A LIFELONG football fan has escaped a banning order after he shouted racist abuse at an Accrington Stanley home game.

Blackburn magistrates heard Peter Holden called Wigan Athletic’s Republic of Ireland winger an “Irish txxt” during there League One clash in September.

He was heard by a police officer, ejected from the ground and subsequently charged with racial chanting at a designated football match.

But after hearing details of his 50 years as a football spectator the magistrates decided not to impose a blanket ban which would have been for a minimum of three years.

“We believe this was an isolated incident and there is no risk of violence or disorder in future,” said the bench chairman.

Holden, 61, of Limefield Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to racial chanting at the Wham Stadium. He was fined £233 with £85 costs.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said a police officer heard Holden repeatedly chanting England and then make the comment towards Joseph McClean.

Mrs Mann added: “This is the kind of offence that will attract media attention and we should show that something is being done about this kind of behaviour. Where a person is convicted of a relevant offence you must make a banning order unless you believe it is not necessary to prevent violence or disorder in future.”

Mrs Mann said Holden had been banned from the Wham Stadium by Accrington Stanley.

Gareth Price, defending, said the club ban was in force until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings when Stanley would review it. Holden had written to Accrington Stanley and apologised. In his letter he said he had no excuse for his “atrocious” behaviour.

“I wish to apologise to all concerned, in particular the footballer who my comment was directed towards,” he said.

Mr Price said he hoped to persuade the magistrates that his client did not need to be banned.

“He is a lover of football rather than a follower of a particular team and still finds t difficult to explain the words that he used,” said Mr Price.

He told the court his client’s first game was in October 1969 and four years later he secured a Blackburn Rovers season ticket, which he had renewed until lockdown. Holden estimates he has been go 3,000 football matches and never been in trouble before.

Holden had been been at the game after a family trip to Edinburgh was cancelled due to illness, said Mr Price, and had been drinking, which he did not normally do “and it got the better of him”.