Adam Legzdins

Adam Richard Legzdins (born 28 November 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Championship club Dundee.

Adam Legzdins

Legzdins with Birmingham City in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Adam Richard Legzdins[1]
Date of birth	28 November 1986[2]
Place of birth	Penkridge, Staffordshire, England
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team	Dundee
Number	13
Youth career
0000–2005	Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Birmingham City	0	(0)
2005	→ Alfreton Town (loan)	2	(0)
2005–2006	→ Halifax Town (loan)	10	(0)
2006–2007	→ Oldham Athletic (loan)	0	(0)
2007	→ Macclesfield Town (loan)	0	(0)
2007–2008	→ Halifax Town (loan)	30	(0)
2008–2010	Crewe Alexandra	6	(0)
2009	→ Weymouth (loan)	8	(0)
2010–2011	Burton Albion	46	(0)
2011–2014	Derby County	35	(0)
2012	→ Burton Albion (loan)	1	(0)
2014–2015	Leyton Orient	11	(0)
2015–2017	Birmingham City	15	(0)
2017–2020	Burnley	0	(0)
2020–	Dundee	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:58, 21 November 2020 (UTC)

Legzdins began his career with Birmingham City, from where he spent time on loan at several lower-division clubs but never played first-team football for his parent club. In 2008, he joined Crewe Alexandra, with whom he made his debut in the Football League, but played only infrequently. He spent the 2010–11 season as Football League Two club Burton Albion's first-choice goalkeeper, earning himself a move to Derby County of the Football League Championship. He played 35 matches over three seasons with Derby, mainly in 2012–13, and after a year with Leyton Orient, he rejoined Birmingham City in 2015. After two seasons and 21 appearances, he signed for Burnley, where he remained for three years but never made it to the first team. In November 2020, he signed for Dundee.

He qualifies to play international football for Latvia via his paternal grandparents.[4]

Club career

Early career

Legzdins was born in Penkridge, Staffordshire.[5] He came through Birmingham City's Academy system and played his first competitive football in October 2005 on loan at Alfreton Town in the Conference North, four games which included a man of the match performance away at Hereford United in the FA Cup.[6] He then joined Halifax Town of the Conference National on a work experience basis,[7] where he played 11 games before Birmingham recalled him, concerned that regular first-team football for Halifax combined with playing for Birmingham's reserve team was too much for the 19-year-old.[8]

Warming up before a Championship match at Cardiff City, August 2006

Legzdins signed his first one-year professional contract in the summer of 2006. Early in the 2006–07 he was given a Birmingham squad number because of an injury to first choice keeper Maik Taylor, and was an unused substitute in their Championship match at Cardiff City.[9] In October 2006 he joined Oldham Athletic on loan where he acted as backup to Les Pogliacomi, making one substitute appearance in the Football League Trophy.[10] He then joined Macclesfield Town on loan and was expected to go straight into the starting eleven due to injury and suspension,[11] but manager Paul Ince chose goalkeeping coach David Rouse instead,[12] and Legzdins completed his month's loan without appearing for the club. He played an active part in helping Birmingham reserves to the championship of the Central League Division One Central in 2006–07.[13]

Legzdins was given a further year's contract in summer 2007,[14] and rejoined Halifax on a three months' loan in October 2007,[15] where he played regularly in preference to the more experienced Craig Mawson. He extended his loan at Halifax until the end of the 2007–08 season in January 2008,[16] and on 9 June 2008 he signed for Crewe Alexandra as a replacement for their departing goalkeepers Ben Williams and Owain Fôn Williams.[17] He joined Weymouth on a month's loan on 26 March 2009.[18]

Legzdins made his first team debut for Crewe in the League Cup defeat to Blackpool on 11 August 2009, after loan goalkeeper David Button returned to Tottenham Hotspur,[19] and followed this up with his debut in the Football League on 22 August, keeping a clean sheet in the 1–0 home win against Hereford United.[20]

Burton Albion

He rejected a new one-year contract with Crewe in May 2010 and subsequently signed for League Two team Burton Albion on a two-year contract on 1 July.[21][22] He kept a clean sheet on his full debut on 7 August 2010 in a 0–0 draw against Oxford United.[23] After playing in every League game of the 2010–11 season, he was voted Burton Albion Supporters' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.[24]

Derby County

After lengthy speculation,[25] on 29 June 2011, it was confirmed that Burton and Championship outfit Derby County had agreed a transfer fee that would allow Legzdins to join the Pride Park club.[26] The transfer was completed on 1 July; Legzdins signed a three-year contract. Derby manager Nigel Clough said that he would be backup to first choice keeper Frank Fielding.[26] Legzdins made his debut for Derby away at Nottingham Forest after Fielding was sent off after only a minute, and contributed to a 2–1 win against their local rivals.[27] On 20 March 2012, Legzdins rejoined former club Burton Albion on a month's emergency loan.[28] He was restricted to just one appearance by a hip injury suffered in a 1–0 defeat against Northampton Town and returned to Derby on 17 April.[29] He eventually made his third appearance for Derby four days later as a half-time substitute for Fielding away at Portsmouth; Derby won 2–1.[30] He started the final game of the season, a 1–1 draw against Peterborough United.[31]

