A FORMER board member of the York City Supporters’ Trust is among eight men who have been banned from attending any UK football grounds for a total of 26 years.

Michael Palfrey, 25, was given a three-year ban, along with four other York men, after an investigation by police in North and West Yorkshire connected them with an incident in a Leeds pub in which bottles, tables and chairs were thrown at members of the public.

Palfrey was issued with the order earlier this year, which means he is not allowed within half a mile of Bootham Crescent, within the city walls, or within 200 metres of York Station for three hours before and after kick-off.

Ben Thomas Morrison, 26, from Bishopthorpe, was issued with a three-year ban at Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

Matthew Rawcliffe, 25, of Poplar Tree Gardens, Sixth Avenue, was given a five-year ban, a 17-year-old boy from Bishopthorpe, David Sempers, 39, of Rawcliffe Avenue, and Liam Peverley, 20, of Cumberland Close, also received three-year bans, and Jamie Sedman, 21, of Breighton, near Selby, and Richard Cuttle, 23, of Salisbury Avenue, Goole, received three-year banning orders earlier this year.

All men are also required to sign in at their local police stations whenever England play overseas fixtures, and if any of the terms of the orders are breached, the men face a prison term of up to six months.

A spokesman for the York City Supporters’ Trust said Palfrey had resigned from the Trust’s board in April. He said: “York City Supporters’ Trust is extremely disappointed to hear that individuals from our locality have received football banning orders.

“Anyone who causes such trouble seriously damages the club’s reputation, increase its policing costs and risks the club receiving penalties from the football authorities. As such, the Trust do not consider any individual who causes, incites or participates in trouble to be a true supporter of York City Football Club.”

Chief Inspector Dave Hannan, of York Safer Neighbourhood Command, said: “These people are not football fans and merely use matches as an excuse to cause trouble, which spoils things for genuine fans, who are there to enjoy the game.

“Anyone intent on attending York City matches and causing trouble this season should be aware that there will be a police presence and the intelligence we gather on match days means that there is a good chance that you will be identified.”

This season, the club has issued a new ejections and banning policy through their website, and police said they would not be afraid to use banning orders.

Chris Tock, operations and safety manager for York City, said, “We have been working closely with North Yorkshire Police to ensure individuals who use football as a vehicle for violence and disorder are identified and dealt with accordingly.

“As we progress towards the new community stadium for York, we are dedicated to eradicating anti-social behaviour by a small minority who attend our matches. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment for our supporters.”

A police spokeswoman said the men did not pose a risk of danger to the public, and there was no reason their photos should be officially released.