Bradford City's Supporter of the Year has been cleared of allegations that he provoked visiting fans at a match last year.

Simon Lea was said to have shoulder-charged several Barnsley fans and taunted them by chanting the scoreline in their faces following City's 2-1 victory at Valley Parade last September.

But two witnesses who were there that day, brothers Stephen and David Charles, told the city's magistrates that Simon had not provoked the visiting supporters and had himself been attacked by one of them.

Simon, 24, of Waverton Green, Woodside, Bradford, was found not guilty of using threatening behaviour.

Clearly delighted at the outcome of the trial, said after the hearing: "The magistrates made the right decision - I should not have been here in the first place.''

Inspector Sam Sagar told the court that emotions were running quite high after the match because City had come from behind to win with two goals in the last five minutes.

As he was supervising the departure of fans he saw Lea deliberately shoulder-charge a couple of Barnsley supporters in Midland Road and goad them about the result.

He said Lea was shouting "Two-one, Two-one to the Bradford Boys'' in the faces of the opposing fans.

"I was greatly concerned that his actions were going to provoke a response from the Barnsley supporters,'' said Insp Sagar.

Two other officers followed him as he walked up Holywell Ash Lane, through hundreds of Barnsley fans walking towards him.

Further up the lane there was a confrontation between the Barnsley fans and two or three City fans.

Inspector Sagar said he arrested a Barnsley fan and Lea was arrested by the other officers.

Lea told the court that as he walked up the lane he was grabbed by a Barnsley fan, who ripped his shirt. He denied shoulder-charging anyone and said he stopped chanting the score as he turned into Holywell Ash Lane.

Defence solicitor Stuart Carter said when the police approached his client he thought he was wanted as a witness to an assault on Mr Stephen Charles.

"Instead, he was clapped in irons and whisked away.''

Simon, a City supporter for 16 years, was given a trophy last year after being chosen as Supporter of the Year.

He said he was "distressed'' that as part of his bail the court had banned him from going to Valley Parade after the Barnsley match. That was only lifted shortly before Christmas when the club wrote a letter saying he would be welcome at matches.

"Next season, I'm planning to be in the new kop, well away from any possible trouble with visiting supporters,'' he said.

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