A FOOTBALL fan has been banned from matches after running onto the pitch during a Huddersfield Town game.

Gerrard Foy, 43, appeared before Kirklees magistrates yesterday.

The Bolton Wanderers fan admitted climbing onto the pitch after his team scored a goal at the match earlier this month.

He had been at the John Smith’s Stadium on December 8 to watch the championship clash, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Linda Fowler, prosecuting, said that a number of police on patrol in the stadium were watching the crowd.

The prosecutor said that at 4.30pm Bolton scored a goal.

This resulted in a crowd of supporters in the South Stand surging forwards.

Some climbed over the barrier and they included Foy, of Brazley Avenue in Bolton.

Mrs Fowler said: “Officers saw one of these males, the defendant, raise his hands and cheer.

“He then climbed over the advertising barriers and onto the grassed playing area.

“The defendant went into the area, faced the crowd and raised hands in the air and gestured towards the crowd.”

Magistrates were told that officers restrained Foy and arrested him.

In mitigation Paul Blanchard described Foy as a lifelong supporter who, together with members of his family, held a season ticket for the Bolton club’s matches.

He said: “It’s accepted that no football fan should be allowed on the football pitch, but from time to time emotions at matches get the better of us.

“Mr Foy was in a joyous mood, his team was in the championship and had scored a goal.

“When Huddersfield Town went up into the championship, thousands of people went onto the pitch.

“To have banned all these thousands of people would have been ridiculous – Huddersfield town would have been empty every Saturday”.

Foy, who had no previous convictions, earlier told magistrates that his family found out about his behaviour through posts made on Facebook.

He said: “I’ve got no defence for what I did. It was a moment of madness and I didn’t realise other people went onto the pitch.”

Chairman of the bench Barry Bedford told Foy that the fact that he stormed the pitch during the game and not after it made a difference.

Magistrates banned Foy from attending away matches for three years.

They also ordered him to pay a £200 fine, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.