Jailed Southend footballer freed on bail over affray

Hall admitted affray when he appeared before magistrates

A Southend United footballer jailed for 20 weeks following an argument at the club's Christmas party has been granted bail

Ryan Hall, 23, admitted affray over the incident on 19 December.

The midfielder was jailed at Southend Magistrates' Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to the charge.

A judge at Basildon Crown Court on Friday freed Hall pending an appeal against his sentence. No date has been set for the appeal.

The magistrates' court heard the player retaliated after comments made to him and an argument continued outside a nightclub in Chichester Road, Southend.

Hall joined Southend from non-league Bromley last summer and scored his first goal for the club against Rotherham in January, hitting three more since.