Andrew Lonergan
Encyclopedia
Andrew Michael "Andy" Lonergan (born 19 October 1983 in Preston, Lancashire) is an English
football goalkeeper currently playing for Leeds United. He is a former England U21
international and is also eligible to play for Republic of Ireland
. He has also won Preston's player of the year award during the 2008–09 season and also the 2009–10 season's.
as a 16-year-old in a League Cup
tie away at Coventry City
. With his progress being closely monitored by the goalkeeping coach, Peter Williams, he was sent out on loan to Darlington
where his loan ended after a week after picking up an injury, Preston then sent him out on loan to rivals Blackpool
.
With David Moyes
leaving to join Everton
and Craig Brown entering the managerial fray at Deepdale
, Lonergan remained optimistic about his future at the club; indeed, he was promoted to the first-team squad for the final stage of the 2002–03
season as an understudy to Scotland
international Jonathan Gould
. With Gould out injured for a period of the following season
, Lonergan snapped up his goalkeeping gloves and stood between the sticks for the first time in the league against West Brom
, two years after his debut. Gould fell out of favour soon after, and Lonergan remained as the first choice until the end of that season.
On the 2 October 2004 Lonergan scored a goal from his own penalty area in the 39th minute against Leicester City
to equalise, after his long kick bounced over Leicester goalkeeper Kevin Pressman
after defender Matt Heath
had let the ball bounce. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.
He remained at Deepdale for the 2004–05
season under the watchful eye of new manager Billy Davies
, and played a part in 65% of the season before he ruptured his cruciate ligaments before a game against Ipswich Town, due to Lonergan's injury, Carlo Nash
was signed as a replacement by Billy Davies
from Middlesbrough
to shore up the goalkeeping crisis. After a long spell out injured with the injury it took Lonergan over two years to gain back his place. Nash kept his place for the 2005–06
term and kept a club record of over 30 clean sheets. Lonergan himself was injured in training early in 2005, and only returned to action with a loan spell to get himself match fit in late 2005 at Wycombe Wanderers
, only to become injured once again due to a screw holding his ligament
in place snapping.
In November 2006, Lonergan joined Swindon Town
on a one-month loan contract to gain first-team football. He returned early, however, after he wasn't given the football he desired under new Swindon Manager Paul Sturrock
who had just replaced Dennis Wise
.
He returned to the Preston bench until January 2007, when Nash's unprofessional attitude meant a recall to the first team for Lonergan in an FA Cup
Fourth Round tie at Crystal Palace
in which he impressed with a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory for Preston. After establishing himself as Preston's number one, Lonergan won Preston's 2008/09 player of the year award.
After Preston North End club captain, Paul McKenna
was sold to Nottingham Forest
in August 2009, Lonergan was made a vice-captain to new club captain, Callum Davidson
. Lonergan's first match which he started as captain was at Deepdale, where he led Preston North End out to win 2–0 against Swansea City
on 12 September 2009. Manager, Alan Irvine
claimed that he believed Lonergan was good enough to play for England
.
He had a fine season during the 2009–10 season, and won Preston's player of the year award. During the last few games of the season Preston managed to overcome an insuperior goal difference to playoff rivals Cardiff City
by beating them 6–0, with Lonergan also saving a penalty in the same game which in the end proved vital on goal difference for the final table result to overtake Cardiff and reach the playoffs. Lonergan played a big part in helping Preston reach the playoff Semi-finals during the 2009–10 season but lost over two legs to Sheffield United
. During the summer Premier League club West Bromwich Albion
had three separate bids rejected for Lonergan, with Preston manager Darren Ferguson
claiming he valued Lonergan at £20 million and that he didn't want to sell him.
Lonergan was the goalkeeper for Preston during the 2010–11 season as they were relegated to League One making 29 league starts. In September 2010, Lonergan was charged for making obscene gestures to fierce-rivals Burnley
's supporters during Preston's 4–3 loss. Lonergan was fined for the incident and warned of his future conduct. In the same month Lonergan also played in one of the games of the season in Preston's 6–4 win against Leeds United
, with Preston coming back to win the game after being 4–1 down. He was linked with moves to Manchester City
and Wigan Athletic
in the January transfer window. Lonergan claimed in January that he was the most overworked goalkeeper in the Championship. However, during the last quarter of the season under new manager Phil Brown, Lonergan was displaced by Everton loan goalkeeper Iain Turner
. Lonergan also spent time training with Everton
as part of the loan deal for Turner. Lonergan was linked with a loan move to Blackpool F.C.
during February on an emergency loan due to injuries to Paul Rachubka
and Richard Kingson
. Lonergan's last appearance for Preston came in Preston's 2-1 loss against Leeds United on 8 March 2011. After relegation from the Championship Lonergan was linked with moves to Aston Villa
, Cardiff City
, and Everton
. Manager, Phil Brown revealed he needed to sell Lonergan to re-sign loan goalkeeper Iain Turner due to lack of funds.
