Joey Barton, the former Manchester City footballer, appeared via videolink from HMP Liverpool on Tuesday for a plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, where he denied assaulting a man outside a golf club.
The 43-year-old pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, in an incident reported to have occurred on March 8 at Fairway, Huyton. Meanwhile, his co-defendant, Gary O’Grady, 50, from Huyton, Merseyside, was not required to enter a plea during the hearing.
Barton, who has a notable football career with 269 Premier League appearances, including 130 for Manchester City, has also managed League One side Bristol Rovers. He was born and raised in Huyton, Merseyside.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the defendants had been drinking with Mr. Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club prior to the alleged assault. Kevin Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of the special education institution NexGen Academy, reportedly sustained serious eye injuries from the incident.