Legzdins again started the season as second-choice goalkeeper. After Fielding picked a groin injury in October, Legzdins returned to the starting line-up and kept his place after Fielding regained fitness in November.[32] He impressed Clough with his performances, especially in the 2–0 win at Bristol City which ended a run of seven consecutive games without a clean sheet and a run of four away defeats.[33] Saves against Steve Davies and Liam Fontaine were picked out by Clough, with one from Fontaine described as one "down to pure size and presence, as well as quick feet to get across his line and block it. It was a very important save."[33] Legzdins' run of 30 consecutive first-team starts ended in March 2013 when Clough felt the need for Fielding's greater experience ahead of Derby's 2–1 win against Leicester City.[34] Five weeks later, Legzdins returned to first-team action after Fielding was sent off for a professional foul against Peterborough United,[35] and he started the final two games of the season, ending the season with 33 first-team appearances. After Derby signed Burnley's Lee Grant in May, Legzdins was made available for transfer with a year left on his contract.[36]

Legzdins was originally not given a squad number for the 2013–14 season,[37] However, after featuring in first-team pre-season friendlies he was assigned the squad number 26 in late July and went into the season as second choice to Grant.

Leyton Orient

Legzdins signed for League One club Leyton Orient on 13 June 2014. He signed a two-year contract with the East London club after being released by Derby.[38] He left the club by mutual consent on 1 June 2015 after his appearances during the 2014–15 season were restricted by injury.[39]

Birmingham City

Legzdins warming up for Birmingham City in 2015

Legzdins re-joined Birmingham City on 27 June 2015; he signed a two-year deal with the option of a further year.[40] On the bench for the opening league match of the season – Tomasz Kuszczak started – Legzdins made his Birmingham debut three days later in a 2–1 League Cup win away to Bristol Rovers.[41] He played in two more cup matches before finally making his League debut for Birmingham on 9 April 2016; he kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 win away to Reading, and finished the season with nine appearances, of which five were inn the league.[41]

He made his first league appearance of the 2016–17 season when Kuszczak succumbed to a pre-existing injury during the warm-up before Birmingham's match away to Reading on 13 September; he kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw.[42] He kept his place for the next seven matches, even after Kuszczak's return to fitness,[43] but manager Gary Rowett brought Kuszczak back into the side for the local derby against Aston Villa.[44] He made four more appearances in the second half of the season: two in the FA Cup,[45] and two in the league, on both occasions as a half-time substitute for the injured Kuszczak.[46] When Birmingham took up their option to extend his contract for a further year, Legzdins said he was "absolutely delighted" to accept, in preference to offers from elsewhere, "because everybody who knows me knows how much the club means to me."[47]

Burnley

The arrival of David Stockdale left Legzdins third in Birmingham's pecking order for 2017–18, and Premier League club Burnley were in need of a goalkeeper after Paul Robinson's retirement left them without sufficient backup for Tom Heaton.[48] On 8 August 2017, Legzdins signed a three-year contract with Burnley; the fee was undisclosed.[49] In the summer of 2020 Burnley released Legzdins from his contract. [50]

Dundee

On 13 November 2020, after a trial period, Legzdins signed a deal until the end of the season with Scottish Championship side Dundee.[51] He made his debut and first start for the club the following week against Ayr United.[52]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 November 2020

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
Birmingham City	2005–06[53]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2006–07[54]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2007–08[55]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Alfreton Town (loan)	2005–06[56][57]	Conference North	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Halifax Town (loan)	2005–06[53]	Conference	10	0	0	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	11	0
Oldham Athletic (loan)	2006–07[54]	League One	0	0	0	0	—		1[lower-alpha 2]	0	1	0
Macclesfield Town (loan)	2006–07[54]	League Two	0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Halifax Town (loan)	2007–08[55][58]	Conference	30	0	3	0	—		5[lower-alpha 3]	0	38	0
Crewe Alexandra	2008–09[59]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2009–10[60]	League Two	6	0	0	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	8	0
	Total		6	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	8	0
Weymouth (loan)	2008–09[59]	Conference	8	0	—		—		—		8	0
Burton Albion	2010–11[61]	League Two	46	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	51	0
Derby County	2011–12[62]	Championship	4	0	0	0	0	0	—		4	0
	2012–13[63]	Championship	31	0	2	0	0	0	—		33	0
	2013–14[64]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		35	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	37	0
Burton Albion (loan)	2011–12[62]	League Two	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
Leyton Orient	2014–15[65]	League One	11	0	0	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	13	0
Birmingham City	2015–16[41]	Championship	5	0	1	0	2	0	—		8	0
	2016–17[45]	Championship	10	0	2	0	1	0	—		13	0
	2017–18[66]	Championship	0	0	—		0	0	—		0	0
	Total		15	0	3	0	3	0	—		21	0
Burnley	2017–18[66]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2018–19[67]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20[68]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dundee	2020–21[69]	Scottish Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total			165	0	14	0	5	0	10	0	194	0

