Hooli-gran! Great-grandma banned over pitch invasion
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A great-grandmother footie fan has been banned from Leeds United for 12 months after running on to the pitch at Elland Road.
Margaret Musgrove, 63, was given an automatic ban and had her season ticket seized after after she went on to the grass during the last game of the season against Burnley in May.
She was arrested by police but later released without charge.
Now Mrs Musgrove, who has 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, is appealing to the club to reduce her penalty.
She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "It's not like I am a hooligan. People who do much worse than this get the same ban.
"A suspension from a few games would have hurt, but I already feel like I have been punished enough."
Asked what she intended to do when she ran towards the players, Margaret added: "I just wanted to shout, 'Lads, I love you'.
"I had my Leeds United bag across my chest and a United flag tied around my waste. It was hardly threatening."
The decision has outraged some fans and more than 850 have joined a Facebook group called "Give Mags Musgrove Her Season Ticket Back Mr Bates" – directed at the Leeds chairman Ken Bates.
But the club pointed out that fans had been repeatedly warned during the match to stay off the pitch.
A spokesman said: "Mrs Musgrove encroached the grassed playing area despite repeated pleas throughout the game for people not to do so and it's club policy to suspend people who do this.
"In excess of 30,000 fans abided by the message to please keep off the pitch. For a club suspension she is entitled to appeal, which she has done."
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| 63-year-old Margaret Musgrove gets 12-month ban for celebrating on Leeds pitch Photo: The Yorkshire Evening Post |
Margaret Musgrove, 63, was given an automatic ban and had her season ticket seized after after she went on to the grass during the last game of the season against Burnley in May.
TV footage showed Mrs Musgrove walking across the penalty area with her arms in the air, before being caught by stewards and taken off to holding cells.
She was arrested by police but later released without charge.
Now Mrs Musgrove, who has 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, is appealing to the club to reduce her penalty.
She told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "It's not like I am a hooligan. People who do much worse than this get the same ban.
"A suspension from a few games would have hurt, but I already feel like I have been punished enough."
Asked what she intended to do when she ran towards the players, Margaret added: "I just wanted to shout, 'Lads, I love you'.
"I had my Leeds United bag across my chest and a United flag tied around my waste. It was hardly threatening."
The decision has outraged some fans and more than 850 have joined a Facebook group called "Give Mags Musgrove Her Season Ticket Back Mr Bates" – directed at the Leeds chairman Ken Bates.
But the club pointed out that fans had been repeatedly warned during the match to stay off the pitch.
A spokesman said: "Mrs Musgrove encroached the grassed playing area despite repeated pleas throughout the game for people not to do so and it's club policy to suspend people who do this.
"In excess of 30,000 fans abided by the message to please keep off the pitch. For a club suspension she is entitled to appeal, which she has done."
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