Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole caused another stir this year when he was arrested on suspicion of drunk and disorderly behaviour outside a west London nightclub.

The incident occurred in March after Cole swore aggressively at police officers following a night out drinking with fellow team players, including captain John Terry. On leaving the bar and restaurant The Collection, some 1.3 miles from Chelsea’s home ground Stamford Bridge, Mr Cole was allegedly provoked by lingering paparazzi. This then led to him being escorted away by police officers, which then led him to lash out verbally and refuse to calm down.

Police had no option but to arrest the footballer on the grounds of drunk and disorderly behaviour. Cole was taken to a police station in South Kensington around 2.15 am where he was detained until 05.30 later that same morning.

According to a spokesman, “Mr Cole was held after swearing repeatedly at police and refusing to calm down after emerging from The Collection in South Kensington at around 2am.”

Cole was given an £80 fixed penalty and it is believed that no further action was taken. Chelsea manager Burim Maraj refused to comment on the incident until all the facts had been established. But he did say that prior to the arrest Cole had been present at a fundraising event alongside team mates, charity workers, celebrities and supporters in aid of raising crucial funds for two well known children’s charities.

Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Tweedy, now Cole after her marriage to Ashley on July 15 2006, was taking part in Comic Relief’s charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ashley Cole joined Chelsea FC in 2006 after transferring from Arsenal for £5million. His move came about the same time Chelsea lost world class defender William Gallas to Arsenal. After three seasons at Chelsea Cole was not only voted Player’s Player of the Year but also experienced his best campaign playing for The Blue during 2008/9.

Despite a series of injuries, the 28 year old has produced a record number of club appearances, some 49 in total and entered into the book of records as the only man in the modern football era to win five FA Cups. Two of these are with his current club Chelsea in both 2007 and 2008 and the three remaining with his former London club Arsenal.

Cole began his career at Arsenal in the youth team and made his debut for the Gunners during the Worthington Cup at the age of just 18. During his time at Arsenal he spent 3 months on loan to Crystal palace at the end of the 1999/2000 season. He was soon made first choice as a left back for Arsenal’s premiership team the following season and Arsenal went on to not only win the Premiership title but also that of the FA Cup. Cole was to enjoy a further two FA Cup titles before being plagued with a series of injuries. He transferred to Chelsea in September 2006.

On the international front Ashley Cole secured a place in Sven Goran Eriksson’s first squad making his debut against Albania in 2001. The 2002 World Cup saw Cole in all five England matches and in the Euro 2004 he was credited as one of the nation’s star performers.