For the Irish musician, see Neil Byrne.
Neill Byrne
Full nameNeill Byrne[1]
Birth date2 February 1993 (age 33)
Birth placePortmarnock, Ireland
Height1.9m[2]
PositionCentre-back
CurrentclubBradford City
Clubnumber12
Youthclubs 1Belvedere
Youthyears 22007–2011
Youthclubs 2Nottingham Forest
Years 12011
Clubs 1Nottingham Forest
Caps 10
Goals 10
Years 22012–2013
Clubs 2Rochdale
Caps 23
Goals 20
Years 32012
Clubs 3→ Barrow (loan)
Caps 31
Goals 30
Years 42013
Clubs 4→ Southport (loan)
Caps 410
Goals 42
Years 52013–2015
Clubs 5AFC Telford United
Caps 578
Goals 56
Years 62015–2017
Clubs 6Macclesfield Town
Caps 659
Goals 64
Years 72017–2018
Clubs 7Gateshead
Caps 739
Goals 71
Years 82018–2020
Clubs 8AFC Fylde
Caps 881
Goals 84
Years 92020–2021
Clubs 9FC Halifax Town
Caps 940
Goals 91
Years 102021–2022
Clubs 10Hartlepool United
Caps 1040
Goals 101
Years 112022–2023
Clubs 11Tranmere Rovers
Caps 1113
Goals 110
Years 122023–2024
Clubs 12Stockport County
Caps 1235
Goals 121
Years 132024–
Clubs 13Bradford City
Caps 1335
Goals 133
Years 142026
Clubs 14→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)
Caps 1414
Goals 140
Nationalyears 12011–2012
Nationalteam 1Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps 14
Nationalgoals 10
Club-update09:51, 17 May 2026 (UTC)

Neill Byrne (born 2 February 1993) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Bradford City. He will become a free agent on 30 June 2026.

Career

Early career

Byrne was born in Portmarnock, Ireland. He started his career with Irish sides Portmarnock and Belvedere before joining the Nottingham Forest Youth Academy at the age of 14.[3] Despite interest from other clubs, two years later he signed apprentice terms with the club until 2011.[3] Byrne was released by Forest in December 2011 and joined Rochdale on trial, scoring in a reserve game against Manchester City.[4] After impressing on trial, Byrne signed an 18-month contract with the League One club on 1 January 2012.[5] He made his debut for the Dale on 31 March 2012, in a 3–3 draw with relegation rivals Walsall.[6] In November 2012, he joined Football Conference side Barrow on a one-month loan deal.[7]

AFC Telford United

He joined AFC Telford United in June 2013 after being released by Rochdale.[8] On 26 April 2014, he won promotion to the Conference Premier with Telford after they clinched the Conference North title on the final game of the season.[9]

Macclesfield Town

After his impressive season with Telford, he signed for Macclesfield Town.[10] During his 2 year spell, he made 59 National League appearances and 3 FA Cup appearances. He scored 4 goals in the National League and started the majority of games, helping Macclesfield to 10th in the 2015–16 season.[11] In the 2016–17 season, Macclesfield finished 9th in the National League.[12] They also reached the final of the FA Trophy in 2016–17, however they lost 3–2 against York City.[citation needed]

Gateshead

Byrne agreed to join Gateshead on 26 May 2017 until the end of the season.[13] He made his debut on the opening day of the season in a 1–2 defeat against Woking,[14] scoring his first, and only, goal for the club three days later in a 1–0 victory over Guiseley.[15]

AFC Fylde

In May 2018, Byrne signed for AFC Fylde on a two-year deal.[16] In his first year, he played 44 games in the National League and scored 2 goals as Fylde finished fifth in the table.[17] In the play-offs, Fylde reached the final, but lost 3–0 to Salford City.[18] Byrne also managed to help Fylde reach the final of the FA Trophy, while he did start the final, he was substituted off[19] due to a head injury. Fylde won 1–0 against Leyton Orient.[20]

In Byrne's second season for Fylde, he played 37 games in the National League and scored 2 goals. Unfortunately, his contributions were not enough, as Fylde were relegated after finishing in 23rd.[21] Fylde managed to reach the third round of the FA Cup, before losing 2–1 to, then, Premier League side, Sheffield United.[22]

