Shayne Lavery


Shayne Francis Lavery is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Cambridge United. He has also represented the Northern Ireland national team. He has previously played for Everton, Falkirk and Linfield.

Early and personal life

Lavery attended St Michael's Grammar School in Lurgan. His older brother Conor played youth football for Manchester United.

Club career

Lavery played youth football for Oxford Sunnyside, Portadown and Glenavon. He was an unused substitute for Glenavon's first team in December 2014.
In March 2015, Lavery moved to Everton following a successful trial. On 6 December 2017, Lavery was named in Everton's first-team squad for the Europa League match away to Apollon Limassol but was an unused substitute.
Lavery moved on loan to Scottish Championship club Falkirk in January 2019. Following the end of his loan, Lavery departed Everton at the end of the 2018–19 season.
On 31 May 2019, it was announced that Lavery had joined Linfield on a one-year deal. His deal was then extended by another year in May 2020.
Lavery signed for Blackpool on 1 July 2021 on a two-year contract, with an option of a further 12 months. He scored, deep into injury time, on his debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw at Bristol City on 7 August.
On 7 May 2024, Blackpool announced the player would be leaving the club in the summer when his contract expired.
On 1 July 2024, Lavery joined League One side Cambridge United on a two-year deal. He scored his first goals for the club on 24 August, in a 4–4 draw with Blackpool in League One.

International career

Lavery played for Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 youth levels.
He received his first call up to the Northern Ireland senior team in March 2018, and made his senior debut against Panama in May 2018.
Lavery's first international goal came on 2 September 2021 against Lithuania in Vilnius, in a 2022 World Cup qualifier which Northern Ireland went on to win 4–1.

Career statistics

Club

International

No.DateVenueOpponentCapScoreResultCompetition
12 September 2021LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania83–14–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 June 2022Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo141–22–32022–23 UEFA Nations League C
327 September 2022Georgios Kamaras Stadium, Athens, Greece171-11-32022-23 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

;Linfield
;Individual
  • Ulster Footballer of the Year: 2020–21
  • NIFWA Player of the Year: 2020–21