Lewis Haldane
Personal information
Full name Lewis Oliver Haldane[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-13) 13 March 1985[2]
Place of birth Trowbridge, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Southampton
Bristol Rovers
Trowbridge Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2010 Bristol Rovers 147 (15)
2003 → Weston-super-Mare (loan)
2005 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 6 (0)
2005 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 7 (0)
2008–2009 → Oxford United (loan) 43 (3)
2009 → Port Vale (loan) 14 (0)
2009–2010 → Port Vale (loan) 3 (0)
2010–2012 Port Vale 46 (3)
2013–2014 Yate Town 56 (38)
2014–2016 Frome Town 40 (9)
2016 Yate Town 0 (0)
Total 362 (68)
International career
2006 Wales U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lewis Oliver Haldane (born 13 March 1985) is a Welsh former under-21 international footballer who scored 75 goals in 414 league and cup games in a 14-year career.

A winger, he was a youth player at Southampton and Trowbridge Town, before he turned professional at Bristol Rovers in 2002. Loaned out to non-League Weston-super-Mare, he broke through into the Rovers first team in 2003–04. He was loaned out to Conference club Forest Green Rovers for a part of the 2004–05 and 2005–06 campaigns. He then stormed into the Bristol Rovers first team picture with sixty appearances in 2006–07. At the end of the season he helped the club to win promotion into League One through the play-offs, and he also played in the club's defeat in the Football League Trophy final. A first team regular in 2007–08, he then lost his place and spent the 2008–09 season on loan at Conference side Oxford United.

He joined Port Vale on loan at the start of the 2009–10 season, before joining the club permanently in January 2010. He recovered from a serious infection following an insect bite sustained at the start of the 2010–11 season, only to be struck down with a broken leg at the start of the 2011–12 campaign. The injury eventually forced him to retire from professional football in October 2012, though he later returned to play semi-professionally with Yate Town, before signing for Frome Town in November 2014. He retired following a brief return to Yate Town in January 2016.

Club career

Bristol Rovers

Haldane was a product of the Southampton youth academy. He moved on to Bristol Rovers though for the 2002–03 season, and had a brief spell on 'work experience' at Southern League side Weston-super-Mare.[3] His professional debut at the Memorial Stadium came on 27 September 2003 as he replaced Junior Agogo as an 85th-minute substitute; despite only playing for a few minutes he won a penalty in a 2–0 win over Cheltenham Town.[4] His first goal came seven days later at Belle Vue, the sole consolation of a 5–1 drubbing by Doncaster Rovers; he scored minutes after coming onto the pitch.[5] His first start came a week later, at Darlington, where he scored the opener of a 4–0 victory.[6] He made it three in three on 14 October, as Rovers crashed out of the Football League Trophy with a 2–1 defeat by Southend United at Roots Hall. He finished the 2003–04 season with 29 appearances to his name, scoring six goals and also picking up seven yellow cards. At the end of the season he was one of the few players retained, as eleven were let go.[7] He went on to sign a new three-year deal in November 2004.[8]

The teenager made sixteen appearances in 2004–05, all but one as a substitute, picking up one goal against Leyton Orient in the League Trophy. In April 2005 he joined Conference club Forest Green Rovers on loan.[9] He played six games before returning to Bristol, following the dismissal of manager Ian Atkins.[10] He began the 2005–06 season on loan at Forest Green,[11][12] putting in seven appearances before heading back to Rovers in September. He played 32 games for the League Two side, scoring three goals, two of them at the end of season clash with Macclesfield Town. During the season, he was utilized on the right of midfield, rather than his usual role as a striker.[13]

He played a remarkable sixty competitive games in 2006–07. The highlights of the season included playing in the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium and playing in the play–off final at Wembley Stadium. In the League Trophy final the "Gas" lost 3–2 to Doncaster Rovers, a game in which Haldane was man of the match,[14] but at the play-off final at Wembley they defeated Shrewsbury Town 3–1. Haldane started both games, but finished neither. At the end of the season he put pen to paper on a three-year contract.[15]

He made 38 appearances in 2007–08, as the "Pirates" adapted to life playing at a higher level. His only goal of the campaign was a late winning header over Millwall on 17 November.[16] At the reverse fixture he set up Craig Disley's winning goal.[17] He joined Oxford United on a season-long loan in July 2008, following the arrival of Jeff Hughes at Rovers.[18] He played 46 games for the Conference side, but remained on the transfer list at the Memorial Stadium upon his return.[19][20]

"It wasn't an easy decision to drop down to the Conference but once I had met the manager and seen the set-up I was convinced."

