Bruce Dyer
Encyclopedia
Bruce Antonio Dyer is an English former footballer who played as a striker.
His career started in 1993 with Watford
, before he became the country's first £1 million-teenager when he joined Crystal Palace
in 1994. He spent five years with Palace, playing more than 100 games, and then another five years with Barnsley
, before he returned to Watford. Since leaving Watford in 2005, he has had eight different clubs in three years, including three loan spells. Dyer also represented England at under-21 level
, and despite four goals in 11 games, he was never capped
at full level, and instead played one friendly
for Montserrat
against Ashford Town
in 2007.
, London
, Dyer started his career in the Watford
youth system
as a schoolboy in September 1990, becoming a trainee following the conclusion of his studies in July 1991. Dyer made his first team debut as a substitute in Watford's 1–0 win against Birmingham City
at Vicarage Road
on 17 April 1993 and he signed a professional
contract with the club two days later. He made one further appearance in the First Division
in the 1992–93 season, against Oxford United
. He made 29 league appearances and scored six goals during the 1993–94 season before being sold to fellow First Division team Crystal Palace
on 10 March 1994 for a fee of £1.1 million, which made him the first teenager in English football to be transferred for at least £1 million. He finished the remainder of the season with 11 appearances for Palace. Dyer spent his first full season at the club playing in the FA Premier League, making 16 league appearances and scoring one goal. His first hat-trick
for the club came in a victory over Birmingham City
on 27 February 1996. Palace were relegated
back to the First Division for the 1995–96 season and he scored 13 goals in 35 league appearances. The next season saw Palace earn promotion back to the Premier League, with Dyer being top scorer with 18 goals in 51 appearances. Dyer's second and final hat-trick for Palace was in a 3–0 victory over Leicester City
in the FA Cup
on 24 January 1998. He finished as top scorer for the second successive season after scoing eight goals in 30 appearances goals in the 1997–98 season as the team were relegated to the First Division.
Dyer joined fellow First Division team Barnsley
for a fee of £700,000 on 23 October 1998, after having made nine appearances and scored two goals for Palace up to that point during the 1998–99 season. He finished the season with 30 appearances and eight goals for Barnsley. A proposed move to Gillingham
in September 2000 was called off by Barnsley manager Dave Bassett
after Dyer failed to agree personal terms with the club. He scored two goals in the 4–0 win over Birmingham City
in the 1999–2000 First Division play-off semi-final first leg. He scored in the second leg, which finished as a 2–1 defeat, but saw Barnsley progress to the Final at Wembley Stadium 5–2 on aggregate. He started the Final, but was substituted for Ǵorǵi Hristov on 64 minutes, with the match eventually being lost 4–2 to Ipswich Town
. Dyer was again linked with a move to Gillingham in April 2002, but their manager Andy Hessenthaler
rejected reports they were preparing a bid for him. His contract at Barnsley expired in the summer of 2003, whose manager Glyn Hodges
hoped he would accept a lowering in wage
s to remain at the club. He however failed to agree terms on a new contract and later agreed to return to Watford, who he eventually signed for on a two-year contract on 26 June.
Having returned to the club where he started his career, Dyer faced competition for a starting place from Heiðar Helguson
and Danny Webber
. In 2003–04 he made 18 starting league appearances, scoring three goals. His strike rate improved the following season, with 9 goals from his 21 league starts. Despite this form, Dyer did not score in any of his six appearances following the arrival of new manager Aidy Boothroyd, and was released by Watford in May 2005. After spending a week on trial at Stoke City
, he signed for the Championship
club on a one-year contract. He joined fellow Championship side Millwall
on a two-month loan on 4 November and made his debut a day later in a 3–1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra
. He scored two goals against Sheffield United
, which earned Millwall a 2–2 draw, and finished the loan spell with 10 appearances. After making 12 appearances for Stoke, he was released in January and subsequently signed for Sheffield United on a contract until the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored on his debut for United against Reading
, giving his side the lead after nine minutes, but a Dave Kitson
equaliser three minutes later saw the match end 1–1. However, he was unable to score again in a further four appearances and joined Doncaster Rovers
of League One
on 2 June 2006 on a free transfer. His Doncaster debut came in a 1–0 defeat to Carlisle United
on the opening day of the 2006–07 season and scored with a low 20-yard shot during his second game against Crewe, which finished as a 3–1 victory. He joined Bradford City
on a month's loan on 31 January 2007 and scored eight minutes into his debut against Nottingham Forest
, with the match eventually finishing 2–2. He finished the loan spell with five appearances when it ended in March. After returning to Doncaster, he featured in seven games for the team, finishing the season with 17 appearances for the team.
