Joel Lynch

Joel John Lynch (born 3 October 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender, who most recently played for Sunderland . He has also represented the Wales national team. He previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers. Though born and raised in England, Lynch chose to represent Wales at international level who he qualifies for though his Barry-born father.

Joel Lynch
Lynch playing for Queens Park Rangers in 2017
Personal information
Full name Joel John Lynch[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-03) 3 October 1987
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2003–2005 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Brighton & Hove Albion 79 (2)
2008–2009 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 23 (0)
2009–2012 Nottingham Forest 57 (3)
2012–2016 Huddersfield Town 122 (8)
2016–2019 Queens Park Rangers 90 (7)
2019–2020 Sunderland 16 (0)
National team‡
2012 Wales 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:02, 7 March 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:21, 3 July 2015 (UTC)

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

Lynch came through Brighton & Hove Albion's youth set up and was part of a history breaking youth team which saw them reach the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup.[2] His reward, along with teammate Joe Gatting, was a place in the squad for the first team which saw him make his debut against Southampton on 3 January 2006.[3]

In summer 2006, Lynch signed a professional three-year contract with Brighton, a deal which was later extended.[4][5]

Lynch attracted the interest of several Premier League and Championship clubs during his career with Brighton, with Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth[6] keeping a close scrutiny on the player.

After starting the 2008–09 season out of the Brighton first-team, Lynch handed in a written transfer request which was formally rejected by the club.[7] Lynch then handed in a second written transfer request during September 2008 and Brighton reluctantly allowed him to join Nottingham Forest on loan, initially for a month.[8] He made only one start and two substitute appearances for Brighton in the 2008–09 season.

Lynch made a total of 68 league starts for Brighton and scored a total of two goals.[9]

Loan spell 2008–09

Lynch joined Nottingham Forest on loan in September 2008. After five appearances, the following month this loan spell was extended until 28 December,[10] then the loan deal was further extended to keep Lynch at the City Ground for the remainder of the season.[11] Forest paid the player's contractual wages and paid Brighton a fee of £25,000[12] where he made 23 appearances for Forest. He found himself playing at left full-back, covering for the long term absence through injury of Julian Bennett.

2009–10 season

On 21 July 2009, Lynch was signed permanently by Forest on a three-year contract for a fee of £200,000. As part of this transfer deal, Forest loaned midfielder Matt Thornhill to Brighton for an initial six months.[13] Lynch's first team opportunities at Forest were limited, especially in his favoured position of centre-back as he has been down the pecking order to Wes Morgan, Kelvin Wilson and Luke Chambers. He has also suffered from injuries. Most of his appearances have come from filling in at left full-back. In the 2009–10 season, Lynch made only 11 starts in all competitions (3 at centre-back; 8 at left-back).

2010–11 season

Lynch made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season playing 101 minutes in Forest's Football League Cup first round exit to League Two side Bradford City on 10 August 2010 when they lost 2–1 after extra time.[14] His first appearance in the league didn't come until 20 November 2010 when he was used as an 85th-minute substitute in the sides 2–0 away win over Cardiff City.[15] He made his first league start in a 1–0 away win over Ipswich Town on 3 January 2011 being substituted in the 81st minute and would go on to start Forest's next five games.[16] Lynch would only play 15 times during the 2010–11 season making only 11 starts in all competitions and playing mostly at left back over his more natural centre back position.[17]

2011–12 season

During the 2011–12 season, he was given a chance to play in his preferred position in the centre of defence, alongside Wes Morgan, then Luke Chambers when Morgan joined Leicester City. He put in a series of very impressive displays and began to regularly hold down a starting place and showing signs of fulfilling his potential. On 19 November, Lynch scored his first goal for Nottingham Forest in the 3–2 win against Ipswich Town.[18] His second came in a 2–1 loss to Middlesbrough,[19] and his third was a header against former club Brighton.[20]

Huddersfield Town

On 11 July 2012, Lynch signed a 3-year deal with Huddersfield Town after turning down a new deal at former club Forest becoming manager Simon Grayson's fifth signing of 2012–13 season.[21][22] Lynch was given the number 33 shirt for the 2012–13 season by manager Simon Grayson on 14 July 2012.[23] He made his league début in the 1–0 defeat by Cardiff City at the Cardiff City Stadium on 17 August. On 25 August he scored his first goal in a league match against Burnley when he gave Huddersfield a 1–0 lead, where Huddersfield won 2–0 in the end.[24] Lynch received his first red card of his Huddersfield career at Hillsborough Stadium in Huddersfield's 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.[24]