— Haldane took some convincing to drop down two tiers to play for Oxford.[21]

Port Vale

In August 2009, he joined Port Vale for a trial period.[22] This came despite talk of a loan move to Newport County.[23] He started a loan spell at Vale Park on 1 September,[24][25] hopeful of later earning a permanent deal with the club.[26] The one-month loan was extended by another month to keep him in Vale colours for October,[27] before the deal was extended once again in November.[28] Spending the maximum allowed loan time at Vale Park (93 days), he scored once in a total of twenty appearances. He remained in training with the club, hopeful of a short-term contract in January 2010.[29][30]

Lewis has got the ingredient that can hurt teams at this level, which is real pace. I still think he can get better and I still think he needs to be a little bit more selfish, but he's always a threat."

— Vale boss Micky Adams speaking in November 2009.[31]

Due to sign permanently for the "Vale", he was instead only able to re-join the club on loan on 31 December 2009, having failed to gain a release from Rovers.[32] That release was eventually secured however, and Haldane signed for Vale on 27 January 2010, just days before the transfer window closed.[33] He was sent off in his first game as a fully signed Vale player,[34] to his great disappointment.[35] He was offered a new contract by the club at the end of the season,[36] and quickly signed the two-year deal.[37]

In the 2010–11 pre-season, Haldane was rushed into hospital after being bitten by a blandford fly during a training session.[38] The unusual illness kept him bed stricken, and cost him his place in the team's trip to Ireland, giving Gary Roberts a chance to earn a contract.[39] He spent two weeks in hospital.[40] He had to wait until November before he had returned to match fitness,[41] and even longer before returning to full fitness.[42] Following his recovery he managed to finish the season with 27 appearances to his name.

Haldane won his first start of the 2011–12 campaign in a League Trophy clash with Tranmere Rovers; however, he landed awkwardly after an aerial challenge, the result of which was a double leg break and another lengthy spell on the sidelines.[43][44][45] By January 2012 the bone had completely healed, however, manager Micky Adams confirmed that another operation looked likely.[46] Three months later he took to the field again in a reserve team clash with Burton Albion.[47] He was given the opportunity to prove his fitness when he was offered a new six-month contract in May 2012.[48] However, two months later he went under the knife again to remove scar tissue from his left ankle.[49] The leg injury proved too severe, and his retirement was officially announced on 7 October.[50]

"He's very much part of the Port Vale family and we look after our own. That's the right way to be at a football club and certainly the way I want to manage. Lewis is a great kid and we'll miss him. We'll try our best as a club to help him in whatever the next phase of his life is. He'll move on to the next chapter in his life and there's more to life than football, or so they say. He'll have enjoyed his career to a certain degree and he'll be very frustrated to have it curtailed at such a young age. But he's got a good family behind him and he'll decide over the next couple of months what he wants to do with his life. We wish him well."

— Following Haldane's retirement, manager Micky Adams justified his decision to hand him a six-month contract earlier in the year, and wished Haldane well in the future.[51]

Non-League

Haldane began the 2013–14 season with Southern League side Yate Town.[52] He helped the "Bluebells" to a ninth place in Division One South & West in 2013–14, and was a prolific goalscorer, managing to score two consecutive hat-tricks in February.[53] He rejected an approach from Paulton Rovers in August 2014,[54] and three months later instead joined Frome Town.[55] The "Robins" finished one place above the Southern League Premier Division relegation zone in 2014–15. He re-signed with Yate Town in January 2016.[56] Yate finished 16th in Division One South & West in 2015–16, but Haldane was unable to feature due to work commitments.[57]

International career

Although Haldane was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, due to parentage he had Welsh eligibility, and was called up to the under-21 squad for the first time in August 2006. His only under-21 cap came in a goalless draw with Turkey on 2 September 2006.[58]

In February 2009, Haldane was selected to represent England C for the fixture against Malta under-21s. However, he was forced to withdraw because he had previously represented Wales at under-21 level.[59]

Style of play

Haldane was a pacey winger, adept at working either flank.[2] In January 2005, Bristol Rovers assistant coach Kevan Broadhurst said that "He gets into good areas but he needs to improve on the physical and finishing side of his game. He doesn't quite have the end product and he's too willing to go down under a tackle rather than fight for the ball."[60]

"Lewis is a confidence player, the type who needs people to have belief in him... quick, but he's not the finished article. His final ball lets him down at times but when he is in full flow he can be quite exciting."

