Derek Lilley
Encyclopedia
Derek Lilley is a Scottish
footballer currently without a club following his release from Scottish Third Division
side Forfar Athletic
.
and won a move to English Premiership side Leeds United
in 1997. His time at Elland Road
were frustrating, with only four starts from twenty-one appearances and only a solitary goal when he replaced Lee Bowyer
to score the winner in a 3-2 away win at Barnsley
. 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, and his goal at Bury coming in a crucial 1-0 win over .
A move to Oxford United in 1999-00 helped kick-start his career and his return of 9 goals from 63 appearances prompted interest from Dundee United
.
, 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 one in the final
win against Hibernian
- and a hat-trick in the Scottish Cup
. 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 January 26, 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. 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, going on to score three goals against East Stirling and Berwick in the league and Partick Thistle in the League Cup, before being released at the end of the 2008/09 season.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer currently without a club following his release from Scottish Third Division
Scottish Football League Third Division
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the lowest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth overall in the Scottish football league system....
side Forfar Athletic
Forfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
.
Morton & England
Lilley began his career with Greenock MortonGreenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
and won a move to English Premiership side 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...
in 1997. His time 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...
were frustrating, with only four starts from twenty-one appearances and only a solitary goal when he replaced Lee Bowyer
Lee Bowyer
Lee David Bowyer is an English professional footballer born in Canning Town, London, who plays as a midfielder for Ipswich Town of the Football League Championship....
to score the winner in a 3-2 away win at 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...
. He spent three months on loan, at Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
and Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, where again he managed a goal for each club. His goal at Hearts coming in a 2-1 defeat to Dundee, and his goal at Bury coming in a crucial 1-0 win over .
A move to Oxford United in 1999-00 helped kick-start his career and his return of 9 goals from 63 appearances prompted interest from Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
.
Scotland
A move in December 2000 saw him head north to United and a debut goal salvaged a point at home to RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, 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
St Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
which saved United from relegation and his six goals in the half-season would cement his status with the fans. The following season
Dundee United FC Season 2001-02
The 2001–02 season was the 93rd year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 2001-07-01 to 2002-06-30. United finished the season in eighth place....
, Lilley would manage just six goals, despite a hat-trick against St Johnstone and only two league goals in 2002-03
Dundee United FC Season 2002-03
The 2002–03 season was the 94th year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 2002-07-01 to 2003-06-30. United finished the season in eighth place....
spelled the end of his time at Tannadice
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
.
A move to Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
followed in 2003-04
2003-04 in Scottish football
The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA...
and a rejuvenated Lilley scored 12 league goals, plus four in the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
- including one in the final
2004 Scottish League Cup Final
The 2004 Scottish Cup Final was played on 14 March 2004, at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 57th Scottish League Cup. The final was contested by Hibernian and Livingston. Livingston won the match 2–0, thanks to goals from Derek Lilley and Jamie McAllister.-Match details:...
win against Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
- and a hat-trick in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
. This earned him the nickname of "The Goal Machine." 2004-05
2004-05 in Scottish football
The 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman...
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
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
and managed twelve league goals as Morton narrowly lost in the play-off semi-finals. In 2006-07
2006-07 in Scottish football
The 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...
, he had managed four league goals by the turn of the year.
On January 26, 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. On 7 June 2007, Lilley signed for newly promoted First Division side Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
. Lilley only played a handful of games for Stirling Albion before being released at the end of the season.
Lilley signed for Forfar Athletic
Forfar Athletic F.C.
Forfar Athletic Football Club are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Forfar, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Second Division...
in June 2008, going on to score three goals against East Stirling and Berwick in the league and Partick Thistle in the League Cup, before being released at the end of the 2008/09 season.
Greenock Morton
- Scottish Second Division: 2
-
- 2006–072006-07 in Scottish footballThe 2006–07 season was the 110th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2006:*9 July: Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen is banned for the club's pre-season trip to South Africa, following an incident on the outbound flight. Manager Paul Le Guen cited "wholly inappropriate and...
1994-951994-95 in Scottish footballThe 1994–95 season was the 98th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen the re-introduction of the Scottish 3rd division, after an absence of 26 years, and also the introduction of three points for a win being awarded instead of just two.-Notable events:*Raith Rovers...
- 2006–07
See also
- Dundee United F.C. season 2000-01
- Dundee United F.C. season 2001-02
- Dundee United F.C. season 2002-03