25th November 1999
25th November 1999 CRAIG Dudley and Richard Graham are in the frame for an Athletic return in Saturday's home league game against Wrexham. Manager Andy Ritchie is hopeful that the pair will be declared fit to face the Welshmen.
Dudley, with four goals in his last nine matches, missed the midweek match at Bristol City with a thigh strain. Graham, meanwhile, has had a recurring back problem which forced him to miss the Colchester and Bristol matches. Athletic are still waiting for the results of X-rays as they try to get to the bottom of Graham's trouble.
In the event of Dudley and Graham being available, Ritchie's dilemma will be who to leave out. Athletic defended well at Ashton Gate, where Mark Hotte was recalled as sweeper as Ritchie reverted to a 3-5-2 formation. Dudley, whose form has been impressive, would be a contender for a starting spot, with Steve Whitehall probably standing down.
AN Oldham Athletic fan and a Swansea City supporter appeared in separate hearings before magistrates charged in connection with incidents at last Saturday's FA Cup match.
Darren Kelly (19), of Hampton Road, Failsworth, was made the subject of an exclusion order, preventing him from attending any Premiership or Nationwide League matches and any FA Cup and Worthington Cup matches for 12 months.
He was also fined £200 with £50 costs. Swansea fan Francis Richards (27), of Carmarthen, South Wales, was fined £100, with £50 costs, and an existing conditional discharge was allowed to run. Both men admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour. Miss Janet Ashton, prosecuting, told Oldham Magistrates yesterday that police spotted Kelly throwing stones at Swansea supporters' coaches and shouting abuse as fans were being escorted to the vehicles at the end of the match.
He tried to run away as he was approached by officers, but he was caught when he slipped on the grass. Kelly told the court he had nothing to say about the offence. In a separate hearing, magistrates were told that Richards was arrested after police were called to assist a steward during half-time. Miss Ashton said he became aggressive and began lashing out with his arms after he was warned about his behaviour.
He
was pulled back into the crowd by other Swansea supporters, but continued
to shout abuse at officers when they followed him, saying he was Welsh,
and English police could not touch him. Mr Edward Judge, defending, said
Richards accepted his behaviour was well below the standard required of
him. But he had been taking medication for depression and on the day of
the match had drunk seven cans of strong lager. Mr Judge said the mixture
had a bad effect on him, and he bitterly regretted his actions. A racially-aggravated
public order offence against Richards was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution
Service.