AWAY fans at tonight's Chester FC match will be given complimentary food and drink as a goodwill gesture after ugly scenes marred the previous fixture between the two sides.

Chester FC finally return to the Leap76 Stadium for the first home match in several weeks, after six consecutive games on the road, taking on Brackley Town in the National League North.

It is the first time the two sides have met since the play-off semi-final on May 7, which Brackley won 1-0.

At the conclusion of that match, a large number of supporters from the Chester ends invaded the pitch and headed in the direction of the Brackley fans, where projectiles were thrown.

A police investigation was launched and since then, several people from the Chester area have since been charged and dealt with in the courts for their part in the incident.

Among those are six defendants who are to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on February 9, 2024 for invading the pitch and affray.

Others have been handed Football Banning Orders preventing them from being at or near where Chester FC are playing matches, home or away.

Both football clubs have issued a statement ahead of Tuesday's game, which has a 7.45pm kick-off.

The statement reads: "Chester FC and Brackley Town would like to share the following joint statement ahead of tomorrow’s game at the Leap76 Stadium.

"Since our two clubs first met in 2012, we have enjoyed an excellent relationship, underpinned by competitiveness on the pitch and a warm, hospitable welcome for players, officials and supporters, both at Brackley and Chester.

"As proud community football clubs, we have shared values, and have been united in our condemnation of the disorder that occurred at the end of the play-off match in May.

"On behalf of everyone connected to Chester Football Club, the Board of Directors extends the hand of friendship to Brackley Town supporters, and look forward to what will hopefully be an entertaining game of football.

"We will provide all Brackley fans with complimentary food and drink upon entry to the stadium and we hope this enables us to continue the good relations between our clubs.

"The two Captains on the night will meet prior to kick off for a fair play handshake in a show of solidarity between the two clubs."