A COUNCILLOR has described the terrifying moment up to 30 football fans attacked Blues supporters, one of whom has now been banned from football.

Rhys Johnson, 25, has now been made subject of a five-year football banning order following disorder after Charlton’s match against Southend at Roots Hall in September.

The bad tempered affair saw both sides have players dismissed before Charlton edged a 2-1 win, but problems continued after the match.

Johnson was charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

Avid Southend fan, independent councillor Martin Terry, witnessed the whole attack.

He said: “I was right there with another councillor, it was awful. We left the West Stand and were walking along Shakespeare Drive when 20 or 30 Charlton fans steamed in and started throwing punches, it was horrible.

“It was nasty and really uncalled for, there were children, women, families all there. They shouldn’t have to witness that. It is very frightening for normal fans.”

Johnson’s ban comes at a time where football hooliganism is gaining national attention after Aston Villa captain, Jack Grealish, was punched by a Birmingham City pitch invader last Saturday.

While in the reverse fixture between Charlton and Southend at The Valley, eight fans were arrested following disorder. Mr Terry insisted Roots Hall needs better policing.

He said: “The police were very quickly on the scene with their batons and deserve praise. But we have a problem in society with increasing violence, and that trend carries over to football and popular culture.

“As we have all been saying, we need more police in Southend and I would say we need some of those at Roots Hall on a Saturday.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A man has been given a five year football banning order following the disorder in September.

“Rhys Johnson of Radzan Close, Dartford was charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.”

As well as a five-year football banning order, Johnson must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and pay an £85 victim surcharge.