The club would like to make the following update to this statement that was made on May 4, 2023 regarding spectator behaviour at our Durham Challenge Cup Final against Spennymoor Town.

Over the past couple of months the club has worked alongside Northumbria Police, Sunderland AFC and Durham County FA as part of its investigation into an incident at the Durham Challenge Cup Final in the Hebburn Town supporters section.

Our investigation has led us to the following conclusion:

• Two individuals were identified through CCTV as the instigators of the incident on the evening, deploying pyrotechnics/smoke bombs in the stadium’s concourse area.
• The two individuals were contacted by the club and they were apologetic and remorseful for their actions.
• The individuals were contacted by Northumbria Police and spoken to within the guidelines of the law.
• The individuals wrote letters of apology to both Hebburn Town and Sunderland AFC, as well as providing a financial contribution to the Bradley Lowery Foundation.

The two individuals have had the following sanctions imposed:

• Banned from the Stadium of Light for the 2023/24 season.
• Banned from Hebburn Sports Ground during Hebburn Town first-team games for the 2023/24 season.

The club has been charged by the County FA due to the incident under ‘failure to control our own players, spectators and officials’.

At a disciplinary panel held in the past couple of weeks, the club pleaded guilty to the offence but asked for leniency on the basis of our proactive actions (our own internal investigation and work with the relevant authorities).

The club were, as expected, charged with the offence and given the following punishments:

• A substantial financial penalty.
• Disqualification from entering the 2023/24 Durham Challenge Cup and defending our title.

The club are disappointed at the outcome of this hearing, especially our removal from this season’s competition, but we are keen to move on and remain positive as part of our ambitious progression.

Hebburn Town would like to thank all participants, volunteers, officials and authorities for their support during the investigation.

We urge our supporters to take note of the punishment we have received on this occasion - we have suffered financially and competitively due to inappropriate behaviour of spectators so please stick to the appropriate guidelines while supporting the club.