Martyn Lancaster

Leigh RMI

"He had a great part to play in the improvement of our defensive record and is a major part of our plans for next season. The partnership and understanding that he built up with Neil Durkin was impressive and I'm looking forward to that continuing." — Mark Patterson on Lancaster signing a new contract at Leigh RMI in June 2003. On 18 January, he made his debut in the win against Burton Albion at Eton Park. He scored his first goal for the club in the win against Forest Green Rovers on 29 March. A week later he was sent off in the defeat at Stevenage Borough. On 16 April, he played 61 minutes as RMI beat Kendal Town to win the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy. Lancaster ended his first season at Leigh with 13 league appearances and one goal as RMI avoided relegation. Manager Mark Patterson persuaded him to sign on at Leigh for another season despite having offers from other clubs.

Lancaster started the opening game of the 2003–04 season and played the full 90 minutes as RMI beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2–1 at Hilton Park. He received the second red card of his Leigh tenure on 13 September when he was sent off for violent conduct in the defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet. On 25 October, Lancaster played in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round defeat against Accrington Stanley. His first goal of the season came in March 2004 when he scored a last minute equaliser in the draw with Telford United. He finished the season with 33 league appearances and one goal as Leigh finished 21st in the table. However, the club were saved from relegation because of Margate's demotion due to complications with their ground. Lancaster was released in May 2004; RMI manager Phil Starbuck stating he was looking to rebuild the club with new players for the following season.

Leek Town

Lancaster signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town in August 2004. On 21 August, he made his debut in the league win against Bishop Auckland, however he was sent off in the closing stages of the game. He only made four appearances for Leek before leaving the club in September.

Northwich Victoria

Lancaster signed for Conference National club Northwich Victoria in September 2004, he joined the club when they were winless in the league and had just entered administration. He made his debut in the 0–0 draw with York City on 18 September, helping Victoria to their first clean sheet of the season. He made four more appearances, the last in the 3–0 defeat at Scarborough, before leaving the club in October.

Worksop Town

Lancaster joined Conference North club Worksop Town at the end of October 2004. On 30 October, he was an unused substitute in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round draw with Alfreton Town, but he left the club soon after.

Stalybridge Celtic

Lancaster signed for fellow Conference North club Stalybridge Celtic on 5 November 2004. He made his debut the following day when he played the full 90 minutes as Celtic beat Harrogate Town in the FA Trophy first round. Stalybridge won the tie 3–2 after being 2–0 down after 85 minutes. He made his debut on 22 January 2005 when he replaced Jimmy Williams in the win against promotion rivals Kettering Town. He made one more senior appearance, in the 3−1 win against Worcester City, before departing the club in February.

Ashton United

Lancaster signed for his fourth Conference North club of the season when he joined Ashton United in February 2005. On 5 March, he played in the league defeat against Vauxhall Motors.

Wilmington Hammerheads

In the summer of 2005, Lancaster went to the United States to coach at a high school, and after missing competitive football, he was persuaded to attend an open tryout for the Atlanta Silverbacks. However, Atlanta already had their full quota of international players so they passed on Lancaster. He scored his first goal for Wilmington on 18 June in the draw with the Harrisburg City Islanders at the Skyline Sports Complex. Lancaster impressed in the win against USL-1 side the Atlanta Silverbacks in the US Open Cup third round in July, however Wilmington lost to Major League Soccer side the New York Red Bulls in the next round. Overall he made 19 league appearances as the Hammerheads finished eighth place, leading the club in minutes played in the process, and also being eighth in the league as a whole.

Atlanta Silverbacks

"The funny thing is, we did get an opportunity to play against Atlanta in the US Open cup. So here I am playing against the team that rejected me and we beat them. After the game, Coach Smith came to me and asked if I could come to Atlanta again to look at the possibility of me playing for them. I agreed and went into talks with them and we agreed terms and I became a Atlanta Silverback." — Lancaster on how he signed for Atlanta Silverbacks in November 2009. On 9 July, he played against MLS side FC Dallas in the third round of the US Open Cup. Atlanta narrowly missed out on a cup upset when they lost 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Pizza Hut Park. He featured for Atlanta as they beat the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Portland Timbers to secure their first ever championship appearance. On 29 September, Lancaster started the championship game and played 89 minutes as Atlanta lost to the Seattle Sounders at Starfire Sports Complex.

