Joey Barton Denies GBH Assault Outside Golf Club
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- Joey Barton, 43, pleaded not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court on April 7, 2026, to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, at Fairway, Huyton, on March 8
- Kevin Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of the NexGen Academy special education school, suffered serious injuries to his eye in the alleged attack
- An earlier hearing was told Barton and co-defendant Gary O'Grady, 50, of Huyton, had been drinking with Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club before the alleged assault
- O'Grady was not asked to enter a plea and was granted conditional bail, while Barton appeared via videolink from HMP Liverpool in a grey zip-up fleece and was remanded in custody
- Honorary recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC set a September 1 trial date, with the case expected to last seven days
- Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, is a former Manchester City, Newcastle, QPR, Burnley, Marseille and Rangers midfielder with one England cap who now hosts the podcast Common Sense With Joey Barton
Why it matters: A seven-day Crown Court trial will put a high-profile former Premier League midfielder — currently already in custody on other matters — in the dock over a GBH with intent charge carrying a potential life sentence, with the alleged victim identified as a community figure who runs a special education school.
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