Mirror
Former professional footballer Paddy Lacey is plotting sporting redemption in the squared circle.
Lacey was previously on the books at Football League side Accrington Stanley – but is now targeting success as a boxer.
The midfielder made 11 appearances for Stanley in League Two in the first half of the 2016-17 season, even scoring the winner in a clash against Portsmouth.
But his world then came crashing down as he was sacked by Stanley and handed a 14-month ban from football after testing positive for cocaine.
Worse was to follow when he was then jailed.
But he has turned his life around since then and now juggles a carpet fitting business and playing semi-professional football with Chester City – whilst also trying to climb the ranks of the sweet science.
It is a world away from the troubles he has encountered in recent years but also a shows of how far he has come.
After his release by Stanley, Lacey admits he fell in with the wrong crowd…
