Camden New Journal - News: Kentish Town football star to sport tag after spell in prison

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Camden New Journal - by JAMIE WELHAM
Published: 11 October 2007

Lee Scott

Striker free to play again

Kentish Town football star to sport tag after spell in prison

SHARP-SHOOTING goalscorer Lee Scott is known for wriggling away from defenders but there is one marker he will find difficult to run away from: his police tag.
The 24-year-old striker for Kentish Town FC was back on the pitch last week after an early release from jail.
The club, which rates him as one of their most gifted players, played their part in securing his freedom after providing a glowing character reference to the judge who released him on the condition that he wears an electronic monitoring tag around his ankle.
Mr Scott had served three months of a two-year sentence for assaulting a police officer during an attempted burglary.
He was Kentish Town FC’s top scorer last season even though he had spent half of it on remand in Pentonville prison.
Club secretary Cliff Rhodes said: “We are over the moon that he is back with us.
“We need him back the way we are playing at the moment. We did so much to help him and it was a big effort getting him out. He won’t let it affect the way he plays because he is such a great player – no one can get close to him when he’s running with the ball. Lee is the football jewel in the club’s crown and has a very promising future ahead of him.”
He added: “He’s a lovely lad, just too easily led and he fell in with the wrong crowd. We’re pretty sure his stint in prison has done him some good, but it certainly hasn’t helped his fitness.”
The tag is likely to be similar to the one worn by Liverpool footballer Jermaine Pennant after his conviction for drink driving two years ago when he was at Birmingham City.
Another problem for Mr Scott, who lives in Gospel Oak, will be night time fixtures as one of the conditions of his release is meeting a 7pm curfew.
Mr Rhodes said the footballer became disillusioned when he was released by Arsenal after suffering a knee injury just as he hoped to make a breakthrough in the youth ranks at the Premiership club.
“Kentish Town manager Frank Zanre took him under his wing,” the character reference said. “Mr Zanre acted as a father figure to Lee and as a result he has stayed totally loyal and committed to our football club. The club beg the court to give Lee one final chance to stay on the straight and narrow and will leave no stone unturned in ensuring we keep him there. We also strongly feel that Lee has learned his lesson.”
Mr Scott will work for Mr Zanre’s meat company and, when his licence conditions allow, the club want him to take part in football coaching courses in Israel, where one of the coach’s sons plays for professional team Beitar Jerusalem.

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