Dane Massey

Dane Massey (born 17 April 1988) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Drogheda United in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He has also played for Dundalk, Bray Wanderers and for the Republic of Ireland national futsal team. Massey has made all 14 of his appearances in European competition for Dundalk and was part of their team that became the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016.[1]

Dane Massey
Dane Massey playing against Zenit Saint Petersburg in the 2016–17 Europa League
Personal information
Full name Dane Massey
Date of birth (1988-04-17) 17 April 1988
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Left-back
Club information
Current team
 Drogheda United
Number 13
Youth career
Cherry Orchard
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Bray Wanderers 117 (5)
2013–2020 Dundalk 211 (19)
2021– Drogheda United 0 (0)
National team
Republic of Ireland U21 (futsal)
Republic of Ireland (futsal)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 January 2021

Early life

Massey grew up in the Knocklyon suburb of Dublin[2] and played youth football for Cherry Orchard in the same team as Simon Madden, Adam Rooney and Stephen Gleeson.[3] His first visit to watch a League of Ireland side play was with his father in 2004 when Shelbourne drew 0−0 with Deportivo La Coruna in a Champions League 3rd qualifying round tie at Lansdowne Road.[4]

Professional career

Bray Wanderers

Massey came through the underage ranks at Bray Wanderers and made the breakthrough to the senior team in 2008. He made his professional debut in a League of Ireland Cup tie against Shamrock Rovers in May 2008 and went on to play five times that season for the club. In 2009, Massey made 34 appearances and scored his first senior goal against Shamrock Rovers, before going on to score three more goals that season.

Massey played 31 times for Bray in the 2010 season and was also named the Supporters' Club Player of the Month for April of that year. He appeared 26 times and scored one goal for Bray in 2011, and added another 27 league appearances in 2012.

Dundalk

Massey left Bray in December 2012 and, despite interest from Bohemians, he signed for Stephen Kenny at Dundalk.[5] He cited Kenny's pledge to utilise him in an attacking full-back role, as opposed to the more defensive game he played at Bray, as being one of the deciding factors for the move.[5] Massey made his debut for the club against Shamrock Rovers on the opening night of the 2013 season. He went on to score four times in 30 league appearances as Dundalk finished second in the league to champions St Patrick's Athletic.

Massey stayed with Dundalk for the 2014 season and was part of a defence that kept sixteen clean sheets in the league. He also formed an effective partnership down the left-hand side with Daryl Horgan.[6] In July 2014, Massey made his European debut in the Europa League against Jeunesse Esch.[7] He was named the League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month for September 2014 after his brace of goals helped Dundalk to beat Shamrock Rovers in the League Cup final that month.[6] Those two goals came a week after scoring a free kick in a 5−0 rout of Derry City in the league. He played in all 33 league games, scoring two further goals in wins over Sligo Rovers and UCD, as Dundalk won the Premier Division title. Massey then signed a new contract with the club to extend his stay until the end of 2015.

In 2015, Massey went on to make 32 league appearances for the club, scoring four goals in the process, as Dundalk once more won the Premier Division title. In April 2015, his form led to calls in the media for his inclusion in the Republic of Ireland national team and manager Martin O'Neill indicated that he would be following Massey's performances closely.[8] He also appeared in both Champions League Second Qualifying Round matches, as Dundalk were eliminated by BATE Borisov. In the first leg in the Borisov Arena, Massey was involved in an altercation with Vitali Rodionov after BATE's second goal, with video footage later revealing Massey had been headbutted.[9] Despite this, UEFA imposed no sanction following a public apology from Rodionov.[10] In November 2015, Massey appeared in the FAI Cup Final, in which Dundalk beat Cork City 1–0 after extra-time. He was named in the PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year at the end of the season.[11]

In 2016, Massey played every minute of all 6 of Dundalk's UEFA Champions League qualifier games as they became the first ever Irish side to reach the play-off round. This included providing an assist for David McMillan to score his second goal in a 3−0 victory over BATE Borisov in the second Qualifying Round. Massey received significant exposure due to this achievement, appearing on RTÉ's Saturday Night with Miriam in August 2016.[12]

Futsal

Massey also had a career in Futsal before focusing completely on association football. He credits the game with having a huge influence on his skills as a football player and improving his confidence on the ball.[2] Massey made three appearances in the 2007–08 UEFA Futsal Cup for Shamrock Rovers, scoring two goals. His debut in this tournament took place in August 2007 when Rovers faced Politekhnik Yerevan. In 2008, Massey went on to represent the Republic of Ireland U21 Futsal team on 3 occasions, scoring 2 goals. He also made 5 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team in the UEFA Futsal Championship qualifying rounds. His brother, Lloyd, also played Futsal for Shamrock Rovers and the Republic of Ireland national team.[2][13] They played alongside each other for the national team at 3 UEFA Futsal tournaments.[14]

Personal life

Massey worked as an electrician in the early part of his career to supplement his income alongside playing part-time football.[5][7] In 2014, Massey balanced training and matchday commitments at Dundalk with working a few mornings a week as an electrician in the Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin,[6] however he gave this up at the beginning of 2015 to go full-time.[5]>

Honours

Club
Dundalk

Individual

References
  1. "Dane Massey – UEFA player profile". UEFA. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  2. "Massey believes futsal has improved his game". Bray People. independent.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  3. Fitzmaurice, Aidan. "Dane Massey: Martin O'Neill should look to LOI for fresh talent". Irish Herald. herald.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  4. Mackey, Liam. "Dane Massey daring to dream of the big leagues". Irish Examiner. irishexaminer.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  5. McDonnell, Daniel. "The rise of Dundalk's unlikely lads – How Stephen Kenny has brought his men to the top". Irish Independent. independent.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  6. Landy, Barry. "'If Bohs can do us a favour tonight, great – but we know what we have to do'". The42. the42.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  7. Scully, Michael. "Dane Massey insists Dundalk "won't be going on the defensive" in Jeunesse Esch test". Irish Mirror. irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  8. Hopper, James. "Ireland manager Martin O'Neill hoping to watch Dane Massey for Dundalk". Goal.com. goal.com. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  9. McDonnell, Daniel. "'He planted one on me' - Dundalk hoping UEFA will investigate headbutt on Dane Massey". Irish Independent. independent.ie. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. "BATE captain apologises to Dane Massey for this headbutt but somehow escapes ban". The42. the42.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  11. "Seven Dundalk stars in PFAI Team of the Year". RTÉ Sport. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  12. "Saturday Night with Miriam Extras: Stephen Kenny and the Dundalk FC Team". RTÉ Player. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  13. "Ireland Futsal Squad Announced". Shamrock Rovers. shamrockrovers.ie. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  14. "O'Neill names Futsal squad for UEFA qualifiers". FAI. fai.ie. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
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