Whatever happened to... Alan Blayney (Part 5 of many)

Alan Blayney

Remember him! He made a save that was likened to Gordan Banks against Pele in the 1970 World Cup!

[video=youtube;BVYew6JFYAM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVYew6JFYAM[/video]

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Blayney started his career with Premiership side Southampton and was loaned out to Stockport County, but was cut short by a broken finger. He also he had a spell at Bournemouth on loan.

He made his Southampton debut in May 2004 in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle Utd, receiving a high amount of praise. He won Sky Sports save of the season after saving an Alan Shearer header in May 2004, on his debut! Blayney also played in the following 2-1 defeat at Charlton. He played two more games for Southampton the following season, the 2-2 Premier League draw against West Bromwich Albion and the 5-2 League Cup loss against Watford. Blayney, who was then behind Antti Niemi and Paul Smith in the team's pecking order went on loan to Rushden & Diamonds and Brighton & Hove Albion. Brighton tried to sign him on a permanent basis in 2005, but could not afford the transfer fee Southampton were asking. He did return to Brighton & Hove Albion for a second loan spell, before returning to Southampton in mid-December.


He then joined Doncaster Rovers for £50,000 from Southampton in January 2006, signing a two and half year contract, with hopes of getting the team promoted to the Championship. Blayney started off as first choice goalkeeper but fell behind Ben Smith and Dane Jan Budtz in the pecking order after an ankle injury. He decided to leave the club for personal reasons.

So in February 2007, he joined League One side Oldham Athletic, until the end of the 2006-07 season, after impressing in a reserve team match, later making his debut for Oldham Athletic in a 1-2 home defeat against Bournemouth.


In 7 August, he joined Irish side Bohemians on a short term deal to provide cover for first choice goalkeeper Brian Murphy. He marked his debut with a clean sheet as Bohs beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 on 31 August. He failed to gain the number 1 shirt from Brian Murphy though and was released at the end of the season. On 15 March 2008 it was revealed that Blayney had signed for Ballymena United, although he was unable to play for the Braidmen until the 2008-09 season. In June 2009, he signed a three year contract for Linfield in Ireland.

Since his return he has won the IFA Premier League and the Irish Cup in the same season.


And the rest of the series:
Paul Telfer http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/107247-Whatever-happened-to-Paul-Telfer-(New-series)
Jo Tessem http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/108969-Whatever-happened-to-Jo-Tessem-(Part-2-of-many)
Tomasz Hajto http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/116052-Whatever-happened-to-Tomasz-Hajto-(Part-3-of-many)
Grzegorz Rasiak http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/116541-Whatever-happened-to-Grzegorz-Rasiak-(Part-4-of-many)