Ex-Hereford United player Andy Ferrell given football banning order

Rival supporters became involved in the kerfuffle outside a Newcastle pub before a 5.30pm tie with Chelsea on November 12 last year.

The fight broke out outside the Black and White Bull pub in Barrack Road ahead of  Newcastle’s one-nil win.

Northumbria Police said the four men have now been served with football banning orders stopping them from attending any regulated football match in the UK for the next three years.

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One of them, Andrew Ferrell, 38, of Newburn, Newcastle, made 52 appearances for Hereford United in the mid-2000s.

After signing for the Edgar Street club in 2005, the midfielder was part of the squad to win promotion back to the Football League the following year.

He then moved on loan to Kidderminster Harriers in 2007, before joining the Worcestershire club on a permanent basis.

But in 2013, he was locked up for his role in a major drug-dealing gang.

He was one of 10 people to be jailed after a long-running investigation to tackle drug dealing and organised criminals in Newcastle. Ferrell was said to be working as a taxi driver and was a courier and supplier.

He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine and was jailed for a total of four years.

As well as Ferrell, Thomas Jennison, 21, of North Shields, Ryan Walton, 32, of Blakelaw, and Liam Webster, 39, of Kenton have also been banned from being within a designated distance of Newcastle's St James’ Park on matchdays.

Ryan Walton, Thomas Jennison, Liam Webster and Andrew Ferrell (Image: NORTHUMBRIA POLICE)

They also won't be allowed within a mile of any away ground in England and Wales where a game involving Newcastle or England is being played.

Officers previously said more than 20 people were believed to have been involved in the fracas.

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Detective Inspector Gillian Beecroft, of Northumbria Police, said: “We are pleased to have secured banning orders against these four individuals.

“The overwhelming majority of football fans in the North East are a credit to the clubs they support as well as the region as a whole.

“However, before this particular game, the behaviour of a small minority of supporters was totally unacceptable. This type of violent incident will simply not be tolerated.

“We hope that the banning orders handed down act as a warning to anyone thinking of taking part in disorder. You will be identified and brought before the courts to face the consequences of your actions.”