TOWN coach Terry Yorath was more than three times over the drink drive limit when he knocked down a young woman in Leeds, a court heard.

But the former soccer international was told by a court yesterday that he must wait three more weeks to hear his fate.

Yorath, 54, of Leeds, assistant to Huddersfield Town manager Peter Jackson, had pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving without due care and attention when he appeared at Leeds Magistrates' Court.

The court heard he was driving his Jaguar X-type car along the A61 Harrogate Road, out of Leeds city centre on Thursday, June 24, when he crashed into the central reservation hitting a young woman crossing the road.

Prosecutor Mr Peter Jeffries said: "He approached the roundabout to the ring road near the church and mounted the central reservation and hit some street furniture. At that particular time a young lady was crossing. He hit her also.

"She was knocked down and taken to hospital. She apparently lost consciousness and suffered a broken pelvis and was unable to place weight on her right leg or work for six to eight weeks.

"She has been suffering bad headaches and has been taking strong painkillers since the accident."

The former Leeds United player and Wales coach was taken to police custody where the breath test revealed he had 120 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

The court heard he had no record of similar offences on his driving licence but six penalty points for speeding.

Speaking on his behalf, Mr Richard Manning said Yorath was full of remorse and described the incident as the worst thing that ever happened to him.

"I will read you the words my client said when he was interviewed some weeks after the offence.

"He said: `It's the worst thing that ever happened to me. I hate it. I just feel so sorry for the girl'.

"He was completely thinking of her and not himself and has made inquiries as to her well-being since this has happened."

Mr Manning also told the court of Yorath's `tragic' past which included the sudden death of his 15-year-old son, Daniel, from cardiomyopathy while playing football 12 years ago

"Mr Yorath has worked with the Cardiomyopathy Association, the condition which caused his son's heart to stop suddenly while apparently fit.

"He and his family have raised £200,000 for them.

"In addition to that tragedy he has recently split from his wife, Christine. For whatever reason he and his wife are now separated.

"On the day of the accident he had played golf and intended to have a couple of drinks and go home after a game of snooker.

"But he had been feeling low since splitting from his wife and his friends persuaded him to go out for a meal with them. He had some food and something to drink.

"He has no idea how much he had to drink.

"It didn't seem to himself and his friends that he was affected by drink or they would not have let him drive."

District Judge Mr David Kitson adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report after extending Yorath's unconditional bail and imposing an interim disqualification.

The case was adjourned until August 24 at 9:45 am at Leeds Magistrates' Court.

FORMER soccer star Terry Yorath became a household name in the 1970s as part of Don Revie's legendary Leeds United side.

But later in life the Welsh soccer star became just as well known for being the father of TV presenter Gabby Yorath and the tragic sudden death of his son Daniel in 1992.

The 15-year-old collapsed in Yorath's back garden as he was playing football with his father.

Daniel died from the heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He had just signed as a schoolboy for Leeds United.

Terry Yorath was born in Cardiff in 1950 and played 120 games in Leeds' midfield after he was taken on in 1967.

His international career included 59 appearances for Wales and he managed the Welsh side from 1988 until 1993.

He previously managed Swansea City, Bradford City and Cardiff City. He also played for Coventry City.