Former Canaries striker Adrian Coote nearly got his sums right yesterday after he escaped a driving ban and kept his dream of appearing on Countdown.Coote, who played more than 60 games for Norwich City between 1996 and 2001, appeared before Yarmouth magistrates to be sentenced for speeding.

Former Canaries striker Adrian Coote nearly got his sums right yesterday after he escaped a driving ban and kept his dream of appearing on Countdown.

Coote, who played more than 60 games for Norwich City between 1996 and 2001, appeared before Yarmouth magistrates to be sentenced for speeding.

The 30-year-old had been in a conundrum as his court appearance meant he could not take part as a contestant in Channel Four quiz programme Countdown yesterday.

But it was a case of double celebrations for the Yarmouth Saturday league player as he was told he would not banned from getting behind the wheel due to a legal blunder and he still had a chance to appear with Jeff Stelling on his favourite television show.

And as the former Northern Ireland international looked forward to filming Countdown next month he spoke to the EDP about how he had fallen out of love with football.

Coote, who lives in Yarmouth, had been told last month that he faced a six month driving ban after he admitted speeding through Filby at 48mph on July 4 - 18mph over the limit.

However he escaped a ban yesterday after magistrates heard that he had wrongly been given nine points on his licence from two previous motoring convictions in January by being doubly punished for using a mobile phone while driving.

Magistrates reduced the January conviction to six points and added five points on his licence for his latest offence - one point away for being banned.

Outside the courthouse Coote told the EDP: “I am relieved to have kept my licence. I accept that speeding is wrong and dangerous.”

Coote said that even though he had to cancel yesterday's filming of Countdown because of his court appearance programme bosses had told him he could go before the cameras next month.

He has always been a fan of the show as it was the first thing on television when he used to come home when he was young.

Coote said: “I was disappointed not to go the filming yesterday but the court must come first.”

The 30-year-old, who was born in Belton, rose through the Canaries' ranks and he made his debut in the first team in the 1997 season.

In 63 league appearances he scored three goals, including the winner against Manchester City, and he went on to play six times for Northern Ireland.

However following a �50,000 move to Colchester in 2001/2 season Coote's football career went into decline as he played for Dereham Town, Wroxham and Gorleston before ending up playing for the Carpathians in the Yarmouth and District League.

Coote, who is a sales advisor for Aviva, said: “I did have some injury problems. I just fell out of love with football and am now moving on with my life - which is a good life.”

As well as having five points on his licence Coote was fined �200 for speeding and ordered to pay �50 in costs.