FA CUP hero Andy Gouck faces a fight to keep his career alive after narrowly avoiding a head-on crash with a police car while drink driving.

Gouck, who was twice the alcohol limit, may now be unable to carry on playing for Accrington Stanley after losing his licence.

The midfielder, who scored a wonder goal to knock Huddersfield Town out of the FA Cup earlier this month, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.

He was banned for a year but must now find a way of getting from his home in Blackpool to training and matches for the Conference side.

The 31-year-old former Blackpool FC player, a father of one, was also fined £300 with £60 costs.

Wendy Lloyd, prosecuting, said that at 10.50pm on Monday a police officer was driving along Whitegate Drive, Blackpool, when he saw Gouck's black BMW on the wrong side of the centre line, heading directly towards him.

The prosecutor said: "The officer braked hard and took evasive action. He then turned his vehicle round and followed the defendant to Glen Street where the BMW stopped."

A breath test showed 69 milligrams of alcohol in the defendant's body -- 35 is the legal limit.

Steven Townley, defending, said his client, who had no previous convictions, had acted completely out of character that night. The defence said: "The loss of his licence will impact heavily on his professional and personal life."

He said that in addition to his job as a social worker, the player used his car to drive to games around the country and to go to at least two training nights a week.

Mr Townley added: "He does not know if he is going to be able to carry on with this without his licence. No other players from Accrington Stanley live near him in this area."

He said that the night he was arrested Gouck had gone to the resort's No 4 pub for a quick drink with a woman friend.

Mr Townley said: "He drank more than he intended. For reasons he can not explain he took the decision to drive his car. He was dropping the friend off when police saw him."

Gouck told magistrates: "I do feel ashamed. It was out of character. I am regretful."

A spokesman for Accrington Stanley said: "As long as it doesn't affect the club, we won't be taking any action. It has been dealt with by the courts.

"As far as the club is concerned it's a matter for Andy and he will have to sort something out for getting to training and matches."