A teenager has become the latest Gills fan to receive a football banning order after he tried to take a smoke grenade into a match.

Joe Randall, 18, of Elham Close, Twydall, was arrested before the match between Southend United and the Gills at Roots Hall on Saturday, August 6.

He was later charged with being drunk trying to enter a designated sports ground at the time of a designated sporting event and trying to enter the ground carrying a smoke grenade.

He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Friday and admitted the offences.

Randall was given a three year football banning order.

DC Keith Baker, Essex Police’s dedicated football officer for Southend United, said: “Going to a football match should be a fun and enjoyable occasion and not one where people should be concerned for their welfare.

“By trying to take a smoke grenade into the ground Joe Randall could have not only disrupted the match but also risked the safety of his fellow fans.

“I hope this banning order will send a message that Essex Police takes this kind of action very seriously, and we are determined to ensure fans of all teams coming to Roots Hall have a safe and enjoyable day.”

Among football fans currently banned are Tony Jackson, of Medway Road, Sheerness, who was banned from football grounds for three years after hurling racist abuse at a young player during a game at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium in 2014 and Michael O’Shea, of River View, Canterbury, who was banned for three years when Gills fans clashed with Swindon Town supporters in Gillingham the same year.

Their bans followed that of Joshua Saunders, who ran on to the pitch at Priestfield and assaulted the Wycombe goalkeeper during a game in 2013, and was banned from all football grounds for five years.

Jack Spear, also known as Jack Morley, 23, of Kingfisher Road, Larkfield, was also banned from football grounds for three years after he ran onto the pitch at Priestfield and verbally confronted Millwall goalkeeper Jordan Archer at the end of last season.