Lawrie Dudfield
Encyclopedia
Lawrie Dudfield is an English
former professional footballer
. He is currently manager of Quorn
. He played for many clubs, including Kettering Town
, Leicester City, Hull City
, Northampton Town
, Notts County
, Southend United
and Boston United
, and had loan spells with Lincoln City
and Chesterfield
. He currently is employed as a Community Sport Manager at Nottingham Forest
.
, before being signed by Leicester City
where he only made two appearances as sub. On 15 September 2000 Dudfield joined Lincoln City
on a month's loan, making his Football League debut for the club as a 60th minute substitute for Tony Battersby
in the 1–1 home draw with Blackpool
the following day. He made two further appearances for the Sincil Bank
based club before returning to Leicester City at the end of his loan period. He then joined Chesterfield
on loan, scoring three goals in fourteen appearances.
were sniffing around Lawrie and eventually signed him for £250,000. He spent two seasons at Hull playing 39 times and scoring 13 goals.
playing eight times and scored one goal. Then he went to Southend United
on loan and eventually signed for them scoring nine goals in 29 games.
where he played 21 games and scored five goals.
signed Dudfield in the summer of 2006, having been released by Boston United. He signed a two-year contact, which will keep him there until the summer of 2008. On 15 May he was released by the club and was instantly linked with a return back at Kettering Town.
side Cork City on 25 July 2008, having impressed manager Alan Mathews
during a trial period. Dudfield scored several goals for the club in the last couple of months of the 2008 season, and featured in the Setanta Sports Cup
final, in which they beat Glentoran
2–1 to win the competition for the first time.
in January 2009. After Chelmsford failed to reach the Conference National
he was released from the club on 7 May 2009.
for the 2009–10 season in May 2009 but the club elected to release him at the beginning of August with Corby's manager Graham Drury citing that he felt Dudfield would not be able to provide enough goals to make the club competitive in Blue Square North. Dudfield was unhappy with the manner of his departure, viewing the club to be in breach of contract and he considered legal action over the matter. Shortly afterwards, he decided to retire from football.
as striking cover for the remainder of the season, with former Boston team mates Jason Lee
and Lee Canoville
in charge. United were eventually knocked out of the Conference North
play-off semi final by Guiseley
, but Dudfield was offered the chance to extend his deal at Boston but rejected the contract in order to concentrate on his community work for Nottingham Forest
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
former professional footballer
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...
. He is currently manager of Quorn
Quorn F.C.
Quorn Football Club is an English football club based in the village of Quorn, near Loughborough, Leicestershire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South.-History:...
. He played for many clubs, including Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, Leicester City, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
, Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, and had loan spells with Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. He currently is employed as a Community Sport Manager at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
Leicester City
Dudfield started off his career as a trainee at Kettering TownKettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, before being signed by Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
where he only made two appearances as sub. On 15 September 2000 Dudfield joined Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on a month's loan, making his Football League debut for the club as a 60th minute substitute for Tony Battersby
Tony Battersby
Tony Battersby is a footballer who plays as a striker for Grantham Town. Battersby is one of football's journeymen and has played for many clubs both The Football League and non-League....
in the 1–1 home draw with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
the following day. He made two further appearances for the Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank
Sincil Bank is a football stadium in Lincoln, England and has been the home of Lincoln City since 1895. Previously, Lincoln City had played at the nearby John O'Gaunts ground since the club's 1884 inception. Sincil Bank has an overall capacity of 10,120 and is colloquially known to fans as "The...
based club before returning to Leicester City at the end of his loan period. He then joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
on loan, scoring three goals in fourteen appearances.
Hull City
By this time Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
were sniffing around Lawrie and eventually signed him for £250,000. He spent two seasons at Hull playing 39 times and scoring 13 goals.
Northampton Town
He then fell out of favour with the manager and was sent out on loan to Northampton, who liked what they saw and signed him on a free transfer. He spent one season at Northampton TownNorthampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
playing eight times and scored one goal. Then he went to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on loan and eventually signed for them scoring nine goals in 29 games.
Boston United
Northampton wanted Dudfield back and he played twice before leaving for Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
where he played 21 games and scored five goals.
Notts County
Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
signed Dudfield in the summer of 2006, having been released by Boston United. He signed a two-year contact, which will keep him there until the summer of 2008. On 15 May he was released by the club and was instantly linked with a return back at Kettering Town.
Cork City
However, he signed a contract with League of IrelandLeague of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
side Cork City on 25 July 2008, having impressed manager Alan Mathews
Alan Mathews
Alan Mathews is a former Irish footballer and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division side Shelbourne.-Player:As a player, Mathews played for St...
during a trial period. Dudfield scored several goals for the club in the last couple of months of the 2008 season, and featured in the Setanta Sports Cup
Setanta Sports Cup
The Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
final, in which they beat Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
2–1 to win the competition for the first time.
Chelmsford City
Dudfield signed for Chelmsford CityChelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
in January 2009. After Chelmsford failed to reach the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
he was released from the club on 7 May 2009.
Corby Town
Dudfield agreed a contract with Corby TownCorby Town F.C.
Corby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire. They will be members of the Conference North for the 2011–12 season. The Steelmen play their home games at the newly built Steel Park, adjacent to their previous ground, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium, which is...
for the 2009–10 season in May 2009 but the club elected to release him at the beginning of August with Corby's manager Graham Drury citing that he felt Dudfield would not be able to provide enough goals to make the club competitive in Blue Square North. Dudfield was unhappy with the manner of his departure, viewing the club to be in breach of contract and he considered legal action over the matter. Shortly afterwards, he decided to retire from football.
Return to Boston United
At the end of March 2011 Dudfield came out of retirement to join Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
as striking cover for the remainder of the season, with former Boston team mates Jason Lee
Jason Lee (footballer)
Jason Lee is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Boston United. He is currently also the club's joint manager.He has previously played in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest...
and Lee Canoville
Lee Canoville
Leroy Paul "Lee" Canoville is an English professional footballer, who plays as a defender for Boston United where he is also he clubs joint-caretaker manager. He has represented England at Under-16 level.-Career:...
in charge. United were eventually knocked out of the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
play-off semi final by Guiseley
Guiseley A.F.C.
Guiseley A.F.C. are an English football club from Guiseley, West Yorkshire, England.-History:Founded in 1909 by a local group of enthusiasts, the club’s first success came in 1913 when they won the local Wharfedale League...
, but Dudfield was offered the chance to extend his deal at Boston but rejected the contract in order to concentrate on his community work for Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.