Oliver Lancashire

Oliver Lancashire

Lancashire playing for Rochdale in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Oliver James Lancashire[1]
Date of birth	(1988-12-13) 13 December 1988
Place of birth	Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, UK
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current team	Rochdale
Number	6
Youth career
000?–2006	Crystal Palace
2006–2007	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2010	Southampton	13	(0)
2009	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	8	(0)
2009	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	1	(0)
2010	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	16	(1)
2010–2012	Walsall	49	(1)
2012–2013	Aldershot Town	12	(0)
2013–	Rochdale	86	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:46, 08 February 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Oliver James "Olly" Lancashire (born 13 December 1988) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for English League One club Rochdale as a centre back.

Lancashire began his career as a youth player for Crystal Palace before joining Southampton’s academy. He captained Southampton's under-18 side and turned professional in July 2006, making his senior debut in 2008. Lancashire had two loan spells at Grimsby Town in 2009/10 and, following his release by Southampton, joined Walsall in July 2010. He made 58 appearances for Walsall, but was released in the summer of 2012 and subsequently went to Aldershot Town. In July 2013, Lancashire made a permanent transfer to then-League Two side Rochdale, after leaving relegated Aldershot.

Early life

Lancashire was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 13 December 1988. He attended Hook Junior School and Robert May's School in Odiham. Lancashire began his career with Southampton, where he signed a two-year contract.^[2] Lancashire was linked with a move to the Premiership in the form of Manchester City and Liverpool.^[3]

Club career

Southampton

Lancashire made his first-team debut against Queens Park Rangers on 14 September 2008, but was sent off after 29 minutes, for a rash tackle on Damien Delaney.^[4] After a two match ban, Lancashire made his return and helped the club keep two clean sheets in a row, in wins against Doncaster Rovers and Norwich City.^[5] But several weeks later, on 21 October 2008, Lancashire, once again, received a red card after a second bookable offence, in a 0–0 draw against Sheffield United.^[6] While at Southampton, Lancashire never earned a first team regular; instead, he looked out of his depth for the most part.^[5] Upon joining Walsall, Lancashire explained his discipline issue.^[7]

On 15 May 2010, Lancashire was named in a list of 13 players to be released from Southampton before the start of the 2010–11 season.^[8][9]

Grimsby Town

In October 2009, Lancashire signed on a one-month loan for Grimsby Town.^[10] In his second game for Town against Accrington Stanley on 30 October 2009, Lancashire received his third career red card, in only 15 league matches, after he was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.^[11] In his next appearance for Grimsby, he scored an own goal whilst playing against Leeds United in the Football League Trophy quarter final away at Elland Road on 10 November 2009.^[12]

Lancashire returned for a second spell on loan at Grimsby on 23 December,^[13] only to be recalled on 31 December due to an injury crisis at his parent club.^[14]

On transfer deadline day 1 February 2010, Lancashire joined Grimsby for a third time, but this time for the rest of the season. However, towards the end of the season, Grimsby Town was relegated from the Football League for the first time in nearly 100 years.^[15] Following Grimbsy Town relegation, he stated his difficult spell at Grimsby Town made him a better player.^[7]

Walsall

On 14 July 2010, it was confirmed that he had joined Walsall.^[16] After the move, Lancashire was described by Manager Chris Hutchings as "He has shown plenty of promise and we have had some good reports on him. He will add competition to the central defensive positions."^[17]

Lancashire made his debut for the club, on the opening game of the season, coming on as a late substitute, in a 2–1 loss against Milton Keynes Dons. Later in the season, Lancashire would be often used in first team ins and out in his first season, having made twenty-nine appearance and during the season, Lancashire played two matches against his former club, on 1 March 2011 and on the last game of the season. Also, the club would survive from relegation. During the season, Lancashire is among many players received criticism from Manager Hutchings over poor display during the season.^[18] He later described the relegation survival as "it's definitely the biggest day of my [his] career".^[19]

In 2011–12 season, Lancashire playing time became more restricted, having only made twenty appearance and for the second time running, the club survive from relegation. In mid-December, Lancashire suffered an hamstring injury, that will keep him until the New Year.^[20] After a month out, Lancashire recovered from injury^[21] He made his return a month later, on 15 February 2012, in a 2–1 loss against Oldham Athletic.^[22] On 3 March 2012, Lancashire scored his first goal in injury time equaliser, as Walsall settle 1–1 draw against Leyton Orient.^[23]

On 9 May 2012, it was announced that Lancashire had been released by Walsall.^[24]

Aldershot Town

On 14 June 2012, Lancashire signed with League Two side Aldershot Town on a two-year deal, following his release from Walsall.^[25] His only season with Aldershot was hampered by injury but he managed to make 15 appearances in total; 12 league appearances and 3 cup appearances. After one season with Aldershot Town, resulting the club's relegation, Lancashire was among thirteen players made redundant, in a wake of the club's administration.^[26]

Rochdale

On 14 June 2013, Lancashire signed a one-year contract with Rochdale.^[27] He was given number six shirt and made his debut in the opening game of the season, in a 3–0 win over Hartlepool United.^[28][29] Lancashire quickly established himself as part of the team's first choice centre back pairing, along with on-loan Jack O'Connell. Due to the absence of first team captain Peter Cavanagh as a result of injury and suspension, Oliver was handed the captain's armband.^[30]

Since his debut, he appeared in eighteen consecutive games until he was sent-off in a 4–0 loss against Scunthorpe United on 28 November 2013; this resulted a one-match ban for Lancashire.^[31] He would later be sent-off for the second time this season on 11 March 2014, in a 2–1 loss against League Two struggles Torquay United.^[32] Having led Rochdale towards promotion to League One, Lancashire wrote to the club's supporters about the promotion.^[33] Lancashire went on to lead the club, finishing third place. After the match, Lancashire spoke about the season and the promotion.^[34]

On 27 June 2014, Lancashire signed a one-year extension with Rochdale.^[35]

At the start of the 2014–15 season, on 5 August 2014, Lancashire was named captain of Rochdale after the departure of Peter Cavanagh.^[36] Lancashire started in the opening game of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Peterborough United.^[37] However, Lancashire sustained a groin injury that was expected to keep him out for between four to six weeks.^[38] Unexpectedly, Lancashire managed to recover from the groin injury and returned to training.^[39] Lancashire remained on the bench until he made his return to the first team, coming on as substitute for Jamie Allen in the 33rd minutes, in a 3–2 win over Leyton Orient on 27 September 2014.^[40] Following his return, Lancashire continued to be in the first team, but it wasn't the same as his first and captained for the first time this season, in the first round of the FA Cup, in a 0–0 draw against Northampton Town.^[41] But in the replay, Lancashire then scored in the last minute to send them through to the next round.^[42] Throughout the 2014–15 season, Lancashire continued to have injury-plagued^[43][44] and went on to make twenty-eight appearance in all competitions.

References

External links

• Oliver Lancashire career statistics at Soccerbase
• Profile on Southampton F.C. website