Thursday, April 24, 2008

Soccer star pitches in to stop fast food fight

Source: This is Lancashire

By Terry Morgan

TALENTED footballer Bradley Howard is more used to preventing shots from going into the net at Gigg Lane, but the heroic player made a save of a different kind on Saturday.

The left back, who plays for Bury-based team FC United of Manchester, was on his way to the club's away match in Newcastle with four of his teammates when he stepped in to stop a fight in a branch of McDonald's in Urmston.

While queuing for a morning coffee, the 21-year-old former Bolton Wanderers trainee witnessed a furious customer jump over the counter before hurling punches at a member of staff.

Bradley went in hot pursuit of the hothead and stopped his attack.

The man then left the restaurant and staff reported the matter to the police.

"It's not the kind of thing you expect early in the morning on the way to a game, but I just did what anyone would do, with a bit help from some of my team mates who were also in there," said Bradley.

He added: "The guy was angry because he had to wait more than 10 minutes for a burger.

"The staff were pleasant with him, but he started issuing threats and throwing punches. He was a big guy, but you can't have a situation where he's fighting with people.

"The worst thing was that he had a child in the car. "