FORMER Worcester City striker Wesley Joyce has been hit with a lengthy suspension from the sport after playing while banned.

Joyce is currently serving a 15-game ban, imposed by the Worcestershire Football Association, for breaking a six-month suspension handed out by the Birmingham FA last year.

The 33-year-old was barred from playing for 182 days in December last year for making physical contact with a referee while playing for Bartley Green in the West Midlands League Premier Division.

But he subsequently turned out for Perrywood in the Midland Combination last season and Worcester Rileys, who play in the Worcester and District League.

His involvement for the teams came to light when he was booked for both within six days in March.

Joyce was given a four-match suspension for the Perrywood offence, which ended on Saturday, while an eight-match ban for the Worcester Rileys transgression started on Sunday.

However, he was also found guilty of making abusive remarks to a referee when he was booked for Perrywood against Austrey Rangers and given a separate three-game ban, which has also now been served, taking the total to 15 matches.

Joyce, who has a history of disciplinary offences, made headlines in May when he became a potential kidney donor to mum-of-two Sally-Anne Grainger, a gift he said was to help make up for not always being “a good boy.”