A FOOTBALLER was left permanently disfigured after an on-pitch feud exploded into violence, a court heard.

Tempers flared as Fishponds Old Boys B team took on Lawrence Weston Reserves in Downend in March, Bristol Crown Court was told.

In a toe-to-toe confrontation some 20 minutes into the second half, Lawrence Weston striker Paul Walker head-butted Fishponds defender Daniel Thomas in the face, knocking out one of his front teeth.

Yesterday Walker was ordered to pay his victim, who now needs a false tooth, £1,000 in compensation.

He was also handed a four-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid community work over the next year.

The 42-year-old, of Barrowmead Drive, Lawrence Weston, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

As he left court, Mr Walker told the Post: "I do regret what I did and I'm extremely relieved about the sentence – for one minute I thought I was not going to be here.

"It was in the heat of the game, it was a passionate game, I rose to the bait and, in hindsight, it was the wrong thing to do."

Mark Hollier, prosecuting, told the court that during the match, at the King George V playing field, Walker and Mr Thomas were "constantly up against one another in a rather niggly game".

"There was hard tackling between the two and the referee, Gary Brimble, spoke to both," said Mr Hollier.

"In the second half, 20 minutes in, our case is that, following another altercation, Walker lost his temper and head-butted Mr Thomas in the face, causing the loss of his front tooth."

When interviewed, Walker gave the impression Mr Thomas had attempted to head-butt him and he had retaliated, Mr Hollier said.

Mr Thomas had conceded there was a point when the two of them had their foreheads close to each other, the court heard.

The incident was witnessed by the referee, who made a report to Gloucestershire Football Association.

Mr Thomas was taken to Frenchay Hospital for emergency treatment, and the next day was further treated by his dentist, receiving root canal work.

Fergus Currie, defending, said that Walker was remorseful.

He said Walker had seriously considered trying to find an e-mail or contact number for his victim, as he wanted to apologise.

Mr Currie said his client recognised the injury had affected his victim's smile, causing him a very visible disfigurement. The court heard the incident was out of character for Walker, who had not been in any sort of trouble for a decade. Mr Currie added that, due to the credit crunch, Walker was told he could be laid off work within the next few weeks. He accepted, however, that he would be liable to pay compensation.

Passing sentence, recorder David Lane, QC, told Walker: "During a football match, you head-butted a member of the opposite team, breaking at least one tooth.

"He had to have extensive treatment in hospital, and further treatment.

"He will have to wear a false tooth for the test of his life, in addition to the pain and suffering."