He made his first appearance of the 2007–08 season as a 57th minute substitute for Mark McCammon
in Doncaster's 5–1 victory over Bradford in the Football League Trophy
, after which he joined League Two
side Rotherham United
on a one month loan deal on 13 September 2007. With Rotherham striker Tom Cahill
out injured, he went straight into the game against Wrexham, which was won 1–0, with Chris O'Grady
scoring the winner. He returned to Doncaster on 4 October with a minor back injury, finishing the loan spell with three appearances. He was released by Doncaster on 31 January 2008, having made one appearance for the team during the season, after which he eventually joined Chesterfield
in League Two on 27 March 2008 on a short-term contract until the end of the season. He made his debut in a 4–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town
, in which he set up David Dowson
for the fourth with a one-two
. Manager Lee Richardson
had yet to decide on Dyer's future at Chesterfield when he had issued the retained list in April, after he had made three substitute appearances for the team. Richardson later said in June that if he was not able to find a new club, he could return to Chesterfield for pre-season training.
He returned to Bradford City in October 2008, for whom he was training with and featured in a reserves game. Bradford lost 2–1 to York City
, with Dyer scoring. However, manager Stuart McCall
said Dyer was only with the club to regain fitness following a long-term injury, while four days after the fixture, York manager Colin Walker revealed he was interested in signing Dyer. York eventually signed him on 3 November, on a contract that would expire in January 2009. Dyer made his debut for York in a 1–1 draw against Mansfield Town
in the Conference League Cup
third round, being substituted off on 64 minutes for Adam Boyes, in a match that was won 4–2 on a penalty shootout after extra time. This was followed by his league debut, which finished as a 2–1 defeat to Torquay United
; York's first home defeat of the 2008–09
season. A tight hamstring
saw him miss York's following game, a 1–0 defeat to Cambridge United
, as a precaution. He returned for the team in a 2–2 draw against Crawley Town
, during which he set up Onome Sodje for the opening goal. Dyer was forced to miss training due to stiffness
and was unavailable for York's game against Salisbury City
, but regained fitness for the game against Barrow
in the Conference League Cup. This game was postponed and his tight hamstring forced him into missing further games. He retired from football on 23 December after being limited to three games with York because of back and hamstring injuries.
team. He represented Montserrat
in a friendly
game against Ashford Town
in September 2007, which was lost 4–0.
, which he, along with his wife
Janine, claimed to help him carry on with his footballing career. He is the founder of Love Life UK.
His career started in 1993 with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, before he became the country's first £1 million-teenager when he joined 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 1994. He spent five years with Palace, playing more than 100 games, and then another five years with Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, before he returned to Watford. Since leaving Watford in 2005, he has had eight different clubs in three years, including three loan spells. Dyer also represented England at under-21 level
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....
, and despite four goals in 11 games, he was never capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
at full level, and instead played one friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
for Montserrat
Montserrat national football team
The Montserrat national football team represents the small Caribbean island of Montserrat in the CONCACAF football region. Football is the second most popular sport in Montserrat, with cricket being the most-played sport on the island. The team play at the Blakes Estate Stadium in Plymouth and the...
against Ashford Town
Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
in 2007.
Club career
Born in IlfordIlford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Dyer started his career in the Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
as a schoolboy in September 1990, becoming a trainee following the conclusion of his studies in July 1991. Dyer made his first team debut as a substitute in Watford's 1–0 win against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
on 17 April 1993 and he signed a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
contract with the club two days later. He made one further appearance in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in the 1992–93 season, against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He made 29 league appearances and scored six goals during the 1993–94 season before being sold to fellow First Division team 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 March 1994 for a fee of £1.1 million, which made him the first teenager in English football to be transferred for at least £1 million. He finished the remainder of the season with 11 appearances for Palace. Dyer spent his first full season at the club playing in the FA Premier League, making 16 league appearances and scoring one goal. His first hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
for the club came in a victory over Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 27 February 1996. Palace were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
back to the First Division for the 1995–96 season and he scored 13 goals in 35 league appearances. The next season saw Palace earn promotion back to the Premier League, with Dyer being top scorer with 18 goals in 51 appearances. Dyer's second and final hat-trick for Palace was in a 3–0 victory over 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...
in the 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...
on 24 January 1998. He finished as top scorer for the second successive season after scoing eight goals in 30 appearances goals in the 1997–98 season as the team were relegated to the First Division.
