Derek Bryan (footballer)

Derek Bryan
Personal information
Date of birth11 November 1974
Place of birthHammersmith, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionForward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
????–1996Bedfont Green0(0)
1996–1997Hampton0(0)
1997–2002Brentford55(9)
2002Gravesend & Northfleet1(0)
2002Welling United9(1)
2002Walton & Hersham0(0)
2002–2003Hampton & Richmond Borough0(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19.58, 3 November 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Derek Bryan (born 11 November 1974) is a retired English footballer, best remembered for his five-season spell in the Football League with Brentford. A player described as having "lightning pace and an eye for goal",[1] his career was effectively ended by a knee injury suffered in January 2000.

Playing career

Early years

Bryan grew up in Hammersmith, London and began his career at Combined Counties League Premier side Bedfont Green.[1][2] He joined Isthmian League Division Two side Hampton on 1 August 1996.[3] He left the club in August 1997.[3]

Brentford

Bryan signed for Division Two side Brentford on 29 August 1997 in a £50000 deal.[3] He made his debut for the club in a 0-0 league draw at Plymouth Argyle on 13 September, replacing Ryan Denys after 81 minutes.[3] He made his first start in a 2-2 away draw with Bristol City on 3 March 1998. He capped his day by scoring the opening goal just before half time and was substituted after 59 minutes for Niall Thompson.[3] He bagged his second goal in as many games on 7 March, scoring Brentford's second in a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth, though he was replaced by Andy Scott at half time.[3] Bryan made a total of 11 appearances during the 1997/98 season,[4] scoring two goals as Brentford suffered relegation to Division Three on the last day. Bryan had to wait until November for his first appearance of the 1998/99 season, coming on as a 56th minute substitute for Drewe Broughton in a 2-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town. He scored his first goal of the season on 2 January 1999, netting the second in a 3-1 defeat of Barnet. Now holding down a starting place, he scored in a 3-2 win over Torquay United on 13 February and Brentford's equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Scarborough on 27 February, taking his tally to three goals in seven games. Bryan made 24 appearances during the 1998/99 season, scoring four goals[5] as Brentford were promoted straight back to Division Two as champions. Back in Division Two for the 1999/00 season, Bryan scored on his third appearance, firing home the opener in a 2-0 victory over Oldham Athletic. He continued to make regular appearances throughout the season until disaster struck in a Football League Trophy quarter-final tie at home to Oxford United on 25 January 2000. Bryan scored the opening goal of the 2-0 win, but in the process he suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament.[1][6] The injury meant that he missed the rest of the 1999/00 season and the entire 2000/01 season. Bryan made his comeback from the injury after 77 minutes of a 2-1 league victory over Peterborough United on 13 October 2001, when he came on as a substitute for Ben Burgess. It turned out to be Bryan's final appearance for the club[7] and he was released in March 2002.[8] During his time at Brentford, Bryan made 64 appearances and scored 10 goals.

Gravesend & Northfleet

Bryan signed for Isthmian League Premier Division high-fliers Gravesend & Northfleet on 11 March 2002.[8][9] He made his debut for the club on the same day in a 2-0 defeat to Purfleet, making little impact and being substituted for Che Stadhart half time.[10] It was Bryan's only appearance for the club and he and departed a matter of weeks later.

Welling United

Bryan joined Southern League Premier Division side Welling United in late March 2002. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Weymouth on 30 March, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for goalscorer Tommy Tyne in a 1-1 draw.[11] Bryan made his first start for the club in a 1-0 defeat to King's Lynn on 6 April, playing the full 90 minutes.[12] Bryan scored his first goal for the club in the following game versus Tamworth, levelling the scores at 2-2, before being withdrawn at half time during a 3-3 draw.[13] Bryan made 9 appearances and scored one goal during what remained of the 2001/02 season[14] and left the club at the end of the campaign.

Walton & Hersham

On 8 November 2002 Bryan signed for Isthmian Division One South side Walton & Hersham[7] and left the club the following month after failing to make an appearance.[15]

Return to Hampton & Richmond Borough

Bryan signed for former side Hampton & Richmond Borough (then members of the Isthmian League Premier Division) on 3 December 2002.[1] He made his debut in a 6-0 Isthmian League Cup defeat to Lewes on 11 December.[16]

Honours

Brentford

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "NonLeagueDaily.com". Oldnonleaguedaily.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Combined Counties Previous Tables". Ccleague.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Derek Bryan | Football Stats | Walton & Hersham | Age 39". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Derek Bryan | Football Stats | Walton & Hersham | Season 1997/1998". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  5. ↑ "Derek Bryan | Football Stats | Walton & Hersham | Season 1998/1999". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  6. ↑ Name *. "Peterborough United – Don’t Look Back In Anger". Beesotted. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Derek Bryan | Football Stats | Walton & Hersham | Season 2001/2002". Soccer Base. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.brentford-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/another_leaves_41328/index.shtml
  9. ↑ http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=254732&root=england&cc=5739
  10. ↑ "Surprise defeat dents Fleet's title hopes". Kentonline.co.uk. 2002-03-12. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  11. ↑ "Team Sheet". Soccerfactsuk.co.uk. 2002-03-30. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  12. ↑ "Team Sheet". Soccerfactsuk.co.uk. 2002-04-06. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  13. ↑ "Team Sheet". Soccerfactsuk.co.uk. 2002-04-09. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  14. ↑ "SoccerFacts UK Player Details". Soccerfactsuk.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  15. ↑ "NonLeagueDaily.com". Oldnonleaguedaily.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  16. ↑ "NonLeagueDaily.com". Oldnonleaguedaily.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.

External links