BRIGHTON and Hove Albion has banned four fans from all games for the foreseeable future.

Three are the men arrested and charged following crowd trouble during last Saturday's match at Southend.

The fourth is butcher Neil Underhill, who ran on to the pitch during Brighton's game at the Goldstone in March 1997 and tried to kick former England star Ray Wilkins, who was playing for Leyton Orient.

He was banned from attending any future Albion game by the then chief executive David Bellotti but was later allowed to purchase a season ticket.

The club decided to act against the four after incidents at last Saturday's game.

A handful of Albion fans at Southend's Roots Hall ground jumped over a fence after Southend scored their first of three goals. They were restrained by stewards and police.

During the match several Albion supporters also tried to force open a gate leading from the stands on to the pitch. They were also stopped by police.

Three men, from Ferring, Lancing and Crowborough, have already been charged by Essex Police with public order offences.

Neil Underhill, who lives in Brighton Marina and works at a shop in the town, was not one of those arrested.

In 1997, Mr Underhill, now 41, and a handful of other fans nearly got the Albion kicked out of the Football League when they ran on to the pitch during the 4-4 draw with Leyton Orient.

The team had already been docked two points and there were fears the team would have more points deducted following the crowd trouble.

Albion, who survived in the Football League that season by just three goals, would almost definitely have lost their League status with any further point deductions.

Explaining the reasons for the ban Nick Rowe, Albion's general manager, said: "I have spoken to the police about the incidents last Saturday.

"Neil Underhill wasn't arrested but he has been identified as a troublemaker and we have withdrawn his season ticket.

"All four are banned from any match involving Albion. The police will be informing away clubs as well.

"We are not going to tolerate this sort of behaviour and have these people associated in any way with the club.

"This ban is indefinite."

Mr Rowe said stewards at Gillingham, where Albion play their home games, and stewards who travel with fans know the faces of all four and will eject them from any match, home or away, involving Albion.

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