James Lawrence (footballer)

Early career

Lawrence in his early days as a footballer, in the role of a midfielder, featured for English clubs Enfield, Arsenal and Queens Park Rangers. In 2008 his family moved to the Netherlands where he joined HFC Haarlem. In 2009 Lawrence left Haarlem to link up with Ajax with whom he won the Netherlands U19 First Division Championship in 2010-11. Lawrence then had spells with Jong Sparta Rotterdam and Jong RKC Waalwijk whilst he was enrolled at the Johan Cruyff Institute in Amsterdam.

2014–15 season

Lawrence transferred to AS Trenčín on 13 August 2014 aged 21 and scored on his debut the same day in a Slovak Cup match against ŠK Strážske. Four days later Lawrence made his Fortuna Liga debut in a 4–2 win against MFK Košice. On 1 May 2015 Lawrence helped AS Trenčín to a maiden Slovak Cup, beating FK Senica in the final. In May 2015 AS Trenčín became Fortuna Liga Champions for the first time with Lawrence thus achieving the league and cup double in his first senior season.

During Season 2014–15 Lawrence played 25 matches for AS Trenčín, winning 19, drawing 4 and losing 2 (PPG 2.44 | on pitch goal average 3.23 | on pitch goal ratio 0.76).

2015–16 season

Lawrence missed the end of the 2014–15 season and the beginning of the 2015–16 season due to an injury sustained in the 2015 Cup Final, returning on 13 October 2015 when he scored in a 3–0 win over ŠK Blava Jaslovské Bohunice in the 4th round of the Slovak Cup. A 3–1 win over ŠK Slovan Bratislava in the Slovnaft Cup Final on 29 April 2016 secured a second Slovak Cup for Lawrence and AS Trenčín. On 8 May 2016 AS Trenčín beat ŠK Slovan Bratislava 4–0 to become Fortuna Liga Champions for the second year in succession, Lawrence thus achieved back to back doubles in his first two senior seasons at the club.

During Season 2015–16 Lawrence played 20 matches for AS Trenčín, winning 17, drawing 1 and losing 2 (PPG 2.60 | on pitch goal average 5.17 | on pitch goal ratio 0.84).

2016–17 season

Lawrence made his UEFA Competition debut playing for AS Trenčín on 13 July 2016 in a 4–3 win over Slovenian Champions Olimpija NK in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2, scoring his first Champions League goal 3 minutes into the game. On 25 August 2016, in a 2–0 UEFA Europa League win over SK Rapid Wien, Lawrence scored the first competitive goal in the newly opened Allianz Stadion Vienna.

During Season 2016–17 Lawrence played 34 matches for AS Trenčín, winning 18, drawing 5 and losing 11 (PPG 1.74 | on pitch goal average 1.31 | on pitch goal ratio 0.57).

2017–18 season

Lawrence's 2017-18 season for AS Trenčín began on 29 June 2017 with a 5-1 win over FC Torpedo Kutaisi in the UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 1. A concussion injury in the 2nd leg against FC Torpedo Kutaisi in Georgia ruled Lawrence out of the Trenčín squad until 2 September 2017 when he returned in an 8-0 win over ŠKM Liptovský Hrádok.

To date, during Season 2017–18, Lawrence has played 6 matches for AS Trenčín, winning 4, drawing 1 and losing 1 (PPG 2.17 | on pitch goal average 2.33 | on pitch goal ratio 0.70).

During the 4 Seasons 2014–18, Lawrence has played 85 matches for AS Trenčín, winning 58, drawing 11 and losing 16 (PPG 2.18 | on pitch goal average 2.10 | on pitch goal ratio 0.68). He has played a total of 6,248 minutes averaging 73.51 minutes per game and has scored 9 goals.

Style of play

Lawrence plays in midfield as a deep-lying playmaker and as a centre-back.

Honours

Club

International career

Lawrence is eligibile to play for England, The Netherlands, South Africa or Wales.