Alex Lacey

Alex Lacey
Personal information
Full name Alexander Lawrence Lacey[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-31) 31 May 1993
Place of birth Milton Keynes, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Central defender
Club information
Current team
 Gillingham
Number 4
Youth career
2007–2010 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2015 Luton Town 40 (1)
2011 → Cambridge City (loan) 12 (0)
2011 → Thurrock (loan) 3 (0)
2012 → Eastbourne Borough (loan) 14 (2)
2013 → Eastleigh (loan) 18 (1)
2015–2017 Yeovil Town 60 (3)
2017– Gillingham 15 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:22, 3 October 2018 (UTC)

Alexander Lawrence Lacey (born 31 May 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a central defender for Gillingham.

Career

Luton Town

Born in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Lacey joined the Luton Town youth set-up as a first-year scholar in 2007.[2] As a 16-year-old, he was an unused substitute during Luton's narrow 1–0 defeat to League One side Southampton in the FA Cup in January 2010.[3]

He signed a professional contract with Luton in November 2010 and made his first-team debut a month later, starting against Welling United in a 0–0 draw in the FA Trophy.[2][4] He made two further starts in the club's FA Trophy campaign, which culminated in Luton being defeated in the semi-final to Mansfield Town. Lacey made his league debut as a substitute on 30 April 2011 in a 1–1 draw against Wrexham.[5]

He played the full 90 minutes of a pre-season friendly in July 2011 against Southern League Premier Division side Cambridge City, with his display in defence described as "impeccable" and "assured".[6] Lacey's performance was not overlooked by Cambridge City, who subsequently signed him on loan for an initial month, alongside fellow Luton youth player JJ O'Donnell, on 12 August 2011.[7] This loan was later extended until October.[8] Lacey returned to Luton having made 14 appearances, and then joined Conference South side Thurrock on loan for a month in November.[9] He played three times in this loan period, and then played in three FA Trophy games upon his return to Luton. He was sent to Eastbourne Borough on loan for the final two months of the 2011–12 season, making 14 appearances and scoring two goals as he helped the club narrowly avoid relegation.[10] Lacey was linked with moves to Championship sides Southampton and Burnley, but signed a new two-year contract with Luton in June 2012.[11][12]

Injuries prevented Lacey from breaking into the Luton first-team at the beginning of the 2012–13 season and, when fit, manager Paul Buckle preferred to use the loan market for young defenders, bringing in Connor Essam and Simon Ainge. Lacey joined Conference South side Eastleigh in January 2013 on a one-month loan that was later extended until the end of the season.[13] He played in both legs of Eastleigh's play-off semi-final in April 2013, which ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Dover Athletic. He returned to Luton having played in 20 games, scoring once, and was praised for his performances both at centre-back and right-back.[14][15]

Paul Buckle had been replaced at Luton by experienced manager John Still towards the end of the 2012–13 season. Still named Lacey as Luton's captain during their 2013–14 pre-season games to improve his communication skills.[16] On the opening day of the 2013–14 season, an injury to regular captain Ronnie Henry and a red card for vice-captain Steve McNulty meant that Lacey, at the age of 20, had the unusual distinction of captaining Luton on his first league start for the club; a 1–0 defeat to Southport.[17] Lacey played in central defence in Luton's opening six games of the 2013–14 season, during which the team kept four clean sheets. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win against Woking on 25 September 2013 and remained in the starting XI as Luton embarked on a club-record 27 league game unbeaten run.[18] He fractured a metatarsal in a 3–0 win against Southport in November 2013, which sidelined him for three months. By the time Lacey had recovered, he had been replaced in central defence by Fraser Franks.[19] With his Luton contract set to expire at the end of the season, Lacey was linked with potential moves to Bournemouth, Charlton Athletic, Millwall and Peterborough United.[20] However, on 3 April 2014, Lacey signed a two-year contract extension with Luton.[21] Luton won the Conference Premier title during the 2013–14 season, with Lacey playing in a total of 21 league games.[22]

He made his Football League debut on the opening day of the 2014–15 season, playing in a new position as a defensive midfielder as Luton beat Carlisle United 1–0.[23] He played in a total of 20 matches throughout the campaign, often as a substitute, and was placed on the transfer list at the end of the season.[24]

