TWO footballers from King’s Lynn Town have denied involvement in alleged racist incidents during the club’s top-of-the-table clash with St Neots Town.

TWO footballers from King’s Lynn Town have denied involvement in alleged racist incidents during the club’s top-of-the-table clash with St Neots Town.

Midfielders Luke Thurlbourne and Kieran Doherty were last week charged by Norfolk County FA over allegations relating to St Neots’s 4-2 win in King’s Lynn on April 16, a result that effectively sealed the UCL Premier Division title for St Neots.

King’s Lynn Town said it had requested a personal FA hearing over the charges.

St Neots Town chairman Mike Kearns said the charges related to alleged racist abuse directed at St Neots players during the match, but that the club had kept its silence until the county FA had taken action.

He said: “During the game I complained to UCL officials, and to King’s Lynn, but there was not a lot they could do about it.

“I don’t like racism in any walk of life, and it should not go on on the pitch. We were very upset, and for a lot of our players it spoiled the day.”

Mr Kearns said that the two players allegedly abused were striker Stefan Moore, the scorer of the game’s opening goal, who was substituted shortly after half time, and winger Dan Jacob, who scored two second-half goals.

King’s Lynn Town officials released a statement after Norfolk County FA confirmed the club had been charged with one count of breaching FA rule E20 and two individual players had been charged with breaching FA rule E3.

It read: “King’s Lynn has unfortunately had two allegations of racism lodged against two of its players, Kieran Doherty and Luke Thurlbourne.

“The alleged incidents took place in the home game against St Neots, and the club sincerely hopes these allegations are not true, especially as we have always instructed our players to act in a fair and professional manner.

“At this time the club will stand by the two players, who are pleading innocent, but if the allegations are judged to be true and correct at a personal hearing with the FA then the club will take the necessary action.”