Bampton footballer Steve Godfrey could not eat solid food for nearly two months after a rival player headbutted him in the face.

The 27-year-old, who plays for Bampton Horseshoes, suffered a broken jaw and was forced to live on mushed up food for weeks after the attack - tucking into his first proper meal on Christmas Day.

His attacker, Bullnose Morris player Wesley Bone, was celebrating his 25th birthday on the same day he assaulted Mr Godfrey, on November 6 last year.

Bone, of Emperor Gardens, Greater Leys, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm at a hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday. He will be sentenced at the city's court on November 3.

Mr Godfrey was tackling the Bullnose Morris goalkeeper when Bone ran accross the pitch and headbutted him.

Mr Godfrey's jaw was so badly broken, he was forced to survive on a diet of mashed potatoes, protein shakes and soup for nearly two months as his mouth healed.

He said: "I couldn't eat solids for about eight weeks and I lost about 7 kilograms - over a stone - in weight.

"My first proper meal was on Christmas Day and I had to eat it pretty slowly.

"It was hard to eat but there was no way I was going to miss my Christmas dinner."

Mr Godfrey had to take time off from his job as a postman after the assault.

But he returned to work after just one week because he was bored of being stuck at home.

He still suffers from occasional headaches and jaw pain nearly a year after the vicious attack.

The incident happened during a match in the Sam Waters Cup, the county's premier Sunday cup competition run by the Oxfordshire Football Association.

Amateur clubs from across Oxfordshire take part in the annual contest.

Ian Mason, county secretary for Oxfordshire Football Association, declined to comment on the incident.

He also refused to say whether Bone had been banned from matches, as is usual practice where violent conduct is concerned.

q=cmaddy.biddulph@nqo.com LASHING OUT ON THE PITCH VIOLENCE on the football pitch is unfortunately nothing new.

Just last month, Manchester City player Ben Thatcher, left, was suspended by his club and charged by the Football Association after he knocked out Portmouth's Pedro Mendes with an elbow to the face.

In the most famous incident of 2006, France captain Zinedine Zidane, right, was red-carded in the 2006 World Cup Final after he headbutted Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

In April 2005, Lee Bowyer had an on-pitch brawl with Newcastle United team-mate Kieron Dyer.

After being sent off for Manchester United's against Crystal Palace in 1995, Eric Cantona kung-fu kicked spectator Matthew Simmons. Cantona received a two week prison sentence, reduced to a community service order on appeal.

Vinnie Jones gained notoriety in 1987 when he squeezed a handful of Paul Gascoigne's family jewels. And the 1974 Leeds v Liverpool Charity Shield will be remembered for Kevin Keegan and Billy Bremner becoming the first players ever to be sent off at Wembley.