Philip Holmes (48), of Avondale Road, was bound over in the sum of £200 for 12 months after admitting the offence.

He was one of eight defendants appearing before the court following trouble at the Clarets v Blackpool match.

The court had heard most of the eight, half of them middle-aged, were on state hand-outs, with two receiving incapacity benefits – and a district judge hit out at the fact they could travel to away matches and get drunk at the taxpayers' expense.

District Judge Peter Ward gave Simon Massey, who police say was the ringleader, a four-year ban and imposed three-year orders on Paul Christopher Higginson and Jonathan Champkin.

Massey (44), of Fern Road, Champkin (26), of Leyland Road, both Burnley, and Higginson (34), of Shakespeare Street, Padiham, all admitted using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour surrounding the match on March 3rd at Blackpool.

The trio, who all have criminal records, were each fined £200 with £50 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The hearing was told Massey, a former catering worker, had travelled around the country being involved in football violence. He was banned from Turf Moor for life in 1990.

Gary Chippendale (50), of Hollingreave Road, Anthony Harrison (53), of Townley Street, Briercliffe, Eric Bernard Kelly (31), of Parliament Street, Benjamin William Pate (24), of Garswood Close, all Burnley, also admitted breaching the peace and were bound over.

District Judge Ward told Massey, Champkin and Higginson: "I think you ought to realise football violence causes enormous trouble to a lot of people. It disfigures the game. It's amazing people like you find any kind of pleasure in this kind of thing."

Mr Brett Gerrity (prosecuting) had told the court Massey, Higginson and Champkin were hooligans and had the police not intervened, there might have been a confrontation with rival supporters.

He said all three had been near the turnstile at the Blackpool ground and rather than go into the match were seen to go towards the home supporters.

Massey was seen bouncing up and down on his toes with his arms in the air in a threatening manner towards Blackpool fans. Champkin was with him, shouting: "Come on, come on" and Higginson had previously been seen to be threatening in the escort to the game.

The prosecutor added Higginson had previous convictions for disorder and Champkin had served a prison term for affray.