Eight men have been jailed for a year and banned from football games for six years for their involvement in trouble at a match in Manchester.

The eight Coventry supporters pleaded guilty to violent disorder charges following disturbances at an FA Cup match at Maine Road.

Coventry City supporters pushed their way into the main stand toward Manchester City supporters at the FA cup tie in January.

CCTV footage was used to identify those involved in the trouble.

The sentences passed send a clear message that Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate football violence in our clubs

Supt Andy Holt

Two men were arrested in Manchester on the day of the match, and 10 at their homes six months later by West Midlands Police.

One man failed to appear at court, and the other 11 pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday eight of the men, all from Coventry, were sent to prison for 12 months and banned from football games for six years.

They are:

• Simon Richardson, 38, of Forrets Court, Mount Nod
  
• Richard Jones, 34, of Haynestone Avenue, Coundon
  
• Robert Healey, 28, of Dormer Harris Avenue, Tile Hill
  
• Paul Lawler, 37, of Glencoe Road
  
• William Finnie, 29, of Ridgethorpe, Willenhall
  
• Mark Sheehy, 36, of Ascot Close in Willenhall
  
• John Hartley, 33, of Playdell Close, Willenhall
  
• Andrew Wallen, 42, of Sebastian Close, Stonehouse Estate

Greater Manchester Police were tipped off by West Midland Police that passengers on one coach to the match had been involved in football violence before.

Those on board were filmed as they left the coach and gave their name, age and address to police.

Nine of the men were later identified as some of the main troublemakers.

Superintendent Andy Holt, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "People want to watch football in an exciting and vibrant atmosphere.

'Fear and intimidation'

"What they don't want is to be subjected to fear, intimidation and violence, which is what happened on this occasion.

"The sentences passed send a clear message that Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate football violence in our clubs."

The sentencing of the other men has been adjourned until 17 January 2003.

They are John O'Shaughnessy, 36, of Westmorland Road, Wyken, Coventry, Louie McAulley, 25, of Alwyne Road in Bilton, Rugby and Phillip Rooney, 33, of Mary Slessor Street in Willenhall, Coventry.