A SEDGLEY teenager has been banned from football matches after running onto the Wolves' pitch to goad rival supporters.

John Shaw was seen shouting "Come on then" to the Rotherham United fans during the League One game at Molineux in February which Wolves won 6-4.

The 18-year-old, of Wolverhampton Road, admitted using threatening words with intent to provoke violence and was given a six month conditional discharge.

Alan Penduck, chair of Wolverhampton Magistrates, banned Shaw from attending all matches in the country for three years and also ordered him to pay £85 costs after telling him his actions were “plain stupidity”.

Roger Blezzard, prosecuting, said Shaw ran along the touchline swearing and gesturing to the opposing fans.

Mr Blezzard said the season ticket holder, who was also barred from travelling on a train three hours before and after a football match for three years, was responsible for behaviour that was likely to "cause some sort of disorder”.

Simon Hanns, for Shaw, said: "In the heat of the moment football fans do very strange things. He accepts he rather stupidly got in with the wrong crowd.

"He knows that what he did was naive, foolish and stupid and that is from the horse's mouth. His behaviour could have caused more disorder but luckily it did not. What he has done since is to show great remorse for his actions."

The court was told Shaw, a trainee quantity surveyor, went to police afterwards to express his shame at what he did and he invited the banning order.

Mr Hanns concluded: "For the next three years he will not be going to Wolves games and that will be a huge blow to him.”