Kyle Dempsey
{{short description|English footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kyle Dempsey
| image =
| caption =
| full_name = Kyle Michael Dempsey{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2016/june/efl-club-retained-and-released-lists-published/ |title=EFL: Club retained and released lists published |publisher=English Football League |date=23 June 2016 |access-date=5 February 2018}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|17|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/kyle-dempsey/ |title=Kyle Dempsey: Profile |website=worldfootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=8 April 2020}}
| birth_place = Whitehaven, England
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/teams/first-team/midfielder/kyle-dempsey/ |title=Kyle Dempsey |publisher=Fleetwood Town F.C. |access-date=5 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705192554/https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/teams/first-team/midfielder/kyle-dempsey/ |archive-date=5 July 2019 |url-status=dead}}
| position = Midfielder{{Hugman|26101|access-date=8 April 2020}}
| currentclub = Bolton Wanderers
| clubnumber = 22
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014 | youthclubs1 = Carlisle United
| years1 = 2014–2015
| clubs1 = Carlisle United
| caps1 = 47
| goals1 = 10
| years2 = 2015–2017
| clubs2 = Huddersfield Town
| caps2 = 21
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2016–2017
| clubs3 = → Fleetwood Town (loan)
| caps3 = 38
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2017–2020
| clubs4 = Fleetwood Town
| caps4 = 80
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2019
| clubs5 = → Peterborough United (loan)
| caps5 = 11
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2020–2022
| clubs6 = Gillingham
| caps6 = 61
| goals6 = 9
| years7 = 2022–
| clubs7=Bolton Wanderers
| caps7= 103
| goals7= 11
| club-update = 22:25, 10 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Kyle Michael Dempsey (born 17 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|BoltonWa}} club Bolton Wanderers.
Early life
Dempsey was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria.{{cite web |title=Kyle Dempsey |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/kyle-dempsey-241807/ |access-date=5 July 2019 |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises}} His father Michael Dempsey played rugby league professionally for Workington Town and he nearly followed his father into the sport, having played for youth sides at Wigan Warriors before electing to pursue a career in professional football.{{Cite web |title=Kyle Dempsey heads back to former club Gillingham with his head held high |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19964001.bolton-wanderers-kyle-dempsey-say-gillingham-exit-weekend-return/ |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=The Bolton News |date=2 March 2022 |language=en}}
Career
Dempsey made his first-team debut for Carlisle United on 28 January 2014 in a 3–0 win over Milton Keynes Dons. Dempsey scored 11 goals on top of 10 assists in his first professional season.{{Cite web |title=Huddersfield nab Dempsey from Carlisle |url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/huddersfield-town/transfer-talk/news/huddersfield-nab-dempsey-from-carlisle_232867.html |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=Sports Mole |date=10 July 2015 |language=en-GB}} He was named as Carlisle's Player of the Year for the 2014–15 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2015/july/kyle-dempsey-signs-for-huddersfield-town/ |title=Kyle Dempsey signs for Huddersfield Town |last=Threlfall-Sykes |first=David |publisher=Huddersfield Town A.F.C. |date=10 July 2015 |access-date=5 February 2018}}
He signed for Championship club Huddersfield Town on 10 July 2015 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33484090 |title=Kyle Dempsey: Huddersfield Town sign Carlisle midfielder |website=BBC Sport |date=10 July 2015 |access-date=5 February 2018}} He made his debut as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat against Hull City at the KC Stadium on 8 August 2015. His first league start came in their 2–2 draw against Reading at the Madejski Stadium on 3 November 2015. His first goal for the club came in a 4–2 defeat against Brentford at Griffin Park on 19 December 2015.
