A PROMISING Worcester City footballer has been jailed for a bottle attack after a nightclub dispute – over Soccer.

Bradley Birch followed James Ryan from Tramps in the early hours and hit him in the face with the weapon causing a cut above an eye which needed six stitches.

While the bleeding victim lay helpless in the street, he was kicked to the back of the head by Luke Pearce, Worcester Crown Court was told yesterday.

Earlier, an argument had broken out in the club “over football” between rival groups of friends which was calmed down by door staff, said Andrew Molloy, prosecuting.

Birch’s defence counsel Sophie Lomas said: “He had a promising football career ahead of him but has put that in real jeopardy.

“He stands to lose everything by going into custody.”

Sentencing 19-year-old Birch, of Armstrong Drive, Diglis, Worcester, to two years detention, Recorder Geoffrey Kelly told him that an assault with a beer bottle was a very serious offence and that it would not be tolerated.

He accepted that Birch was performing well on the football pitch and was deeply loved by his family.

But he said both defendant and victim were lucky that the injury was not more serious. He gave Pearce, also 19, of Hemsby Close, off Bath Road, Worcester, 26 weeks custody, suspended for two years, 150 hours of unpaid community work, a three-month overnight curfew and ordered him to pay Mr Ryan £500 compensation.

Pearce wept in the dock as the recorder said he found it difficult to believe that anyone could launch a kick against a victim lying defenceless on the ground.

Mr Molloy said trouble flared a second time outside the club after the initial incident on February 15 last year, and again staff resolved the situation.

But as Mr Ryan walked home in Broad Street at 3am, his friends began running away as they saw Birch approaching, armed with the bottle.

Birch, who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, claimed to police he had the bottle for self defence. Pearce, who admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, alleged he had his ear bitten and was only fighting back.

Miss Lomas said Birch – who only had a motoring conviction on his record – was fearful of being locked up and was remorseful for the victim. She said: “He’s young and naive and struggles to fully comprehend his behaviour.”

Although Birch was on the books of the city club, he had never played for the first team in a match.

Pearce, a college student and dairy worker, had succumbed “to a moment of madness,” said his barrister Sioban Collins.

He had just completed a foundation degree course in leisure and tourism and had no previous convictions.

Miss Collins said: “This will have a very great impact on his life. He had lost his good character and brought shame on his family.”