A LONG-STANDING feud boiled over when a former women’s football coach bumped into one of her lesbian ex-players on a night out, a court heard.

Durham Crown Court heard there were hostile relations between Pauline Godward and Lyn Stanley as a result of a disagreement when they were respectively coach and player at the former Chester-le-Street women’s team, in 2004.

Godward received a formal police caution after Ms Stanley complained she suffered a broken nose having been head-butted by her coach because of a lesbian relationship with one of the other players.

But Godward denied it was a homophobic attack and said she had no problem with any player’s sexuality.

The court heard the latest incident arose when they were drinking with different groups in the Dog pub, in Newcastle, in June last year.

When Ms Stanley’s group left for the Heaven’s Above nightspot, Godward was said to have followed, confronting her in the bar.

In the subsequent clash, Godward was accused of punching Ms Stanley, again breaking her nose, as well as pushing one of her friends.

Godward, 50, also known as Valentine, was accused of assault causing actual bodily harm and assaulting another woman by beating.

She denied both, claiming self-defence.

A jury convicted her of the assault on 26-year-old Ms Stanley, but she was cleared of assault by beating, following a two-day trial last month.

Her barrister, Paul Cross, told yesterday’s sentencing hearing that Godward, of Springwell Estate, Gateshead, now helps care for her ill husband, has health problems herself and has little spare money.

Recorder Anton Lodge told Godward it was, “an act of drunken stupidity”.

He said: “You had a disagreement, a difference of opinion, or a feud, with Lyn Stanley going back to 2004, over a relationship within the women’s football team.

“You followed her to Heaven’s Above and sought her out in the bar and dance area, fracturing her nose.”

He said that as a result of denying the charge, she had cost the public £2,800, plus legal aid costs.

He imposed a 12-month community order, with a five month home curfew from 9pm to 7am, and ordered Godward to pay Ms Stanley £300 in compensation.