This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/bristol/6252157.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
FA Cup assault footballer jailed FA Cup assault footballer jailed
(about 2 hours later)
A footballer has been jailed for hitting a rival player in the face during an FA Cup match.A footballer has been jailed for hitting a rival player in the face during an FA Cup match.
Barrow defender James Cotterill, 24, pleaded guilty to punching Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg during a first round match on 11 November last year.Barrow defender James Cotterill, 24, pleaded guilty to punching Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg during a first round match on 11 November last year.
He was sentenced to four months in prison for GBH, at Preston Crown Court. He was sentenced to four months at Preston Crown Court after admitting grievous bodily harm.
Cotterill is thought to be the first football player in recent history in England to be jailed for an offence which happened on the pitch. Cotterill is thought to be the first player in recent history in England to be jailed for an offence on the pitch.
The incident took place at Conference North club Barrow's Holker ground.
Metal platesMetal plates
The incident took place at the Conference North club Barrow's ground. Father-of-one Cotterill fractured Mr Rigg's jaw in two places during the "highly charged" match between Barrow and their League Two opponents.
Cotterill fractured Mr Rigg's jaw in two places during the "highly charged" match. It now has to be held in place by metal plates for the rest of his life. The court heard Mr Rigg had to drink through a straw and eat with a teaspoon as a result of the punch. His jaw will be held in place by metal plates for the rest of his life.
The court heard how Rigg, a League Two player, had to drink through a straw and eat with a teaspoon as a result of the punch. Peter Kennedy, defending, described the punch as "a moment of folly" that took place in "the heat of the moment".
The Football Association banned Cotterill from playing football until March of this year. The incident took place at Barrow's Holker ground
An interim suspension was imposed by the FA on 17 November due to the serious nature of the incident. Cotterill hit Mr Rigg from behind so the striker had no idea what had happened to him.
Television cameras captured the off-the-ball assault, which was shown that evening to millions of viewers on the BBC's Match of the Day programme. He told police that, earlier on in the game, Mr Rigg had "barged into him".
Mr Kennedy said: "The defendant thought this was about to recur so he said he struck out and punched him to get him away."
The off-the-ball assault was not seen by the referee or any other players, however television cameras captured the off-the-ball assault, which was shown that evening to millions of viewers on the BBC's Match of the Day.
The Football Association (FA) banned Cotterill from playing football until March 2007.
Cotterill resigned after the incident and has been working as an apprentice cable jointer while he sees out his suspension.
He was ordered to pay £270 costs.