th minute. That was the final clear-cut chance before the game was abandoned shortly after half-time.