Steven Blaney (footballer)

West Ham United

Blaney was discovered by Frank Lampard while playing for his district team and entered the academy at West Ham United. Blaney began his career as a right back and signed a professional contract in July 1995, but he left the Hammers in March 1998, having failed to win a call into a first team squad.

Brentford

Blaney joined Division Two side Brentford on 27 March 1998, on a contract until the end of the 1997–98 season. Blaney made his professional debut in a 2–2 draw at Wrexham on 4 April 1998, replacing Glenn Cockerill on 61 minutes. He made his first start in the following game, a 2–1 win at Blackpool and played the full 90 minutes. Blaney started the relegation crunch match versus Bristol Rovers on the final day of the season and was brought off after 23 minutes for Kevin Dennis. A 2–1 defeat saw the Bees suffer relegation to Division Three. Blaney made five appearances for Brentford and scored no goals.

Non-league football

Blaney made one appearance for Isthmian League Premier Division side St Albans City early in the 1998–99 season, scoring in a 6–2 Herts Charity Cup second round win over Berkhamsted Town on 6 August 1998. Blaney signed a three-year contract with Isthmian League Premier Division side Billericay Town in November 1998, having made appearances for the club on non-contract terms. He was loaned out to fellow Premier Division sides Heybridge Swifts and Grays Athletic during his time with the club. Blaney returned to St Albans City in early 2001 and made 17 appearances during the second half of the 2000–01 season, scoring four goals. He departed the club in the summer of 2001 and joined Isthmian League Division Three side Aveley. Blaney rejoined St Albans City for a third time on a one-month loan in September 2001, making four appearances and scoring one goal. He made 22 appearances and scored six goals across his three spells with the Saints.

Blaney signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Braintree Town in December 2001 and made seven league appearances before dropping down a division to sign for Harlow Town in March 2002. Blaney dropped down another division to sign for East Thurrock United in September 2003. In 2004, Blaney moved to Spain to play for Regional Preferente de Málaga side Nerja. Blaney's Spanish dream ended in January 2005, when he returned to England to sign for Southern League Division One East outfit Barking & East Ham United. He was released in April 2005, but signed again for the 2005–06 season. After defeat in the end-of-season-playoffs, Blaney signed for Isthmian League Division One North side Redbridge in the summer of 2006. He made only five appearances for the club, the last of which coming in a 3–1 defeat to AFC Hornchurch on 19 September 2006.

International career

Blaney represented England Schools' U15 and played in the same side as Danny Murphy, Phil Neville, Michael Black, David Beresford and Neil Cutler. In 1996, Blaney changed his national allegiance and received a call up to the Wales U21 team for a 1998 European U21 Championship qualifier at home to San Marino on 30 August 1996. He played the full 90 minutes of the 4–0 win. Blaney played the full 90 minutes in a creditable 1–0 away with over the Netherlands in another qualifier on 8 November. Blaney's final appearance came in a 3–0 defeat to Turkey on 13 December. He was brought off after 63 minutes for Aled Rowlands.

Coaching career

Blaney is a UEFA 'B' licence holder. He is a football coach and a Senior Tutor in Sport at Harlow College. Together with former Cambridge United trainee Matt Waldron, Blaney led the Harlow College Academy team to the Essex County Council League title in the 2010/11 season. Blaney also coaches at a Player Development Centre in Harlow for Norwich City and is an academy coach and scout for West Ham United. He has also been on the staff for the Pathways Plus Academy and Eurotech Soccer Camps.

Personal life

Blaney has a Sports Coaching/Education degree.