Neill Byrne

For the Irish musician, see Neil Byrne.
Neill Byrne
Neill Byrne, Stockport County FC
Personal information
Full name Neill Byrne[1]
Date of birth (1993-02-02) 2 February 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Portmarnock, Ireland
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Bradford City
Number 5
Youth career
Belvedere
2007–2011 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
2012–2013 Rochdale 3 (0)
2012 → Barrow (loan) 1 (0)
2013 → Southport (loan) 10 (2)
2013–2015 AFC Telford United 78 (6)
2015–2017 Macclesfield Town 59 (4)
2017–2018 Gateshead 39 (1)
2018–2020 AFC Fylde 81 (4)
2020–2021 FC Halifax Town 40 (1)
2021–2022 Hartlepool United 40 (1)
2022–2023 Tranmere Rovers 13 (0)
2023–2024 Stockport County 35 (1)
2024– Bradford City 9 (2)
International career
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:03, 24 October 2024 (UTC)

Neill Byrne (born 2 February 1993) is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Bradford City.

Career

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Early career

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Byrne was born in Portmarnock, Ireland. He started his career with Irish sides Portmarnock and Belvedere before joining the Nottingham Forest Youth Academy at the age of 14.[2] Despite interest from other clubs, two years later he signed apprentice terms with the club until 2011.[2] Byrne was released by Forest in December 2011 and joined Rochdale on trial, scoring in a reserve game against Manchester City.[3] After impressing on trial, Byrne signed an 18-month contract with the League One club on 1 January 2012.[4] He made his debut for the Dale on 31 March 2012, in a 3–3 draw with relegation rivals Walsall.[5] In November 2012, he joined Football Conference side Barrow on a one-month loan deal.[6]

AFC Telford United

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He joined AFC Telford United in June 2013 after being released by Rochdale.[7] On 26 April 2014, he won promotion to the Conference Premier with Telford after they clinched the Conference North title on the final game of the season.[8]

Macclesfield Town

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After his impressive season with Telford, he signed for Macclesfield Town.[9] During his 2 year spell, he made 59 National League appearances and 3 FA Cup appearances. He scored 4 goals in the National League and started the majority of games, helping Macclesfield to 10th in the 2015–16 season.[10] In the 2016–17 season, Macclesfield finished 9th in the National League.[11] They also reached the final of the FA Trophy in 2016–17, however they lost 3–2 against York City.[12]

Gateshead

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Byrne agreed to join Gateshead on 26 May 2017 until the end of the season.[13] He made his debut on the opening day of the season in a 1–2 defeat against Woking,[14] scoring his first, and only, goal for the club three days later in a 1–0 victory over Guiseley.[15]

AFC Fylde

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In May 2018, Byrne signed for AFC Fylde on a two-year deal.[16] In his first year, he played 44 games in the National League and scored 2 goals as Fylde finished fifth in the table.[17] In the play-offs, Fylde reached the final, but lost 3–0 to Salford City.[18] Byrne also managed to help Fylde reach the final of the FA Trophy, while he did start the final, he was substituted off[19] due to a head injury. Fylde won 1–0 against Leyton Orient.[20]

In Byrne's second season for Fylde, he played 37 games in the National League and scored 2 goals. Unfortunately, his contributions were not enough, as Fylde were relegated after finishing in 23rd.[21] Fylde managed to reach the third round of the FA Cup, before losing 2–1 to, then, Premier League side, Sheffield United.[22]

FC Halifax Town

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On 23 September 2020, Byrne signed for National League side FC Halifax Town.[23] In Byrne's first, and only, year at Halifax, he played 40 games and scored 1 goal in the National League. Halifax finished the season in tenth position.[24]

Hartlepool United

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On 16 July 2021, Byrne signed for Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.[25] Byrne made his Hartlepool debut in a 1–0 victory against Crawley Town.[26] In 2021–22, Byrne played 51 times for Hartlepool, scoring once.[27]

