Kyle Lafferty

Infobox Football biography
playername = Kyle Lafferty


fullname = Kyle Lafferty
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|9|16|df=y
cityofbirth = Enniskillen
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
height = height|ft=6|in=4
position = Striker, Attacking Midfielder
currentclub = Rangers
clubnumber = 27
youthyears = 2004–2005
youthclubs = Burnley
years = 2005–2008
2006
2008–
clubs = Burnley
→ Darlington (loan)
Rangers
caps(goals) = 83 (10)
09 0(3)
02 0(1)
nationalyears = 2006
2006–
nationalteam = Northern Ireland U21
Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 02 0(0)
17 0(5)
pcupdate = 14 September, 2008
ntupdate = 14 September, 2008

Kyle Lafferty (born 16 September 1987) is a professional footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national football team.

Club career

Burnley

Lafferty was born in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. He began his career with NFC Kesh, playing in the Fermanagh & Western League. In 2004 he signed a youth team apprenticeship with English Championship team Burnley. The following season saw him begin to make an impression upon the Burnley first team. He made his debut during a 2-1 away league defeat to Crewe Alexandra on August 6 2005, coming on as a 89th minute substitute for Garreth O'Connor. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=460954 Crewe 2-1 Burnley] Soccerbase, 6 August 2005]

In January 2006, Lafferty joined Darlington on loan. He went on to make nine appearances and net three goals for the club, including a scoring debut against Notts County on 7 January. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=475558 Notts County 3-2 Darlington] Soccerbase, 7 January 2006] He returned to Burnley in January 2007.

He scored his first senior goal against Luton Town, netting the equaliser for Burnley during a 1-1 draw on 30 April 2006. [ [http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=484184 Burnley 1-1 Luton] Soccerbase, 30 April 2006] Lafferty played 89 times and scored 10 goals during his time at Burnley.

Rangers

On 16 June 2008, Burnley accepted a bid from Rangers of £3m plus Alan Gow but talks with Gow over his move to Turf Moor broke down. But Lafferty moved to Rangers on 19 June after the transfer offer was readjusted and Gow written out. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/burnley/7451140.stm Lafferty completes Rangers move] BBC Sport website (19 June 2008)] He made his Rangers debut as an 89th minute substitute during a UEFA Champions League qualifier on 5 August 2008 against FBK Kaunas. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7541840.stm FBK Kaunas 2-1 Rangers] BBC Sport website (5 August 2008)] His first goal came in his second appearance during a SPL match against Hearts on 16 August 2008. [cite web | date = 2008-16-08 | title = Rangers 2-0 Hearts | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7561735.stm | publisher = BBC Sport website] He came on against Partick Thistle, after recovering from a injury.

International career

During 2006, he received his first senior Northern Ireland call-up on a post-season trip to the USA to play friendly games against Romania and Uruguay. Lafferty scored his first Northern Ireland goal in an away friendly against Finland the following year.

He featured predominantly as the second striker alongside David Healy during Northern Ireland's Euro 2008 qualification group, and he scored his first competitive international goal in a 4–1 victory over group minnows Liechtenstein. He then secured a 1–1 draw away to Sweden, scoring Northern Ireland's equaliser in the second half.

On 26 March 2008, he bagged his first international brace, scoring two goals in a friendly against Georgia which Northern Ireland won 4–1.

International goals

:"Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first."

tatistics

"Last updated October 6 2008"

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=41614|name=Kyle Lafferty
* [http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2057/senior/kyle-lafferty-forward/ Kyle Lafferty profile] at irishfa.com

Persondata
NAME = Lafferty, Kyle
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1987-09-16
PLACE OF BIRTH = Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =