Footballers banned from town’s pubs

Dec 18 2008 by Paul James, The Journal

MIDDLESBROUGH defender Matthew Bates and former midfielder Lee Cattermole have been banned from pubs and clubs across Stockton.

The pair were added to Pubwatch’s blacklist of troublemakers after they were arrested for disorder during a night out in Yarm last month.

Cattermole, who received a previous warning for bad behaviour in the town, has been barred for three years and Bates for two years.

It means neither footballer can enter most nightspots in central Stockton, Yarm, Billingham or Thornaby.

If they breach the ban they could face an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).

The decision to bar the players was made by Pubwatch’s committee following an incident outside The Keys nightclub on Yarm High Street on November 15, after Cattermole’s new club Wigan had drawn at Newcastle.

Police were called by door staff about 11.40pm and the pair, along with Cattermole’s brother Gavin, were subsequently arrested.

Each was given fixed penalties for a public order offence.

Chris Neil, chairman of Stockton Pubwatch and owner of the George and Dragon in Yarm, said the committee had heard that door staff were verbally abused and that some members of the group became aggressive towards police.

In December 2007 while still on Boro’s books, Cattermole was told to watch his behaviour in Stockton’s pubs and clubs or face a three-year ban.

The warning came after landlords raised complaints of a rowdy night out in Yarm involving Lee and around 15 friends. A meeting of Pubwatch was told Cattermole and others were thrown out of four pubs in the town on November 25 2007, for allegedly being abusive.

On that occasion, Pubwatch decided not to bar the Boro Academy graduate but issued the player, and two unnamed others, with “a warning”.

Mr Neil said: “One of the factors in Lee Cattermole’s case was that he had already been given a warning.”

Sgt Keith Daley, of Stockton’s licensing unit, said: “The Pubwatch scheme works very well in the Stockton area, and there are a number of people on Pubwatch bans who are fully compliant with these bans.

He said should anyone breach a Pubwatch ban, it may result in an application for an anti-social behaviour order.

Both Wigan Athletic and Middlesbrough FC were contacted in regard to the barring but neither returned with comment from either the players or the clubs.