RANGERS BOSS HELPS CLEAR STAR OF RAPE
Former Man City player praised by youths chief for ‘exemplary behaviour’
RANGERS director of football Mark Allen has helped clear footballer George Glendon of rape after giving a glowing character reference.
Fleetwood Town player Glendon, 22, was praised by a string of people who lauded his personality before he was cleared of rape in just 30 minutes by a jury.
Along with Allen, Glendon’s ex-girlfriend and a former senior police officer all gave glowing comments about the young player during the trial.
Allen knew Glendon from their time together at Manchester City’s academy and hailed the player’s “exemplary behaviour” and “good manners”.
Glendon was invited to train with Rangers in 2015.
The footballer, from Cheadle in Cheshire, denied raping the woman in February the following year after they met at a nightclub in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.
Allen said in a statement heard at Grimsby Crown Court that, before joining Rangers in June last year, he was director of the academy at Manchester City and worked with Glendon.
He added that Glendon showed “exemplary behaviour” at the time, had “good manners” and was always respectful to others.
Allen said the player was always willing to support community initiatives and claimed he was one of the “most talented, kind and considerate people” on the club’s books.
He added: “I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Retired police officer Michael Waring, a neighbour of Glendon, said the footballer was “lovely, well-mannered, polite and considerate”. And an ex-girlfriend of the player told the court that he was “shy” even when he was drunk.
Dental nurse Azalea Figueroa, of Cheshire, said that she went to school with Glendon and was his girlfriend for about four years.
She said he was a “really nice person” who was “loved by everyone” she knew.
She had “never” become aware of anything in his conduct that led to her concern.
Azalea said: “He’s just a really sweet, shy boy. He’s a lovely person.”