Irish footballer in court on rape charge

An Irish-born Arsenal footballer appeared at the Old Bailey today charged with raping a woman at his home.

Goalkeeper Graham Stack (aged 23) was alleged to have attacked the 21-year-old in Beckenham, south east London, on September 1.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, who is on loan at Millwall until the end of the season, was remanded on conditional bail to Croydon Crown Court.

Stack and a second man, 23-year-old operations manager Allan Smillie, from Feltham, west London, who was charged with sexual assault, are expected to enter pleas at the hearing on February 8 next year.

Stack played for Arsenal in a number of Carling Cup matches last season.