A FOOTBALLER has appeared in court for using threatening behaviour after he clashed with a rival player during a game at Prestwich Heys.

Stephen Smith (27), of Manchester Road, Walkden, was playing for Irlam Mitchells in a Manchester Premier Division league match at the ground off Sandgate Road, in April when the incident broke out.

Mrs Marion Nolan, prosecuting, said there was a challenge for the ball and this was followed by the defendant swearing at and abusing an opposing player.

It was a matter which had been taken up by the game's professional board and the player had been dealt with by way of a fine.

The court heard that Smith was a man of previous good character and he told the bench that he would plead guilty to swearing and nothing of a racial nature.

"We simply went up together for the ball and I caught an elbow in my face. I came down swearing. That was it," he said.

The prosecution, on checking, confirmed there was no charge relating to racially aggravated disorder and that it had been abuse on the soccer pitch.

Smith admitted an offence of using threatening and abusive words and behaviour during a soccer match.

After hearing that Smith had been punished by the league's governing body, magistrates decided to give Smith a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay £35 court costs.