TEENAGE football thugs who brawled in Colchester town centre before the Essex derby have appeared in court.

A fight between fans of Colchester United and Southend United, some as young as 15, broke out before the teams met on Boxing Day.

The fights took place in Abbeygate Street after a group of about 27 Southend fans turned on six U’s fans near the Brewers Arms, Osborne Street.

The 2pm brawl was caught on CCTV with 14 arrests.

Yesterday, 11 people - six youths and five adults – admitted public order offences at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

Bob Rowlingson, prosecuting, said: “This was an incident which occurred between supporters of both teams.

“The match was due to take place three and a half miles away but two groups of supporters met at this location.”

CCTV footage showed the Southend fans going towards the pub, where a number of U’s fans were drinking.

Items were thrown by the group and as they left, the U’s fans followed.

Punches and slaps were thrown during the 50-second fracas. Football banning orders are being imposed against those convicted.

Among those who admitted the charges are Thomas Young, 18, of Holyrood Drive, in Westcliff, and Jason Wright, 18, of Wilson Marriage Road, in Colchester.

Prosecutor Bob Rowlingson said Wright led the U’s fans towards the Southend group from the pub.

He added: “He is seen to gesticulate towards the group to incite them.

“He seems to grapple with one of the Southend group.

“He then throws a punch towards that person and he himself is then pulled and punched to the ground.”

Young is seen trying to kick a rival fan but instead falls to the ground.

Wright, who lost his job in a children’s nursery as a result, was banned from going to any UK football match for four years and ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Apprentice electrician Young received a three-year ban and must complete 80 hours of unpaid work. The pair were ordered to pay £145.

Southend fan Matthew Petchey, 25, of Lascelles Gardens, in Rochford, admitted a public order offence and breaching a suspended sentence. He will appear at Basildon Crown Court on July 28.

Shoebury pair Thomas Hopkinson, 23, of Eagle Way, and Martin Tegerdine, 21, of Colne Drive, each admitted one public order offence.

They were banned from going to football matches for four years.

Hopkinson must complete 120 hours of unpaid work while Tegerdine must complete a ten-day rehabilitation scheme.

Four youths will be sentenced on July 8 at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

Two youths, a 16-year-old from Kelvedon and a 17-year-old from Feering, will be sentenced at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 27.

Three denied involvement and face trial.

Thomas Finch, 22, of Lovelace Gardens, in Southend, appeared alongside Jacob Garvey, 23, of The Grove, in Upminster and a 16-year-old from Ramsden Heath.