A SEMI-PROFESSIONAL footballer has been banned from drinking in every pub and night club in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Alastair McKenna received his ban on Tuesday as he admitted being involved in a fight with former rugby star Joshua Goldspink outside a Lowestoft nightclub.

McKenna, who now plays for Lowestoft’s rivals Kirkley and Pakefield, is able to continue to his football career after he avoided getting a night time curfew when he was sentenced for causing harassment, alarm and distress by using threatening words and behaviour.

Judge David Cooper heard if the 25-year-old Rigeons Premier Division player had been banned from going out at night he would not be able to train with Kirkley at nights and travel to away games.

But former Leicester Tigers and North Walsham rugby player Goldspink, from Lowestoft, was given a night time curfew.

He was also banned from nightclubs in both counties as he admitted the same offence as McKenna.

Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court heard McKenna, of Strowgers Way, Kessingland, and Goldspink had come to blows outside Notleys nightclub in Lowestoft on December 10 after the footballer claimed he was headbutted by the rugby player.

Once outside the club Colette Griffiths, prosecuting, said: “They were both seen by CCTV throwing punches.

“Whoever came off worse I can not tell you.”

McKenna, who told the court he plays up front and plays football for a living, said: “He(Goldspink) headbutted me, broke my nose.

“It just spiralled outside on to the street.”

After hearing how a curfew starting at 11pm would get in the way of his training and going to away matches, Judge Cooper issued a year long pub and nightclub ban.

McKenna, who had been made to go on aggression replacement therapy because of a previous conviction, was also made to pay �85 costs.

Sentencing Judge Cooper said: “If you play football you must be a useful sort of person.

“I do not want to interfere with that. It sounds a sensible activity.”

In April 2008 McKenna was spared a prison sentence after he admitted affray.

Despite his record McKenna told the court: “I never cause trouble when I go out.”

Like McKenna Goldspink, 20, of Lyndhurst Road, Lowestoft, also had previous convictions with his latest offences being shoplifting from last year.

Goldspink was a prop who played for North Walsham and was in the Leicester Tigers squad until a serious injury saw his contract cancelled.

The court heard he was on Job Seekers Allowance and trained twice a week at nights and played rugby on Saturdays.

Goldspink, who represented himself and gave no mitigation, was given a four month curfew order banning him from going out from 11am to 6pm seven days a week and he was barred from all Suffolk and Norfolk nightclubs for a year.