A drunken Toon fan has been fined after he got into a scuffle with a rival supporter inside St James' Park.
Brendan Duggan was in the Gallowgate end of the stadium for Newcastle 's home game against Manchester United on December 27 last year.
The Magpies initially took the lead but the away team equalised.
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And it was when Manchester United scored and a fan started celebrating in front of Duggan that he lost his temper, a court heard.
The 41-year-old was seen to pull the supporter to the ground and scuffle with him before a police officer grabbed him.
Now, Duggan, who earns £50,000 a year through his employment and lives on Thorneyburn Avenue, in West Monkseaton, has been fined £330 after pleading guilty to being drunk in a designated sports ground.
Jonathan Stirland, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said Duggan had necked six or seven pints prior to going to the game at St James' Park at 8pm on December 27.
"At 21.40, while the match was in play, an officer saw two males scuffling in the Gallowgate area behind the goal," Mr Stirland continued.
"They were pushing and shoving each other and male one was trying to pull male two onto the floor.
"Male two fell to the ground and male one was stopping him from getting up.
"The officer thought that male one was the aggressor. The officer grabbed and pulled male one and removed him from the walkway."
The court heard that Duggan identified himself to the officer, who deemed him to be drunk as his eyes were bloodshot, he smelled of booze, he was staggering and shouting loudly.
Mr Stirland added: "This was not just mouthing off and being gobby. The defendant has been involved in physical contact."
The court heard that Duggan only had one past conviction from 2004, had fully co-operated with the police and was extremely remorseful.
He admitted that he felt the rival fan was "goading" Newcastle supporters but he should have ignored him or pointed him out to a steward.
Fining him and ordering him to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge, District Judge Zoe Passfield said: "It was an appalling way to behave.
"It's fortunate for you that the other man didn't make a complaint of assault or you would be facing far more serious charges."
An application for Duggan to be made subject of a football banning order was made but refused by District Judge Passfield, who deemed the life-long Toon fan had "acted out of character".
