Three football fans who were arrested at Bradford City's derby clash with Leeds United last Sunday have been fined by magistrates.

But all three will still be able to follow their favourites after the magistrates decided against imposing any kind of ban on them going to football grounds in the future.

Fears of trouble between rival fans led to the largest ever police operation at Valley Parade and 11 arrests were made.

Yesterday, a total of six fans attended Bradford Magistrates Court to answer charges brought under various football-related legislation.

Dedicated Leeds supporter Andrew Cattrell, 26, had travelled from his home in Havering, Essex, to attend the game, but was arrested after he jumped on to the track around the pitch to celebrate Michael Bridges' second goal.

Cattrell, a production worker at Ford's Dagenham plant, pleaded guilty to entering the playing area at a football match and was fined £200 with £40 costs.

He told the bench: "I know I was silly on Sunday, but it was just in the heat of the moment.

"We had just scored and everybody was jumping about. I just went that foot too far.''

Cattrell, who had no previous convictions, admitted that he spent most of his spare money following Leeds everywhere and said he would be extremely disappointed if the magistrates imposed a ban on him.

After considering his case, bench chairman Sheila Patchett said they had decided not to make Cattrell the subject of a domestic or international banning order because he had not been involved in any violence and he had only gone onto the periphery of the pitch.

She said they were also taking account of his previous good character and the fact that it was an impulsive act.

Bradford City fan Lee Winspear, 25, of Springfield Road, Pocklington, near York, was fined £100 with £40 costs after he pleaded guilty to trying to enter a designated sports ground while drunk.

He complained to the bench that following his arrest he was kept in custody until the trains had stopped running and he had to pay £45 for a taxi home.

Again the magistrates decided not to impose a ban because there was no element of violence involved in the offence.

A third fan, David Poole, 27, of The Oval, Otley, was fined £125 with £40 costs after he admitted trying to get into the ground while drunk.

He told the court that he wanted to apologise for his behaviour and said it would never happen again.

The magistrates decided he should not be banned from attending matches either.

Three other Leeds fans Ian McIntyre, 35, of Barwick Road, Crossgates, Leeds, Lee Duckworth, 18, of Church Lane, Crossgates, Leeds, and Keith Brown, 33, of Dennil Road, Crossgates, Leeds, all pleaded not guilty to public order offences and their cases were adjourned until April 14.

Brown and Duckworth had a condition imposed on their bail that they should not go within half-a-mile of a football match in the meantime.

McIntyre was granted unconditional bail.

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