FORMER York City player Chris Clarke crashed his car while over the drink limit from the night before, a court heard.

The 23-year-old, who had just signed from City to Halifax Town, admitted drink-driving after he smashed into railings on Salterhebble Hill, Halifax.

Calderdale magistrates banned him from driving for 12 months and ordered him to pay a £100 fine and £40 costs.

Abid Ali, prosecuting, said police attended an accident at 9.15am on October 23.

The defender was taken to Halifax police station, where a breath test showed he had 51 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Clarke is in his second spell with the Shaymen after joining Halifax Town from York City.

He has a previous conviction for assault in March, 2002.

He said he had been out for a meal and had some wine the night before and did not think he was over the limit the next morning.

He told the court he earned £500 a week as a semi-professional football player but had loans and debts and had moved back into his mother's house in Headingley, Leeds.

Updated: 10:06 Wednesday, November 03, 2004