Model footballer to the rescue

Peter Spencer
21/ 4/2008

FOOTBALLER Bradley Howard has proved himself a model player in more ways than one.

The FC United defender, who has a day job as a model, intervened when an angry customer hit out at an assistant in a Manchester branch of McDonalds.

Bradley and four of his team-mates were in the fast food restaurant at Urmston near the M60 waiting for the team coach to take them to a game against Newcastle Blue Star.

A furious customer who had been arguing with an assistant suddenly leapt behind the counter and attacked the worker.

Bradley, 21, and team-mate Rob Howarth also jumped the counter and dragged the burly customer away.

Still furious because he had to wait up to 10 minutes for his food, the customer continued remonstrating but when he saw the group of footballers he ran out and sped off in his car.

Bradley - who got a modelling contract with agency Nemesis after winning a radio competition - said: "It took two of us to throw him off the assistant because he was so big.

"He was so angry that he had to wait 10 minutes for his food. There was no need for him to start bullying and hitting the assistant who he said had ignored him."

Rob said: "He was swearing all the time and then suddenly got behind the tills and hit the assistant. Brad and I leapt over the counter and basically restrained him."

The players, whose team went on to win 4-0 against Newcastle Blue Star to move within two points of the top of the Unibond North League, got a predictable reward from the grateful staff ( free chicken burgers).

FC United manager Karl Marginson said: "Obviously these lads can look after themselves on the football field and acted promptly when they saw the assistant being bullied.

"I am sure they enjoyed their chicken burgers although normally of course they would choose the healthy option."

Staff contacted police but by then the team coach had arrived and the attacker had fled.