Former Hednesford Town manager and top flight footballer Steve Anthrobus appeared in court today accused of having sex with a woman in a public place.

The 37-year-old, pictured, who is nicknamed “Buster”and played for London clubs Millwall and Wimbledon appeared at Walsall Magistrates Court alongside 40-year-old Debbie Matthews, who faces the same public indecency charges.

Anthrobus, from Somerset Road, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, has been accused of two counts of having sex in a public place witnessed by a child and a third count of having sex in a public place between March 1 and June 8 this year.

Matthews, pictured right, of Walton Road, Aldridge, faced the same charges. She was dressed in dark trousers and boots and arrived just before Anthrobus, supported by a female friend.

Mrs Ruth Childs, prosecuting told the court the charges related to a public place in Brownhills and the couple were spotted by an unnamed witness. She would not give a more specific location.

Magistrates said they hadn’t got sufficient powers to deal with the case today and committed it to Wolverhampton Crown Court. The pair will appear back at the higher court on December 14 for a plea and directions hearing.

Mrs Childs said the case related to three seperate charges of having sex in public.

Anthrobus is a qualified football coach and visits school to teach youngsters. After playing top flight with Millwall and Wimbledon he moved to the lower divisions and played for Shrewsbury Town.

He also played in Hednesford Town’s FA Trophy winning team before taking over the reigns of club manager at the end of 2005.

But in May he was sacked after the club was relegated from Conference North after the club won just four of Anthrobus’s 25 games in charge.

By Andy Richardson