A disgraced footballer faces a jail term after punching a 60-year-old woman and leaving her covered in her own blood in a drunken attack.

Ex-Darlington player Marcus Maddison called the woman’s daughter a “fat sl**” before hurling cheesy chips at her and punching her in the face.

She was left with complex facial fractures and unable to speak due to her injuries.

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It happened after the former midfielder left The Gate nightclub in Darlington at 3am in the early hours of Sunday September 25, 2022.

Maddison, who had signed for Darlington FC in June that year, barely featured in the first team before his contract was cancelled on October 13 just days after the attack.

The club said his contract had been cancelled “by mutual consent” following a disciplinary investigation.

He now faces time behind bars after the violent incident.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday (July 18) the court heard the 29-year-old had got in a row with two girls who jumped the queue in a kebab shop before the attack.

The Northern Echo: Maddison had been drinking in The Gate nightclub in the early hours of Sunday September 25, 2022 before the attack.Maddison had been drinking in The Gate nightclub in the early hours of Sunday September 25, 2022 before the attack. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Prosecuting, Mr Robin Turton told the court Maddison said, “you come near me and I'm going to pelt these cheesy chips at you” after calling his victim’s daughter a “fat sl**”.

Mr Turton said: “As the defendant threw the chips he fell backwards and he punched the victim with his right clenched fist.”

The woman was found in a shop doorway on nearby Duke Street by two police officers.

The prosecutor added: “There was a steady stream of blood coming from what appeared to be a broken nose. She was unable to speak due to her injuries.

“The victim was taken to hospital and a CT scan revealed complex midfacial bone fractures.

“She reported that she continues to suffer numbness to the teeth, diminished sense of taste and smell and is now reluctant to go out on her own.”

The Northern Echo: Maddison appeared before Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday (July 18).Maddison appeared before Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday (July 18). (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

At police interview Maddison answered “no comment” to all questions but pleaded guilty to one charge of GBH at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court last month.

The former footballer will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on August 8.

The Judge, Recorder Paul Reid, extended his unconditional bail pending sentencing while an updated victim impact statement and medical is carried out to assess the long-term impact of the attack.

A spokesperson for Darlington FC said: "The club were made aware of an alleged incident and conducted an immediate discinplinary investigation. After discussions with the player concerned the club agreed to mutually terminate his contract with immediate effect at that time.

"Darlington FC is a fan owned club and has a zero tolerance towards discrimination, violence of abusive behaviour.

"It would be inappropriate for Darlington FC to comment furtuer at this time."

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Maddison, who the court heard was previously of good character, started out in Newcastle United’s youth ranks and played for Gateshead before making more than 240 appearances and netting 62 goals during a six-season spell at Peterborough between 2014 and 2020.

He joined the Bolton Wanderers on loan from Charlton Athletic in February 2021 but made just 10 appearances for the whites.

In June 2021 he opted to step away from the professional game due to mental health reasons. Speaking in June 2022 he said: “Things didn’t go well at Bolton and, headspace, I just wasn’t in the right way to play football anymore.”