Dyer joined fellow First Division team Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
for a fee of £700,000 on 23 October 1998, after having made nine appearances and scored two goals for Palace up to that point during the 1998–99 season. He finished the season with 30 appearances and eight goals for Barnsley. A proposed move to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in September 2000 was called off by Barnsley manager Dave Bassett
Dave Bassett
David Bassett , also frequently known by his nickname of Harry, is an English football manager and a former player....
after Dyer failed to agree personal terms with the club. He scored two goals in the 4–0 win over Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the 1999–2000 First Division play-off semi-final first leg. He scored in the second leg, which finished as a 2–1 defeat, but saw Barnsley progress to the Final at Wembley Stadium 5–2 on aggregate. He started the Final, but was substituted for Ǵorǵi Hristov on 64 minutes, with the match eventually being lost 4–2 to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
. Dyer was again linked with a move to Gillingham in April 2002, but their manager Andy Hessenthaler
Andy Hessenthaler
Andrew "Andy" Hessenthaler is an English football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as manager of Gillingham. Hessenthaler began his career in non-league football and did not turn professional until he joined Watford at the age of 26...
rejected reports they were preparing a bid for him. His contract at Barnsley expired in the summer of 2003, whose manager Glyn Hodges
Glyn Hodges
Glyn Hodges , is a Welsh football manager and former player. He played 18 times for the Welsh national side, scoring twice.-Football career:...
hoped he would accept a lowering in wage
Wage
A wage is a compensation, usually financial, received by workers in exchange for their labor.Compensation in terms of wages is given to workers and compensation in terms of salary is given to employees...
s to remain at the club. He however failed to agree terms on a new contract and later agreed to return to Watford, who he eventually signed for on a two-year contract on 26 June.
Having returned to the club where he started his career, Dyer faced competition for a starting place from Heiðar Helguson
Heiðar Helguson
Heiðar Helguson is an Icelandic footballer who plays as a striker for Queens Park Rangers....
and Danny Webber
Danny Webber
Daniel Vaughn "Danny" Webber is an English football striker who is a free agent following his release from Portsmouth....
. In 2003–04 he made 18 starting league appearances, scoring three goals. His strike rate improved the following season, with 9 goals from his 21 league starts. Despite this form, Dyer did not score in any of his six appearances following the arrival of new manager Aidy Boothroyd, and was released by Watford in May 2005. After spending a week on trial at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, he signed for the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club on a one-year contract. He joined fellow Championship side Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on a two-month loan on 4 November and made his debut a day later in a 3–1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. He scored two goals against 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...
, which earned Millwall a 2–2 draw, and finished the loan spell with 10 appearances. After making 12 appearances for Stoke, he was released in January and subsequently signed for Sheffield United on a contract until the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored on his debut for United against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, giving his side the lead after nine minutes, but a Dave Kitson
Dave Kitson
David Barry "Dave" Kitson is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Portsmouth as a striker.-Early life:...
equaliser three minutes later saw the match end 1–1. However, he was unable to score again in a further four appearances and joined 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...
of League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
on 2 June 2006 on a free transfer. His Doncaster debut came in a 1–0 defeat to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
on the opening day of the 2006–07 season and scored with a low 20-yard shot during his second game against Crewe, which finished as a 3–1 victory. He joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
on a month's loan on 31 January 2007 and scored eight minutes into his debut against 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...
, with the match eventually finishing 2–2. He finished the loan spell with five appearances when it ended in March. After returning to Doncaster, he featured in seven games for the team, finishing the season with 17 appearances for the team.
