Crash on Chester High Road
On Saturday, 28 June, at around five o’clock in the evening, on a winding stretch of Chester High Road in Cheshire County, a black Range Rover driven by former England holding midfielder Paul Ince crashed into the central reservation. Fortunately, the collision caused no serious injuries to other road users, yet the SUV sustained significant damage. Patrol officers arrived within minutes and detected signs of alcohol intoxication in the 57-year-old driver.
Legal Warning Instead of a Captain’s Armband
The former Three Lions captain was arrested, taken to the station, and later released on bail pending trial. The hearing is scheduled for 18 July at Chester Magistrates’ Court. Ince faces charges of drunk driving under English law, an offense that can carry a substantial fine, temporary disqualification from driving, and, in aggravated circumstances, a custodial sentence.
Playing Career: From the Hammers to the Nerazzurri
The football world knows Ince as a true box-to-box midfielder who tirelessly linked defense and attack. With Manchester United he twice lifted the Premier League trophy and claimed both the FA Cup and League Cup. He later donned the colors of Inter Milan, and also strengthened Liverpool, Middlesbrough, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The midfielder earned 53 caps for England, many of them as captain.
Coach on the Touchline and Beyond
After hanging up his boots, Ince moved into management, taking the helm at Macclesfield Town, MK Dons, Blackpool, and Reading. He fulfilled his most recent contract with Reading until spring 2023, after which he took a break. Now, instead of a tactical whiteboard, a courtroom bench awaits him—where any mistake could prove far costlier than a midfield turnover.
Alcohol Behind the Wheel: Experts’ Comment
According to British police statistics, exceeding the legal alcohol limit remains one of the leading causes of road accidents in the United Kingdom. Each such story—especially when a celebrity is involved—reopens the discussion of personal responsibility: if even former Premier League captains can err, ordinary drivers must all the more remember the “zero-tolerance” rule for alcohol at the wheel.
This episode serves as a reminder that star status and an impressive résumé do not confer immunity from traffic regulations. Ahead of Paul Ince lies not a rematch on the pitch but a judicial contest, the outcome of which will depend less on pass accuracy than on the letter of the law and his willingness to acknowledge his mistake.
