Dean Lyness Explained

Dean Lyness
Fullname:Dean James Lyness[1]
Birth Date:20 July 1991
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Height:[2]
Currentclub:Hamilton Academical
Clubnumber:21
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Warley Boys
Youthclubs2:Halesowen Town
Youthyears3:2000–2008
Youthclubs3:Birmingham City
Years1:2008–2009
Clubs1:Birmingham City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2009–2011
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2011
Clubs3:East Fife (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2011–2012
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2016
Clubs5:Burton Albion
Caps5:37
Goals5:0
Years6:2015–2016
Clubs6:Blackpool (loan)
Caps6:7
Goals6:0
Years7:2016
Clubs7:Blackpool (loan)
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2016–2017
Clubs8:Blackpool
Caps8:13
Goals8:0
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Nuneaton Town
Caps9:27
Goals9:0
Years10:2018–2019
Clubs10:St Mirren
Caps10:4
Goals10:0
Years11:2019
Clubs11:Raith Rovers
Caps11:8
Goals11:0
Years12:2019–2022
Clubs12:St Mirren
Caps12:8
Goals12:0
Years13:2022–2023
Clubs13:Airdrieonians
Caps13:10
Goals13:0
Years14:2023
Caps14:31
Goals14:0
Years15:2024–
Caps15:11
Goals15:0
Nationalyears1:2007
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:09:09, 5 June 2024 (UTC)

Dean James Lyness (born 20 July 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Hamilton Academical.

Lyness began his career as a youngster with Birmingham City, but never played for the first team. He signed for Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian in 2009, and spent a spell on loan at East Fife of the Scottish Second Division, but again, never played first-team football. On returning to England in 2011, he spent a season with Conference Premier club Kidderminster Harriers, playing ten matches, and then joined Burton Albion, with whom he made his first appearance in the Football League. After two spells on loan to Blackpool and a season with the club on a permanent basis, Lyness spent the 2017–18 season with Nuneaton Town of the National League North.

He returned to the Scottish top flight with St Mirren on a short-term contract in September 2018, and spent the second half of the season with Scottish League One club Raith Rovers before rejoining St Mirren. Over the next three seasons, he was the regular backup goalkeeper but made only seven first-team appearances, and signed for Airdrieonians in October 2022.

In international football, Lyness was capped four times for England at under-17 level.

Career

Lyness was born in Birmingham and raised in Halesowen, where he attended Leasowes Community College.[3] He joined Birmingham City at the age of nine after playing for Warley Boys and for Halesowen Town Colts.[4] By February 2007, still only 15 years old, he had made his reserve-team debut.[5] He was a regular on the bench for the reserves in the 2007–08 season, behind either Artur Krysiak or Colin Doyle, and picked up a Birmingham Senior Cup-winners' medal as an unused substitute.[6] In February 2009, he was named on the bench for Championship matches against Coventry City and Crystal Palace when regular substitute Doyle was struggling with a back problem.[4] He kept goal as Birmingham reached the semifinal of the FA Youth Cup, and his third and last appearance in the first-team matchday squad came when Maik Taylor was suspended for the visit to Watford. Taylor described him as a "level-headed lad, gets his head down, works extremely hard", and was "sure he will definitely have a good career ahead of him if he keeps progressing."[7] A few days later, Lyness was one of several youngsters told their future lay elsewhere.[8]

Heart of Midlothian

Lyness joined Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian in the 2009 close season. He played for their under-19 team,[9] and was in goal when they beat South of Scotland League side St Cuthbert Wanderers 18–0 in the Scottish Youth Cup.[10] Lyness was an unused substitute for the last four matches of the 2009–10 Scottish Premier League season,[11] and came close to making a first-team debut in the Edinburgh derby against Hibernian in April 2010, but Jamie MacDonald declared himself fit to play despite a virus that had prevented him from training ahead of the match.[12] In 2010–11, Lyness had no matchday involvement with Hearts' first team. In January 2011, he joined Scottish League Second Division club East Fife on loan, to gain experience[13] but, as at Birmingham and Hearts previously, he appeared on the first-team substitutes' bench but never on the field.[14] He was released by Hearts at the end of the season,[15] and returned to the Midlands.

