A WANDERERS fan who was caught trying to smuggle a firework into a football stadium has been banned from attending matches for four years.

Wigan magistrates heard how 47-year-old Steven Green, of Gladstone Close, Bolton, tried to enter Griffin Park, Brentford FC's ground, in Hounslow, London, with the firework on January 13.

Wanderers were playing an away game at the ground, which they lost 2 - 0.

In court Green pleaded guilty to committing the offence and, in addition to the match ban, he was ordered to undertake 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £170 in costs and charges.

At the time of the offence Green was already subject to a suspended prison sentence for breaching a restraining order.

Following the banning order being imposed, a spokesman for Bolton Wanderers said: “We fully welcome and endorse the action taken by the court in relation to this matter. Using pyrotechnics/flares inside sporting stadia not only spoils the enjoyment for families in attendance, but also poses significant concerns from a health and safety point of view.

“We operate a zero tolerance approach to pyrotechnics/flares being brought into Macron Stadium and will not hesitate to take the appropriate action.”