Off the PitchMirror FootballUnverified source· 23 Sept 2026
Matt Lawrence: Ex-Millwall captain opens up on drug battle
The former FA Cup finalist says he nearly lost his life twice within four days during his addiction struggle.
D. Lawrence
player
Who
Matt Lawrence
Age
52
Role
Former defender
Clubs
Millwall, Crystal Palace
What happened. Former Millwall captain Matt Lawrence has spoken publicly about a severe drug addiction that nearly killed him twice in four days. The ex-defender, now 52, was a popular figure at The Den and helped Millwall reach the 2004 FA Cup final against Manchester United.
- Made 261 appearances for Millwall during his playing career
- Captained the Lions and featured in the 2004 FA Cup final
- Has battled drug addiction since his playing days ended
Lawrence's story adds to growing conversations around addiction and player welfare after retirement.
In this story
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