Kidderminster Harriers

Lyness signed a one-year contract with Conference club Kidderminster Harriers, as competition for the club's player of the year, Danny Lewis.[14] When a knee injury broke Lewis's run of 60 consecutive Conference appearances, Lyness "produced one fine save on a more than satisfying Harriers debut" in a 1–0 win away to Kettering Town.[16] [17] Lyness played six Conference matches and two in the FA Cup, the second of which was a 4–1 defeat to Conference North club Corby Town,[18] but when Lewis's injury was confirmed as serious,[17] Kidderminster brought in the more "streetwise" goalkeeper Tony Breeden, who went straight into the starting eleven for the Conference win against Tamworth.[19] A hip injury prevented Lyness replacing the cup-tied Breeden for FA Trophy matches against Vauxhall Motors,[20] but he came back in for the next two rounds, and saved a penalty, albeit in a losing cause, against Luton Town.[21] Hopes that his performance might earn him selection in the Conference team were in vain, as Breeden retained the starting place for the remainder of the season.[22]

Burton Albion

Lyness signed a new contract with Kidderminster at the end of the season,[23] but was happy to take the chance to move into the Football League when League Two club Burton Albion offered him a two-year deal. He had previously worked with Burton's goalkeeping coach Kevin Poole at Birmingham.[24] He made an eventful debut. Football League Trophy rules restricting the number of team changes from the previous match prevented manager Gary Rowett from including Lyness from the start of Burton's visit to Coventry City,[25] but he was brought on at half-time to replace Ross Atkins. He kept a clean sheet in the second half and then through extra time. In the penalty shootout, the first nine players from each team scored before Burton's tenth penalty was saved. Lyness then saved Coventry's tenth kick to keep his team in the contest, but when his own attempt was saved by Joe Murphy, he was unable to reciprocate, and Murphy's successful kick put Coventry through to the next round.[25] [26]

He made his Football League debut on 23 October 2012, again as a substitute, replacing the injured Stuart Tomlinson with 11 minutes plus stoppage time left in a 1–1 draw with Port Vale.[27] On his first League start, against Dagenham & Redbridge, he conceded a first-half penalty, which he then saved by turning it onto the post, but was unable to stop the shot from the rebound; Burton won 3–2.[28] He kept his place until mid-January, when a positional error left him unable to deal with a looped shot from Adebayo Akinfenwa that gave Northampton Town a win.[29] Although Rowett was unwilling to blame Lyness,[30] he selected Tomlinson for the next match,[31] and Lyness regained a starting place only after a 7–1 defeat to Port Vale in April looked like derailing Burton's promotion chances.[32] He played three matchestwo wins and one lossbefore Tomlinson came back in for the last match of the regular season and the playoff semi-final defeat to Bradford City.

Loanee Jordan Pickford began the 2013–14 season in goal for Burton, but Lyness took over when injury forced Pickford's return to parent club Sunderland in mid-August. He had a run of games, including a League Cup shootout against Premier League club Fulham in which the final penalty went in off the post and Lyness' backside.[33] Rowett had said that Lyness would get the chance to establish himself as first choice,[34] but Pickford went straight back into the team when his loan resumed. His recall by Sunderland in November gave Lyness another chance, and he kept two clean sheets and was man of the match against Mansfield Town. Despite the arrival of Swiss under-21 international Benjamin Siegrist, signed on loan because the club had no goalkeeping cover apart from the 50-year-old Poole, Lyness kept his place in the starting eleven for the next match, away at Plymouth Argyle, and kept his third consecutive clean sheet.[35]

On 12 November 2015, Lyness joined fellow League One side Blackpool on loan until 2 January 2016.[36] He rejoined the club for a second loan spell in February 2016.[37]

Blackpool

On 31 August 2016, Lyness returned to Blackpool on a one-year deal following his release from Burton Albion.[38] He played 15 matches in all competitions before leaving the club when his contract expired.[39]

Nuneaton Town

On 8 August 2017, Lyness joined National League North team Nuneaton Town on a permanent deal.[40] He left Nuneaton at the end of the 2017/18 season.

St Mirren

Lyness signed a short-term contract with Scottish Premiership club St Mirren in September 2018.[41] He was released by St Mirren in January 2019, as the contract was not renewed.

Raith Rovers

On 16 January 2019, Lyness signed for Scottish League One side, Raith Rovers until the end of the season.[42] He made 12 appearances, and left the club at the end of his contract.[43]

St Mirren (2nd spell)

Lyness returned to St Mirren on a two-year deal in June 2019, after leaving the club less than a year before.[44] On 22 December 2021 Lyness was brought into the match day XI against Celtic following a spread of covid amongst the St Mirren Squad which forced 11 players to be deemed unavailable. Lyness produced a man of the match performance that will live long in the memory of saints fans. On 6 October 2022 it was announced that Lyness and St Mirren had again parted company.[45]

Airdrieonians

Lyness signed for Scottish League One club Airdrieonians on 8 October 2022 on a short-term deal.[46] Lyness departed the club in January 2023 upon the end of his contract, after making 11 appearances in all competitions for the club.[47]