Tranmere Rovers

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In July 2022, Byrne signed for League Two club Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[27]

Stockport County

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On 6 January 2023, Byrne signed for League Two rivals Stockport County for an undisclosed fee on a deal until the end of the season. The move would see Byrne play under manager Dave Challinor for a third time having also worked with him at AFC Fylde and Hartlepool United.[28] He was a member of the Stockport side that won the League Two title in 2023–24, making 22 appearances throughout the season.[29]

Bradford City

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On 20 May 2024, Byrne signed for League Two club Bradford City on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[29]

Career statistics

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As of match played 22 October 2024 [30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rochdale 2011–12 League One 3 0 — 0 0 0 0 3 0
2012–13 League Two 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Barrow (loan) 2012–13 Conference Premier 1 0 — — 0 0 1 0
Southport (loan) 2012–13 Conference Premier 10 2 — — 0 0 10 2
AFC Telford United 2013–14 Conference North 40 2 0 0 — 2[a] 0 42 2
2014–15 Conference Premier 38 4 1 0 — 2[a] 0 43 4
Total 78 6 1 0 0 0 4 0 85 6
Macclesfield Town 2015–16 National League 27 2 1 0 — 4[a] 1 32 3
2016–17 National League 32 2 2 0 — 9[a] 0 44 2
Total 60 4 3 0 0 0 13 1 76 5
Gateshead 2017–18 National League 39 1 2 0 — 0 0 41 1
AFC Fylde 2018–19 National League 44 2 — — 3[a] 0 47 2
2019–20 National League 37 2 3 0 — 4[a] 1 44 3
Total 81 4 3 0 0 0 7 1 91 5
Halifax Town 2020–21 National League 40 1 — — 2[a] 0 42 1
Hartlepool United 2021–22 League Two 40 1 5 0 1 0 5 0 51 1
Tranmere Rovers 2022–23 League Two 13 0 1 1 2 0 3 1 19 2
Stockport County 2022–23 League Two 19 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 21 0
2023–24 League Two 16 1 3 1 0 0 3 0 22 2
Total 35 1 3 1 0 0 5 0 43 2
Bradford City 2024–25 League Two 9 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 11 2
Career total 409 22 21 2 4 0 40 3 463 27
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

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Macclesfield Town

AFC Fylde

Stockport County

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2012 and 31/01/2012" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Academy Players 2010-11 Season". Nottingham Forest FC. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Rochdale net young defender Neill Byrne". Trent End. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Rochdale net young defender Neill Byrne". BBC Sport. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Rochdale 3-3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Rochdale defender Neill Byrne makes Barrow loan switch". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  7. ^ "AFC Telford complete capture of Neill Byrne". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Macclesfield Town Season Review 2015/2016 | FTN". Football Team News. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. ^ "FA Trophy 2016/17 :: playmakerstats.com". www.playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Gateshead make double transfer swoop as Neil Aspin strengthens his squad". Chronicle Live. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Woking 2-1 Gateshead FC". Gateshead FC. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Gateshead FC 1-0 Guiseley". Gateshead FC. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  16. ^ "AFC Fylde sign Gateshead captain Byrne". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Playoff 2018/2019 National League - Schedule". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Ex-Liverpool man helps his National League side to FA Trophy glory". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  20. ^ a b Stevens, Rob (19 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 1–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Blades beat AFC Fylde in FA Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ^ "National League News - September 2020 (23 September)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. ^ "2020-2021 National League Table". thefishy.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Pools Sign Neill Byrne". Hartlepool United FC. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  26. ^ "Hartlepool United 1–0 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Neill Byrne: Tranmere Rovers sign defender from Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Welcome to County, Neill Byrne!". www.stockportcounty.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  29. ^ a b "Neill Byrne: Bradford City sign Stockport County defender". BBC Sport. 20 May 2024.
  30. ^ Neill Byrne at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  31. ^ "York beat Macclesfield to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Join us in League One next season". Stockport County. 7 May 2024.
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