Lynch's first goal of the 2013–14 season came in the 3–2 League Cup win against Charlton Athletic on 27 August 2013.[25] Less than a month later Lynch would again score against Charlton, this time in League action on 17 September, before picking up a red card against Reading on 14 December.[25] 15 days later Lynch scored again, this time in a 5–1 rout against Yeovil Town.[25] On 12 April 2014 Lynch received his second red card of the season, this time on 12 April 2014 against Derby County in what proved to be Lynch's penultimate appearance of the season.[25]

His first goal of the 2014–15 season came against former club Nottingham Forest, just 43 seconds into their Championship clash on 1 November 2014.[26]

Queens Park Rangers

On 29 June 2016, Lynch joined fellow Football League Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1.2 million, potentially rising to £1.5 million. He scored his first goal for QPR in a 2–1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 1 December 2016.[27]

Sunderland

Following release from QPR, Lynch joined League One side Sunderland.[28] On 17 June 2020, the club confirmed Lynch would be leaving.[29]

International career

Through born and raised in England, Lynch also qualifies for Wales through his father who was born in Barry. On 17 May 2012, Lynch was called up to the Wales squad for a friendly match against Mexico.[30] He was a substitute, but did not feature in the match.[31][32] On 12 August 2012 Lynch received his second international call up to the Wales squad for the friendly with Bosnia and Herzegovina.[33] He made his debut as a 78th-minute substitute in that game on 15 August 2012.

Career statistics

[34]

Club performance League National Cup League Cup Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
England League FA Cup League Cup Total
2005–06Brighton & Hove AlbionChampionship1610000161
2006–07League One3903020440
2007–082213010261
2008–0920000020
2008–09Nottingham ForestChampionship2301000240
2009–10Nottingham Forest1000020120
2010–111202010150
2011–123532020393
2012–13Huddersfield Town2210000221
2013–142920021313
2014–153430010353
2015–16 37 2 2 0 1 0 40 2
2016–17 Queens Park Rangers 30 3 1 0 2 0 33 3
Total England 3111614014133917
Career total 3111614014133917

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Sunderland" (PDF). English Football League. p. 70. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. "Gatting to lead the line in cup". The Argus. Brighton and Hove: Newsquest. 1 March 2006. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  3. Joel makes Brighton debut – match report Seagulls.co.uk, 2 January 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2008 Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Cox & Lynch pen new Albion deals". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006.
  5. "Lynch and Cox agree new contracts". BBC Sport. 25 July 2007.
  6. Naylor, Andy (13 March 2006). "Albion 0–0 Preston". The Argus. Brighton and Hove: Newsquest. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  7. "Lynch transfer request rejected". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. "Forest snap up Seagulls defender". BBC Sport. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Forest agree Lynch loan extension". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  11. "Lynch to stay until end of season". BBC Sport. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  12. Camillin, Paul (28 December 2008). "Lynch Extends Forest Stay". seagulls.co.uk. Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  13. "Forest confirm Lynch transfer". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  14. "Bradford 2–1 Nottingham Forest (aet)". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  15. "Cardiff 0–2 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  16. "Ipswich 1–0 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  17. "Nottm Forest FC Player Appearances – Past & Present – Soccer Base".
  18. "Championship focus: Ipswich fall to Tudgay". The Times. 20 November 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2020. Joel Lynch levelled the scores again with seven minutes remaining, heading in Andy Reid’s cross. It was his first goal for the club.
  19. "Middlsbrough 2–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  20. "Late Lynch goal thwarts Albion". Sky Sports. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  21. "TOWN FIGHT OFF CLUBS TO SIGN LYNCH". htafc.com. Huddersfield Town A.F.C. 11 July 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  22. "Huddersfield Town sign defender Joel Lynch". BBC Sport. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  23. Sykes, Dave (14 July 2012). "2012/13 SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". htafc.com. Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  24. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  25. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  26. "Huddersfield's Joel Lynch sets tone for win over Nottingham Forest". The Observer. Press Association. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  27. "QPR 1-2 Wolves". BBC. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  28. "Sunderland swoop to sign ex-Championship defender Joel Lynch". sunderlandecho.com. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. Chamberlain, Oscar (17 June 2020). "Contract update: Trio offered new deals, as five depart". Sunderland AFC (Press release). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  30. "Gareth Bale and Joe Ledley out of Wales game with Mexico". BBC Sport. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  31. "No Luck For Lynch". nottinghamforest.co.uk. Nottingham Forest F.C. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  32. "Friendly international: Mexico 2–0 Wales". BBC Sport. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  33. "Earnshaw & Lynch in Wales squad for Bosnia-Hercegovina friendly". BBC Sport. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  34. "Player profiles | Joel Lynch". Nottingham Forest Official Website. Archived from the original on 22 June 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
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