A MAN who was shoved in the face by Manchester City footballer Craig Bellamy after running on to the pitch at Old Trafford has been banned from attending football matches for three years.

Jake Clarke, 21, a Manchester United fan from Chorley, admitted entering the playing area during his team's 4-3 victory over City.

Bellamy confronted Clarke after the solo pitch invasion, which came at the end of a highly charged game on September 20.

The bricklayer, who had to be restrained by four stewards, told officers he 'got overexcited' and 'just wanted to celebrate with the players' after Michael Owen scored a last-gasp winner.

Clarke, who has previous convictions for cannabis possession and common assault, told Trafford Magistrates' Court that he 'deeply regrets' his behaviour.

He said: "I'm gutted about what I have done. I know it was a stupid action. I just wanted to celebrate."

The court heard Clarke was leaving the ground when Owen scored deep into injury time, and the fan was pushed towards the pitch before he decided to enter it.

Steve Woodman, prosecuting, showed CCTV footage of the incident, and said that Manchester United are considering imposing their own ban on Clarke. City could have equalised if it had not been for Clarke, Mr Woodman suggested.

Ian Huggan, defending, said that football is a large part of Clarke's life and he attends around 40 games a season. He asked the court not to impose a ban on his client, saying: "Is it right that this defendant is made subject to a banning order when the player who took the action is just given a warning?"

But Anne Marie Evans, chair of the magistrates' bench, decided to ban Clarke from all football matches for three years, and imposed a fine of £305.