Joel Lynch

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 (age 37)
Place of birth	Eastbourne, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Precision
Number	5
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)
2021–2023	Crawley Town	31	(2)
2023–	Precision
International career
2012	Wales	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 January 2023 (UTC)

Joel John Lynch (born 3 October 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for UAE Second Division League club Precision. He previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion, Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield Town and Queens Park Rangers. Born in England, he has represented the Wales national team.

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.^[3] 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.^[4]

In summer 2006, Lynch signed a professional three-year contract with Brighton, a deal which was later extended.^[5][6]

Lynch attracted the interest of several Premier League and Championship clubs during his career with Brighton, with Nottingham Forest and Portsmouth^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10]

Nottingham Forest

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,^[11] then the loan deal was further extended to keep Lynch at the City Ground for the remainder of the season.^[12] Forest paid the player's contractual wages and paid Brighton a fee of £25,000^[13] 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.^[14] 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.^[15] 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.^[16] 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.^[17] 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.^[18]

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.^[19] His second came in a 2–1 loss to Middlesbrough,^[20] and his third was a header against former club Brighton.^[21]

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.^[22][23] Lynch was given the number 33 shirt for the 2012–13 season by manager Simon Grayson on 14 July 2012.^[24] 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.^[25] Lynch received his first red card of his Huddersfield career at Hillsborough Stadium in Huddersfield's 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.^[25]

Lynch's first goal of the 2013–14 season came in the 3–2 League Cup win against Charlton Athletic on 27 August 2013.^[26] 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.^[26] 15 days later Lynch scored again, this time in a 5–1 rout against Yeovil Town.^[26] 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.^[26]

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.^[27]

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.^[28]

Sunderland

Following release from QPR, Lynch joined League One side Sunderland.^[29] On 17 June 2020, the club confirmed Lynch would be leaving.^[30]

Crawley Town

On 7 September 2021, Lynch signed for EFL League Two club Crawley Town on a contract until 3 January 2022.^[31] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-2 draw with Harrogate Town on 21 September 2021.^[32]

On 13 August 2023, it was announced that Lynch had left Crawley after he agreed to terminate his contract with the club.^[33]

Precision Football

Following his departure, Lynch joined UAE Third Division League club Precision Football, founded by former Brighton & Hove Albion academy teammate Sonny Cobbs. During the 2023–24 season, Lynch scored five goals as the club were promoted.^{[34][better source needed]} He signed a new contract with the club in August 2024.^{[35][better source needed]}

International career

Born and raised in England, Lynch qualified 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.^[36] He was a substitute, but did not feature in the match.^[37][38] On 12 August 2012 Lynch received his second international call up to the Wales squad for the friendly with Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[39] He made his debut as a 78th-minute substitute in that game on 15 August 2012.

Career statistics

As of end of 2021–22 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion	2005–06[40]	Championship	16	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	16	1
	2006–07[41]	League One	39	0	3	0	2	0	4[a]	0	48	0
	2007–08[42]	League One	22	1	3	0	1	0	2[a]	0	28	1
	2008–09[43]	League One	2	0	0	0	0	0	1[a]	0	3	0
	Total		79	2	6	0	3	0	0	0	88	2
Nottingham Forest (loan)	2008–09[43]	Championship	23	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	24	0
Nottingham Forest	2009–10[44]	Championship	10	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	12	0
	2010–11[45]	Championship	12	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	15	0
	2011–12[46]	Championship	35	3	2	0	2	0	0	0	39	3
	Total		57	3	4	0	5	0	0	0	66	3
Huddersfield Town	2012–13[25]	Championship	22	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	22	1
	2013–14[26]	Championship	29	2	0	0	2	1	0	0	31	3
	2014–15[47]	Championship	34	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	35	3
	2015–16[48]	Championship	37	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	40	2
	Total		122	8	2	0	4	1	0	0	128	9
Queens Park Rangers	2016–17[49]	Championship	30	3	1	0	2	0	0	0	33	3
	2017–18[50]	Championship	25	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	25	1
	2018–19[51]	Championship	35	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	37	3
	Total		90	7	3	0	2	0	0	0	95	7
Sunderland	2019–20[52]	League One	16	0	1	0	2	0	2[b]	0	21	0
Crawley Town	2021–22[53]	League Two	24	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	2
	2022–23[54]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		24	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	2
Career total			411	22	17	0	16	1	9	0	446	23

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Sunderland" (PDF). English Football League. p. 70. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
2. "Joel Lynch". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
3. "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.
4. Joel makes Brighton debut – match report Seagulls.co.uk, 2 January 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2008 Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
5. "Cox & Lynch pen new Albion deals". BBC Sport. 8 November 2006.
6. "Lynch and Cox agree new contracts". BBC Sport. 25 July 2007.
7. Naylor, Andy (13 March 2006). "Albion 0–0 Preston". The Argus. Brighton and Hove: Newsquest. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
8. "Lynch transfer request rejected". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
9. "Forest snap up Seagulls defender". BBC Sport. 23 September 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
10. "Joel Lynch | Brighton and Hove Albion | Team | First Team". Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
11. "Forest agree Lynch loan extension". BBC Sport. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
12. "Lynch to stay until end of season". BBC Sport. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
13. 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.
14. "Forest confirm Lynch transfer". BBC Sport. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
15. "Bradford 2–1 Nottingham Forest (aet)". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
16. "Cardiff 0–2 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
17. "Ipswich 1–0 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
18. "Nottm Forest FC Player Appearances – Past & Present – Soccer Base".
19. "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.
20. "Middlsbrough 2–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
21. "Late Lynch goal thwarts Albion". Sky Sports. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
22. "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.
23. "Huddersfield Town sign defender Joel Lynch". BBC Sport. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
24. Sykes, Dave (14 July 2012). "2012/13 SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". htafc.com. Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
25. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
26. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
27. "Huddersfield's Joel Lynch sets tone for win over Nottingham Forest". The Observer. Press Association. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
28. "QPR 1-2 Wolves". BBC. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
29. "Sunderland swoop to sign ex-Championship defender Joel Lynch". sunderlandecho.com. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
30. Chamberlain, Oscar (17 June 2020). "Contract update:Trio offered new deals, as five depart". Sunderland AFC (Press release). Retrieved 23 August 2020.
31. Tomlinson, Henry (7 September 2021). "Ex Albion defender joins Crawley Town on free transfer". The Argus. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
32. "Crawley 2-2 Bradford". BBC. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
33. "Joel Lynch: Veteran defender leaves Crawley Town after two seasons with club". BBC Sport. 13 August 2023.
34. "UAE football 2023/24 season review". English Players Abroad. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
35. Precision Football [@precisionfootballclub] (14 August 2024). "🚨 JOEL LYNCH IS STILL A PREDATOR! 🚨 Huge news as the captain extends his stay for the new season here in Dubai". Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Instagram.
36. "Gareth Bale and Joe Ledley out of Wales game with Mexico". BBC Sport. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
37. "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.
38. "Friendly international: Mexico 2–0 Wales". BBC Sport. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
39. "Earnshaw & Lynch in Wales squad for Bosnia-Hercegovina friendly". BBC Sport. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
40. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
41. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
42. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
43. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
44. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
45. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
46. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
47. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
48. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
49. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
50. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
51. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
52. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
53. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
54. "Games played by Joel Lynch in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2022.

External links

• Joel Lynch player profile at Nottingham Forest website
• Joel Lynch at Soccerbase