Derek_Lilley
Derek Lilley
Scottish footballer
Derek Simon Lilley (born 9 February 1974) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a striker for several clubs in Scotland and England.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Derek Simon Lilley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1974-02-09) 9 February 1974 (age 50) | ||
| Place of birth | Paisley, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1991 | Everton B.C. | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1997 | Greenock Morton | 180 | (57) |
| 1997–1999 | Leeds United | 20 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | → Heart of Midlothian (loan) | 4 | (1) |
| 1999 | → Bury (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 1999–2000 | Oxford United | 63 | (9) |
| 2000–2003 | Dundee United | 77 | (14) |
| 2003–2005 | Livingston | 66 | (15) |
| 2005–2007 | Greenock Morton | 51 | (16) |
| 2007 | St. Johnstone | 14 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Stirling Albion | 23 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Forfar Athletic | 22 | (8) |
| Total | 525 | (116) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He started his career with Greenock Morton, before a big-money move to Premier League side Leeds United. He had loan spells with Hearts and Bury before joining Oxford United.
In 2000, Lilley returned to Scotland with Dundee United, playing with them, Livingston, Morton again, and St. Johnstone, Stirling Albion then finally Forfar Athletic.
Morton & England
Lilley began his career with Greenock Morton and won a move to English Premier League side Leeds United in 1997. His time at Elland Road was frustrating, with only four starts from 21 appearances and only a solitary goal when he replaced Lee Bowyer to score the winner in a 3–2 away win at Barnsley.[2] He spent three months on loan, at Heart of Midlothian and Bury, where again he managed a goal for each club. His goal at Hearts coming in a 2–1 defeat to Dundee,[3] and his goal at Bury coming in a crucial 1–0 win over Oxford United.[4]
A move to Oxford United in 1999–00 helped kick-start his career and his return of nine goals from 63 appearances prompted interest from Dundee United.
Scotland
A move in December 2000 saw him head north to United and a debut goal salvaged a point at home to Rangers, although he would be sent off in his second game against former club Hearts. Ultimately, it was Lilley's last-minute winner at St Johnstone which saved United from relegation and his six goals in the half-season would cement his status with the fans. The following season, Lilley would manage just six goals, despite a hat-trick against St Johnstone and only two league goals in 2002–03 spelled the end of his time at Tannadice.
A move to Livingston followed in 2003–04 and a rejuvenated Lilley scored 12 league goals, plus four in the Scottish League Cup – including the winning goal in the semi-final against Dundee and one in the final win against Hibernian – and a hat-trick in the Scottish Cup against Spartans.[5][6][7] This earned him the nickname of "The Goal Machine." 2004–05 was a different story, however and Lilley's three goals were not enough to earn him a new contract.
Lilley returned to first club Morton for 2005–06 and managed twelve league goals as Morton narrowly lost in the play-off semi-finals. In 2006–07, he had managed four league goals by the turn of the year.
On 26 January 2007, his contract was terminated by Morton, and he signed for St. Johnstone. After making fourteen appearances for Saints (all as a substitute), Lilley was released by the club at the end of the season.[8] On 7 June 2007, Lilley signed for newly promoted First Division side Stirling Albion. Lilley only played a handful of games for Stirling Albion before being released at the end of the season.
Lilley signed for Forfar Athletic in June 2008,[9] going on to score three goals against East Stirlingshire[10] and Berwick[11] in the league and Partick Thistle in the League Cup,[12] before being released at the end of the 2008–09 season.[13]
Livingston
Greenock Morton
- "Derek Lilley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- Brown, Geoff (29 November 1997). "Lilley gilds Leeds". The Independent. London. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Falconer breaks Hearts". The Independent. London. 30 December 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Johnston leaves Sunderland one victory from Premiership". The Guardian. London. 10 April 1999. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Dundee 0-1 Livingston". BBC. 4 February 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- "Spartans 0-4 Livingston". BBC. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- "Saints boss begins squad overhaul". BBC Sport. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- "Lilley and Keogh sign for Forfar". BBC Sport. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- "East Stirling 0–3 Forfar Athletic". BBC Sport. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Forfar 2–1 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Partick Thistle 4–3 Forfar(aet)". BBC. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
- "Loons Release Ten". forfarathletic.co.uk. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- Derek Lilley at Soccerbase
- Profile at londonhearts.com
