Peacock In Coke Shocker

By Jack Daniels

Bristol City striker Lee Peacock was last night at the centre of a Coke scandal after being caught sipping a bottle of the refreshing fizzy drink in a club.

Hard-living goal ace Lee, 25, was spotted shamelessly downing the non-alcoholic beverage at a city centre nightspot in the early evening just six days before a crucial game.

Outraged fans who confronted him told how they were met with taunts of: “Excuse me, do you know where the toilet is, please?”

One onlooker said: “It was appalling behaviour. Lee was so brazen. I was disgusted – it was almost as if he was enjoying it.

“He could have easily fallen off his stool and damaged his shoulder, probably. Not to mention the inherrent dangers of getting tart lemon juice in his eye.

“Players are supposed to be professional athletes and abusing their bodies by filling them with sugary soft drinks is nothing short of irresponsible.

“If the caffeine were to stay in his system for the whole week it could easily keep him awake for the whole 90 minutes, which would be unthinkable.”

Initial police reports suggested the bottle of Coke was “the real thing” and contained a cocktail of vegetable extracts, caffeine, carbonated water and monkeys’ paws.

The incident happened at the Fleece and Firkin – notorious for encouraging revellers to drink alcohol or down soft beverages quietly in pleasant surroundings . There is also a range of hot and cold snacks are available to order at the bar and the lounge is available for functions.

Friends said bachelor Lee was “distraught” that his hard-drinking image had been shattered.

One pal added: “He’s sick as a parrot, but at the end of the day the lad’s got to put it behind him and look ahead to next weekend. There’s no use crying over spilt milk and when the referee’s whistle blows he’ll be giving it 110%, and you can’t ask for more than that.

“He said he could kick himself, but to be honest the way he’s playing at the moment he’d probably miss.

“He only drinks at all because it boosts his performance on a Saturday and helps him score.

“He picked up a lovely bird at Lakota the other night after a couple of swift Sprites and a Dr Pepper.”

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed a Coke-drinking incident had taken place.

A spokesman added: “Are you looking for trouble, sonny? Oh dear, oh dear you appear to have fallen down the stairs. We are clumsy tonight aren’t we, sir?”

Bristol City Football Club confirmed an internal inquiry had been launched.

Chairman Steve Lansdown said: “The accusation is not fact but hearsay and very damaging hearsay at that.

“I have spent a considerable length of time on the phone talking with Lee as he is distraught at the accusations made.

“He has spent years building up a hard-drinking image and to have it shattered by nothing more than unsubstantiated rumour is disgraceful.”

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