A Hanham man has admitted affray after a group of Bristol City fans clashed with Leeds United supporters in a city centre pub.

Dean Ford, of Harolds Way, pleaded guilty to the charge on the basis the fracas was not football-related and he was no football hooligan, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The 23-year-old was given bail and will be sentenced later. He was told that all options, including a jail sentence, would be open to the judge.

However, he was not banned from watching matches at Ashton Gate.

Mark Humphries, prosecuting, said the incident happened on March 7 at the Bunch of Grapes in Denmark Street.

He told the court a group of five Leeds supporters were drinking in the bar without a problem, when 25 to 30 City supporters returning from an away game arrived for a drink.

Mr Humphries said: "There was a fight in which Bristol supporters attacked the Leeds supporters.

"That is on CCTV, and it was broken up by staff in the pub.

"The allegation is the Bristol supporters knew that the five Leeds supporters were Leeds supporters.

"The Crown says this was football- related violence."

Matthew Comer, defending Ford, said the fight had not broken out because of football. It was simply an incident after a football match," he said. "He had seen Bristol City in Derby, gone to the pub and a fight broke out.

"It was not motivated by football.

"Mr Ford says he is not a football hooligan; he is a Bristol City fan. He would like to watch Bristol City."

However Mr Humphries said the Crown's case remained that the incident was football-related because of evidence from a barman who said that when members of the Leeds group identified themselves there was a cry of "We are ****ing City!" before the two-minute ruckus.

He said a head butt, glass throwing and punches were all captured on CCTV and the City fans were thrown out of the pub.

Judge Neil Ford QC was satisfied there was no need for Ford to be banned from attending Ashton Gate to watch football, because he viewed that a "step too far".

Benjamin Curry, 24, pleaded not guilty to affray and was bailed pending a trial.

Five other men have been charged with using or threatening unlawful violence in the same incident and are due to appear at Bristol Crown Court for a plea hearing on October 26.