Yeovil Town

On 22 July 2015, Lacey joined League Two side Yeovil Town on a free transfer and signed a two-year deal.[25] He scored his first goal for Yeovil in an EFL Trophy tie against Milton Keynes Dons on 6 December 2016.[26]

At the conclusion of the 2016–17 season Lacey was awarded with the Green & White Supporters Club and Community Sports Trust Player of the Season trophies.[27]

Gillingham

At the end of the 2016–17 season, Lacey rejected Yeovil's offer of a new two-year contract to sign for League One side Gillingham.[28]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 September 2018.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Luton Town 2010–11[29] Conference Premier 1000—3[lower-alpha 1]040
2011–12[29] Conference Premier 0000—3[lower-alpha 1]030
2012–13[29] Conference Premier 0010—1[lower-alpha 1]010
2013–14[29] Conference Premier 21110—00221
2014–15[30] League Two 18010001[lower-alpha 2]0200
Total 401300080511
Cambridge City (loan) 2011–12[31] Southern League Premier Division 12020—00140
Thurrock (loan) 2011–12[29] Conference South 3000—0030
Eastbourne Borough (loan) 2011–12[29] Conference South 14200—00142
Eastleigh (loan) 2012–13[29] Conference South 18100—2[lower-alpha 3]0201
Yeovil Town 2015–16[32] League Two 20020102[lower-alpha 2]0250
2016–17[33] League Two 40320104[lower-alpha 4]1474
Total 603402061724
Gillingham 2017–18[34] League One 11110001[lower-alpha 4]0131
2018–19[35] League One 4000101[lower-alpha 4]060
Total 151101020191
Career totals 1628100301811939
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Two appearances in Conference South play-offs
  4. 1 2 3 Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Luton Town

References

  1. ↑ "Retained List 2015-16" (PDF). English Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Young defender nets pro deal". Luton Town F.C. 5 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Southampton 1–0 Luton". BBC Sport. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  4. ↑ Ryan, Ian (12 December 2010). "Hatters fail to get off the ground against Wings". Bedfordshire on Sunday. LSN Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Luton Town 1–1 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  6. ↑ Parsfield, Matthew (31 July 2011). "Cambridge City 0–4 Luton Town". Luton Town 2011. Wordpress. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Roberts in loans lift". Cambridge News. Cambridge Newspapers Ltd. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Luton duo extend loan". Cambridge City F.C. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "Lacey loaned to Thurrock". Bedfordshire on Sunday. LSN Media Ltd. 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "O'Donnell joins Thurrock while Lacey extends loan at Eastbourne". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  11. ↑ "Buckle: Lacey is going nowhere". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  12. ↑ "New deal for Lacey". Luton Town F.C. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Luton announce Lacey loan". Southern Daily Echo. Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "Eastleigh put 5 past Billericay". Hampshire Chronicle. Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Lacey impresses again for Spitfires". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Still confirms Henry will be Town's skipper". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "Watch Steve McNulty's sending off at Southport". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  18. ↑ "Woking 0–4 Luton". BBC Sport. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Lacey looks to rise to the challenge". Luton Today. Johnston Publishing Ltd. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "Transfer news: Luton's Alex Lacey attracting interest from Football League". Sky Sports. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Alex Lacey signs new deal". Luton Town F.C. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "Luton Town win Conference Premier and Football League spot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  23. ↑ "Carlisle 0–1 Luton". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Luton Town: Hatters release seven and transfer list six more". Bedfordshire on Sunday. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Alex Lacey: Yeovil Town sign Luton defender on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "Yeovil Town 4-1 MK Dons - Checkatrade Trophy progression sealed in style by the Glovers". somersetlive.co.uk. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  27. ↑ "LACEY ENJOYS END OF SEASON AWARDS HAUL". Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  28. ↑ "Alex Lacey: Yeovil Town defender signs for Gillingham". BBC Sport. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "A. Lacey". Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Alex Lacey in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  31. ↑ "Alex Lacey Cambridge City statistics 2011/12". Cambridge City F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Alex Lacey in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Alex Lacey in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Alex Lacey in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Alex Lacey in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
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