A PRESTON North End fan who 'glassed' another man in a Merseyside pub following the club's FA Cup tie with Everton, has been banned from all football matches for two years.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Roger Waddington brought a pint glass down on the head of Ian Steele.

The glass smashed and left the victim with three cuts to his head -- including one to the forehead which needed stitches.

Waddington, 37, of New Rough Hey, Ingol, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual body harm and was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.

Judge Gerald Clifton told him that had the injuries to Mr Steele been worse or if he had broken the glass before hitting him with it, he would have been sent to jail.

He added that it was accepted that the offence came under the 1989 Football Spectators Act and the two-year restriction order would require Waddington to report to Preston Police Station on the day of any designated football matches.

Miss Ruth Howe, prosecuting, said that Waddington had travelled to Liverpool with friends on Saturday, January 29, this year to watch the game.

Afterwards, he went to the Stanley public house where he was asked to leave by staff. He ended up in the Florin and Firkin in Lime Street, Liverpool city centre, where Mr Steele was asked to leave because he had been arguing inside, probably about football.

Miss Howe added that Mr Steele went back into the pub and tussled with someone, not Waddington, who walked over and struck the victim on the head with a pint glass which shattered.

Mr Steele sustained three small cuts to the head and left side of his face, near his ear and eye.

Waddington walked out of the pub and into nearby Lime Street station where he was detained by police as he and others were boarding a Wigan-bound train, and was pointed out by the pub manager. When interviewed, Waddington said he couldn't remember much about the incident and couldn't believe he would have done it, added Miss Howe.

Mr John Gibson, defending, said that although on this occasion Waddington had not been able to behave properly when drinking, testimonials showed that on other occasions he had been able to act properly.