Mexborough and Swinton Times April 27, 1918

Assault on Football Field

Harry Hollingworth (26), miner, Bolton, was charged with assaulting John Tait, miner, Swinton, at the Wath Athletic football ground, on March 23.

Mr. W. M. Gichard prosecuted and stated that the assault took place on the Wath Athletic Ground, where a football match was being played between Mexboro’ Rovers and Bolton Rovers, and the defendant was acting as linesman.

In the course of the game an appeal was made by one of the players that there had been a foul, and the referee consulted Tait and awarded a penalty kick against the Bolton team, for whom defendant was acting as linesman. Defendant rushed up to the referee, who was near the complainant, and asked what was going to be done, and the referee told him it was a penalty.

Defendant struck complainant a violent blow on the side of the head, behind the left ear, and Tait fell to the ground, where he was kicked, by the defendant.

Complainant was unconscious for a considerable time on the ground, and remained dazed for two days. He had been rendered temporarily deaf of the left ear, and was still under medical care.

Several witnesses were called.

The Chairman described the assault as most cowardly.

The defendant was fined the maximum penalty of £5