Owen got free holiday, soccer forgery trial told

ONE of the men accused of making thousands of pounds by selling forged signatures of sports stars organised a free holiday for England striker Michael Owen, a court heard yesterday.

Faisal Madani, 43, organised the family trip in the summer of 2004 for the Newcastle forward, and later asked him to provide some autographs, Owen said.

Yesterday at Chester Crown Court the jury heard that Madani, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, was friends with many Premier League football players and attended last year’s wedding of England centre-back John Terry.

Giving evidence, Owen said he agreed to sign a few autographs for Madani, a partner in the Sporting Icons store in Chester, but denied agreeing to supply scores of signatures.

Owen, 28, said he did not know that Madani dealt in sporting memorabilia until he was contacted about the prosecution.

Owen said former Liverpool player and coach Phil Thompson talked to him about how helpful Madani could be.

Madani denies 20 counts of supplying forgeries.

His co-accused Graeme Walker, 45, of Connah’s Quay, north Wales, denies more than 50 counts of cheating the customers of his shop.

Owen, capped 88 times for England, said he was sure several items presented to court featured a forgery of his signature.