Martyn Lancaster
Encyclopedia
Martyn Lancaster is an English
footballer currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.
in the English Football League and Football Conference
between 1998 and 2003.
After playing well against them in a cup tie, Lancaster was given the chance to play in a trial match for Aston Villa
's reserves in October 1999, but was not signed by the team.
, Northwich Victoria
and Southport
, Lancaster moved to the United States
in 2006 to join Wilmington Hammerheads
of the USL Second Division
. He moved up a division when he signed for the Atlanta Silverbacks
in 2007, and made his debut in a 0-0 draw with California Victory
in June of that year.
After Atlanta folded at the end of 2008 Lancaster returned home and joined Scottish
side Queen of the South
in January 2009. Lancaster made the news when it transpired that he had been signed on the strength of a YouTube
highlights video uploaded by his wife. He played 15 games and scored two goals for Queens, but left at the end of the season to signed for Swedish side Ljungskile
.
Lancaster went back across the Atlantic in 2010 when he signed with Miami FC
of the USSF Division 2 Professional League
. Miami became the Fort Lauderdale Strikers prior to the beginning of the 2011 North American Soccer League season; he scored the new Strikers' first ever goal in a 2-1 loss to FC Edmonton
on the first day of the season.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.
Early career in England
Lancaster played over 100 games for Chester CityChester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in the English Football League and Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
between 1998 and 2003.
After playing well against them in a cup tie, Lancaster was given the chance to play in a trial match for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
's reserves in October 1999, but was not signed by the team.
United States and beyond
After a brief stint playing non-League football in England for Leigh RMILeigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
, Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
and Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
, Lancaster moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2006 to join Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads
Wilmington Hammerheads is an American professional soccer team based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
. He moved up a division when he signed for the Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
in 2007, and made his debut in a 0-0 draw with California Victory
California Victory
The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support....
in June of that year.
After Atlanta folded at the end of 2008 Lancaster returned home and joined Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
side Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in January 2009. Lancaster made the news when it transpired that he had been signed on the strength of a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
highlights video uploaded by his wife. He played 15 games and scored two goals for Queens, but left at the end of the season to signed for Swedish side Ljungskile
Ljungskile SK
Ljungskile SK is a Swedish football club located in Ljungskile, a town within Uddevalla Municipality. The club, formed 1926 currently play in Superettan. Ljungskile SK is famous for their promotions between 1990 to 1997...
.
Lancaster went back across the Atlantic in 2010 when he signed with Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
. Miami became the Fort Lauderdale Strikers prior to the beginning of the 2011 North American Soccer League season; he scored the new Strikers' first ever goal in a 2-1 loss to FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on the first day of the season.