Alan Blayney
Encyclopedia
Alan Blayney is a professional football
er from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, currently with Linfield
. Blayney plays
as a goalkeeper
.
side Southampton
and was loaned out to Stockport County
, but was cut short by a broken finger. He also he had a spell at Bournemouth
on loan. He made his début for Southampton in May 2004, receiving a high amount of praise. Blayney also won Sky Sports
save of the season after saving an Alan Shearer
header in May 2004 on his Premier League début. The match at St Mary's
ended in a 3-3 draw. Blayney also played in the following 2-1 defeat at Charlton
. Blayney would play two more games for Southampton the following season, the 2-2 Premier League draw against West Bromwich Albion
and the 5-2 League Cup
loss against Watford
. Blayney, who was then behind Antti Niemi and Paul Smith in the team's pecking order went on loan to Rushden & Diamonds
and Brighton & Hove Albion
. Brighton tried to sign Blayney on a permanent basis in 2005, but could not afford the transfer fee Southampton were asking. Blayney did return to Brighton & Hove Albion for a second loan spell, before returning to Southampton in mid-December.
Blayney then joined Doncaster Rovers
for £50,000 from Southampton in January 2006, signing a two and half year contract, with hopes of getting the team promoted to the Championship
. Blayney started off as first choice goalkeeper at Belle Vue stadium
, but fell behind Ben Smith
and Dane Jan Budtz
in the pecking order after an ankle injury. He decided to leave the club for personal reasons.
In February 2007, Blayney joined League One side Oldham Athletic
, until the end of the 2006-07 season
, after impressing in a reserve team
match. Blayney made his début for Oldham Athletic in a 1-2 home defeat against Bournenouth, after first choice goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi
was suspended.
In 7 August, Alan Blayney joined Irish side Bohemians
on a short term deal to provide cover for first choice goalkeeper Brian Murphy
. He marked his debut with a clean sheet as Bohs beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 on 31 August. He failed to gain the number 1 shirt from Brian Murphy
though and was released at the end of the season. On 15 March 2008 it was revealed that Blayney had signed for Ballymena United
, although he was unable to play for the Braidmen until the 2008-09 season. In June 2009, Blayney signed a three year contract for Linfield
.
Blayney was chosen as the Ulster Footballer of the Year
for the 2010/11 season.
international, played his first match for the Northern Ireland senior national team
in their 2006 summer tour of the United States
. Northern Ireland lost the match against Romania
2-0. He followed this with 3 appearances in 2010.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, currently with Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. Blayney plays
Football (soccer) positions
In the sport of association football, each of the eleven players on a team is assigned to a particular position on the field of play. A team is made up of one goalkeeper and ten outfield players who fill various defensive, midfield and attacking positions depending on the formation deployed. These...
as a goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Footballing career
Blayney started his career with PremiershipFA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
side Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and was loaned out to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, but was cut short by a broken finger. He also he had a spell at Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on loan. He made his début for Southampton in May 2004, receiving a high amount of praise. Blayney also won Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
save of the season after saving an Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
header in May 2004 on his Premier League début. The match at St Mary's
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
ended in a 3-3 draw. Blayney also played in the following 2-1 defeat at Charlton
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
. Blayney would play two more games for Southampton the following season, the 2-2 Premier League draw against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and the 5-2 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
loss against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. Blayney, who was then behind Antti Niemi and Paul Smith in the team's pecking order went on loan to Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
and Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. Brighton tried to sign Blayney on a permanent basis in 2005, but could not afford the transfer fee Southampton were asking. Blayney did return to Brighton & Hove Albion for a second loan spell, before returning to Southampton in mid-December.
Blayney then joined Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
for £50,000 from Southampton in January 2006, signing a two and half year contract, with hopes of getting the team promoted to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. Blayney started off as first choice goalkeeper at Belle Vue stadium
Belle Vue (football)
Belle Vue was the home of English professional football club Doncaster Rovers from 1922 to 2006. The ground was affectionately called by fans as 'Old Belle Vue' or OBV.-History:...
, but fell behind Ben Smith
Ben Smith (goalkeeper)
Benjamin James "Ben" Smith is an English football goalkeeper, currently playing for Shrewsbury Town.-Biography:Smith is son of the renowned goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Simon Smith...
and Dane Jan Budtz
Jan Budtz
Jan Budtz is a Danish footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Stalybridge Celtic after leaving Eastwood Town...
in the pecking order after an ankle injury. He decided to leave the club for personal reasons.
In February 2007, Blayney joined League One side Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, until the end of the 2006-07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, after impressing in a reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
match. Blayney made his début for Oldham Athletic in a 1-2 home defeat against Bournenouth, after first choice goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi
Les Pogliacomi
Les Pogliacomi currently plays for Campbelltown City SC in the FFSA Super League.-Club career:He was dropped for Chris Day by Ronnie Moore in the 2005-2006 season, and went to Blackpool FC. However, John Sheridan brought him back to Oldham in the 2006/2007 season...
was suspended.
In 7 August, Alan Blayney joined Irish side Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
on a short term deal to provide cover for first choice goalkeeper Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy (footballer)
Brian Murphy is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Queens Park Rangers. Murphy previously played for Bohemians, Swansea City, Manchester City and Ipswich Town.-Club career:...
. He marked his debut with a clean sheet as Bohs beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 on 31 August. He failed to gain the number 1 shirt from Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy (footballer)
Brian Murphy is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Queens Park Rangers. Murphy previously played for Bohemians, Swansea City, Manchester City and Ipswich Town.-Club career:...
though and was released at the end of the season. On 15 March 2008 it was revealed that Blayney had signed for Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
, although he was unable to play for the Braidmen until the 2008-09 season. In June 2009, Blayney signed a three year contract for Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
.
Blayney was chosen as the Ulster Footballer of the Year
Ulster Footballer of the Year
The Ulster Footballer of the Year is the older of two association football player of the year awards in Northern Ireland. It is awarded by Castlereagh Glentoran Supporters' Club to the player who is adjudged by an independent committee to have been the best of the season in the IFA Premiership...
for the 2010/11 season.
International football
Blayney, a former Northern Ireland under-21Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
international, played his first match for the Northern Ireland senior national team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
in their 2006 summer tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Northern Ireland lost the match against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
2-0. He followed this with 3 appearances in 2010.
Honours
LinfieldLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
- IFA PremiershipIFA PremiershipThe IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
champions: 2009–10 - Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
winners: 2010