A FOOTBALL fan who invaded the pitch at the end of Wanderers' match with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday has been banned for life by the club.

Lifelong supporter Simon Edwards, aged 32, of Tottington Road, Harwood, ran up to the referee when Blackburn Rovers star Craig Short grabbed the equaliser against the Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

He has also been banned from all football grounds in England and Wales for three years.

The heating engineer said: "I'm absolutely speechless about the ban -- it's shocking. I was never intending to be violent or aggressive. I just wanted to put my point across to the referee.

"I think it is harsh. I have never done anything like this before and hope to contact the club now to speak to them about what has happened. But my support for the Wanderers will definitely not end because of this."

In the 95th minute, with the score 1-1, Mr Edwards dashed from his seat half way up the East Stand lower tier, pointing to his watch and accusing referee Neale Berry of adding on too much time.

The three year ban was imposed by Bolton Magistrates yesterday. He has also been fined £100 and ordered to pay £50 costs, and will have his photograph taken to be displayed in compliance with the ban.

Bolton Wanderers then issued their own life ban from the Reebok Stadium. He is the first person to get a life ban from the club for the offence of invading the pitch.

A spokesman for Bolton Wanderers said: "Anybody who steps onto the pitch is committing a criminal offence. We would never condone the actions of a minority of supporters and will impose a lifetime ban with immediate effect. It is behaviour the club will not tolerate."

Mr Edwards, whose wife Paula gave birth to his daughter Francesca 12 weeks ago, has held a season ticket for 15 years but has been watching Bolton since he was aged 11.

He said: "A red mist just descended. I just couldn't understand why the ref played so much extra time. It appeared as if he was keeping the game going until Rovers scored.

"My actions weren't premeditated and I know I shouldn't have done what I did. I've never run onto the pitch before and I certainly would never do it again. I'm really disappointed with the ban."

He was led from the pitch by stewards in front of a 24,556 crowd. Wanderers had been winning the match up until Short's goal, thanks to an opening shot by Jay Jay Okocha in the 11th minute.

He said: "I just wanted the referee to answer my question. I'm a real family man and ashamed of the incident especially as I uttered a few expletives but I had tunnel vision and was so angry."

Last month, four soccer hooligans were banned from Bolton Wanderers matches for life after being convicted of attacking Manchester United fans during a premiership clash at the Reebok Stadium last season.

Shane Durham, Graham Knowles, Russell Brooks and Stephen Barrow were the first football hooligans to receive life bans in the club's 125 year history.