On 4 July 2011, Lonergan was linked with a move to join Leeds United in order to replace Kasper Schmeichel
and Shane Higgs
who had both left the club. Everton also entered the race to sign Lonergan.
Allegedly, the clause in Lonergan's £10,000 a week contract states that the player will be allowed to leave for £100,000, and both Leeds and Everton are believed to be willing to pay that money to sign the player. However, Maurice Lindsay, the Preston chairman, says that he will not be allowed to leave for anything less than £200,000, which is against this release clause.
Preston North End manager Phil Brown confirmed in early July 2011 that Andy Lonergan was set to sign for Leeds United, live on talksport's radio broadcast. Sky Sports reported 25 July that Lonergan was set to sign for Leeds United, after the move was originally put on hold for both parties as Leeds became interested in signing David Stockdale
and Lonergan was interesting Premier League Club Everton
. Lonergan's daughter was also in hospital at this time delaying the move further. In total Lonergan made 231 appearances during his career at Preston North End.
for the number one spot left vacant by the departed Kasper Schmeichel
. Lonergan was briefly a teammate of current Leeds United manager Simon Grayson
during a short loan spell at Blackpool in 2003. Lonergan made his first appearance in a Leeds shirt in the pre-season victory against Newcastle United
. Lonergan was given the number 1 shirt for the forthcoming season.
On the opening day of the season, Lonergan made his debut for Leeds in the 3–1 defeat against Southampton
. Lonergan received the man of the match award in Leeds' 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough
on 14 August. Lonergan started his fourth game of the season against Hull City
at Elland Road
where he put in another good performance making saves to deny Hull City as Leeds United won 4–1. After some good performances for Leeds in his first couple of months at the club, Lonergan revealed that the move to Leeds had worked out "brilliantly" for him. Lonergan made some crucial saves for Leeds to help earn them a 3–2 victory against Crystal Palace
on 10 September. Lonergan saved a penalty from Nicky Maynard
on 17 September against Bristol City
to help Leeds earn a 2–1 victory. Lonergan got his first clean sheet of the season against Portsmouth
on 1 October, with Lonergan again making some crucial saves. After keeping a consecutive clean sheet, Lonergan was substituted in the second half against Doncaster Rovers
after fracturing his finger and replaced by Paul Rachubka
on 14 October. Lonergan missed the game against Coventry City
with the finger injury on 18 October and was replaced by understudy Paul Rachubka
. After the game manager Simon Grayson
revealed Lonergan had surgery on the finger and would be ruled out for a minimum of six weeks.
U16's Lonergan decided to play for the country of his birth England
. Lonergan is a former English U-21 International. He also played for England in the Under 20's World Cup. He is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national team due to his Irish grandparents. Due to a change in FIFA
rulings Lonergan became eligible for Republic of Ireland, with Lonergan on Giovanni Trappatoni's radar for the squad. Former Preston teammate and Republic of Ireland international Sean St. Ledger also championed Lonergan getting a call up to the Ireland squad. In May 2010, Lonergan revealed he would welcome a call up to the Republic of Ireland national team after he had initially refused an enquiry to be called up to the Irish squad.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
football goalkeeper currently playing for Leeds United. He is a former England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
international and is also eligible to play for Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. He has also won Preston's player of the year award during the 2008–09 season and also the 2009–10 season's.
Preston North End
A lifelong Preston fan. He made his Preston debut managed by David MoyesDavid Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
as a 16-year-old in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie away at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. With his progress being closely monitored by the goalkeeping coach, Peter Williams, he was sent out on loan to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
where his loan ended after a week after picking up an injury, Preston then sent him out on loan to rivals Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
With David Moyes
David Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
leaving to join Everton
Everton
Everton is a district of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council ward. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 7,398.-Toponymy:...
and Craig Brown entering the managerial fray at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
, Lonergan remained optimistic about his future at the club; indeed, he was promoted to the first-team squad for the final stage of the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season as an understudy to Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international Jonathan Gould
Jonathan Gould
Jonathan Alan Gould is a former Scottish international footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the Goalkeeping Coach at Perth Glory of the Australian A-League.-Playing:...
. With Gould out injured for a period of the following season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
, Lonergan snapped up his goalkeeping gloves and stood between the sticks for the first time in the league against West Brom
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, two years after his debut. Gould fell out of favour soon after, and Lonergan remained as the first choice until the end of that season.
