A football fan says he ran onto the pitch at Ashton Gate in April because it was “unusual” for his team to score.
Derby County supporter Jamie Shelton sprinted onto the pitch of the Bristol City stadium with a fellow fan when his side scored their second goal in a 2-0 win on April 27.
Shelton, 21, said: “I planned it with him. I said: ‘If we score, I am on the pitch.’”
District Judge Lynne Matthews asked: “Is it unusual for them to score then?”
The defendant nodded and replied: “At times like that it was.”
The court heard that Derby had scored their second goal directly in front of the away stand.
“The defendant went to the front of the stand, jumping up and down, celebrating with another fan,” the district judge said.
Representing himself, Shelton said: “It’s been a tough time for me. It was an overspill of emotions.”
District Judge Matthews asked: “For once there was a happy emotion?”
He replied: “Yes, for the first time in a long time.”
She told him: “We are very sensitive in Bristol about people running onto the pitch. We have a lot of problems with that.”
The defendant was ordered to pay £315.
Derby scored 69 goals last season as they narrowly missed out on promotion.
