City fan banned from attending games indefinitely by club

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A devoted Sky Blues fan has been banned from attending games indefinitely by the club he loves.



Alan Howe, 51, already faced the prospect of a lifelong football banning order from the courts after he invaded the pitch during Coventry City’s FA Cup clash at Arsenal.

However, the club has pre-empted any ruling ahead of his scheduled court appearance on February 10 by banning him from all home games for the foreseeable future.

Mr Howe received a letter informing him of the ban on Saturday and the club confirmed they will also refuse to sell him away tickets.

The IT worker from Tile Hill has been the subject of an online petition, which has attracted over 1,700 signatures, pleading for leniency ahead of his court appearance.

Mr Howe invaded the pitch with the slogan ‘Sisu Out’ emblazoned across his shirt, something he believes may have played a part in the severity of the ban.

He said: “It might have had something to do with my shirt. Was it Coventry City or Sisu that banned me? It probably was Sisu.

“But if they’re going to ban me for protesting against the owners, they might as well ban 8,000 or 9,000 other people because they all feel the same.

“I am just shocked that they have done this to me, I know I have done something wrong, but I didn’t give my club a bad name.

“I have been treated like a hooligan, but I’m not a hooligan, I’m a person who stands up for what they believe in; and I believe in getting Coventry City back to Coventry.”

Mr Howe plans to appeal against the ban.

A spokesperson for Coventry City Football Club said: “There is no grey area when it comes to entering the field of play – when a supporter does so, they are committing an illegal act.

“When it happened at an away fixture earlier this season, the club had to give an undertaking to the FA that it would do everything within its power to stop it happening again.

“The strongest sanction the club can bring is a ban on attending home games and that is what we have done in this case, for an indefinite timescale.

“We cannot emphasise enough just how important it is that fans refrain from entering the field of play. We understand that feelings can run very high but the footballing and civic authorities will bring to task any supporter caught entering the field of play.”

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Three-year ban for Sky Blues pitch invader



A Sky Blues fan who invaded the pitch during a high profile FA Cup game at Arsenal has been banned from all football matches for three years.

Alan Howe, 51, from Tile Hill, was handed the football banning order by magistrates in London today for his encroachment onto the field during the FA Cup Fourth Round tie at The Emirates Stadium on January 24.

He was also fined £275 following the invasion, which was inspired by his frustration with the situation which has seen Coventry City play home matches 35 miles away from Coventry in Northampton.

Over 1,500 fans from clubs around the country had signed a petition calling on the authorities to show leniency and let him attend matches.

Speaking after being sentenced, the IT worker vowed to continue his protests against the club owners Sisu - despite being banned from all football grounds in Europe until 2017.

He said: “It has got me fired up. The ban is stopping me supporting my football team that I believe in and love.

“I won’t stop here. I know I can’t go into football grounds, but I’ll find another way of protesting.

“People say I should not have run onto the pitch, but if others got off their backsides and stood up to Sisu, I wouldn’t have to do things like this.

“They are making me out to be a football hooligan, but I am not a football hooligan.

“I want all Coventry City fans to unite and get our club back where it belongs, and that is back in Coventry.

“I would like to thank all the Coventry City fans who have supported me through everything I have been going through.”

Last week, the club pre-empted any official ban by barring him from attending all Coventry City home fixtures indefinitely and confirming they would refuse to sell him tickets to away matches.

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Coventry City pitch invader making amends by working as Coventry United matchday steward

A Coventry City supporter, banned from football grounds for protesting against CCFC owners Sisu, has been working as a matchday steward at non-league Coventry United.

Alan Howe has been volunteering at home games for the club set up as a result of Coventry City’s move to play ‘home’ matches in Northampton in 2013.

The 54-year-old was banned after protesting against the move to Sixfields himself when he ran onto the pitch at The Emirates in January 2014 during an FA Cup clash between Arsenal and the Sky Blues.

BBC Coventry and Warwickshire first reported on Mr Howe’s role which involves keeping supporters off the pitch at Coventry United’s home ground Sphinx Drive.

But the Telegraph has confirmed neither the non-league club or Mr Howe are breaking the terms of the three-year ‘Football Banning Order’ which was issued at Magistrates Court in February 2014.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Under the terms of the ban he is not to visit any stadium that is used for regulated Football League matches. Coventry United doesn’t fall under the category.”

Mr Howe received backing from hundreds of fans following his one-man protest and a petition calling for leniency attracted almost 2,000 signatures.

Coventry City released a statement at the time which said Mr Howe had been banned from attending home games ‘indefinitely’. But Mr Howe insists he plans to return to the Ricoh when his police-issued ban expires in February 2017 to “thank fans for their support”.

Mr Howe told the Telegraph he was delighted that Coventry United had placed faith in him.

He said: “Being at Cov United has changed me a lot. I’m still angry with Sisu but I’ve learned my lesson and that’s it.

“The directors at Coventry United have backed me all the way and they’re like family now.”

Asked if he understood some people might be surprised that he was now working to keep people off the pitch having previously invaded a playing area himself, he said: “If I can volunteer and do something for the club, I will. I get on well with the supporters.

“I understand why people say I shouldn’t have gone on the pitch, but the way Coventry City supporters have been treated is disgusting.

“I’m not a hooligan, I didn’t go on the pitch to be violent. It was a peaceful protest to express my view about the fact my team was playing in Northampton.

“I knew the consequences and it was my fault. I wouldn’t encourage anyone else to do it but I’m not saying I regret it. I felt I had to do something.”

Pete Schofield, vice chairman at Coventry United, was questioned about the appointment of Mr Howe by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire.

He said Mr Howe had been open about the ban and the club was comfortable with Mr Howe working as a steward as the ban was not for a violent offence.

He added: “It’s like a rehabilitation. He’s come to us to work on a voluntary basis, he knows he has done wrong.

“He’s now educating people on not to enter the field of play.”