BRISTOL City fans set upon a Leeds United supporter who jumped up to celebrate his team scoring while sat in a home section at Ashton Gate, a court heard.
Fans chanted "Leeds scum" while Darren Priaulx, inset, was attacked during the fixture in February last year, which was won 2-0 by Leeds.
Bristol Crown Court heard Mr Priaulx and relatives bought tickets for seats in the Dolman Stand because none was left in the away end. It was not made clear in court whether whoever sold the tickets for the Dolman Stand was aware that Mr Priaulx was a Leeds fan.
When he cheered Leeds' first goal 17 minutes into the match, City fans surrounding him punched and kicked him down the steps of the stand and stewards had to battle to keep them away.
Mr Priaulx had to be escorted from the ground, covered in cuts and bruises and with his Leeds shirt ripped to shreds.
Four men deny violent disorder in relation to the incident, while two others have already pleaded guilty.
The men on trial are, pictured from top, Christopher Moore, 47, of Longway Avenue, Whitchurch; Kevin Naish, 31, of Soundwell Road, Kingswood; Neil Grey, 32, of St Michael's Avenue, Weston-super- Mare; and Paul Stitt, 47, of Church Lane, Whitchurch.
Fans Lee Charlton and Dean Ellis have already pleaded guilty to the charge.
Stephen Dent, prosecuting, told the jury there was a scarcity of Leeds tickets for last season's Championship fixture.
He said: "Mr Priaulx and three of his family ended up sitting with Bristol City supporters.
"The first goal was after 17 minutes, by Leeds United.
"Darren Priaulx, he admits rather foolishly, leapt from his seat to celebrate. He was surrounded by Bristol City fans, as his actions annoyed them.
"A violent disorder erupted in the Dolman Stand, with Mr Priaulx as the person at the centre."
Mr Dent said Mr Priaulx, a Leeds fan but living in Plymouth, went to the game with his father, aunt and brother as part of his aunt's birthday celebrations. He said: "They bought tickets prior and over the telephone were told no seats were available with the Leeds fans.
"They were sold tickets in the Dolman Stand, which they were told was a family friendly environment."
Mr Dent said that as Mr Priaulx jumped up to celebrate the goal the mood of the surrounding crowd changed and the City fans chanted "Leeds scum".
Mr Dent said Mr Priaulx was grabbed and hit from behind before being bundled down the steps of the stand, with some 20 people punching and kicking him.
The jury was shown how the ground's CCTV homed in on the violence and stewards tried to shield Mr Priaulx from attack before leading him to safety.
Mr Dent said: "Off-duty police officer Kristian Withers was in the Atyeo Stand with his sons aged 15, 11 and nine, and said it was the first football- related violence he had seen since the 1980s. His two young sons were extremely distressed and wanted to go home."
Mr Priaulx, 27, said he wore his Leeds shirt under his jacket to avoid provoking a reaction when he sat in the home fans' stand.
He said he had been to a football match some ten times as an adult, going once a year for treats like birthdays.
He told the jury: "As soon as Leeds scored I got carried away and jumped up.
"That's when trouble started.
"It was stupidity, I got carried away."
Mr Priaulx described how people in the crowd stared at him and chanted "Leeds scum, Leeds scum!" and he was asked if he was a Leeds supporter.
He didn't recall responding, but said he was then pushed and punched from all angles down the steps of the stand and had his necklace ripped off before stewards led him outside.
He said: "I just wanted to get out of there. I had a cut around my neck and bruises everywhere."
The case continues.
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