From Prison To The Premiership

This is my world, of growing up in the roughest parts of South London where it pays to be quick-witted, handy with your fists and brave enough to use a tool if you have to.

From prison to the football premiership Jamie Lawrence has one hell of a story to tell. He left school early with little else than a talent for football and when his parents returned to Jamaica he was forced to move in with his sister where things went progressively down hill. Before long Jamie was leading a life of petty crime which earned him a borstal term, and then one in prison. But this was more like the beginning than the end and Jamie threw himself into the recreational sector of prison life, joining the football team. Whilst playing in an inter-prison match Jamie's talent was spotted and before long he was representing Sunderland and settling down into local life. Winning over the many sceptics Jamie resisted a return to his criminal ways and made his way up the sporting ladder to earn himself a place on the Jamaican national side.

Born in Battersea, South London in 1970 Jamie Lawrence relasied every aspiring schoolboy footballer's dream by playing un the Premiership against some of the world's best players, but sadly not before he had served two prison sentences for petty crimes.