Three-year ban after racist remarks

Wisbech striker Tom Gosling has been banned from attending matches for three years after racially abusing an opposing player during a Ridgeons League Premier Division game against Felixstowe last season.

Wisbech striker Tom Gosling has been banned from attending matches for three years after racially abusing an opposing player during a Ridgeons League Premier Division game against Felixstowe last season.

The 22-year-old from Spalding was hit with a football banning order at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to racially aggravated harassment. Gosling admitted hurling a torrent of abuse at a black Felixstowe and Walton United player during a game on November 24 last year.

The court heard how Gosling had uttered a number of racially offensive terms as his team slipped to a 2-0 defeat. Unemployed Gosling had already been handed a two-year Ridgeons League ban and a 42-game ban by the FA but the victim, Felixstowe and Walton centre half Danny Ebanks, reported the incident to police.

Mark Holt, representing Gosling, said: “My client accepts that when he plays football he sometimes gets too absorbed in the game. His team were being knocked about the pitch a bit but he wholly accepts that what happened should not have taken place. He has clearly received a punishment for this offence already, so is it fair to impose a football banning order on top of that?”

Gosling - a former Lincoln City youth player - was banned from attending football matches or entering any football ground in England and Wales for the next three years. He must also attend a police station and surrender his passport when the England national team play abroad. Finally, Gosling was ordered to pay compensation of £100 to Mr Ebanks, a fine of £100 and court costs totalling £105.

Gosling is still on the Fenmen's books and has linked up with new boss Steve Taylor for pre-training this summer.