A schoolboy has told of his heartache after being banned from a football ground.

Kieran Ridley, 15, is no longer allowed to enter Lewes FC's Dripping Pan stadium after he tried to pass the season ticket to his friend outside the gate.

But the ban does not only cover first team matches - it also means he will not be allowed to attend his own presentation evening for Lewes FC's under 15 side.

The Lewes Priory pupil said his "moment of madness" came during the team's game against Havant and Waterlooville on April 7.

He said: "My friends were all outside. I play for the under-15s team and had a pass to get in. But I also had two season tickets given to me by people who couldn't attend the match that day.

"I tried to pass them through the gate to another one of my friends outside so he could come in too but I got caught. Looking back it was a silly thing to do, but there was nothing malicious about it.

"The security guard took the tickets off me and told me to get them back after the match. When I went back he wouldn't give me them to me and said I would be receiving a letter."

That letter was delivered more than a week later and informed Kieran he was banned indefinitely from going into the Dripping Pan, even for his team's presentation evening.

He said: "I'm absolutely gutted about it really. I can understand banning me from the first team games because I know I did something wrong. It was a moment of madness. But they won't even let me go and pick up my trophy."

Lewes FC are currently sitting in ninth place in the Nationwide Conference South having narrowly missed out on the play offs.

Earlier this season the club was caught up in a racism row with Newport County FC. Lewes alleged their players were racially abused during the match and complained to the Football Association of Wales.

Kieran's mum Sue, 47, of Mountfield Road, Lewes, said: "Kieran is a 15-year-old boy and guilty of nothing more than a schoolboy prank.

"There is no doubt he should have been reprimanded, but I think this is victimisation. He knows he has done wrong but I really don't think the punishment fits the crime.

"All his friends will be at his presentation evening but Kieran won't be able to go, and they haven't even told him how long he will be banned for. It's such a shame because we only live down the road from the stadium and Kieran was always in there."

Lewes FC director Steve White yesterday refused to comment.