Achievements

1994 - Clubman of the year
1998 - Most improved defense
1999 - Team player of the year
2004 - Players player of the year

Introduction

Hi my name is Mark Lawrence and I was once a Defensive Back on an American Football team in the UK called the Maidstone Pumas.

I began to play at the age of 15 and played all kinds of positions, first on the Kent Panthers two touch (semi-contact) then later the Kent Pumas Youth contact team.

Whilst with the former semi contact team we went to a national final only to lose to a much smaller but better drilled team, the Crawley Pirates.

In 1998 I joined the senior league with the Maidstone Pumas and immediately achieved a starting position as a Cornerback, which I retained throughout my playing career.

American Football in the UK is played only at an amateur level but we participate in a national league and the sport is growing year on year.

The Maidstone Pumas have never had a great deal of success in the league and have only had 1 or 2 winning seasons. However, we have proven time and again to have an incredible fighting spirit and determination not to quit.

I continued to play until the 7th May 2006 when my career was cut short after I made a big tackle on our goal line in the forth quarter of our first ever game against our new local rivals from Canterbury. I severed the 5 nerves (4 of which came clean out of my spine) that control my left arm, leaving it completely paralysed.

I have no regrets for playing this game that I love so much and if I was capable I would kit up again tomorrow.

Tributes

A few of the nice things people have written in my scrap book.

“Training down the gym together was always a great laugh; I have never had a solid training partner or schedule since.” Martin Garnuad.
“On no less than 3 occasions Mark encouraged me out of retirement, only Mark with his endless enthusiasm could have done that. I have seen him grow from boy to man, as brothers we stood tall in the D-huddle, the backbone of the Pumas secondary.” Bryan ‘Tails’ Taylor.
“Rest assured that the way you have met the challenges you have faced will always be a great inspiration those who know you.” Martin Boffey.
“It was an honour to stand next to you on the field and it is an even greater honour to know you off the field; you show us what courage, heart and commitment really mean.” Dave Summers.