A FRUSTRATED football fan who remonstrated with his team's goalkeeper during a Premiership fixture must wait three years to attend his next match.

Neil Anderson walked on to the pitch at Sunderland's Stadium of Light to give home goalkeeper Kelvin Davis a piece of his mind during the Black Cats' 4-1 home defeat against Ports-mouth, last month.

He left his family in the stand, climbed the pitch-side barrier, evaded stewards and approached Davis in a brief penalty box confrontation after Sunderland went 3-1 down.

Anderson then left the pitch and was led away by a police officer and a club security official.

The incident took place as Sunderland's 1-0 half-time lead turned into a 4-1 deficit less than half-an-hour after the re-start, sparking boos from the 34,926 home crowd.

It will be the last that Anderson, said to have held a Sunderland season ticket for more than 20 years, will be able to see his team live until at least late October 2008.

He was given a three-year banning order from every ground in England by Sunderland magistrates, under the powers of the Football Offences Act, of 1991.

The 40-year-old father-of-two, of Metcalf Crescent, Murton, east Durham, admitted a charge of entering the playing field, during the game on October 29.

He was also fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 court costs.

Martin Wright, mitigating, told the court that Anderson, a glazier, was frustrated over the performance and was now apologetic and ashamed about the incident.

He said a ban appeared to be "disproportionate", given the nature of the pitch incursion, during which he said Anderson did not swear or use any violence.

After the hearing, Anderson said he was expecting the ban and was no longer a season ticket holder. But he added that he was "finished" with the club.

Sunderland AFC's head of safety and security, John Davidson, said such behaviour was unacceptable and could not be condoned.

He said: "The club wholeheartedly supports the court's decision."

* Another Sunderland fan, who was prevented from entering the pitch by stewards at the same game, will appear before the court next month.