Two men have been convicted of leaving a football fan a bloody, injured mess after he called one of their sons a cheat.

William Rees, 46, from Chigwell, Essex, and Garry Gordon, 48, of Hainault, Essex, head-butted and punched Walton and Hersham Football Club (WHFC) fan Neil Harding towards the end of a game against Brentwood Town.

Both were found guilty at North Surrey Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, October 10, of common assault.

Rees head-butted Mr Harding after he shouted an abusive comment at his son Robbie, 19, who was playing for Brentwood.

Rees approached Mr Harding after hearing the comments. He admitted he may have sworn but said he did not deliberately head-butt him.

He said: “I did get quite close to him and before I knew it, everybody was pushing and shoving and pulling me away. It all happened quite quickly. I don’t remember if we actually contacted there. I can’t remember touching him.”

Richard Reid, prosecuting, said: “Neil has shouted at your son and I am going to suggest there was nothing else that was said. He had shouted abuse at number 11 but he didn’t know it was your son.

“Understandably you were upset by this. We have accepted you were upset by what was said.”

Rees said: “This seemed a bit more than just jest and seemed like it was meant. It weren’t the first time he did it and as the time went on it was getting more mean and vicious.”

Robbie said he clearly remembered someone shouting “break your legs” and heard swear words “multiple times”.

Gordon, Rees and his son all said racist abuse was shouted near the end of second half.

During the game, supporters shouted “I’m going to cut your throat and break your legs” to Rees’s son after he was fouled, Gordon said.

Shortly before the end of the match, Mr Harding left the area on advice of other fans, but was punched in the back of the head and knocked unconscious by Gordon, who claimed he was scared Mr Harding was going to use a knife on his friend.

Magistrate Chris Wilson said the bench needed to be “satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt” with the evidence.

Mr Wilson said: “With Mr Rees, we believe all three witnesses were believable and corroborate, in particular Mr Stuart, who stated that Mr Rees rushed up and head-butted Mr Harding.

“Witnesses all said they saw a head-butt and we believe the pushing and shoving took place after the head-butting.

“We found Mr Gordon was not acting in self defence and was the aggressor.”

Rees was given a community order, which runs to May 31, 2014, an exclusion order banning him from any regulated football match for 233 days, a fine of £200, costs of £200 and a £60 victim surcharge.

Gordon was also given a community order until May 31, 2014, will be fitted with a tag for a four month curfew, to remain at his home address from 8pm to 6am for four months from October 10, a ban from any regulated football match for 233 days, costs of £500 and a £60 victim surcharge.