Derek Lilley

Derek Symon Lilley (born 9 February 1974) is a Scottish former footballer, who played as a striker for several clubs in Scotland and England.

Derek Lilley
Personal information
Full name Derek Symon Lilley[1]
Date of birth (1974-02-09) 9 February 1974
Place of birth Paisley, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing 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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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.

Career

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]

Career statistics
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1991–92Greenock MortonScottish First Division253N/AN/A-253
1992–93224N/AN/A-224
1993–94385N/AN/A-385
1994–95Scottish Second Division3516N/AN/A-3516
1995–96Scottish First Division3514N/AN/A-3514
1996–972515N/AN/A-2515
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1996–97Leeds UnitedPremier League60---60
1997–981211030-161
1998–9920--1030
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998–99Heart of Midlothian (loan)Scottish Premier League4110--51
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998–99Bury (loan)Football League First Division51---51
1999–00Oxford UnitedFootball League Second Division4475150-548
2000–011921020-222
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2000–01Dundee UnitedScottish Premier League18641--227
2001–022664010-316
2002–03332-42-374
2003–04Livingston35125353-4518
2004–053132030-363
2005–06Greenock MortonScottish Second Division33122211-3615
2006–07184-10-194
St JohnstoneScottish First Division140---140
2007–08Stirling AlbionScottish First Division2301010-250
2008–09Forfar AthleticScottish Third Division2222011-253

Honours

Livingston
2003–04

Greenock Morton
  • Scottish Second Division: 2
2006–07
1994–95
gollark: It... seems like it's generating sound, in some way?
gollark: I mean, not `send` as much as some more general logic which happened to primarily cause breakage of that, but same principle.
gollark: <@!345300752975003649> It took *us* 40 minutes to do that too!
gollark: It did.
gollark: Merry birthday. Bees dispatched.

See also
  • Dundee United F.C. season 2000–01
  • Dundee United F.C. season 2001–02
  • Dundee United F.C. season 2002–03

References
  1. "Derek Lilley". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  2. Brown, Geoff (29 November 1997). "Lilley gilds Leeds". London: The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  3. "Falconer breaks Hearts". London: The Independent. 30 December 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  4. "Johnston leaves Sunderland one victory from Premiership". London: The Guardian. 10 April 1999. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  5. "Dundee 0-1 Livingston". BBC. 4 February 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  6. "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  7. "Spartans 0-4 Livingston". BBC. 8 February 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. "Saints boss begins squad overhaul". BBC Sport. 1 May 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  9. "Lilley and Keogh sign for Forfar". BBC Sport. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  10. "East Stirling 0–3 Forfar Athletic". BBC Sport. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  11. "Forfar 2–1 Berwick Rangers". BBC Sport. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  12. "Partick Thistle 4–3 Forfar(aet)". BBC. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  13. "Loons Release Ten". forfarathletic.co.uk. 11 May 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
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