St Patrick's Athletic

In March 2023, Lyness signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic, making his debut on 17 March 2023, in a 2–2 draw away to rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.[48] He was voted as the club's Player of the Month by their supporters for the month of April 2023.[49] On 12 July 2023, Lyness made his first appearance in European competition in a 2–1 loss against F91 Dudelange in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League at the Stade Jos Nosbaum.[50] On 28 October 2023, he was named as the club's Player of the Year for 2023.[51] On 12 November 2023, Lyness was part of the starting XI in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, in a 3–1 win over Bohemians in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium.[52]

Hamilton Academical

On 26 January 2024, Lyness returned to his family in Scotland, signing for Scottish League One club Hamilton Academical until the end of the season.[53] Lyness made 15 appearances for the club in all competitions by the end of the season, as they finished in second place and earned promotion to the Scottish Championship via the play-offs.[54] In June 2024, he signed a new contract with the club.[55]

International career

Lyness was capped four times by England at under-17 level in 2007, featuring alongside the likes of Jack Wilshere and Andros Townsend.[56] [57] He made his debut on 30 July, keeping a clean sheet as England beat Iceland U17 2–0 in the Nordic Tournament,[58] and also played in the same competition a few days later. Needing only a draw to progress to the final, England lost 2–0.[59] He also played against Turkey in the FA International Tournament in August,[60] and his last international appearance, in a 6–0 defeat of Estonia in October, contributed towards England's progress to the elite qualification round for the European Under-17 Championships.[61]

Club statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City2008–09[62] Championship00000000
Heart of Midlothian2009–10[63] Scottish Premier League0000000000
2010–11[64] Scottish Premier League00000000
Total0000000000
East Fife (loan)2010–11[65] Scottish Second Division0000
Kidderminster Harriers2011–12[66] Conference National602020100
Burton Albion2012–13League Two150200010180
2013–14League Two210401040300
2014–15League Two1010001030
2015–16League One0000000000
Total370701060510
Blackpool (loan)2015–16League One7070
Blackpool (loan)2015–16League One2020
Blackpool2016–17League Two130000020150
Total220000020240
Nuneaton Town2017–18[67] National League North2702050340
St Mirren2018–19Scottish Premiership400040
Raith Rovers2018–19Scottish League One800040120
St Mirren2019–20Scottish Premiership00000000
2020–21Scottish Premiership20000020
2021–22Scottish Premiership60001070
Total80001090
St Mirren U212019–204040
Airdrieonians2022–23Scottish League One10010110
St Patrick's Athletic2023LOI Premier Division3105020380
Hamilton Academical2023–24Scottish League One11040150
2024–25Scottish Championship0000200020
Total110002040170
Career total1640170402902140

Honours

Club

Blackpool

2017[68]

