From Portsmouth tormentor to sacked and jailed for cocaine and counterfeit money possession - now ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City youngster’s on rise again
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If the name rings a bell for Pompey fans, there’s a good reason why.
This is the same Paddy - or Patrick - Lacey who put Paul Cook’s side to the sword in the 2016-17 while a player for Accrington.
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Hide AdThe midfielder got the only goal of the game with a spectacular long-range drive at the Crown Ground in September 2016, to spark a Blues run of three losses in four - their joint worst spell of league results, in a season which was to end memorably with final-day title success.
But for Lacey things were to take a dramatic downward turn within two months of the Pompey win, as he tested positive for cocaine, was given a 14-month-ban and was later sacked by the League One club.
Within months the 28-year-old was to hit rock bottom when he went to the Glastonbury Festival and was found in possession of cocaine, MDMA and £500 in counterfeit notes.
Lacey was handed a 16-month sentence, but was later released after just five months. With his football ban in force, it was boxing which offered an outlet - and opportunity to get his life back on track.
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Hide AdFast forward to last weekend, and the Scouser is now a three-fight pro who has returned to football with Chester City and has a successful business as a carpet fitter.
‘I've been through some stuff,’ Lacey said in a recent interview with BBC Sport.
‘It was just bad news after bad news after bad news. A mad two or three years of torment.
‘That was my medicine (being put in prison). To be honest, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.
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Hide Ad‘I thought the judge was harsh on me. I got 14 months for the forged notes and another two months for possession of drugs at Glastonbury.
‘When I went down to the court, the judge said “Look, I deal with people every day who have nothing going for them. You've got a letter here off England Boxing, you've got letters from football clubs to say you're a professional footballer. You've got the world at your feet and you keep messing up. You're going to have to learn a harsh lesson”.
‘It gave me that thinking time when you're sat there 23 hours a day.
‘I was banned from football for 14 months. I needed some sort of aim so I went with the boxing.
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Hide Ad‘And the ending was the start. I'd been coming through non-league, not taking my football as seriously as I should and mixing in circles I shouldn't have.
‘I didn't safeguard myself. I'd love to go and speak to kids now in a similar position. You've got to refocus. You can't let people mislead you. It's all about growing as a person.
‘It's only really over the last year that I've managed to start putting things straight, with the attitude I have now. It's been a case of keeping my head down at times, but also keeping my chin high. I've come through and come out the other side.’
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