BNP man charged over soccer fight

| Tuesday, 25 May 2004 | Click here for original article

A BNP candidate standing in next month's local elections has appeared in court in connection with violent scenes after a Stoke City football match.

Ian Clegg, of Souldern Way, Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent, was one of 13 men who appeared before magistrates in Fenton.

They have been charged with public order offences after trouble flared following a game with West Ham United on 24 April.

The cases were all adjourned to be heard by a district judge on 22 June.

Council ambitions

Nine of the men, including Mr Clegg, have been banned from leaving the UK while the Euro 2004 football championships take place in Portugal.

All of the defendants were granted conditional bail.

Four more suspects are due to appear in court on Wednesday.

Mr Clegg is hoping to win a seat for the far-right party on Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

He is one of eight BNP candidates fielded across the city's 20 wards.

The party currently has two seats on the council.