Bosnich gets wed, despite stag-night lap of dishonour

THERE IS ONLY so much excitement a man can take and Mark Bosnich's cup ran over at 7am yesterday, five hours before he was due to get married, when he was arrested after an altercation with a press photographer outside a Birmingham lap-dancing club.

The Australian goalkeeper, who was signed by Manchester United on Wednesday, was questioned on suspicion of robbery after he allegedly grabbed the photographer's camera while waiting for two friends with whom he planned to celebrate his stag night.

Released on bail without charge, Bosnich left Sutton Coldfield police station in dark glasses at 10.30am and, by early afternoon, had composed himself sufficiently to arrive on time for his wedding to Sarah Jarrett at Coombe Abbey Hotel, in Warwickshire.

His stag night began to deviate from plan at 1.48am, when police arrived outside the Legs Eleven nightclub in central Birmingham, summoned by Jamie Jones, an agency photographer.

Mr Jones alleged he was attacked by the former Aston Villa player after he tried to take pictures of him. Bosnich had already departed with the offending camera. In a statement yesterday, he said he had intended to return it in the morning.

Sydney-born Bosnich was arrested at his home in Little Aston, Staffordshire, and bailed to return to Birmingham's Steelhouse Lane police station on July 21.

Bosnich, who signed a four-year deal to replace Danish goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel at United, has had a colourful career - both on and off the pitch.

In 1996 he was found guilty of misconduct and fined pounds 1,000 by the Football Association after angering Tottenham Hotspur supporters with a Hitler salute at an Aston Villa game at White Hart Lane. He claimed he had been mimicking Basil Fawlty.

A year later Bosnich walked out of Pride Park before a match against Derby County when he was named as a substitute and refused to sit on the bench.

Yesterday afternoon he looked as if butter would not melt in his mouth when he drew up outside Coombe Abbey in a limousine, wearing a white shirt, tie and a gold and black waistcoat, accompanied by his best man, fellow Manchester United player Dwight Yorke.

The hotel markets itself as the "ideal setting to mark those special occasions in life". For Bosnich, it will be a day to remember, but not quite in the way he had anticipated.