The Newcastle fan who punched a horse after their derby defeat to Sunderland had an excuse even Jurgen Klopp would’ve been proud of.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Toon Army member Barry Rogerson infamously squared up to West Yorkshire Police’s Shire cross ‘Bud’. Tensions had boiled over between Magpies supporters and the police after they’d been beat 3-0 by their local rivals at St James’ Park in April 2013.
Footage of Rogerson landing a right hand on the unsuspecting horse quickly went viral around the world – but he argued he was acting in self-defence, and explained his face was covered because a tooth filling had fallen out.
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Speaking to BBC News later that year, he said: “I think I went to stop it with my left hand on its neck and I’ve punched it on the nose and I was stupid.”
When asked why he’d done it, Rogerson replied: “Self-defence. I mean the horse was bolting at us. It panicked, I panicked and it was just an instant reaction.
“I wasn’t intending to hurt the horse, I mean I don’t think I did hurt the horse. But it wasn’t intent, it just happened.”
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(Image: North News & Pictures Ltd)
(Image: BBC News)
And when pressed about his scarf covering his face, he added: “Me filling dropped out and the cold air was getting in. It sounds a feeble excuse but that’s the truth.
“I’m sorry but that is the truth. It was a cold day, cold windy day and that nerve was open to the air and I just pulled the scarf up.
“It makes us look like a right thug, I agree with you. But I’m not a thug. I’ve never been involved with football hooligans or whatever and I’ve never been in trouble before.”
(Image: PA)
Rogerson later admitted in court the scarf was to conceal his identity as he plead guilty to violent disorder. He was sentenced to a year behind bars but was released after a matter of weeks, and also received a six-year football banning order.
As for Bud, who fortunately escaped unscathed from the incident, he later transferred to the Met Police before retiring in October 2019, passing away 11 months later.
He was etched in history, though, by Geordie artist Sam Wood, who painted a picture of Rogerson’s right hook and placed it up for sale for £1,100 in September 2018.
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