Lancaster started the opening game of the 2008 season, and played 90 minutes in the draw with the Carolina RailHawks before being replaced by Tate Parrish in stoppage time. On 24 June, he replaced Scott Buete in the final 10 minutes as Atlanta were knocked out of the US Open Cup by fellow USL-1 side Miami FC Blues. The second round tie finished 1–0 at Tropical Park Stadium. At the end of the season, Atlanta announced that due to the state of the economy and the potential of a MLS club coming to the city, their men's team would sit out the 2009 season. Lancaster left the club as a result. The deal made headlines when it transpired that he had been signed on the strength of a YouTube highlights video uploaded by his wife. He made his debut in the defeat at Falkirk in the Scottish Cup fourth round on 10 January. On 7 March, Lancaster scored his first goal for Queens when he headed the equaliser in the draw against Greenock Morton at Palmerston Park. Three days later he scored again when he headed the winning goal in the 3−2 win against Dundee. He played in the 7–1 win against Clyde on 25 April, and featured a week later in the defeat against Dunfermline Athletic, the latter being his last appearance for the club.

Ljungskile Lancaster signed for Swedish Superettan club Ljungskile in July 2009. Ljungskile were made aware of Lancaster's availability after they signed Ryan Miller earlier in the summer, and the two players shared the same agent.

Miami FC / Fort Lauderdale Strikers

In April 2010, Lancaster returned to the United States when he signed for USSF Division 2 Professional League club Miami FC. He made his debut in the draw with the Rochester Rhinos on the opening weekend of the season. He played 21 times throughout the season as Miami finished fourth place in the NASL Conference, however they missed out on the playoffs by four points. In November, Miami announced that they would become the Fort Lauderdale Strikers starting in the 2011 season.

Lancaster signed on for another year at Fort Lauderdale in early 2011. On 10 April, he scored the new Strikers' first ever goal in the league loss against FC Edmonton on the opening day of the season. He feature heavily during the season, playing in 27 out of 28 league games, ultimately helping the Strikers reach the playoffs with a fourth-place finish. He led the team in minutes played and would also be fourth in league overall. On 1 October, Lancaster played in the win against FC Edmonton to put Fort Lauderdale through to the playoff semi-finals. He then featured in both legs of the semi-final against the Puerto Rico Islanders as the Strikers won 5–2 on aggregate to progress to Soccer Bowl 2011. Lancaster started both legs of Soccer Bowl as Fort Lauderdale lost 3–1 on aggregate to NSC Minnesota. These were his last appearances for club. He made the decision to sign after Alex Pineda Chacón was announced as the Atlanta's new head coach, and Pineda Chacón was someone who impressed Lancaster during his first stint with the club when he was assistant coach. He made his second debut for the club on 7 April when he started in the draw with the San Antonio Scorpions, he had a close range header cleared off the line in the game at Atlanta Silverbacks Park. On 16 May, Lancaster was sent off in the defeat against the Puerto Rico Islanders, and at the beginning of June he was sent off again in the win against FC Edmonton. Despite Lancaster playing 25 league games and leading the club in minutes played, Atlanta missed out on the playoffs, finishing seventh place in the league.

Lancaster started the opening game of the 2013 season; he played the whole game in the win against his former club the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. On 18 May 2013, he scored his first goal for the club when he headed the second goal in the victory against the Carolina RailHawks. Lancaster featured in 11 games as Atlanta won the Spring season, they sealed the championship with the 3–0 win against Minnesota United at the National Sports Center in July, securing their place in Soccer Bowl 2013 in the process. He played 12 times during the Fall season but he was injured in the final league game of the season against the New York Cosmos, meaning he would start Soccer Bowl as substitute, and subsequently wouldn't feature in the defeat against the Cosmos. Lancaster's efforts throughout the season earned him a place in the NASL 2013 Best XI.

Georgia Revolution

After retiring from professional football, Lancaster signed for National Premier Soccer League semi-professional club Georgia Revolution in May 2014.

International career Lancaster was called up to the England C national side in November 2002. On 20 November, he came off the bench in the defeat against an Italy Serie C Select at Stadio Giovanni Zini in Cremona.

Coaching career

Lancaster is a US National A and B licensed coach, and also has UEFA B and C licences. Additionally, he has NSCAA Advanced National and Premier diplomas. + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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1998–99 2008 USL First Division runner-up (1): 2007 USL Second Division Team of the Week (1): 2006 (Week 11) Fort Lauderdale Strikers Player of the Year (1): 2011 North American Soccer League Team of the Week (1): 2013 (Week 7 Spring season) North American Soccer League Best XI (1): 2013