Olly Lancashire is the next Dale legend to take part in hospitality on 27th January for the match against Southend United when he will be entertaining diners about his career in professional football.
Date of birth: 13th December 1988
Also played for: Southampton, Grimsby Town (loan) Walsall, Aldershot Town, Shrewsbury Town, Crewe Alexandra.
Olly Lancashire started his professional football career at Southampton making 13 appearances plus 25 at Grimsby Town on loan before joining Walsall (49) and Aldershot Town (12)
On 14th June 2013, Olly signed a one year contract with Rochdale, given the number six shirt and making his debut in the opening game of the season in a 3–0 win over Hartlepool United, quickly establishing himself as part of the team’s first choice centre back pairing with Jack O’Connell. After his debut, he appeared in 18 consecutive games until he was sent-off in a 0-4 loss against Scunthorpe United resulting in a one-match ban followed a second time against Torquay United in a 1-2 loss. Due to the absence of first team captain Peter Cavanagh as a result of injury and suspension, he was handed the captain’s armband continuing for the next season after signing a one year extension plus the departure of Cavanagh. Confirming the news at a Fans Forum, Manager Keith Hill stated it was a natural choice from a manager’s perspective as well as the squad’s perspective. “The players really relate to Oliver and they’ve got a lot of respect for him as a player and as a leader. He’s integral in the changing rooms, he’s my type of central defender and I think it was a natural transition for him. He will be respected and appreciated by all the players in the squad. We obviously have leadership qualities all over the pitch but for me, it’s a privilege to give the honour of wearing the captain’s armband to Oliver Lancashire”
He started in the opening game of the season in a 0-1 defeat against Peterborough United but sustained a groin injury that was expected to keep him out for four to six weeks but recovered quickly returning to training then picked on the bench until coming on as substitute, retaining his place and captaining the side in a FA Cup first round 0–0 draw against Northampton Town, in the replay, he scored in the last minute to send Rochdale through to the next round. Throughout the 2014–15 season, he continued to be injury plagued making 28 appearances in all competitions.
After leaving Dale, Olly joined Shrewsbury Town playing 16 games before joining Swindon Town (55) and Crewe Alexandra (31) before re-signing for Southampton in a support player role that saw him play and train with the Club’s Under 23’s teams in order to help progress the younger player’s mentally and set a standard of good behaviour before promotion to Head of Player Strategy.
