A FOOTBALL fan became hostile when his club's management team defected to their arch rivals and poached his side's best players, a court was told yesterday.

Supporter Jim Gibson was ''enraged'' when Camelon Juniors manager and his assistant switched to the East Region crack outfit, Linlithgow Rose.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard 59-year-old Mr Gibson swung a punch at former Camelon player and coach Allan McGonigal when he returned to Camelon to receive an award for his services to the Falkirk junior side.

Mr McGonigal, 36, allegedly punched Mr Gibson in an ''automatic reaction'' and the fan crashed into a pile of chairs, tables and glasses in the Camelon Juniors Social Club at their Player of the Year awards night last May.

Mr McGonigal, who is now overall boss at Linlithgow Rose, denies scarring the Camelon fan for life by attacking him to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, and permanent impairment.

He has lodged a special defence of self defence.

Mr Gibson told the jury that he needed 41 stitches around his right eye and had an operation to have two plates put in his face because of a broken cheekbone.

His friend, Mrs Betty Turnbull, 55, of Bainsford, told the court Mr Gibson was covered in blood ''from head to toe'' after the assault.

Mr Martin Morrow, defending, claimed Mr Gibson was angry that night because former Camelon manager George Fairlie and assistant Mr McGonigal - then the Linlithgow Rose management team - had been asked back to receive presentations for their services to the Falkirk club.

Mr Morrow also alleged that Mr Gibson was a friend of Mr Colin Sinclair, the Rose manager who was ousted by Mr McGonigal and Mr Fairlie.

He told Mr Gibson: ''You were enraged that Mr McGonigal left your club. And, to add insult to injury, he got your pal's job.''

Mr Gibson said: ''That's not true.''

Mr Morrow claimed the Camelon fan for more than 20 years was also ''hostile'' to Mr McGonigal because '' he took the best players with him to Linlithgow Rose''.

He added: ''The best player there, the amateur David Flynn, went to Linlithgow Rose. You were raging at Alan McGonigal.''

Mr Gibson agreed with Mr Morrow that, when Mr McGonigal was a player and then a coach at Camelon Juniors, he played a major part in a remarkable run of success - two league championships, a Scottish Junior Cup victory and a Scottish Junior Cup runner-up.

Camelon Juniors Social Club committee man Robert McTaggart, 37, told the trial Mr Gibson was angry at the football club's function and told him: ''Why are you talking to that two-faced bastard?''

He said the fan swung a punch which ''barely sclaffed'' the manager's neck.

Mr McGonigal punched him back in ''an automatic reaction''. Mr Gibson was hit on the left side of his face and ''went down''.

Mr McTaggart said he believed Mr Gibson's terrible injuries to the right side of his face were caused when he crashed into tables, chairs and bottles.

Giving evidence, Mr Allan McGonigal told the court he was a former professional footballer and had played for Falkirk, Cowdenbeath, and East Fife teams.

He said furniture was flying ''up in the air'' at the social club and Mr Gibson's injuries were caused when he fell during the ''scuffle''.

Mr McGonigal said he was pushed against the trophy cabinet by Mr Gibson after he confronted him about his behaviour at Camelon Juniors Social Club.

Mr McGonigal said although he punched him once on the left side of his face, the fractured right cheek bone must have been caused when Mr Gibson fell down and landed on top of a table or chair.

McGonigal told the jury: ''I punched him and it landed on the left of his face.

''He just fell right on top of furniture. He just fell, why or how I don't know.

''The furniture was up in the air and a chair was broken.''

After the incident, Mr McGonigal, who denies causing injuries with permanent disfigurement and impairment, stayed on with his wife for a presentation ceremony for his services to the club.

The trial continues.