Wing wizard banned for speeding

SAFC wing-wizard Liam Lawrence has been banned and fined for being caught doing more than twice the legal speed limit.

Lawrence, 22, was spotted by an unmarked patrol car in his Chrysler Crossfire at 109.1 mph on a 50mph stretch of the A19 at 9.38am on Sunday 12th September.

Lawrence said that he had not been woken by his alarm that morning, to be in Sunderland for a 9.30am training session at the Academy of Light in Cleadon. His solicitor Clive McKeag said, "He had just joined the club only a few weeks before, and was very anxious indeed that his playing career was not jeopardised in any way by being late. He was well aware that the manager is a strict disciplinarian, as most of us know.

Lawrence's solicitor said in mitigation that there was no other traffic on the road at the time and that his client was "astounded" when told what speed he'd been doing.

The player, who has a previous conviction for skipping a red traffic light two years ago, was fined £750 and banned for 30 days.

Mick McCarthy said, "I in no way condone any player who drives at excessive speed."