— Port Vale manager Micky Adams describes his midfielder in May 2010.[61]

Personal life

Already boasting a considerable amount of body art, Haldane had his girlfriend's name (Michelle) tattooed onto his torso in February 2010 as a Valentine's Day gesture.[62] After retiring as a professional footballer in October 2012 he began working for a lorry components company in Bristol.[63]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bristol Rovers2002–03[64]Third Division0000000000
2003–04[65]Third Division27510001[lower-alpha 1]1[lower-alpha 1]296
2004–05[66]League Two13020002[lower-alpha 1]1[lower-alpha 1]171
2005–06[67]League Two30310001[lower-alpha 1]0323
2006–07[68]League Two45650109[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0606
2007–08[69]League One32130201[lower-alpha 1]0381
2008–09[70]League One0000000000
2009–10[71]League One0000000000
Total 147151203014217617
Forest Green Rovers (loan)2004–05[66]Conference National6000000060
2005–06[67]Conference National7000000070
Total 130000000130
Oxford United (loan)2008–09[70]Conference Premier433300000463
Port Vale2009–10[71]League Two37330102[lower-alpha 1]1[lower-alpha 1]434
2010–11[72]League Two230400000270
2011–12[73]League Two3000101[lower-alpha 1]050
2012–13[74]League Two0000000000
Total 633702031754
Yate Town2013–14[75]Southern League Division One South & West44324432
2014–15[75]Southern League Division One South & West12622002[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4]1[lower-alpha 3]169
Total 56382200216041
Frome Town2014–15[75]Southern League Premier Division29800002[lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 3]1[lower-alpha 3]319
2015–16[75]Southern League Premier Division11110001[lower-alpha 3]0131
Total 4091000314410
Yate Town2015–16[75]Southern League Division One South & West0000000000
Career total[lower-alpha 6] 362682525022541475
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Appearance/s and goal/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ↑ Appearance/s in the play-offs.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance/s and goal/s in the Southern League Cup
  4. ↑ Appearance/s and goal/s in the FA Trophy.
  5. ↑ Appearance/s in the Somerset Premier Cup
  6. ↑ Statistics for Weston-super-Mare not recorded.

