Alan Blayney

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Alan Blayney

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|10|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Belfast, Northern Ireland

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Larne (goalkeeping coach)

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1997–2001 |youthclubs1 = Glentoran

| years1 = 2001–2006 |clubs1 = Southampton |caps1 = 3 |goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2002 |clubs2 = → Stockport County (loan) |caps2 = 2 |goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2002–2003 |clubs3 = → AFC Bournemouth (loan) |caps3 = 2 |goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2005 |clubs4 = → Rushden & Diamonds (loan) |caps4 = 4 |goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2005 |clubs5 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |caps5 = 7 |goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2005 |clubs6 = → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |caps6 = 8 |goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2006–2007 |clubs7 = Doncaster Rovers |caps7 = 24 |goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2007 |clubs8 = Oldham Athletic |caps8 = 1 |goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2007 |clubs9 = Bohemians |caps9 = 3 |goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2008–2009 |clubs10 = Ballymena United |caps10 = 32 |goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2009–2014 |clubs11 = Linfield |caps11 = 118 |goals11= 0

| years12 = 2014 |clubs12 = → Ards (loan) |caps12 = 11 |goals12= 0

| years13 = 2014–2015 |clubs13 = Glenavon |caps13 = 17 |goals13= 0

| years14 = 2015–2017 |clubs14 = Ballymena United |caps14 = 34 |goals14= 0

| years15 = 2017 |clubs15 = Dundela |caps15 = 4 |goals15= 0

| years16 = 2017 |clubs16 = Warrenpoint Town |caps16 = 6 |goals16= 0

| years17 = 2018 |clubs17 = Ballyclare Comrades |caps17 = 5 |goals17= 0

| totalcaps = 281

| totalgoals = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2002–2003 |nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U21 |nationalcaps1 = 5 |nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2006–2011 |nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 0

}}

Alan Blayney (born 9 October 1981){{cite book |last1=Chalk |first1=Gary |last2=Holley |first2=Duncan |last3=Bull |first3 =David |name-list-style=amp |title=All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC| year=2013| location=Southampton |publisher=Hagiology Publishing|isbn=978-0-9926-8640-6| page=255}} is a retired professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is now the first team goalkeeper coach at NIFL Premiership side Larne.

Beginning his professional career with Southampton in the Premier League where he made three appearances, Blayney had additional loan spells with Stockport County, AFC Bournemouth, Rushden & Diamonds and Brighton & Hove Albion (twice). He then spent just over a year with Doncaster Rovers before having successive quick spells with Oldham Athletic and Bohemians, before returning to his native Northern Ireland with Ballymena United. After one season he moved to Linfield where he won three league titles and three Irish Cups. He subsequently played for Glenavon, Ballymena United again, Dundela, Warrenpoint Town and Ballyclare Comrades before retiring.

He also represented Northern Ireland at international level and under-21 level, winning five caps for both sides.

Club career

=England=

Born from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Blayney started his career with Premiership side Southampton and was loaned out to Stockport County,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2323591.stm |title=Transfers – October 2002 |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=29 October 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport}} but the loan was cut short by a broken finger.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/2518345.stm |title=Blayney's break frustrates Hatters|access-date=23 February 2007|date=27 November 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He also he had a spell at AFC Bournemouth on loan.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/2605539.stm |title=Blayney joins Cherries|access-date=23 February 2007|date=25 December 2002 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He made his début for Southampton in May 2004, receiving a high amount of praise.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/northern_ireland/3712213.stm |title=Blayney stars in debut|access-date=23 February 2007|date=13 May 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Blayney also won Sky Sports save of the season after saving an Alan Shearer header in May 2004 on his Premier League debut.{{cite news |url=http://www.southampton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=5599|title=Keeper Leaves Saints |access-date=24 February 2007 |date= 5 January 2006|publisher=Vital Football}} The match at St Mary's ended in a 3–3 draw.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3703591.stm |title=Southampton 3–3 Newcastle|access-date=23 February 2007|date=12 May 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport}} 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{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/4154925.stm |title=Littlejohn completes Rushden move|access-date=23 February 2007|date=7 January 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport}} and Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/4379785.stm |title=Seagulls sign two on deadline day |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=24 March 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Brighton tried to sign Blayney on a permanent basis in 2005, but could not afford the transfer fee Southampton were asking.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/4102810.stm |title=Brighton rule out Blayney signing |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=17 June 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Blayney did return to Brighton & Hove Albion for a second loan spell,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/4263410.stm |title=Blayney pleased at Albion return |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=20 September 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport}} before returning to Southampton in mid-December.

