Football thugs in attack on whole team

A former West Bromwich Albion youth player beat up every member of an opposition team, some as young as 16-years-old, after a six-a-side game in the Black Country, a court was told.

Christopher Turner from Tipton punched and kicked the players following the league game at Coseley Leisure Centre in January.

Turner, who played for the Baggies at the age of 13 and also Glasgow Rangers when he was 18, was joined by team mate Niall Hall-Bunce, also from Tipton, in the unprovoked attack.

Both men appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday, where they avoided an immediate jail term.

District Judge Graham Wilkinson told the pair they had "disgraced a gentleman's game."

The court heard how the two 20-year-olds were aggressive throughout the game and the referee described them as "hostile."

Turner, of St Marks Road, pleaded guilty to six charges of assault, while Hall-Bunce, of Batmans Hill Road, admitted two charges of assault.

Mr Raz Mann, defending, told the court the game which preceded the attack was full of "heavy tackles" and "banter". He added that their behaviour had been "completely out of character."

Judge Wilkinson told the pair the only reason they were not being sent straight to jail was due to their previous good characters.

"Both of you acted disgracefully," he said.

"You have disgraced the game, a gentleman's game."

Turner was given a 10-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.

Hall-Bunce was handed an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

They were ordered to pay £310 costs each and pay £50 to each of their victims. Both were also banned from taking part in organised football matches for six months.