Honours

Bristol Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "Lewis Haldane". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "Name: Lewis Haldane". port-vale.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Hobbs & Haldane on the Move". bristolrovers.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Robins' feathers ruffled". Sunday Mercury. 28 September 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Doncaster 5 Bristol Rovers1". The People. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tait's kids in heaviest defeat of season". The Journal. 13 October 2003. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  7. ↑ "Haldane keen to repay boss". BBC Sport. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Haldane signs new deal at Pirates". BBC Sport. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Forest Green take Haldane on loan". BBC Sport. 30 March 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  10. ↑ "Haldane recalled from Lawn loan". BBC Sport. 23 September 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  11. ↑ "Forest Green recruit three more". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  12. ↑ "Haldane extends Forest Green stay". BBC Sport. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "Haldane pleased to be versatile". BBC Sport. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  14. 1 2 "Port Vale: Haldane hopes to inspire Trophy success". The Sentinel. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  15. ↑ "Haldane commits to Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  16. ↑ "Tough talk earns Rovers first win". BBC Sport. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  17. ↑ "Haldane hopeful of Rovers recall". BBC Sport. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Haldane set for Oxford loan move". BBC Sport. 7 July 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  19. ↑ "Trollope places trio up for sale". BBC Sport. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  20. ↑ "U's boss plays down Haldane link". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  21. ↑ "Oxford United sign loan attackers". BBC Sport. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  22. ↑ Shaw, Steve (24 August 2009). "Breaking News: Kamara returns on trial". The Sentinel. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  23. ↑ "No transfer for Rovers' Phillips". BBC Sport. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  24. ↑ Knapper, Dave (1 September 2009). "Breaking News: Port Vale sign Haldane". The Sentinel. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  25. ↑ "Port Vale snap up winger Haldane". BBC Sport. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  26. ↑ Knapper, Dave (2 September 2009). "Port Vale: Adams swoops for trialist Haldane". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  27. ↑ "Haldane Confirmation". port-vale.co.uk. 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  28. ↑ "Port Vale: Adams looks on the bright side". The Sentinel. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  29. ↑ Shaw, Steve (2 December 2009). "Port Vale: Win puts us at crossroads – Adams". The Sentinel. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  30. ↑ "Port Vale hope to sign Bristol Rovers' Lewis Haldane". BBC Sport. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  31. ↑ "Vale hold on to striker Haldane". BBC Sport. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  32. ↑ "Lewis Haldane pens fresh Port Vale loan deal". BBC Sport. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  33. ↑ "Haldane signs for Vale". Sky Sports. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
  34. ↑ "Port Vale: Haldane unfortunate with red card". The Sentinel. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  35. ↑ "Port Vale striker Lewis Haldane unhappy with red card". BBC Sport. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  36. ↑ "Goalkeeper Joe Anyon released by Port Vale". BBC Sport. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  37. ↑ "Lewis Haldane agrees new Port Vale deal". BBC Sport. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  38. ↑ "Port Vale winger Lewis Haldane rushed into hospital". BBC Sport. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  39. ↑ "Port Vale: Adams in the dark over Lewis Haldane condition". The Sentinel. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  40. ↑ "Port Vale's Lewis Haldane returns after insect bite". BBC Sport. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  41. ↑ Shaw, Steve (6 November 2010). "Match Report: Dartford 1, Port Vale 1". The Sentinel. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  42. ↑ "Lewis Haldane ready to step up Port Vale comeback". BBC Sport. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  43. ↑ "Port Vale winger Lewis Haldane suffers double leg break". BBC Sport. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  44. ↑ "Port Vale: Adams dismisses result to lament Haldane's latest heartache". The Sentinel. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  45. ↑ Questier, Joe (31 August 2011). "Adams Waits on Haldane". port-vale.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  46. ↑ "Port Vale's Lewis Haldane may require another operation". BBC Sport. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  47. ↑ "Haldane provides only cheer as Vale sign off with Burton beating". The Sentinel. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  48. ↑ "Haldane gets six months to prove his fitness". The Sentinel. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  49. ↑ "Haldane has operation". port-vale.co.uk. 3 July 2012. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  50. ↑ "Haldane opts to call it a day". The Sentinel. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  51. ↑ "Adams pays tribute to retired Haldane". The Sentinel. 9 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  52. ↑ "Lewis Haldane set to start playing football again in non-league for Wimbourne Town". The Sentinel. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  53. ↑ "Calor Southern League Division One South & West: Yate Town 6 Clevedon Town 1". Gazette. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  54. ↑ Parker, Sebastian. "Lewis Haldane opts to stay at Yate Town". pitchero.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  55. ↑ "Town sign Haldane". frometownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  56. ↑ Parker, Sebastian. "Lewis Haldane Returns". pitchero.com. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  57. ↑ Parker, Sebastian. "LEWIS HALDANE - UPDATE - News - Yate Town Football Club". pitchero.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  58. ↑ "Wales U21 0-0 Turkey U21". BBC Sport. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  59. ↑ "Haldane dropped after admin error". BBC Sport. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  60. ↑ "Haldane urged to improve his game". BBC Sport. 12 January 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  61. ↑ "Port Vale: Haldane commits future to Valiants". The Sentinel. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  62. ↑ "Port Vale: Love in the air as Vale get play-off chase back on track". The Sentinel. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  63. ↑ Burin, Dave. "Under The League Interviews… Lewis Haldane". undertheleague.com. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  64. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  65. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  66. 1 2 "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  67. 1 2 "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  70. 1 2 "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  71. 1 2 "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  72. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  73. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  74. ↑ "Games played by Lewis Haldane in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  75. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lewis Haldane Profile | Aylesbury United FC". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
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