JFF dumps Lawrence

Lawrence

THE newest England-born member of the Reggae Boyz, 30-year-old Jamie Lawrence yesterday had his invitation to represent the country withdrawn.

On Tuesday, Lawrence was one of seven England-based players named in a 19-man Jamaica squad to take part in a four-nation tournament in Morocco. The team left yesterday.

According to the president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, it was brought to his attention on his return to the island on Tuesday that the player had a criminal record.

"The latest invitee to the squad, Jamie Lawrence of Bradford City, had served two sentences for a serious crime and hence this makes him ineligible to represent Jamaica," Burrell said yesterday.

"It is the policy of the Jamaica Football Federation that if anyone connected to the sport is convicted of a criminal offence, he or she can no longer represent Jamaica at football," Burrell said.

News of Lawrence's time in prison first surfaced in March when he revealed his troubled past through an interview which appeared in the Black British tabloid, the New Nation.

Lawrence who has since lived the life of a model citizen explained his parents moved back to Jamaica when he was a teenager and that left the room for him to get involved in undesirable activities. "My mum and dad went back to Jamaica when I was in my teens and I was left in London with no money and no job. In that position it is easier to go the other way than do the right thing," Lawrence said.

It was in prison that Lawrence began to take football seriously and it was there that he got his break. "Because I didn't smoke, the only thing I could do was go to the gym and play football or do some weights.

"I started playing for the prison team at Camphill and I remember one Boxing Day 11 months into a four-year sentence, when we played against Cowes, I scored twice and they asked the governor if I could play for them.

"It was a crossroads in my life and thank God I took the right route," said the Balham-born player.

In the article Lawrence revealed he served two terms in prison for robbery. "The first robbery was snooker ball and I got three years. The second was with some geezer and a fight that turned into a robbery - I got four years for that. It was the worst period of my life," said the 6'0" Lawrence.

Since being released from prison Lawrence has served as a role model to children in south London. Though Lawrence sees himself as a changed man, this will have little effect on the JFF hierarchy.

"Yes, he might have paid for his crimes through the time served but he will be travelling as a Jamaican. We tried to do something for a former national player (Winston Anglin who was convicted of smuggling drugs in the United States) and had to scratch him," said Burrell.

"He (Jamie) can play for his club but as far as the national team is concerned the principle remains the same. We have to send a clear message and we have to respect policies. The fact he has since lived an exemplary life has no say," added Burrell.

"Once one has been convicted of a crime - anyone at all, whether the person be coach, manager, executive, player that is how it is. We have to be consistent as you can recall the situation with a former national player was convicted of a crime he became no longer eligible."

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