Lacey started his career in the academy of Tranmere Rovers, before joining Manchester United, where he played alongside players such as Ravel Morrison and Jesse Lingard. After a month with Manchester United, he was given the chance to join Liverpool, the club he had supported as a child, and took up this offer.[4]
On 21 July 2016, he joined Accrington Stanley on a one-year deal.[7] He made his debut for Stanley in the club’s 1–0 EFL Cup victory against Burnley on 24 August, coming off the bench in the 83rd minute for Billy Kee.[8] He made his Football League debut, and first league appearance for Accrington, against Morecambe on 27 August, coming off the bench in the 82nd minute for Shay McCartan.[9] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Portsmouth on 17 September.[10]
On 5 May 2017, Accrington announced they had terminated Lacey’s contract after he admitted to a breach of anti-doping regulations. He had been given a 14-month ban by the Football Association having tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, following a game against Hartlepool United the previous November.[11][12]
One month after his contract was terminated, Lacey was arrested at Glastonbury Festival in possession of 20.3 grams of cocaine, 16.8 grams of MDMA, and £520 in counterfeit £20 notes. He pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled substance, and passing an item as genuine which he knew to be a counterfeit. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison in July 2017.[13]
Return to non-league football
Following his release from prison, on 14 January 2019 it was confirmed that Lacey had joined Southport on an 18-month contract.[14]
In January 2020, he joined Northern Premier League Premier Division club Stalybridge Celtic before later joining Chester in September 2020.[15] After suffering a knee injury in February 2021, Lacey raised funds to pay for the surgery he needed.[16]
On 15 February 2022, it was announced that Lacey had decided to leave Chester in order to take up an offer with an unnamed Northern Premier League club.[17]
On 29 July 2023, Cymru North side Flint Town United announced the signing of Lacey from Warrington Rylands.[19] Just days later, on 1 August, Lacey’s younger brother Luis joined him at Flint Town on loan from Transmere Rovers.[20] He made his league debut for the Silksmen on 18 August against Ruthin Town, receiving a red card in the 53rd minute of the 1–1 draw.[21][22][23]
Boxing career
Lacey has also fought as a professional boxer, alongside his semi-professional football career and his day job as a carpet fitter.[24]
Lacey’s brothers, Luis and Shea are also footballers, playing for Tranmere Rovers and Manchester United, respectively. He also had a older sister Lauren and nephew Zack.[26][27] Born in England, Lacey is of Irish descent.[28]