1. Appearance in FA Trophy
2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
3. Three appearances in FA Trophy, two in Conference League Cup

References

1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
2. "Adam Legzdins". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
3. "Birmingham City FC player profiles: Adam Legzdins". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017.
4. "Saturday Spotlight – Adam's here to learn". Halifax Courier. 19 November 2005. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
5. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 245. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
6. Foster, Gordon (23 October 2005). "2005/06 season match No.14". Alfreton Town F.C. Archived from the original on 15 January 2006.
7. "Shaymen seal swoop for Legzdins". BBC Sport. 8 November 2005. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
8. "Shaymen lose City keeper Legzdins". BBC Sport. 24 January 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
9. "Adam Legzdins". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008.
10. "Oldham extend Legzdins' loan deal". BBC Sport. 24 November 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
11. Carter, Simon (12 January 2007). "Preview: Barnet v Macclesfield". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
12. Brooks, Nick (13 January 2007). "Barnet 1 Macclesfield 0". Macclesfield Town F.C. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012.
13. "Reserves clinch title with last-gasp Sone strike". Birmingham Mail. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
14. Tattum, Colin (5 July 2007). "Wright rejects new Blues deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
15. "Halifax bag Birmingham goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
16. "Pair end spell with Halifax Town". BBC Sport. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
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18. Capel, Ky (26 March 2009). "Terras in double swoop". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
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20. "Crewe vs Hereford". Crewe Alexandra F.C. 22 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009.
21. "Adam Legzdins turns down offer from Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
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23. "Burton vs Oxford United". Burton Albion F.C. 7 August 2010. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012.
24. "Adam Legzdins wins Burton Albion awards double". BBC Sport. 5 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
25. Sloan, Tom (30 May 2011). "Rams chase hots up for keeper Legzdins". Burton Mail. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
26. "Derby County sign Adam Legzdins from Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 1 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
27. "Nottm Forest 1–2 Derby". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
28. "Burton bring back Derby County goalkeeper Adam Legzdins". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
29. "Legzdins back with Rams". Eurosport Yahoo. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
30. "Portsmouth 1–2 Derby". BBC Sport. 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
31. "Derby 1–1 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
32. Nicholson, Steve (23 November 2012). "Derby County goalkeeper Adam Legzdins set to stay at number one spot when Birmingham City visit Pride Park Stadium". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
33. "Keeper Adam Legzdins deserved first clean sheet in seven, says boss". Derby Telegraph. 17 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
34. "Centre-halves 'won us the Leicester game,' says Derby County's Nigel Clough". Derby Telegraph. 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
35. "Derby 3–1 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
36. Nicholson, Steve (8 May 2013). "Rams will listen to offers for Fielding and Legzdins". Derby Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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41. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
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43. Chapman, Joseph (21 October 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett gives his thoughts on Adam Legzdins". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
44. Dick, Brian (31 October 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett discusses decision to drop Adam Legzdins". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
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46. Dick, Brian (21 January 2017). "Birmingham City: Gianfranco Zola on the head injury to Tomasz Kuszczak". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
    "Birmingham City 0–2 Burton Albion". ESPN. PA Sport. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
47. Dick, Brian (27 May 2017). "Adam Legzdins happy to pick Birmingham City over other offers". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
48. Murray, Josh (8 August 2017). "Ex-Burton Albion goalkeeper Adam Legzdins linked with Premier League move away from Birmingham City". Burton Mail. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
49. "Clarets sign Legzdins". Burnley F.C. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
50. "Summer Football Transfer Window 2020 News | Premier League". www.premierleague.com. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
51. "Adam signs". dundeefc.co.uk. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
52. "Ayr United v Dundee". BBC. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
53. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
54. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
55. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
56. "Appearances & goalscorers for 2005/06 season". Alfreton Town F.C. 14 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 January 2006.
57. "Penalties heartbreak for Alfreton". Mansfield Chad. 26 October 2005. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
58. For FA Cup 4Q: "Evesham v Halifax Town: Wasteful Shaymen forced to try again". Halifax Courier. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    • "Halifax Town v Evesham: Town bounce back to win". Halifax Courier. 31 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    • For FA Trophy: "Bishop's Stortford 2 Halifax Town 2". Yorkshire Post. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    • "Halifax 4 Bishop's Stortford 1". Yorkshire Post. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    • "Halifax Town 0 v Rushden and Diamonds 2 – Town's Trophy dreams are over". Halifax Courier. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
    • For Conference Shield: "Nuneaton Borough 0 Halifax Town 1". Yorkshire Post. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
59. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
60. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
61. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
62. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
63. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
64. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
65. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
66. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
67. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
68. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
69. "Games played by Adam Legzdins in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 November 2020.

External links

• Adam Legzdins at Soccerbase