A REFEREE and football coach sat with his grandchildren at Turf Moor hurled racial abuse at opposition Wigan players.

An ongoing tirade of abuse, with repeated use of the 'n-word', prompted supporters sat behind Jack Aldis to report him to Burnley FC security officials, the town's crown court was told.

And when club officials tracked down the 71-year-old, who had been sat in the James Hargreaves Stand, he was reported to police.

Aldis was convicted of using racially-aggravated threatening words or behaviour by Burnley magistrates last December but appealed his case to the crown court.

Barrister Peter Gilmour said the incident was alleged to have occurred when Burnley played Wigan, the game which secured the home side's promotion to the Premier League in April 2014.

Paul Mulderigg was at the game with his sons Thomas and Chauncey (corr) when they heard a supporter in front of them call the Wigan goalkeeper, Ali Al-Habsi, a 'tree-swinger'.

Later the same man was heard to remark that a black player 'had got no balls' after he was hit in the groin with the ball during the game. The trio also heard repeated use of the 'n-word'.

Mr Gilmour said: "All three of the witnesses identified Jack Aldis as being the person responsible for the abuse."

The court heard the family contacted Cliff Edens, the ground's safety officer, to report the behaviour.

He found tickets for the seats had been sold to Kevin Law, who confirmed that Aldis and members of his family had been sat in them.

Video identification parades were held and Paul and Chauncey Mulderigg picked out Aldis as the culprit. Thomas Mulderigg said he was 85 to 90 per certain it was Aldis.

Mr Law, who attended court to give evidence in support of Aldis, of Waybourne Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, said: "If Jack had been shouting anything then I am very sure I would have heard it."

Aldis, who represented himself in court, said that while he admitted being at the game, he was adamant he had not used racist abuse at any time.

He told the court: "The question to me is why didn't these people go and see a steward? That is my main bone of contention. I would expect them to go and see someone.

"On that particular day there were around 200 to 250 extra stewards because of the importance of the game."

Later he added: "I have got my grandchildren with me. I love my grandkids and I wouldn't do anything like this. I have been supporting Burnley for 64 years and never had any problems, or been pulled up for doing anything wrong."

Recorder Andrew Long, sitting with magistrates, rejected his appeal against conviction. Aldis was fined £110 with £110 costs for the original offence. He must now pay the extra £200 cost of the appeal.

Mr Gilmour told the court that no football banning order had been imposed on Aldis, who was a qualified referee and football coach. The football club were 'taking steps' to formulate their own ban, the hearing was told.

Lancashire FA refereeing official Eddie Wolstenholme said that if a referee had a racism conviction then his registration would almost inevitably be suspended and reviewed.