Quick Facts
Biography
Martyn Lancaster (born 10 November 1980) is an English footballer.
Career
Early career in England
Born in Wigan, Lancaster played over 100 games for Chester City in the English Football League and Football Conference between 1998 and 2003.
After playing well against them in a cup tie, Lancaster was given the chance to play in a trial match for Aston Villa's reserves in October 1999, but was not signed by the team.
United States and beyond
After a brief stint playing non-League football in England for Leigh RMI, Northwich Victoria and Southport, Lancaster moved to the United States in 2006 to join Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division. He moved up a division when he signed for the Atlanta Silverbacks in 2007, and made his debut in a 0–0 draw with California Victory in June of that year.
After Atlanta folded at the end of 2008 Lancaster returned home and joined Scottish side Queen of the South in January 2009. Lancaster made the news when it transpired that he had been signed on the strength of a YouTube highlights video uploaded by his wife. He played 15 games and scored two goals for Queens, but left at the end of the season to sign for Swedish side Ljungskile.
Lancaster went back across the Atlantic in 2010 when he signed with Miami FC of the USSF Division 2 Professional League. Miami became the Fort Lauderdale Strikers prior to the beginning of the 2011 North American Soccer League season; he scored the new Strikers' first ever goal in a 2–1 loss to FC Edmonton on the first day of the season.
On 2 December 2011, Lancaster signed with Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL.
After winning the NASL Spring Title in the 2013 season of the NASL with the Atlanta Silverbacks as the team captain and playing very well in the Fall 2013 season, Lancaster was named to the NASL 2013 Best XI. He then featured in the 2013 Soccerbowl 1–0 loss to The New York Cosmos as an unused substitute.