He made his first appearance of the 2007–08 season as a 57th minute substitute for Mark McCammon
Mark McCammon
Mark Jason McCammon is an English-born Barbadian international football striker.Starting his career with Cambridge United in 1997, two years later he moved on to Charlton Athletic. In 2000 he was loaned out to Swindon Town, before signing with Brentford. He found regular football at Brentford,...
in Doncaster's 5–1 victory over Bradford in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
, after which he joined League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on a one month loan deal on 13 September 2007. With Rotherham striker Tom Cahill
Tom Cahill (footballer)
Not to be confused with Tim Cahill, the midfielder who plays for Everton.Tom Cahill is an English footballer, who plays for AFC Fylde in Evostik 1st Division North. He is a forward.-Early career:...
out injured, he went straight into the game against Wrexham, which was won 1–0, with Chris O'Grady
Chris O'Grady
Christopher James "Chris" O'Grady is an English footballer who plays for Sheffield Wednesday in League One.-Leicester City:...
scoring the winner. He returned to Doncaster on 4 October with a minor back injury, finishing the loan spell with three appearances. He was released by Doncaster on 31 January 2008, having made one appearance for the team during the season, after which he eventually joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in League Two on 27 March 2008 on a short-term contract until the end of the season. He made his debut in a 4–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, in which he set up David Dowson
David Dowson
David Dowson is an English footballer who plays for Durham City as a striker.-Career:Born in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Dowson started his career with Sunderland, but never made a first team appearance. He made his debut while on loan at Chesterfield on 23 February 2008 against Brentford,...
for the fourth with a one-two
Push and run
Push-and-run, also known as a one-two, a wall pass or a give-and-go, is a tactic often used in association football. It was devised and developed by Arthur Rowe, who was the manager of English football club Tottenham Hotspur from 1949....
. Manager Lee Richardson
Lee Richardson (footballer)
Lee James Richardson is a former professional footballer and until 6 May 2009 he was manager of Chesterfield...
had yet to decide on Dyer's future at Chesterfield when he had issued the retained list in April, after he had made three substitute appearances for the team. Richardson later said in June that if he was not able to find a new club, he could return to Chesterfield for pre-season training.
He returned to Bradford City in October 2008, for whom he was training with and featured in a reserves game. Bradford lost 2–1 to York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, with Dyer scoring. However, manager Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
said Dyer was only with the club to regain fitness following a long-term injury, while four days after the fixture, York manager Colin Walker revealed he was interested in signing Dyer. York eventually signed him on 3 November, on a contract that would expire in January 2009. Dyer made his debut for York in a 1–1 draw against Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in the Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
third round, being substituted off on 64 minutes for Adam Boyes, in a match that was won 4–2 on a penalty shootout after extra time. This was followed by his league debut, which finished as a 2–1 defeat to Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
; York's first home defeat of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season. A tight hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
saw him miss York's following game, a 1–0 defeat to Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
, as a precaution. He returned for the team in a 2–2 draw against Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
, during which he set up Onome Sodje for the opening goal. Dyer was forced to miss training due to stiffness
Joint stiffness
Joint stiffness may be either the symptom of pain on moving a joint, the symptom of loss of range of motion or the physical sign of reduced range of motion. Doctors prefer the latter two uses but patients often use the first meaning....
and was unavailable for York's game against Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
, but regained fitness for the game against Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
in the Conference League Cup. This game was postponed and his tight hamstring forced him into missing further games. He retired from football on 23 December after being limited to three games with York because of back and hamstring injuries.
International career
Dyer gained 11 caps and scored four goals for the England under-21England 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....
team. He represented Montserrat
Montserrat national football team
The Montserrat national football team represents the small Caribbean island of Montserrat in the CONCACAF football region. Football is the second most popular sport in Montserrat, with cricket being the most-played sport on the island. The team play at the Blakes Estate Stadium in Plymouth and the...
in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
game against Ashford Town
Ashford Town F.C. (Kent)
Ashford United F.C. are an English football club based in Ashford, Kent. The 'new' United was formed in 2011 . Between 1930 and 2010 the town was represented by Ashford Town FC, before it ultimately went into administration...
in September 2007, which was lost 4–0.
Personal life
Dyer is a born-again ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, which he, along with his wife
Wife
A wife is a female partner in a marriage. The rights and obligations of the wife regarding her spouse and others, and her status in the community and in law, varies between cultures and has varied over time.-Origin and etymology:...
Janine, claimed to help him carry on with his footballing career. He is the founder of Love Life UK.