Bouncer denies fighting was 'in his blood'
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A bouncer who was allegedly struck in the face with a glass bottle by a professional footballer denied yesterday that using his fists was "in his blood" despite training his brother as a boxer.
Trevor Thirlwall, 28, told Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court how he had "pleaded" with the Chelsea player, John Terry, and two fellow players to leave a members-only bar shortly before a brawl broke out.
The doorman said he had then been forced to defend himself in the fight outside the Wellington Club in Knightsbridge, central London, during which Mr Terry, 23, allegedly hit him with an empty bottle.
The former England under-21 star was drinking with his team-mate Jody Morris, 21, and the Wimbledon player Des Byrne, 22, when they were ejected for "loutish" behaviour. But a lawyer for Mr Byrne accused Mr Thirlwall, who was temporarily blinded in one eye, of being obsessed with boxing.
The jury was shown CCTV footage of the bouncer shadow boxing in the club's reception shortly before the fight, along with his brother Matthew, a professional boxer, and another doorman, Shaun Brice. Simon Pentol, for Mr Byrne, asked Trevor Thirlwall: "Using your fists is part of your normal way of life, it's in your blood?"
Mr Thirlwall, who confirmed he had been his brother's "conditioning trainer", said he was asked to eject the men because of his social skills. He said: "That job would be issued, as a result of my eloquence and good nature, to me. I don't use my fists."
All three footballers deny a joint charge of affray. Mr Terry denies further counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a glass bottle as an offensive weapon. Mr Byrne denies possessing a glass bottle as an offensive weapon.
The case continues.