On 29 August 2016, with his chances limited at Huddersfield, Dempsey joined League One club Fleetwood Town on a season-long loan.{{cite web |url=https://www.htafc.com/news/2016/august/loan-dempsey-joins-fleetwood-town/ |title=Loan: Dempsey joins Fleetwood Town |last=Threlfall-Sykes |first=David |publisher=Huddersfield Town A.F.C. |date=29 August 2016 |access-date=5 February 2018}} He signed for the club permanently on a three-year contract on 19 May 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39979941 |title=Kyle Dempsey: Fleetwood Town sign Huddersfield midfielder on three-year deal |website=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2017 |access-date=5 February 2018}}
Dempsey joined Fleetwood's League One rivals Peterborough United on 7 January 2019 on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46784620 |title=Kyle Dempsey: Peterborough United sign Fleetwood Town midfielder on loan |website=BBC Sport |date=7 January 2019 |access-date=8 January 2019}}
On 17 August 2020, Dempsey joined League One club Gillingham and was made captain for the 2020-21 season.{{Cite news |date=2020-08-17|title=Gillingham sign Kyle Dempsey after Fleetwood Town departure|website=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53806961|access-date=2020-08-17}} He was named team captain the following month.{{Cite web|title=Kyle Dempsey confirmed as Gills Captain|url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2020/september/dempsey-confirmed-as-captain/|access-date=2021-05-16|website=www.gillinghamfootballclub.com|language=en-gb}} Dempsey attracted interest and an offer in the January 2021 transfer window, but Gillingham turned the offer down and Dempsey remained at the club.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-03|title=Gillingham midfielders in demand as offers are rejected|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-midfielders-in-demand-as-offers-are-rejected-241827/|access-date=2021-02-19|website=Kent Online|language=en}}
Dempsey joined Bolton Wanderers on 31 January 2022 for a fee around £150,000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19889317.bolton-wanderers-new-boy-kyle-dempseys-first-words-leaving-gillingham/|title=Bolton Wanderers' new boy Kyle Dempsey's first words after leaving Gillingham|website=The Bolton News|date=February 2022 }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60209382|title=Kyle Dempsey: Bolton Wanderers sign midfielder from Gillingham|website=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2022|accessdate=1 February 2022}} On 2 April 2023, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy Final, scoring the opening goal against Plymouth Argyle; Bolton won 4–0.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65088981 |title=Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle |first=Brent |last=Pilnick |website=BBC Sport |date=2 April 2023 |access-date=3 April 2023}} On 27 June 2023, he signed a two-year extension at Bolton, keeping him at the club until 2026.{{cite news |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/done-deal-for-dempsey/ |title=Done Deal For Dempsey |website= Bolton Wanderers FC |date= 27 June 2023 |accessdate=27 June 2023}}
Style of play
Dempsey has been utilised as a "deeper-lying number eight to a number 10 behind the front two", describing himself as a "goal-scoring midfielder" who "likes to receive the ball around the halfway line and drive with the ball and bring everyone else into play".
Personal life
On 1 March 2023 at Carlisle Crown Court, Dempsey admitted an assault on a Maryport doorman on 16 July 2022 and, along with his father, was granted unconditional bail ahead of sentencing on 11 April 2023.{{cite news |title=Bolton's Kyle Dempsey admits assaulting Maryport doorman |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-64813921 |access-date=1 March 2023 |website=BBC News |date=1 March 2023}} He was given a 12 month suspended sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, alongside 200 hours of unpaid voluntary work and was forced to pay £1750 in damages. He was also given a curfew of 9pm–7am and would be required to wear an electronic tag, though was given permission to break said curfew when it came to his professional football career.[https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/23453294.bolton-wanderers-star-kyle-dempsey-play-despite-electronic-tag/ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers star Kyle Dempsey to play on despite electronic tag"]
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 5 October 2024}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Carlisle United
|2013–14{{soccerbase season|74369|2013|access-date=24 June 2016}} |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2014–15{{soccerbase season|74369|2014|access-date=24 June 2016}}
|43 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 47 | 11 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!47 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 11 | |
| rowspan="3"|Huddersfield Town
|2015–16{{soccerbase season|74369|2015|access-date=24 June 2016}} |21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17{{soccerbase season|74369|2016|access-date=16 July 2017}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 24 | 1 | ||
| Fleetwood Town (loan)
|League One |38 | 2 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|One appearance in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs}} | 0 | 46 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Fleetwood Town
|2017–18{{soccerbase season|74369|2017|access-date=13 May 2018}} |League One |45 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 51 | 1 | |
| 2018–19
|League One |14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|74369|2019|access-date=8 April 2020}}
|League One |21 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 28 | 2 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!118 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 144 | 6 | |
| Peterborough United (loan)
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|74369|2018|access-date=5 July 2019}} |League One |11 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 11 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Gillingham
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|74369|2020|access-date=15 March 2021}} |League One |40 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 44 | 8 | |
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|74369|2021|access-date=7 September 2021}}
|League One |21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!61 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 9 | |
| rowspan="5" |Bolton Wanderers
|League One |11 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|74369|2024|access-date=15 October 2024}}
|League One |39 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6{{Efn|Four appearances in the EFL Trophy, two appearances in the League One play-offs}} | 1 | 47 | 6 | |
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|74369|2023|access-date=5 August 2023}}
|League One |41 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4{{Efn|Three appearances in EFL Trophy, one appearance in League One play-offs}} | 1 | 49 | 4 | |
| 2024–25
|League One |8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 12 | 4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!99 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 119 | 14 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!357 | 36 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 25 | 5 | 415 | 41 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Bolton Wanderers
Individual
- Carlisle United Player of the Year: 2014–15
- Fleetwood Town Young Player of the Year: 2016–17{{Cite news|date=2017-05-19|title=Kyle Dempsey: Fleetwood Town sign Huddersfield midfielder on three-year deal|website=BBC Sport |url=http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39979941|access-date=2021-05-16}}
- Gillingham Player of the Year: 2020–21{{Cite news|date=9 May 2021|title=Kyle Dempsey named Gillingham supporters' player-of-the-year 2020/21; Vadaine Oliver players' player, Jack Tucker young player and Connor Ogilvie goal of the season|work=Kent Online|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-player-of-the-year-246925/|access-date=16 May 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Bolton Wanderers F.C. squad}}
{{Carlisle United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Gillingham F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dempsey, Kyle}}
Category:Footballers from Whitehaven
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:Peterborough United F.C. players
Category:Gillingham F.C. players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players