Rival fans abuse football club after owners arrested
· Yahoo Sports
A football club has claimed players and fans have been subjected to verbal and online abuse after its owners were charged with sex offences.
Visit lebandit.lat for more information.
Maldon and Tiptree FC asked for "unacceptable behaviour" towards all connected with the Essex-based, seventh tier side to stop immediately.
It followed Barrie, 57, and Scott-Drewitt Barlow, 32, who bought the club in 2025, appearing in court accused of offences including rape and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The pair, of Southwood Close, Danbury, are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 5 June.
Police searched their home, the football club and The Swan pub in Braintree, which is owned by Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, on 6 May.
The couple are accused of targeting and grooming young males, with offences alleged between 2013 and 2026.
Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and his husband Scott completed a "multi-million pound" takeover of Maldon and Tiptree FC in February 2025 [Warren Muggleton/BBC]A statement from Maldon and Tiptree read: "The club expresses its sympathy towards all victims of sexual offences and recognises the seriousness and sensitivity of matters of this kind.
"At the same time, it is important to note that criminal proceedings are ongoing and the legal process must be allowed to proceed fairly and properly."
It said Barrie Drewitt-Barlow's son, Aspen, was the "sole shareholder and controlling owner" of the club and he remained "fully committed" to its future.
The club added: "Some members of staff have experienced unacceptable behaviour both online and in person, and the club respectfully asks that this behaviour ceases immediately."
The football club's home ground was renamed the Drewitt-Barlow Stadium by its owners [Stuart Woodward/BBC]The Drewitt-Barlows completed their "multi-million pound" takeover of Maldon and Tiptree and its 20-acre stadium site in February 2025.
Some of the big names they brought in included ex-West Ham United and Ipswich Town striker Freddie Sears and former Manchester City player Kevin Horlock as manager.
The side was promoted to the Isthmian Premier Division, which is step three of the English football pyramid, in the 2025-26 season.
Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.