Lance Key

Lance Key

Born 13 May 1968 (Age 42 at debut)

Position: Goalkeeper

(Diamonds player #351)

Total appearances 1

(1 Hillier Senior Cup)

Debut & Final game:

12 October 2010 (Home Daventry United)

Lance had had a long career as a goalkeeper before arriving at Nene Park, He had started his career at Histon, and was scouted by Sheffield Wednesday, who paid the non-league side £10,000 for his services. During a six year period with the Owls, he made just one substitute appearance after the sending off of Kevin Pressman in the FA Cup tie at Gillingham in January 2003. He went on five separate loan spells whilst at Hillsboorugh including Oldham Athletic, Oxford United, Lincoln City, Hartlepool United and Rochdale. . In the summer of 1996, he was released and joined Scottish side Dundee United. But after only 3 starts, he moved back to Sheffield in March 1997, joining former rivals Sheffield United as emergency cover. At the beginning of the 1997/1998 season, he joined Rochdale on a free transfer, and played 14 games for them before going out on loan to Northwich Victoria in December 1998. In March 1999, he made the move permanent and went on to make 55 appearances for them. In February 2000, he went on loan to Altrincham until the end of the season. He was released in May 2001, and joined Kingstonian and spent 4 years with the club as their No.1 keeper. He then returned to Histon in the summer of 2004, spending six years with Stutes in their climb up to the Conference. In September 2008, he joined Wivenhoe United while taking a coaching course, but made just a single appearamce for them before returning to coach at Histon. It was in this role as goalkeeping coach that he joined Diamonds in July 2010.

There was no plans for him to play in goal for Diamonds, although an injury to Dale Roberts saw him registered to play and in fact, he played in Diamonds Hillier Senior Cup tie against Daventry United on 12 October 2010 – his only appearance for the club. He was released in May 2011. Lance spent the 2011/2012 season with Cambridgeshire Kershaw League Premier Division side Cottenham United, before joining Cambridge United on 4 July 2012 as a part-time goalkeeping coach. He returned to Histon in a coaching role before taking over the Manager role there – which he continued into the 2018/19 season.

Appearances

2010/2011 – squad number 27