- Martin Devaney
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Martin Devaney Personal information Full name Martin Thomas Devaney[1] Date of birth 1 June 1980 Place of birth Cheltenham, England Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Playing position Midfielder Club information Current club Tranmere Rovers Youth career 1997–1999 Coventry City Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1999–2005 Cheltenham Town 201 (37) 2005 Watford 0 (0) 2005–2011 Barnsley 159 (15) 2009 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 5 (0) 2010 → Walsall (loan) 4 (1) 2011– Tranmere Rovers 3 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:57, 16 August 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).Martin Thomas Devaney (born 1 June 1980 in Cheltenham) is an English football midfielder who plays for Tranmere Rovers. Born of Irish parents, Devaney has played for the Republic of Ireland under-16s.
Career
Devaney started playing football for Charlton Rovers AFC and attended Balcarras School in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.[citation needed] He was on Coventry City's books as a youngster, but was released from the then Premier League club, and after playing pre-season for hometown club Cheltenham Town the then manager Steve Cotterill offered him a contract.
His initial efforts as a striker for the Robins were fairly underwhelming, despite occasional flashes of brilliance, although he did become the first Cheltenham player to score a Football league hat-trick in September 2000 against Plymouth Argyle. Towards the end of his spell at Cheltenham he was played as a wide midfielder, typically on the right wing, although occasionally on the left.
Devaney left Cheltenham in July 2005, initially joining Watford, however, Adrian Boothroyd could not find a place in his squad for the winger, and he was allowed to join Barnsley at the end of August. In his first season at the club he helped them to promotion, beating Swansea City on penalties in the play-off final. This meant all three sides Devaney represented during 2005 were promoted via the play-offs at the end of the 2005–06 season.
Devaney remained in the side with Barnsley competing in the Championship. He was in the sides that beat Premiership Liverpool and Chelsea in consecutive rounds to reach the FA Cup semi-finals in the 2007–08 season. In both games he provided the assist for a Barnsley goal, each an excellent cross to allow Stephen Foster (vs. Liverpool) and Kayode Odejayi (vs. Chelsea) to score.
On 29 October 2009 Devaney joined Football League One side Milton Keynes Dons on a month-emergency loan. He then scored his first goal for the Dons in a stunning FA Cup encounter with Exeter City. After the Dons were losing 3–2, Devaney came off the bench to score a header from outside of the box. That being his first touch. The Dons then went on to win 4–3 in a memorable 2nd round tie.[2]
On 7 October 2010, Deveney joined Walsall on loan for a month.[3] He impressed in his debut game setting up the Saddlers second goal and putting in a man of the match performance. In his second game he continued to impress by scoring the winner. He returned to Barnsley on 7 November 2010.
On 11 May 2011, Devaney's contract expired and he left Barnsley.[4]
On 2 August 2011, he signed a 1 year contract with Tranmere Rovers and made his competitive club debut on the first day of the 2011-12 season, starting the Football League match against Chesterfield.[5]
References
- ^ "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/birth-indexes-search-start.action. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "MK Dons 4–3 Exeter". BBC. 28 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8379417.stm. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
- ^ "ANOTHER ADDITION FOR SADDLERS". Walsall FC Website. 7 October 2010. http://www.saddlers.co.uk/page/News/0,,10428~2177442,00.html. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
- ^ "FIVE PLAYERS LEAVE OAKWELL". Barnsley FC Website. 11 May 2011. http://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10309~2357799,00.html. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ "Tranmere 1-0 Chesterfield". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 6 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/14351971.stm. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
External links
- Martin Devaney profile at barnsleyfc.co.uk
- Martin Devaney career stats at Soccerbase
Tranmere Rovers F.C. – current squad Categories:- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from Cheltenham
- English people of Irish descent
- Republic of Ireland association footballers
- English footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Barnsley F.C. players
- Cheltenham Town F.C. players
- Watford F.C. players
- Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
- Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
- The Football League players
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