Young fan hurt in brick incident

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A teenage football fan had 15 stitches to his face after a brick was thrown through a window of a coach following a non-league cup final.

The 14-year-old was hurt near Forest Green Rovers' ground in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, after AFC Telford won the Setanta Shield final on penalties.

The AFC Telford fan, from Shropshire, was taken to hospital on Thursday evening and discharged after treatment.

A 19-year-old man from Nailsworth was arrested on Friday and later bailed.

He has been ordered to report to a police station on 24 April.

The victim suffered cuts to his eye and face, Gloucestershire Constabulary said.

'Saddens everyone'

Forest Green club secretary Colin Peak said: "It's something that in 20 years of being associated with the club we've not experienced before and spoilt what was a good evening, despite the result.

"We went out of our way especially to make it attractive for young people to come to and it saddens me and it saddens everyone connected with the club."

AFC Telford's supporters trust chairman, David Embrey, said he was on the scene at the time of the incident.

Mr Embrey said: "It must quite literally have come whizzing over... my head, crashed into the coach and through the glass."

He added he went to the hospital to check on the boy, who "was chipper".

Mr Embrey said: "He was sitting up in the accident and emergency. He'd got his eyes closed because I think they put stuff into his eyes to try and get the glass out."

The police spokesman added: "It appears that somebody has picked up a brick or rock and thrown it through the window and it struck this young lad in the face.

"We are treating this incident extremely seriously due to the injury suffered by the young boy."

The force, which was called at about 2250 BST on Thursday, has appealed for information.