WOKING have issued an apology following unsavoury scenes after the final whistle of their 2-1 home defeat to Mansfield Town on Wednesday night.
Regional newspaper, the Mansfield Chad, are reporting that a brick was thrown through the window of the away dressing room and struck Stags goalkeeper Alan Marriott on the back of the head.
This led to Stags boss Paul Cox and members of the club’s playing staff confronting the perpetrators in the car park and for what Cox has described as “handbags”.
Recounting his version of the incident, Cox told The Chad: “Thankfully Alan was facing the other direction and only suffered a small cut. But the shards of glass were huge and someone could have been blinded or scarred for life.
“Then they spat in my face and it went straight into my eye, I wouldn’t accept that on the street so I am not accepting that just because I am a footballer manager.
“We ran out into the car park and caught up with them and there were a few handbags.
“Whatever comes my way I will have to accept as I don’t know what the referee will put in his report. I have probably acted a bit rash and hasty but I will not accept what happened at this level of football.
“We’ve done all we can. It’s up to the home club now. The authorities must do something before a player gets seriously injured the way the game is going right now.”
Woking have since responded, denying that a brick was thrown but apologising for the breaking of the dressing room window.
A statement from their chairman Mike Smith said: “Following last night’s Blue Square Bet Premier home game against Mansfield Town, an individual home supporter, who was exiting the stadium broke the window to the away team dressing room with his hand.
Stories about a brick being thrown are untrue. Mansfield officials and players were inside the room and thankfully, no one was injured.
“For reasons of personal safety and in the interests of wider safety and crowd management, ground operations staff and security removed the individual from the situation, as Mansfield players and officials understandably reacted. Order was quickly restored.
“On behalf of Woking Football Club and its supporters, I apologised to the director, players and officials of Mansfield Town, which was accepted.
“The individual responsible is known to the club as a season ticket holder and has had the privilege removed. In addition, he has also been informed he is no longer welcome at the club.
“Woking Football Club has also referred the matter to Surrey Police. This kind of behaviour is repulsive and deplorable to all proper fans of football. It has no place in football or at Kingfield.”