Blayney then joined Doncaster Rovers for £50,000 from Southampton in January 2006, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract, with hopes of getting the team promoted to the Championship.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/4583866.stm |title=Doncaster snap up keeper Blayney |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=5 January 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/6079598.stm |title=Blayney injury worries Doncaster|access-date=26 July 2007 |date=24 October 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He decided to leave the club for personal reasons.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/6298541.stm |title=Keeper Blayney leaves Doncaster |access-date=26 July 2007|date=24 January 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oldham_athletic/6354801.stm |title=Oldham complete Blayney signing |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=16 February 2007 |publisher=BBC Sport}} Blayney made his début for Oldham Athletic in a 1–2 home defeat against Bournemouth, after first choice goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi was suspended.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/6371147.stm |title=Oldham 1–2 Bournemouth |access-date=24 February 2007|date=24 February 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}}

=League of Ireland & Irish League =

On 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, Blayney signed for Irish Premiership side Ballymena United,{{cite news |url=http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/news/news_2008_03_16_1.htm |title=Alan Blayney signs for Ballymena United |access-date=16 March 2008 |date=16 March 2008 |publisher=Ballymena United F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516010204/http://www.ballymenaunitedfc.com/news/news_2008_03_16_1.htm |archive-date=16 May 2008}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.linfieldfc.com/latestnews.asp?nid=4216 |title=Breaking News: Alan Blayney signs |access-date=1 June 2009 |date=1 June 2009 |publisher=Linfield F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713212626/http://www.linfieldfc.com/latestnews.asp?nid=4216 |archive-date=13 July 2011}} Following good performances for Linfield on their way to the 2010–11 IFA Premiership title, Blayney was chosen as the Ulster Footballer of the Year for the 2010–11 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13391481|title=Alan Blayney wins Ulster Footballer of the Year award|date=13 May 2011|access-date=3 August 2018|website=Bbc.co.uk}}

He joined fellow NIFL Premiership club Ards on loan for the second half of the 2013–14 season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ardsfc.co.uk/news/dec13/blayney161213.html |title=Ards Football Club - Blayney agrees to loan move |access-date=2 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102202337/http://www.ardsfc.co.uk/news/dec13/blayney161213.html |archive-date=2 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Following his loan spell at Ards, Blayney left Linfield at the end of the 2013–14 NIFL Premiership season to sign for 2013–14 Irish Cup winners Glenavon.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27224435|title=Alan Blayney agrees two-year pre-contract with Glenavon|date=30 April 2014|access-date=3 August 2018|website=Bbc.co.uk}} Despite a strong start to the season, Blayney later lost his starting spot at Glenavon to number two goalkeeper James McGrath, and left the club for a second spell at Ballymena United on 5 May 2015.

Blayney initially started his second spell at Ballymena as the number one choice, following the departure of Australian goalkeeper Tim Allen. However, the arrival of former Linfield manager David Jeffrey saw his game time limited, with Linfield loanee Ross Glendinning usurping Blayney as number one during the 2016–17 season. The return of Tim Allen to the club meant that Blayney was free to talk to other clubs. He left Ballymena by mutual consent on 27 January 2017.

Blayney signed for NIFL Premier Intermediate League side Dundela on 1 February 2017. He returned to the NIFL Premiership in the 2017-18 season, having signed a pre-contract with 2016–17 NIFL Championship winners Warrenpoint Town.

On 14 December 2017, it was announced that Blayney had signed for Ballyclare Comrades.

International football

Blayney, a former Northern Ireland under-21 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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5019082.stm |title=Romania 2–0 Northern Ireland |access-date=23 February 2007 |date=27 May 2006 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He followed this with three appearances in 2010.