On the 2 October 2004 Lonergan scored a goal from his own penalty area in the 39th minute against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
to equalise, after his long kick bounced over Leicester goalkeeper Kevin Pressman
Kevin Pressman
Kevin Paul Pressman is an English former football goalkeeper, currently coaching at Bradford City. Pressman made 588 appearances in English and Northern Irish league football for 5 different clubs over 3 decades....
after defender Matt Heath
Matt Heath
Matthew Philip "Matt" Heath is an English footballer, playing for Colchester United. His position is centre half.-Leicester City:...
had let the ball bounce. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.
He remained at Deepdale for the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season under the watchful eye of new manager Billy Davies
Billy Davies
William McIntosh "Billy" Davies is a Glasgow-born Scottish football manager, noted for his achievement in the Football League Championship with East Midlands Rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest and Preston North End which has led him to be described, in 2011, as "probably the best manager at...
, and played a part in 65% of the season before he ruptured his cruciate ligaments before a game against Ipswich Town, due to Lonergan's injury, Carlo Nash
Carlo Nash
Carlo James Nash is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City as a goalkeeper.Nash started his career at non-League Rossendale United and Clitheroe before being signed by Crystal Palace and then moved back north to Stockport County...
was signed as a replacement by Billy Davies
Billy Davies
William McIntosh "Billy" Davies is a Glasgow-born Scottish football manager, noted for his achievement in the Football League Championship with East Midlands Rivals Derby County and Nottingham Forest and Preston North End which has led him to be described, in 2011, as "probably the best manager at...
from Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
to shore up the goalkeeping crisis. After a long spell out injured with the injury it took Lonergan over two years to gain back his place. Nash kept his place for the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
term and kept a club record of over 30 clean sheets. Lonergan himself was injured in training early in 2005, and only returned to action with a loan spell to get himself match fit in late 2005 at Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
, only to become injured once again due to a screw holding his ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
in place snapping.
In November 2006, Lonergan joined Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on a one-month loan contract to gain first-team football. He returned early, however, after he wasn't given the football he desired under new Swindon Manager Paul Sturrock
Paul Sturrock
Paul Whitehead Sturrock is a Scottish football manager who, since July 2010, is the manager of Southend United. Until this appointment, Sturrock had most recently been at English League 1 club Plymouth Argyle in a business support role, having been relieved of his managerial duties, until he quit...
who had just replaced Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
.
He returned to the Preston bench until January 2007, when Nash's unprofessional attitude meant a recall to the first team for Lonergan in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Fourth Round tie at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in which he impressed with a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory for Preston. After establishing himself as Preston's number one, Lonergan won Preston's 2008/09 player of the year award.
After Preston North End club captain, Paul McKenna
Paul McKenna
Paul McKenna is an English hypnotist and self-improvement author.McKenna has written and produced books and multimedia products, hosted self-improvement television shows and presents seminars in hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, weight loss and motivation.-Career:Paul McKenna started in...
was sold to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in August 2009, Lonergan was made a vice-captain to new club captain, Callum Davidson
Callum Davidson
Callum Ian Davidson is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a left back for St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League. He signed for the Perthshire SPL club on 26 May 2011.-Club career:...
. Lonergan's first match which he started as captain was at Deepdale, where he led Preston North End out to win 2–0 against Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 12 September 2009. Manager, Alan Irvine
Alan Irvine
James Alan Irvine , more commonly known as Alan Irvine, is a Scottish former football player and manager, currently in charge of the Everton academy. Irvine played for five different clubs in Scotland and England during a 15 year playing career. He then became a coach, assisting Davie Moyes at...
claimed that he believed Lonergan was good enough to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
He had a fine season during the 2009–10 season, and won Preston's player of the year award. During the last few games of the season Preston managed to overcome an insuperior goal difference to playoff rivals Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
by beating them 6–0, with Lonergan also saving a penalty in the same game which in the end proved vital on goal difference for the final table result to overtake Cardiff and reach the playoffs. Lonergan played a big part in helping Preston reach the playoff Semi-finals during the 2009–10 season but lost over two legs to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. During the summer Premier League club West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
had three separate bids rejected for Lonergan, with Preston manager Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
claiming he valued Lonergan at £20 million and that he didn't want to sell him.
Lonergan was the goalkeeper for Preston during the 2010–11 season as they were relegated to League One making 29 league starts. In September 2010, Lonergan was charged for making obscene gestures to fierce-rivals Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
's supporters during Preston's 4–3 loss. Lonergan was fined for the incident and warned of his future conduct. In the same month Lonergan also played in one of the games of the season in Preston's 6–4 win against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, with Preston coming back to win the game after being 4–1 down. He was linked with moves to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in the January transfer window. Lonergan claimed in January that he was the most overworked goalkeeper in the Championship. However, during the last quarter of the season under new manager Phil Brown, Lonergan was displaced by Everton loan goalkeeper Iain Turner
Iain Turner
Iain Ross Turner is a Scottish footballer who plays for Preston North End as a goalkeeper. He has represented the Scotland under-21 team, the Scotland B team and been selected for the full Scotland squad.-Club career:...
