Liam Lawrence Bio Send To Friend  

Following a successful two-month loan spell at Stoke City Lawrence signed a permanent contract with the Potters in January 2007  joining for a fee of £500,000.

The goal scoring midfielder was voted the Stoke City Player Of The Year for 2007/08 as the club won promotion to the Premier League.

This versatile midfielder, who can play on either flank or through the middle, first won promotion to the Premier League with Sunderland after some excellent performances in 2204/05 but after relegation the following year he was deemed surplus to requirements.

Lawrence first made his name with Mansfield Town in the lower divisions before his performances earned a move to Sunderland in the summer of 2004.

He made his debut for Mansfield in January 2000 and the exciting midfielder broke into the side properly in the second half of 2000/01, and was a first team regular for the following term as the Stags were promoted from the Third Division.

Lawrence proved his ability to play at the higher level by weighing in with 12 goals in 2002/03, but that wasn't enough to prevent an immediate return to the bottom rung of the Football League.

The 2003/04 season would see Lawrence really turn on the style as an attacking midfielder of real quality. He smashed a superb 22 goals as Mansfield reached the play-offs - but his career at Field Mill would end in ignominy.

Mansfield faced Huddersfield Town in the play-off final and after a goalless 120 minutes the match went to a penalty shoot-out. When Lawrence stepped up to take his kick, he opted to try the cheeky chip down the centre of goal - and into the hands of Terriers goalkeeper Paul Rachubka. Mansfield lost the shoot-out.

His form that season meant he was always going to move on should promotion not be secured, and Sunderland moved in to sign him for a fee of £175,000. He was out of contract at Mansfield and a tribunal was needed to set the fee.