THE threat of trouble has led to a pre-season football friendly between Rhyl and Chester being cancelled.
Rhyl had been scheduled to host the newly-reformed Chester FC at Belle Vue on Saturday, but unsavoury incidents when the Cheshire club visited Colwyn Bay at the weekend have led to the fixture being called off following intelligence from North Wales Police about a possible repeat along the North Wales coast.
The Lilywhites have revealed the fixture has been cancelled “for the safety of those who were and were not planning on attending the match”. It would have been only Chester’s second game in their new guise following the closure of Chester City earlier this year.
A Rhyl FC spokesman said: “Fans are likely to be aware of the trouble which flared from a minority of Chester fans during their friendly at Colwyn Bay on Saturday, which resulted in a heavy police presence.
“Police intelligence have reports that the same minority of the newly reformed club were planning a similar situation for the match at Belle Vue on Saturday which would likely escalate into the town centre.
“The match has therefore been cancelled for the safety of those who were and were not planning on attending the match. This is an unfortunate circumstance for both clubs and their genuine fans but safety is paramount.”
At Colwyn Bay, two Chester fans were arrested following incidents in the town centre and a further Chester follower was arrested at the match.
What should have been a celebratory day during Chester’s rebirth was marred by the trouble, which resulted in police helicopters circulating over Llanelian Road.
The cancellation of Saturday’s match is likely to disappoint Rhyl fans, as Chester have a high number of former Lilywhites on their coaching and playing staff and were expected to bring a large away following to Belle Vue.
* For more on this story, see this week's edition of The Journal.