A FOOTBALLER has been awarded hundreds of pounds in compensation after being attacked as he left a stadium with his Westfields colleagues.

Richard Kear stopped playing for the Hereford side and had to drop to a lower level because of the fractured cheekbone sustained in the assault.

Warwick Crown Court heard last week that Mr Kear was in hospital for almost a week and – two years after the attack – part of his face remains numb.

Anthony Robinson, Loyiso Recci and Melvin Gourlay all admitted one charge of affray in relation to the assault.

The court heard the trio were playing for Stratford Town when they were beaten 2-0 by Westfields in April, 2013.

As the players left the pitch at half-time, an incident took place in the tunnel when Robinson was sent off for headbutting Mr Kear.

Rupert Jones, prosecuting, said that when a group of Westfields players left the Stratford stadium they were approached by Recci who, “completely unprovoked”, punched Mr Kear in the face.

That led to a scuffle before Recci ran back inside and shouted to his team-mates to come outside, and several did so, including the other two defendants.

“Loyiso Recci was seen to be bobbing from one foot to another, full of aggression, and threw a punch at Mr Kear,” added Mr Jones.

“Anthony Robinson then punched him to his face, and one of his team-mates says he heard a cracking noise.”

Having landed the blow, which knocked Mr Kear to the ground, Robinson commented “I told you I’d do him”.

Following the attack Mr Kear was helped up by his team-mates before being taken by ambulance to hospital where he was found to have a compound fracture to his cheekbone and underwent an operation to have titanium plate inserted to repair the damage.

Mr Jones pointed out that as a result of his injury Mr Kear says he “has been forced to drop levels and drop from earning a good living to having to play for free”.

The court heard that Recci, 24, of Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, was subject to a suspended sentence for an offence of burglary at the time while Robinson, 35 of Deritend, Birmingham, had convictions for 15 offences including assault, common assault and assaulting a police officer.

Judge Alan Parker sentenced Robinson and Recci to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered each to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Gourlay, 32, of Bordesley Green, Birmingham, who did not use any actual violence, was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work under a 12-month community sentence.

The judge also ordered the three to pay £400 in costs and £746 compensation each to Mr Kear.

He added: “This was a shameful performance. You brought nothing but discredit on yourselves, the game of football and the club you played for.

“I don’t suppose you’re thoroughly ashamed of yourselves, but you ought to be.”

The court heard that Birmingham County FA is to consider what action to take against the trio once they know the outcome of the court case.