FC Halifax Town

On 23 September 2020, Byrne signed for National League side FC Halifax Town.[23] In Byrne's first, and only, year at Halifax, he played 40 games and scored 1 goal in the National League. Halifax finished the season in tenth position.[24]

Hartlepool United

On 16 July 2021, Byrne signed for Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.[25] Byrne made his Hartlepool debut in a 1–0 victory against Crawley Town.[26] In 2021–22, Byrne played 51 times for Hartlepool, scoring once.[27]

Tranmere Rovers

In July 2022, Byrne signed for League Two club Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[27]

Stockport County

On 6 January 2023, Byrne signed for League Two rivals Stockport County for an undisclosed fee on a deal until the end of the season. The move would see Byrne play under manager Dave Challinor for a third time having also worked with him at AFC Fylde and Hartlepool United.[28] He was a member of the Stockport side that won the League Two title in 2023–24, making 22 appearances throughout the season.[29]

Bradford City

On 20 May 2024, Byrne signed for League Two club Bradford City on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[29] On 26 January 2026, Byrne joined League One club Doncaster Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[30]

Byrne departed Bradford upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2025–26 season.[31][32]

Career statistics

[33]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rochdale2011–12League One30—000030
2012–13League Two0010000010
Total3010000040
Barrow (loan)2012–13Conference Premier10——0010
Southport (loan)2012–13Conference Premier102——00102
AFC Telford United2013–14Conference North40200—2[a]0422
2014–15Conference Premier38410—2[a]0434
Total786100040856
Macclesfield Town2015–16National League27210—4[a]1323
2016–17National League32220—9[a]0442
Total6043000131765
Gateshead2017–18National League39120—00411
AFC Fylde2018–19National League442——3[a]0472
2019–20National League37230—4[a]1443
Total814300071915
Halifax Town2020–21National League401——2[a]0421
Hartlepool United2021–22League Two401501050511
Tranmere Rovers2022–23League Two130112031192
Stockport County2022–23League Two190000020210
2023–24League Two161310030222
Total351310050432
Bradford City2024–25League Two272201040342
2025–26League One81101030131
Total353302070473
Career total449232425046352428
  1. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Macclesfield Town

AFC Fylde

Stockport County

References

  1. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/2012 and 31/01/2012" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. ^ https://www.whoscored.com/players/105169/show/neill-byrne
  3. ^ "Academy Players 2010-11 Season". Nottingham Forest FC. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Rochdale net young defender Neill Byrne". Trent End. 1 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Rochdale net young defender Neill Byrne". BBC Sport. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Rochdale 3-3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Rochdale defender Neill Byrne makes Barrow loan switch". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  8. ^ "AFC Telford complete capture of Neill Byrne". www.shropshirestar.com. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Macclesfield Town Season Review 2015/2016 | FTN". Football Team News. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Gateshead make double transfer swoop as Neil Aspin strengthens his squad". Chronicle Live. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Woking 2-1 Gateshead FC". Gateshead FC. 5 August 2017. Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Gateshead FC 1-0 Guiseley". Gateshead FC. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  16. ^ "AFC Fylde sign Gateshead captain Byrne". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Playoff 2018/2019 National League - Schedule". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Ex-Liverpool man helps his National League side to FA Trophy glory". Tribuna.com. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  20. ^ Stevens, Rob (19 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 1–0 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Football (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Blades beat AFC Fylde in FA Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  23. ^ "National League News - September 2020 (23 September)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  24. ^ "2020-2021 National League Table". thefishy.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  25. ^ "Pools Sign Neill Byrne". Hartlepool United FC. Retrieved 16 July 2021.[dead link]
  26. ^ "Hartlepool United 1–0 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Neill Byrne: Tranmere Rovers sign defender from Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Welcome to County, Neill Byrne!". www.stockportcounty.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Neill Byrne: Bradford City sign Stockport County defender". BBC Sport. 20 May 2024.
  30. ^ "Bradford defender Byrne heads to Doncaster on loan". BBC. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  31. ^ "RETAINED LIST: 2025/26". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  32. ^ "Bantams announce retained list as options taken up". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 18 May 2026.
  33. ^
  34. ^ "York beat Macclesfield to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Join us in League One next season". Stockport County. 7 May 2024.