Buckie Thistle have today confirmed that they have written to Grampian Police to thank them for their decisive action in preventing possile crowd trouble  at yesterdays home match against Deveronvale FC.

Buckie Secretary Albert Phimister today revealed "I recieved a telephone call from Deveronvale Secretary Stewart Mcpherson at 11am yesterday morning to inform me that there could be trouble at the match with fans travelling up from Banff, there had been messages on the internet indicating this"

"I immediately contacted our Club President Mark Duncan as well as going straight round to the police station to inform them of the situation.  It is just as well that I did as around a dozen youths arrived outside the ground at 11.45, it was obvious that they had been drinking and the police removed alchohol from their posession.  The youths then left the ground and went down into the town centre, the police confirmed that they would be in contact with their Banff counterparts  for more information and that they would return at around 2pm."

Buckie President Mark Duncan confirmed "After Albert phoned me I made sure that I was at the ground immediately.  A group of youths arrived at the ground looking to gain access at around 1.30, I immediately went over to inform them that they would not be getting in to the match, some of them asked me why and I told them it was because they were out to cause trouble (there had already been reports of incidents in the town) they then left the ground and went in the direction of the Buckie burn, where several more incidents were later reported to me".

"As well as the usual stewarding we made arrangements to have people on the front gate to stop any potential troublemakers from gaining access to the ground."

"Several police vans then arrived at the ground at 2pm and they then took over the situation."

Duncan then went on to say "The police certainly had their hands full and evicted several individuals for trying to gain illegal entry to the ground by climbing over the surrounding walls and fencing.  I have been informed that a number of youths from Banff were also escorted from the ground in the police van.  I must say that we have not seen anything like this in the last 20 or so years, you want people to turn up at your ground to watch a good game of football, not  to cause trouble".

"We are gratefull for the help we recieved from Stewart Mcpherson and  from Deveronvale FC, it is important  to point out that the majority of individuals involved were not wearing Deveronvale colours, it was more a case of people turning up looking to cause trouble."

"Even after the match you could still see the potential for trouble as a crowd of between thirty and forty youths were outside the ground in the nearby Ian Johnstone park being supervised closely by the police."

Duncan went on to say "This  is more of a society problem, with yobs who seem hellbent on causing trouble, yet not willing to take responsibility for their actions".

Then went on to confirm "We will be taking steps to ensure, as far as is possible that there is no repeat of this in the future".

Buckie Thistle Secretary Albert Phimister today said "we are very gratefull to Grampian Police for all of their work yesterday, they did a very good job and I would confirm that we have today written to them to thank them for all their help".