Bristol City football hooligan in Cardiff got caught because

Bristol City football hooligan in Cardiff got caught because of his ginger hair


Bristol City fan Mackenzie Bailey thought he had got away with lobbing a can at an O'Neill's pub in Cardiff city centre

14th March 2025

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One of the Bristol City fans involved in last month's disorder in Cardiff city centre was caught when police recognised his bright ginger hair. Mackenzie Bailey thought he had gotten away with hurling a can of booze at a pub but later in the day he "stood out" in the away section at the Cardiff City match and was arrested at half-time, Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard.



Prosecutor Mike Curry played footage of the scenes from February 15 in which a mass of Bristol City fans gathered outside the O'Neill's and Wetherspoon pubs, shouting at the bemused customers sitting inside and at police officers on St Mary Street. Bailey, 18, was captured on video throwing a can at the O'Neill's signage above the entrance, alcohol spraying out on impact.

The fans were moved on by police and Bailey carried on to the Cardiff City Stadium. But once there the "tall, ginger lad" stood out because of his appearance, Mr Curry told the court. The teen, of Glenfall in Yate, admitted the public order offence.

His solicitor Maxine Twynam said: "Mackenzie is ashamed of the way he behaved that day. He has no excuses. He is a Bristol City fan who came to Cardiff to watch the game. There was a disturbance between the two sets of fans which was well documented in the press." WalesOnline understands the disorder actually involved a group of Bristol City fans yelling at punters in pubs and that there was minimal involvement, if any at all, from Cardiff City supporters.

Ms Twynam continued: "Essentially he got swept up in the crowd and made a stupid decision to throw a can of alcohol at the public house. It hit the sign and exploded on impact." The solicitor added that Bailey's family are "very disappointed at the way he behaved." She described him as a "family man" who is "very supportive" towards his sister's children and works full-time rendering and plastering.

Bailey's employer wrote to the court: "He has worked for me for three years and not once has he set a bad example. He has been a massive part of our success, having started as an apprentice, and now completes full jobs by himself. When Mackenzie told me about his court date I was shocked. He is one of our hardest workers, he is always on time and his work is always of a high standard." The court heard Bailey takes home pay of £1,300 a month.

Ms Twynam told the magistrates that Bailey's mum "would be very grateful if you did make a football banning order today because this case has had a massive impact on her and the family." She conceded her client's case was not helped by his caution for another football-related public order offence a year earlier. "On that occasion, someone pushed him and he retaliated by pushing them back. There was a little scrap between him and someone else but no one was injured."

Before retiring to consider the sentence, Presiding Justice Mark Hughes pointed first at the main courtroom exit and then at the door to the cells. "We will decide if you are going through that door or that door," he told Bailey, who nodded sombrely. Ms Twynam said her client was packed for a potential jail term. She reached into the dock to hand him a duffel bag as the magistrates headed out to deliberate.

When Mr Hughes returned around ten minutes later he told Bailey: "The first thing I will say is you are going home today, not through that door, but that was an option for you." Showing no emotion, Bailey replied: "Thank you, cheers."

Mr Hughes imposed a three-year order banning Bailey from regulated football matches. But he questioned why the paperwork for the order stated Bailey would not be allowed in an area of London around certain match times. Ms Twynam replied: "It means if Bristol City ever get to Wembley, which is very unlikely, he wouldn't get to go to that area." The prosecutor chuckled at this.

The magistrates sentenced Bailey to a £500 fine as well as a £200 victim services surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs. Bailey will pay at a rate of £100 a month. "We took into account the immaturity we've seen from you, and we hope that changes," Mr Hughes told him. The teen replied: "Yeah, definitely."

Mr Hughes continued: "Three years is a long time not to go to a football match and that is what you deserve. And if Bristol City do get to Wembley, you won't be going. England games, you will also not be going." He added that Bailey must surrender his passport to police when Bristol City and England have matches outside the UK.

We previously reported on how the disorder before the Championship 1-1 draw led to criticism of how police managed the Bristol City fans' travel to the stadium, which saw them go through the city centre rather than the normal route through Grangetown. The scenes also led to a debate over whether bubble restrictions should be introduced.

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Nice life sentence in the prison of banter. He wont hear the last of that!!

"Yeah definitely", sounds like he has a low IQ problem to fight against also.

I thought it was just the one off and he got caught up on the occasion but as he already had a record then some sort of punishment was on the cards.

If they are going to introduce a bubble because of this I hope it applies only to Bristol City. He is not going to be popular if he decides to return to watching the Wurzels in 3 years time. If I was in his shoes the last thing I would want to face are disgruntled Cardiff fans. What a horrible thought.

Has to smile at the Wembley comments but as a Cardiff fan I don't think I am in a position to do that atm.

Looks like someone from Grange Hill

The carrot top carrot cruncher

Leave Gingers alone, I’ve got a ginger Grandaughter and I love her just like a normal child.

Leave Gingers alone, I’ve got a ginger Grandaughter and I love her just like a normal child.

Lol both my kids are ginger

The carrot top carrot cruncher

I got bits of ginger in my stubble but slowly turning grey thank god

If he was in Harry Potter he'd be called Ron Wurzley. Exopecto Banaramus. Thick tw@t.

Football hooligan my arse!! The bristol city fans were virtually all like this on that day just teenagers.Wouldnt have lasted more than 5 mins in cardiff back in the day.

I got bits of ginger in my stubble but slowly turning grey thank god

Had a worrying bit of strawberry blonde in the beard but it’s gone full KFC logo now.
I’m assuming the can this melt threw was empty, doesn’t look like he could lift a full one.

I got bits of ginger in my stubble but slowly turning grey thank god

Had a worrying bit of strawberry blonde in the beard but it’s gone full KFC logo now.
I’m assuming the can this melt threw was empty, doesn’t look like he could lift a full one.

That’s the one strawberry blonde yeh probably empty can some people just can’t handle a day out in Cardiff

If he was in Harry Potter he'd be called Ron Wurzley. Exopecto Banaramus. Thick tw@t.

Exactly what I was thinking lmao , that’s got to be his song

Looks like someone from Grange Hill

My exact thought on first glance.

If he was in Harry Potter he'd be called Ron Wurzley. Exopecto Banaramus. Thick tw@t.

Exactly what I was thinking lmao , that’s got to be his song

Good idea, we'll have to get one going for the carrot-top carrot-crunching c@nt. We would have been able to pick him out but the lanky streak of piss got banned.