St Patrick's Athletic

2023[52]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2012 and 31/08/2012 . The Football Association . 28 November 2013.
  2. Web site: Player profile: Dean Lyness . Heart of Midlothian F.C. . 28 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112254/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/dean-lyness-burton-albion_2241487_46602 . 24 December 2013.
  3. News: Young Blues keeper braced for biggest night of his career so far . Birmingham Mail . 16 March 2009 . 19 December 2013.
  4. News: Bench call-up 'dream come true' for budding Birmingham keeper Lyness . Sunday Mercury . Birmingham . 1 March 2009 . 19 December 2013.
  5. News: We need a conveyor belt of players who are capable of playing in the Premiership . Colin . Tattum . Birmingham Mail . 8 February 2007 . 19 December 2013 . NewsBank.
  6. News: Birmingham Senior Cup – Birmingham City 5 Burton Albion 0 . Birmingham Mail . 8 April 2008 . 19 December 2013.
  7. News: Maik Taylor backs fellow Blues goalkeeper Dean Lyness . Birmingham Mail . 25 April 2009 . 19 December 2013.
  8. News: Warnock's comments add to Birmingham City fans' conspiracy fears . Birmingham Post . 30 April 2009 . 19 December 2013.
  9. News: Scottish spell helps to prepare Lyness for Harriers challenge . Kidderminster Shuttle . 21 October 2011 . 22 December 2013.
  10. Web site: Local Lads Do Club Proud . St Cuthbert Wanderers F.C . 14 November 2009 . 19 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224084310/http://www.stcuthbertwanderers.co.uk/matchdetails.asp?mid=93 . 24 December 2013.
  11. Web site: Hearts 2009/10: Results/Matches . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 December 2013.
  12. News: I played through Edinburgh derby despite sickness, reveals Hearts 'keeper Jamie MacDonald . Alan . Marshall . Daily Record . Glasgow . 4 May 2010 . 19 December 2013.
  13. News: Scottish Football League proving perfect breeding ground for talent . Barry . Anderson . Edinburgh Evening News . 9 March 2011 . 3 January 2014 . 48 . 3 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103140601/http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/hearts-future-stars-of-tynecastle-are-shining-bright-1-1530810 . dead .
  14. News: Dean Lyness warns Harriers No 1 . Express & Star . Wolverhampton . 1 July 2011 . 22 December 2013.
  15. News: Tynecastle departures . Heart of Midlothian F.C. . 26 May 2011 . 22 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224095226/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110526/tynecastle-departures_2241384_2367188 . 24 December 2013.
  16. News: Matt strike cuts down Poppies . Kidderminster Shuttle . 1 October 2011 . 19 December 2013.
  17. News: Harriers keeper in injury blow . Kidderminster Shuttle . 5 October 2011 . 19 December 2013.
  18. News: FA Cup: Corby Town 4–1 Kidderminster Harriers . Corby Town F.C . 3 November 2011 . 19 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111115033356/http://www.corbytownfc.co.uk/news/2011/fa-cup-corby-town-4-1-kidderminster-harriers/ . 15 November 2011.
  19. News: Whild – Harriers still well-placed . Kidderminster Shuttle . 5 November 2011 . 19 December 2013.
  20. News: Harriers boss backs Nathan Vaughan . Express & Star . Wolverhampton . 13 December 2011 . 19 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105108/https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-football/kidderminster-harriers-fc/2011/12/13/harriers-boss-backs-nathan-vaughan/ . 24 December 2013.
  21. News: Lyness hopes for full recall . Steve . Carley . Worcester News . 11 February 2012 . 19 December 2013.
  22. Web site: Kidderminster 2011/12: Player Appearances . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 December 2013.
  23. Web site: Lyness Brewers bound . Kidderminster Harriers . 4 July 2012 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224112523/http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/article/lyness-linked-to-brewers-258414.aspx . 24 December 2013.
  24. Web site: Brewers Agree Atkins and Lyness Deals . Burton Albion . 27 July 2012 . 19 December 2013.
  25. Web site: Coventry City 0–0 Burton Albion . Burton Albion F.C . 4 September 2012 . 19 December 2013.
  26. News: Coventry City 0 Burton Albion 0 (Coventry City win 10–9 on penalties) . Andy . Turner . Coventry Telegraph . 5 September 2012 . 19 December 2013.
  27. News: Rowett's ready to back his third man . Rex . Page . Burton Mail . 25 October 2012 . 21 March 2017 .
  28. News: Stand-in Dean Lyness repays Gary Rowett's confidence as Burton Albion tackle keeper woes . C. . Crawford . Derby Telegraph . 20 November 2012 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105754/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/stand-dean-lyness-repays-gary-rowett-s-confidence/story-17370876-detail/story.html . 24 December 2013.
  29. News: Cobblers up to sixth as fans' commitment is repaid with Burton win . Jefferson . Lake . Northampton Chronicle & Echo . 19 January 2013 . 19 December 2013 . 24 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113008/http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/cobblers-up-to-sixth-as-fans-commitment-is-repaid-with-burton-win-1-4703386 . dead .
  30. News: Rowett refuses to blame Lyness . Sky Sports . 19 January 2013 . 19 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224102933/http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8413910/ . 24 December 2013.
