Ex-footballer jailed for firing gun in the street

Teen hopeful spiralled into crime after academy blow

- CARL JACKSON News Reporter

KYE Lemathy was once described as a 'magician' of a footballer and had Premier League clubs interested in him.

But the teen prodigy spiralled into cannabis use and crime after being released by Walsall FC’s academy.

Now he is facing spending most of his 20s in jail for shooting at two people on a Birmingham street after being stabbed by one of them.

Life was troubled from day one for Lemathy, who was born addicted to heroin and had to be weaned off on methadone in his first week, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

He was brought up by his grand-mother and grew up ‘angry’ at the world, including his drug addict parents.

Yet there was hope due to his footballing ability, which meant he was picked up by Walsall FC’s academy.

But his barrister said he spiralled into cannabis when he was let go by the Black Country club.

Lemathy was excluded from school and committed three robberies as a youth, but in 2021, things seemed to be on the up for him.

Lemathy found himself playing for Kingstanding-based Red Lions United in the amateur Birmingham & District Football League.

In a club blog post he said the team had ‘helped me get back the love for playing football’ as he spoke of his hopes of being picked up by a Premier League outfit.