THE brother of a Manchester United goalkeeper left brain damaged after a fight said he saw him being kicked while he was on the ground.

Stephen Marsh said he only caught a glimpse of his brother Allen being kicked because he was involved in his own fight.

The promising young goalkeeper suffered head injuries leaving him unsteady on his feet, with impaired understanding, abnormal eye movements and poor memory.

The court was told it is still not known if he will be able to return to his goalkeeping career.

The fight, outside the Hare and Hounds pub in Lowton, Leigh, involved the Marsh brothers and the Crutchley brothers.

Twenty-four year-old Steven Crutchley, of Fordland Close, Lowton, and Neil Crutchley, aged 26, of Sudbrook Close, Lowton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court on trial.

Steven Crutchley denied causing Allen Marsh grievous bodily harm on December 9, 1999 and, along with his brother, denied a charge of affray.

The dispute began when Neil Crutchley allegedly attacked Stephen Marsh as he sat in a car outside the pub waiting for his brother Allen.

When Allen left the pub he went to his brother's aid but was allegedly dragged off by Steven Crutchley and another man.

After being punched Marsh fell to the ground and Steven Crutchley allegedly kicked him in the head while he was on the floor.

Crutchley denied the attack claiming that Marsh had grabbed him and both had fallen to the floor. He denied kicking Marsh. Neil Crutchley claimed he had been attacked and only hit back in self-defence.

Giving evidence Stephen Marsh said he had been sat in his car waiting for his brother when he was attacked by Neil Crutchley.

When Allen Marsh tried to help his brother Crutchley's brother, Steven and another man, pulled Marsh away.

Marsh said he continued to fight with Neil Crutchley and out of the corner of his eye he claimed he saw Steven Crutchley kick his brother in the upper body area while he was on the ground.

He pushed Crutchley away and went to tend to his brother who was lying unconscious in the car park and breathing oddly.

According to consultant neurologist James Leggatt, Marsh had no memory of the assault and he had been left with severe cognitive impairment, was unsteady on his feet, had abnormal eye movements, and slower speech.

Proceeding