. Lonergan also spent time training with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
as part of the loan deal for Turner. Lonergan was linked with a loan move to Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
during February on an emergency loan due to injuries to Paul Rachubka
Paul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
and Richard Kingson
Richard Kingson
Richard Paul Franck Kingson is a Ghanaian professional football goalkeeper, who is currently a free agent. He is also known as Faruk Gürsoy and is frequently misnamed Kingston due to "irregularity on his identity documents"...
. Lonergan's last appearance for Preston came in Preston's 2-1 loss against Leeds United on 8 March 2011. After relegation from the Championship Lonergan was linked with moves to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Manager, Phil Brown revealed he needed to sell Lonergan to re-sign loan goalkeeper Iain Turner due to lack of funds.
On 4 July 2011, Lonergan was linked with a move to join Leeds United in order to replace Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
and Shane Higgs
Shane Higgs
Shane Peter Higgs is an English footballer who is currently without a club after being released by Leeds United in the summer of 2011.-Early career:...
who had both left the club. Everton also entered the race to sign Lonergan.
Allegedly, the clause in Lonergan's £10,000 a week contract states that the player will be allowed to leave for £100,000, and both Leeds and Everton are believed to be willing to pay that money to sign the player. However, Maurice Lindsay, the Preston chairman, says that he will not be allowed to leave for anything less than £200,000, which is against this release clause.
Preston North End manager Phil Brown confirmed in early July 2011 that Andy Lonergan was set to sign for Leeds United, live on talksport's radio broadcast. Sky Sports reported 25 July that Lonergan was set to sign for Leeds United, after the move was originally put on hold for both parties as Leeds became interested in signing David Stockdale
David Stockdale
David Adam Stockdale is an English footballer who plays for Ipswich Town as a goalkeeper, on loan from Fulham.Stockdale started his career with the Huddersfield Town youth system before joining York City's youth system in 2000, where he became a trainee in 2002. He made his first team debut on the...
and Lonergan was interesting Premier League Club Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Lonergan's daughter was also in hospital at this time delaying the move further. In total Lonergan made 231 appearances during his career at Preston North End.
Leeds United
On 25 July, Lonergan signed for Leeds United on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. He will compete with fellow new goalkeeper signing Paul RachubkaPaul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
for the number one spot left vacant by the departed Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
. Lonergan was briefly a teammate of current Leeds United manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
during a short loan spell at Blackpool in 2003. Lonergan made his first appearance in a Leeds shirt in the pre-season victory against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Lonergan was given the number 1 shirt for the forthcoming season.
On the opening day of the season, Lonergan made his debut for Leeds in the 3–1 defeat against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. Lonergan received the man of the match award in Leeds' 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 14 August. Lonergan started his fourth game of the season against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
where he put in another good performance making saves to deny Hull City as Leeds United won 4–1. After some good performances for Leeds in his first couple of months at the club, Lonergan revealed that the move to Leeds had worked out "brilliantly" for him. Lonergan made some crucial saves for Leeds to help earn them a 3–2 victory against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on 10 September. Lonergan saved a penalty from Nicky Maynard
Nicky Maynard
Nicholas David "Nicky" Maynard is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bristol City.-Crewe Alexandra:...
on 17 September against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
to help Leeds earn a 2–1 victory. Lonergan got his first clean sheet of the season against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 1 October, with Lonergan again making some crucial saves. After keeping a consecutive clean sheet, Lonergan was substituted in the second half against Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
after fracturing his finger and replaced by Paul Rachubka
Paul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
on 14 October. Lonergan missed the game against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
with the finger injury on 18 October and was replaced by understudy Paul Rachubka
Paul Rachubka
Paul Stephen Rachubka is an American-English professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United after joining the club from Blackpool ....
. After the game manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
revealed Lonergan had surgery on the finger and would be ruled out for a minimum of six weeks.
International career
After playing just one game for Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
U16's Lonergan decided to play for the country of his birth England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Lonergan is a former English U-21 International. He also played for England in the Under 20's World Cup. He is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national team due to his Irish grandparents. Due to a change in FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
rulings Lonergan became eligible for Republic of Ireland, with Lonergan on Giovanni Trappatoni's radar for the squad. Former Preston teammate and Republic of Ireland international Sean St. Ledger also championed Lonergan getting a call up to the Ireland squad. In May 2010, Lonergan revealed he would welcome a call up to the Republic of Ireland national team after he had initially refused an enquiry to be called up to the Irish squad.
Awards
Individual:- Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
: Fans Player Of The Year 2008–09 & 2009–10 - Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
: Player's Player Of The Year 2009–10
External links
- Andrew Lonergan player profile at pnefc.net
- Andrew Lonergan player profile at wwfc.com