# Five men deny charges over hearse driven onto Dunston pitch

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/five-men-to-face-trial-next-year-after-hearse-driven-onto-football-pitch-in-stunt-linked-to-organised-crime/
- Published: 2026-10-23T17:19:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:32:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16233947/Five-men-face-trial-year-HEARSE-driven-football-pitch-stunt-linked-organised-crime.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- Five men deny charges linked to a 2023 football pitch incident.
- A hearse and Subaru drove onto the pitch at half-time.
- The four-week trial is scheduled to start next November.

## Summary

Five men have pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an investigation into a hearse driven onto a football pitch in Dunston during a 2023 match. The case also concerns alleged threats, property damage and vehicle theft, and one defendant faces a charge of participating in an organised crime group.

At half-time of a pre-season friendly between Dunston UTS and Gateshead on 21 July 2023, a Subaru and a hearse reportedly performed “donuts” on the pitch. Masked men left leaflets containing allegations about two people before fleeing in the Subaru; the match was abandoned. A four-week trial is due to begin at Newcastle Crown Court on 1 November next year.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.