A FOOTBALL hooligan and convicted murderer faces jail -- for taking his sons to the Blackburn versus Burnley game.

Norman 'Knuckles' Glyn Jones, the first man in England to be jailed for breaching a football banning order, was described as an "extremely violent" man when he appeared before Blackburn magistrates.

But the court was told the martial arts expert and former leader of the notorious Burnley Suicide Squad attended the FA Cup replay at Ewood Park with his stepsons, thinking his ban was now over.

Jones, of Earl Street, Colne, a ju-jitsu black belt sixth dan, was jailed for "20 years to life" in America after killing a man who pulled a knife on him in a New York nightclub.

He served 15 years of the sentence, including five in San Quentin and five in Sing Sing prisons, before being deported back to the UK in 2001.

He pleaded guilty to breaching a football banning order imposed in March 2002 for three years. He was remanded on bail until April 4 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and the magistrates said they were considering a custodial sentence.

After the hearing Jones, 54, said: "I was wrong by three weeks and they are talking about sending me to prison.

"I have done time in tougher places than Preston Prison and that doesn't bother me, but I was with my lads, aged 14 and nine, in the family enclosure and was not involved in any trouble.

"The police officer who saw me asked me to go to the police station the next day and that is what I did. I told him that if he arrested me there and then my boys in the Burnley end would kick off and he agreed.

I admit I have been the lad, the leader of the Burnley Suicide Squad, but I am 54 now and I've accepted it has got to stop. This was a simple mistake."

Scott Ainge, prosecuting, said Jones had been spotted by a police officer who pointed out that he was in breach of the order. Arrangements were made for him to surrender at the police station the following day.

"He was at the game with two children and the officers quite properly took the view it wouldn't be right to arrest him at that time," said Mr Ainge.

He said Jones had been jailed for two breaches of the order in April 2003, adding: "This is the third breach and he is obviously aware of the potential consequences.

"The view of the police is this man is heavily involved in organised football violence. He runs a ju-jitsu club and has a conviction in America which resulted in a lengthy sentence.

"He is clearly a very violent individual and you may feel he is the kind of person who should not be going to football matches."

David Leach, defending, said Jones had not been involved in any violence on the three occasions when he had breached the order.