  31. News: Gritty Burton hang on to seal a vital victory . Tom . Sloan . Burton Mail . 28 January 2013 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://archive.today/20131222202405/http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Sport/Gritty-Burton-hang-on-to-seal-a-vital-victory-20130128060000.htm . 22 December 2013.
  32. News: Burton Albion 2, Wycombe Wanderers 0 . Tom . Sloan . Burton Mail . 9 April 2013 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224113943/http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Sport/Burton-Albion-FC/Burton-Albion-2-Wycombe-Wanderers-0-20130409224541.htm . 24 December 2013.
  33. News: The big Friday interview: Dean Lyness . David . Broome . Burton Mail . 30 August 2013 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130902015354/http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Sport/Burton-Albion-FC/The-big-Friday-interview-Dean-Lyness-20130830080000.htm . 2 September 2013.
  34. News: Burton Albion: Dean Lyness backed as first-choice keeper . BBC Sport . 19 August 2013 . 19 December 2013.
  35. News: Dean Lyness looks likely to keep Burton Albion number one shirt for Plymouth Argyle trip . Tom . Sloan . Derby Telegraph . 29 November 2013 . 19 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103251/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Dean-Lyness-looks-likely-Burton-Albion-number/story-20237177-detail/story.html . 24 December 2013.
  36. News: Blackpool sign Burton keeper Lyness . BBC Sport . 12 November 2015 . 12 November 2015.
  37. News: Dean Lyness: Blackpool re-sign Burton goalkeeper on loan . BBC Sport . 13 February 2016 . 24 April 2017.
  38. Web site: Lyness back at Blackpool . Blackpool F.C. . 31 August 2017 . 21 March 2017.
  39. News: Blackpool release 10 players following their promotion to League One . BBC Sport . 31 May 2017 . 31 May 2017.
  40. Web site: New signing: Boro secure 'keeper capture . Nuneaton Town F.C. . 8 August 2017 . 15 August 2017.
  41. Web site: St Mirren sign up goalkeeper Dean Lyness until January . BBC Sport . 27 September 2018 . 27 September 2018.
  42. Web site: Dean Lyness signs . RaithRovers.net . 16 January 2019 . 16 May 2019.
  43. Web site: Dean Lyness . RaithRovers.net . 19 June 2019 . 28 June 2019.
  44. Web site: Dean Lyness: Goalkeeper rejoins St Mirren on two-year contract . BBC Sport . 26 June 2018 . 26 June 2018.
  45. Web site: Dean Lyness leaves by mutual consent . 2022-10-06 . www.stmirren.com.
  46. News: St Mirren goalkeeper joins Airdrieonians . Paul . Thomson . Daily Record . 8 October 2022 . 30 October 2022.
  47. Web site: Airdire sign winger after Greenock Morton exit, as two leave New Broomfield. Paul. Thomson. 11 January 2023. Daily Record.
  48. Web site: Mulraney strikes late for Pat's to deny Rovers first win of campaign. Darryl. Geraghty. 17 March 2023. Irish Examiner.
  49. Web site: x.com.
  50. Web site: Mark Doyle's late strike keeps struggling Saints alive in Conference qualifier. 13 July 2023. Independent.ie.
  51. Web site: 2023 Awards Night Winners. www.stpatsfc.com.
  52. Web site: FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's. James. Fenton. 12 November 2023. www.rte.ie.
  53. Web site: Dean Lyness exits St Patrick's Athletic to join Scottish third-tier side Hamilton. Andrew. Dempsey. extratime.com.
  54. Web site: England - D. Lyness - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.
  55. Web site: Accies trio sign contract extensions as goalkeeper set for bigger role at club. by Paul. Thomson. 26 June 2024. Daily Record.
  56. Web site: Dean Lyness . https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110218/http://www.thefa.com/england/mens-u17s/team/search?s=Lyness . dead . 24 December 2013 . The Football Association . 19 December 2013.
  57. Web site: The Rocky Road to Dublin: How Pat's keeper Dean Lyness made himself a folk hero in Inchicore. 10 November 2023. www.independent.ie.
  58. Web site: Ice cool Donaldson . The Football Association . 30 July 2007 . https://archive.today/20141011073111/http://www.thefa.com/England/Mens-u17s/news/2009/england17nordicice . 11 October 2014.
  59. Web site: U17s miss out on final . The Football Association . 2 August 2007 . https://archive.today/20120604025813/http://www.thefa.com/England/mens-u17s/News/2009/England17NordicSwed . 4 June 2012.
  60. Web site: Adam's England fillip . Richard . Bowler . The Football Association . 31 August 2007 . https://archive.today/20131222202520/https://web.archive.org/web/20080312021742/http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/08/England17_vTurkeyReport.htm . 22 December 2013.
  61. Web site: Peacock's six-shooters . Russell . Staves . The Football Association . 23 October 2007 . https://archive.today/20080312021758/http://www.thefa.com/England/U17s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/England17Estonia.htm . 12 March 2008.
  62. Web site: Birmingham 2008/09: Player Appearances . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 December 2013.
  63. Web site: Hearts 2009/10: Player Appearances . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 December 2013.
  64. Web site: Hearts 2010/11: Player Appearances . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 19 December 2013.
  65. Web site: East Fife 2010/11: Player Appearances . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 22 December 2013.
  66. Web site: D. Lyness . Soccerway . Perform Group . 1 November 2022.
  67. Web site: Statistics Log 1889–2020 . From Town to Town . Nuneaton Town Supporters' Co-operative . 2020 . 289–290 . 1 November 2022.
  68. News: Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City . James . Law . BBC Sport . 28 May 2017 . 23 December 2018.