Joey Anthony ...

Joseph Anthony "Joey" Barton (born 2 September 1982) is an English footballer contracted to Premier League club Newcastle United, for whom he plays for as a defensive midfielder. He is currently serving a six month prison term for common assault and affray. Barton was born in Huyton, Merseyside and raised in a poor area and, as a child, he saw football as a form of escapism. He began his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after working his way through their youth system. His appearances in the senior side gradually increased over the following five years and he made more than 150 for the club. Impressive form at club level earned him his first cap for the England national team in February 2007, despite his criticism of some of the team's players. He joined his current club Newcastle United for a fee of £5.8 million in July 2007. His career has been marred by numerous controversial incidents and disciplinary problems, and he has been convicted twice on charges of violence. On 20 May 2008 he was sentenced to six months imprisonment for common assault and affray during an incident outside a McDonald's restaurant in Liverpool City Centre. On 1 July 2008 he was also given a four months suspended sentence after admitting actual bodily harm on former teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training ground dispute. This incident effectively ended his Manchester City career.