A FOOTBALL fan's hopes of regaining his season ticket after having it confiscated for falling asleep during a Premiership game have been dashed.

Middlesbrough supporter Adrian Carr was banned from the Riverside Stadium after he was found asleep in his seat by stewards, who believed he was drunk.

The 28-year-old engineering worker's £370 season ticket was immediately confiscated, and Carr was charged with being drunk in a sporting arena during the game last year in which Boro lost 4-0 to Arsenal.

The club refused to return his season ticket until after court proceedings, and on Monday, Teesside magistrates convicted him.

Carr, of Caithness Road, Middlesbrough, who is planning an appeal, urged the club to return his season ticket ahead of last night's Carling Cup semi-final second leg clash with Arsenal.

Middlesbrough Football Club said it would not return the ticket until after an appeal. The club said it would then review its position.

Carr, who said he fell asleep because he had worked an overtime shift on the day of the match, was distraught at the latest setback.

He said: ''This whole thing stinks.

"I started going to Boro in 1986/87 just after they came out of administration in the old Third Division, and have supported them through the bad times.

''I have followed this club since I was 11 years old, but they have not shown me any consideration at all.

"I followed the club when they were desperate for supporters, but now they are just not bothered.

''I was not drunk that day and I want to appeal, but will think about it over the next couple of days."

The magistrates heard that stewards could not rouse Carr.

The fan, who admitted having had five pints in the four hours before the match, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Solicitor Simon Walker, defending, told the court: "From a Middlesbrough supporter's point of view, it was not a particularly exciting or enthralling game, and they were being defeated heavily.''