FOUR football hooligans have been handed banning orders after a mass brawl broke out in Bolton town centre between rival fans.

CCTV captured shocking scenes as around 30 supporters from Bolton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town fought on Church Bank ahead of a December 2019 match.

One man was kicked in the head and left unconscious for several minutes. Two attackers involved were also found to have taken part in other Wanderers hooliganism incidents.

At Bolton Crown Court, Joe Boyd, prosecuting, said Callum Naylor, 20, of Booth Road, Little Lever, Kieran Briscoe, 36, of Greenroyd Avenue, Bolton, James Malik, 22, of Moores Lane, Standish, and Lewis Proudfoot, 28, of Elder Close, Tottington, were part of a group of fans drinking in Hogarth’s on Churchgate when trouble broke out.

CCTV footage showed around 30 fans fighting, throwing bottles and smoke bombs before punches and kicks were exchanged.

Mr Boyd said: “During a review of the footage an elderly man could be seen trapped between the two groups and having to walk through while they were fighting and covering his face to protect himself.”

Proudfoot could be seen twice kicking a man on the floor while Briscoe was observed punching a man in the head.

Mr Boyd said Briscoe had pleaded guilty to affray following a fight between fans in Lincoln in October 2019 after Lincoln City FC’s fixture with Bolton Wanderers had been postponed. Malik, also charged with affray following the Lincoln incident, could be seen throwing several punches.

Naylor was seen throwing a punch at a Shrewsbury fan before kicking another and throwing a bottle at them as they ran off.

The court heard in October 2019 Naylor was also involved in a fight between supporters at Bolton Bus Interchange after a game between Bolton and Rochdale.

Defending Proudfoot, Richard Dawson, said his client, a service technician, had been struck by a missile and had “lost self-control”.

Rachel Faux, defending Briscoe, a self-employed roofer and father-of-five, said he was “utterly ashamed” while Michael Johnson, defending Malik, said his client had displayed “despicable conduct that was hard to understand”.

Richard Vardon, defending Naylor, an ex-soldier, said his client was “living a different life” at the time of the offences.

“It was a spontaneous outbreak of thuggish behaviour,” added Mr Vardon.

All four men pleaded guilty to affray and Judge Martin Walsh said: “This was thuggish and loutish behaviour which would have been terrifying for any innocent member of the public who was present.

“The public are sick and tired of those who would pretend to support a football team. The team who you profess to support would no doubt wish to disassociate themselves from you and your conduct. Your so-called support is unwanted.”

Naylor was handed a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years, with the others receiving 12 month sentences, also suspended for two years.

Each man will be the subject of football banning orders for four years, will pay costs of £350 and do 180 hours of unpaid work.