A PUB soccer team has folded despite winning its appeal to be reinstated to a Sunday football league.

The Boars Head was booted out of the Bury and District Sunday Football League (BDSFL) following violence and an incident of racism among their fans after a cup match at Hillock Playing Fields in Whitefield on April 13.

It was alleged a number of their supporters armed themselves with pickaxes and spades at the end of a game against the Dragon, based in Unsworth.

Club officials took their fight to the Lancashire Football Association (LFA) which ruled the Boars should have been suspended as dictated by existing rules rather than kicked out of the league.

LFA Chairman John Holt said the appeal found in the club's favour on a technicality as the rule used by the league allowed only for "a team to be suspended but not removed from the league".

Despite the favourable decision, the three Bury men behind the team, Roy Woodall, Mick Gallagher and secretary Steve Wheatley, have decided to disband the club.

Secretary Mr Wheatley said: "This whole process has ruined our enthusiasm to carry on. Despite consistently condemning the appalling events of that night we have been unfairly treated by the BDSFL.

"We have been prevented from finishing our season and enjoying the potential of further extending our outstanding 100 per cent winning record."

Adrian Powell, from the BDSFL, said: "The appeal committee did want to confirm their support for our stance against racism and violence which is not to be tolerated at any level of the game."