Player 'stabbed teammate' - claim

Nicholas Bowles denies wounding with intent

An amateur soccer player was stabbed in the back five times by a teammate during a Sunday league game, Cardiff Crown Court has been told.

It was alleged that midfielder Wayne "Paddy" Keoghan was knifed by defender Nicholas "Snapper" Bowles as a result of a birthday party quarrel the night before.

Both men played for the O'Dwyers pub team in Canton, Cardiff.

Mr Bowles, 40, of Wilson Road, Ely, Cardiff, denies wounding with intent and wounding.

The court heard that other players used their socks and red shirts to mop up the blood from Mr Keoghan's wounds until an ambulance arrived at the pitch at Llandaff Fields, Cardiff.

Martyn Kelly, prosecuting, alleged that they quarrelled the night before the match at Bowles' 40th birthday party.

He said: "There was a party with a stripper to celebrate Bowles' birthday at the pub. After they left the pub there was some sort of small incident between the men.

"The next morning Mr Keoghan went to play football. He changed into his red shirt, football shorts and socks."

But as he was playing, teammates saw Mr Bowles run on to the pitch from the touchline, the court was told.

Mr Kelly said: "Bowles started swinging his arms - Mr Keoghan didn't realise it but he was being stabbed in the back."

Mr Keoghan told the court he had planned to shake the other man's hand to make up on the field.

He said: "I was not thinking about the night before. One of the boys told me to go and shake his hand.

"I went over to Bowles but I looked at him and said, 'You don't want to shake my hand, do you?' Bowles said, 'No, I'm going to do you'.

"Then he just ran at me, I grabbed him and put him on the ground. Bowles was banging my back, then we were separated by the other players.

"I saw him standing there with a knife in his hand - I checked my back and the blood was everywhere.

"A couple of players helped me and put their socks and jerseys on the wounds until the ambulance arrived."

Mr Keoghan, 29, was taken to hospital. He had five stab wounds to his back, and needed a chest drain to repair the punctured lung.

The trial continues.