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Aaron Lawrence (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Aaron Lawrence in Jamaica
was a professional footballer
, he has since retired. During his career he played as a goalkeeper
, making over 60 appearances for Jamaica
.
and spent the most part of his career for Reno F.C.
.
for a little more than a decade. His role was primarily as backup to team captain Warren Barrett
, until one memorable performance in 1998 at the World Cup finals in France. Starting in Jamaica’s third and final game against Japan
, Lawrence shut out the relentless Japan
ese attackers until late in the game when one sneaked by him. He nevertheless protected Jamaica’s slim lead and led them to their first World Cup Finals win, a 2-1 result.
He attempted to secure an overseas contract with a European Club but it proved futile, but the player had emerged as Jamaica’s first-choice keeper and had hoped to lead the Jamaica national football team
to another World Cup
appearance. However, with the emergence of Donovan Ricketts
, the under twenty-three goalkeeper at the time, Lawrence never managed to fight his way back to the starter’s position.
The 'Wild Boy' was a tall, athletic and fleet-footed professional. Although there was perhaps room for improvement in his positioning and handling of balls crossed into the six-yard box, in his defence he was known for pulling off spectacular and timely saves when it mattered most. His vast experience proved useful time and time again for the Jamaican national football team
in those tough away games. He scored a penalty for Jamaica vs India in August 2004.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
was a professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, he has since retired. During his career he played as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
, making over 60 appearances for Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
.
Club career
Aaron played the whole of his career in his homeland, he played initially for Violet Kickers F.C.Violet Kickers F.C.
Violet Kickers F.C. is a club team in Jamaica, that competes in the Western Confed. At level 2 in the National leagues. They won the Jamaican National Premier League Title on two occasions in 1993/1994 and 1995/1996, but fell from grace and now no longer compete at that level of football.They only...
and spent the most part of his career for Reno F.C.
Reno F.C.
Reno Football Club is a Jamaican football team playing at the top level, the Jamaican National Premier League after earning promotion in 2010....
.
International career
Lawrence had been a member of the Jamaica national football teamJamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
for a little more than a decade. His role was primarily as backup to team captain Warren Barrett
Warren Barrett
Warren Barrett is a retired Jamaican football goalkeeper.Nicknamed 'Boopie', he played mostly for Violet Kickers F.C., but also played one season for Wadadah F.C. in the 1999/2000 season....
, until one memorable performance in 1998 at the World Cup finals in France. Starting in Jamaica’s third and final game against Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
, Lawrence shut out the relentless Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attackers until late in the game when one sneaked by him. He nevertheless protected Jamaica’s slim lead and led them to their first World Cup Finals win, a 2-1 result.
He attempted to secure an overseas contract with a European Club but it proved futile, but the player had emerged as Jamaica’s first-choice keeper and had hoped to lead the Jamaica national football team
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
to another World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
appearance. However, with the emergence of Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts is a Jamaican footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer. He is also the vice captain of the Jamaica national football team.-High School and College:...
, the under twenty-three goalkeeper at the time, Lawrence never managed to fight his way back to the starter’s position.
The 'Wild Boy' was a tall, athletic and fleet-footed professional. Although there was perhaps room for improvement in his positioning and handling of balls crossed into the six-yard box, in his defence he was known for pulling off spectacular and timely saves when it mattered most. His vast experience proved useful time and time again for the Jamaican national football team
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
in those tough away games. He scored a penalty for Jamaica vs India in August 2004.