RAF man hit with football banning order after 'igniting flare' at Macclesfield Town v Salford City game
Macclesfield Town FC supporter has been banned from watching football for the next three years after he was caught with a flare at a derby game.Oliver Bateman, 27, is said to have ignited the pyrotechnic before his pal threw it onto the pitch during a game at Salford City FC in November 2019.Manchester Magistrates Court heard at the time of kick off, a dedicated football officer spotted a blue smoke bomb being set off.Minutes later, the officer spotted another blue flare which was lit, then thrown onto the pitch whilst the footballers were playing.The flare was thrown onto the pitch by another member of the group, Jordan Thomas, 21, from where the group were sat - behind the Macclesfield goal posts.Bateman, who is in the RAF, was later