Saul Deeney

49
Saul Deeney bigraphy, stories - Professional footballer

Saul Deeney : biography

23 March 1983 –

Saul Deeney (born 23 March 1983) is an Irish footballer who plays for Derby County as a goalkeeper. He has previously represented the Republic of Ireland at Youth and under-21 level.

Club career

Notts County

Born in Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, Deeney signed for Notts County on a four-year conract in August 2000. He had loan periods with Ilkeston Town, Gresley Rovers and Hull City. He established himself as first-choice goalkeeper at Notts County when Ian Richardson became player-manager at the club. Deeney, however, turned down a new contract at the end of the 2004–05 season, although he returned to the club for pre-season training. After falling down the order at County, Denny had a trial with Sheffield United in September 2005.

Burton Albion

Deeney left Notts County in October after not being offered a new contract and joined Burton Albion of the Conference National in November and played 30 league games. Deeney had one of the highlights of his career on 8 January 2006 during the FA Cup match between Burton Albion and Manchester United, keeping out two shots from Wayne Rooney as well as saving a Ritchie Jones shot in injury time. He signed a new contract that would expire at the end of the 2005–06 season in January.

Return to Notts County

After leaving Burton in the summer of 2006, Deeney re-signed for Notts County, where he remained for a year.

Hucknall Town and return to Burton Albion

After a short spell at Hucknall Town, he rejoined former club Burton Albion in October 2007 on non-contract terms as back-up to first choice Kevin Poole, before signing a new contract in December that would expire at the end of the 2007–08 season. Deeney was retained for by the club the 2008–09 season where he remained second choice to Poole, playing 8 times in the season for The Brewers including the final four games which ensured Burton were promoted to the Football League for the first time in the clubs history.

Derby County

He left the club in June 2009 and after having a successful trial with Derby County he signed for the club on a one-year contract on 31 July 2009. Deeney spent much of the season as number two behind Stephen Bywater before making his debut as a 13th minute substitute in a match against Reading on 10 March 2010. He was sent off 27 minutes later after a professional foul on Jay Tabb and replaced in goal by midfielder Robbie Savage. At the end of the 2009–10 season, an optional 12 months clause in his contract was activated, keeping Deeney at Pride Park until the end of the 2010–11 season. Deeney’s full debut came in a 2–1 defeat to Bristol City and he kept his first clean sheet for the club in his debut appearance at Pride Park in the final game of the 2009–10 season, when Derby ran out 2–0 winners against Cardiff City.

With Stephen Bywater’s return to the first team line up for the 2010–11 season, Deeney returned to the Derby bench. When Bywater injured his wrist in training in October 2010, Deeney was unable to take advantage and make a claim for a first team spot as he was granted compassionate leave the day before Derby’s next game, against Preston North End, to visit his father in Northern Ireland, who had become seriously ill and later died Upon his return to availability, Deeney found himself kept out of the first team by loanee Frank Fielding and later the returning Stephen Bywater. In February 2011, Deeney ruptured a tendon in his shoulder ruling him out for five months and meaning he would complete the 2010–11 campaign without a single first team appearance. Despite this, Derby confirmed their intention to offer Deeney a new contract at the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.

Deeney missed the majority of the 2011–12 season with a shoulder injury, but the club activated a contract clause which extended Deeney’s stay at the club for a further year. He made his return to first team action in over two years in a pre-season friendly against Mansfield Town on 25 July 2012. Deeney spent the season as third choice goalkeeper, featuring as an un-used substitute when Frank Fielding was suspended or injured, he also played several times as an overage player for the clubs under-21 side.

At the end of the season, Nigel Clough had an overhaul of the goalkeeping department at the club with Derby signing Burnley goalkeeper Lee Grant and Adam Legzdins and Frank Fielding were free to move, Clough expected Deeney to be second choice to Grant in 2013–14, whilst being told by Clough that Derby would sign a loan keeper if Grant picked up an injury. As a result, Deeney contract was extended by a year to the summer of 2014.

International career

Deeney has previously represented the Republic of Ireland at Youth and under-21 level.