FOOTBALL fans of a non-league side have been slammed online after posing for a picture with one of their flags, which features the face of notorious murderer Raoul Moat.
Darlington FC fans were making the short journey to play South Shields in the Vanarama National League North on Saturday when the flag made an appearance.
The group of supporters stood in an alley next to Mile End Road in South Shields, Tyne and Wear outside of Hogarths pub before unveiling their two flags and posing proudly.
Images show more than a dozen fans holding the two flags, with both banners modelled on the St George’s Cross but with a black cross instead of red.
On one flag, the inside of the cross has the word Darlington in capital letters with the club emblem on the top left and the England crest on the bottom left.
The railway sign sits in the bottom right of the flag with the initials F8 completing the first flag that most of the fans surround themselves with.
However, the supporters’ second flag is much more provocative with the club’s emblem placed in the middle.
Once more the England badge is also featured however this flag bears a message to local police officers reading: “F**k Durham Constabulary.”
The face of Moat, who killed his ex-partner’s boyfriend Chris Brown in July 2010 after being told he was a member of the police, sits in the top right corner of the image.
Former convict Moat would then go on to target police anonymously, shooting and blinding PC David Rathband as he sat in a police vehicle off a roundabout of the A1 near East Denton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
This led to one of the longest modern-day manhunts in British history, which ended in Moat taking his own life after a six-hour standoff with police, seven days after killing Chris Brown.
The controversial picture of the flags was shared to social media last week with the caption: “Darlo away in South Shields yesterday.”
The post received 618 likes with dozens of comments from football fans who were quick to offer their views on the vile flag.
One said: “Raoul Moat on their flag? Vile that.”
Another added: “Embarrassing for the club.”
A third wrote: “Absolute weapons, bet they’ll love the northern prem.”
Another commented: “Jesus wept, Raoul Moat on your flag?”
A fifth replied: “What a bunch of embarrassments.”
Darlington won 4-0 against South Shields but still sit seven points from safety with 14 games left to salvage their season.
Darlington FC offered no comment on this story.
