Ugly scene mars five-a side match

Dec 10 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

A FIVE-A-SIDE football player rushed over and punched an opponent whom he thought was going to attack his father, a court heard this week.

Andrew Watterson and his father were in a Lever Brothers team playing a team also comprising workers from the firm and friends and relatives.

Normally the matches are friendly but this particular game on March 9 was unusually competitive, said Rob Jones, prosecuting at Liverpool Crown Court.

The court heard that the victim, Andrew McAllister, and his brother, Jonathan, were in the opposing team at the match at the Byrne Road sports centre in Rock Ferry that Sunday.

Because of incidents during the game, Jonathan McAllister wanted to stop as he feared someone was going to get hurt but was persuaded to continue.

Ten minutes before the end of the game, Watterson’s 53-year-old father was heavily tackled and Watterson ran over and punched Andrew McAllister on the right side of the face.

At Arrowe Park Hospital it was found that he had suffered a fractured cheek bone and needed surgery.

Watterson, 31, of Speedwell Road, Birkenhead, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge David Aubrey QC ordered Watterson to carry out 200’ hours unpaid work and placed him under supervision for 12 months.