Wisbech Town were missing seven players for Boxing Day’s clash at Holbeach United ... so they signed up a player who had been in prison two days earlier.

Spalding United player-coach Lewis Webb was jailed for eight weeks for drink driving while disqualified and without insurance at Peterborough Magistrates Court on December 1 but was released at 9am on Christmas Eve.

While he was in prison, Wisbech approached Spalding to sign Webb and team mate Luke Thurlbourne on dual registration, meaning the players can represent both clubs.

Webb, who has worked as a youth coach at Peterborough United, started in the 1-0 loss at Holbeach.

Wisbech had asked to play the game a day later but their request was turned down by Holbeach

Webb committed the offences on November 29, the same day that he scored for the Tulips in their 2-0 win at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Wisbech manager Dick Creasey said: “Spalding manager Pat Rayment is a good friend of mine and he said he had a couple of players who had played little football lately so we dual registered them.

“Lewis Webb would probably be the first to admit he’s been a silly boy but he has served his time.

“At the end of the day he is a very good footballer and I did not have any doubts about using him.”