Andy Lonergan

Andrew Michael Lonergan (born 19 October 1983) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic.

[7] Lonergan joined Blackburn Rovers' academy after they spotted him at a young age and beat off competition from Manchester United and Everton.

[12] After making his debut against Macclesfield Town on 21 December 2002[13] However, Lonergan's loan spell at Darlington ended after a week after picking up an injury.

[15] With David Moyes leaving to join Everton and Craig Brown entering the managerial fray at Deepdale, Lonergan remained optimistic about his future at the club; indeed, he was promoted to the first-team squad for the final stage of the 2002–03 season as an understudy to Scotland international Jonathan Gould.

With Gould out injured for a period of the following season, Lonergan snapped up his goalkeeping gloves and stood between the sticks for the first time in the league against West Brom, two years after his debut.

[18] He remained at Deepdale for the 2004–05 season under the watchful eye of new manager Billy Davies, and played a part in 65% of the season before he ruptured his cruciate ligaments before a game against Ipswich Town, due to Lonergan's injury, Carlo Nash was signed as a replacement by Billy Davies from Middlesbrough to shore up the goalkeeping crisis.

[28] He returned early, however, after he wasn't given the football he desired under new Swindon Manager Paul Sturrock who had just replaced Dennis Wise.

Lonergan regained his first choice back following Henderson's injury and made his first appearance of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Coventry City on 1 September 2007.

Lonergan's first match which he started as captain was at Deepdale, where he led Preston North End out to win 2–0 against Swansea City on 12 September 2009.

[6][35] During the last few games of the season Preston managed to overcome an inferior goal difference to playoff rivals Cardiff City by beating them 6–0, with Lonergan also saving a penalty from Ross McCormack in the same game which in the end proved vital on goal difference for the final table result to overtake Cardiff and reach the playoffs.

[36] Lonergan played a big part in helping Preston reach the playoff Semi-finals during the 2009–10 season but lost over two legs to Sheffield United.

[48] However, during the last quarter of the season under new manager Phil Brown, Lonergan was displaced by Everton loan goalkeeper Iain Turner.

[55] Manager, Phil Brown revealed he needed to sell Lonergan to re-sign loan goalkeeper Iain Turner due to lack of funds.

[56] On 4 July 2011, Lonergan was linked with a move to join Leeds United in order to replace Kasper Schmeichel and Shane Higgs who had both left the club.

[58] Preston North End manager Phil Brown confirmed in early July 2011 that Andy Lonergan was set to sign for Leeds United, live on Talksport.

[61] He competed with fellow new goalkeeper signing Paul Rachubka for the number one spot left vacant by the departed Kasper Schmeichel.

[70] After keeping a consecutive clean sheet, Lonergan was substituted in the second half against Doncaster Rovers after fracturing his finger and replaced by Paul Rachubka on 14 October.

[72] After returning from injury, Lonergan was on Leeds' bench against Watford on 10 December, due to the impressive form of loanee Alex McCarthy.

[87] Lonergan's first experience in front of the Reebok Stadium crowd was the 2–2 draw between Wanderers and Sunderland in which he was named Man of the Match for Wanderers following appreciation of his contribution following saves from Steven Fletcher on 5 January 2013[88] and played against them in the FA Cup third round replay on 15 January 2013, where he kept a clean sheet, in a 2–0 win to send them through to the next round.

[106] Despite being cleared from a serious injury after a scan,[107] Lonergan lost his first choice goalkeeper status role following the arrival of Ben Amos and spent the rest of the season on the substitute bench.

[114] He became the first choice goalkeeper for the club until he suffered a hamstring injury, sustained during a 2–1 loss against Bristol City on 31 October 2015, and was out for six weeks.

[117] Lonergan remained the first choice goalkeeper until Bettinelli returned from injury and he was placed on the substitute bench for the rest of the season.

[120] He made his first ever appearance for the club on 15 July 2016, coming on as a half-time substitute for Carl Ikeme in a 2–0 win over Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road, assisting Joe Mason for the second goal.

[122] On 28 January 2017, with Ikeme suspended, Lonergan missed Wanderers' fourth-round FA Cup tie at Liverpool due to injury.

[123][124] After the emergence of Harry Burgoyne and the signings of goalkeepers Will Norris and John Ruddy, Lonergan was not allocated a squad number for the 2017/18 season, despite Ikeme being out due to illness.

In August 2017, after Leeds released Robert Green, the club re-signed Lonergan on a two-year contract on a free transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

[127] A deal was agreed for him to join Sunderland on loan in January 2018, but Lonergan decided to stay at Leeds and fight for his place in the team.

[133][134] After an injury to Liverpool's first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Lonergan signed short-term contract with the club in August 2019.

[144] In June 2024, Lonergan joined League One side Wigan Athletic on a free transfer, signing a player-coach role with the club.

[4] Due to a change in FIFA rulings Lonergan became eligible for the Republic of Ireland, with the keeper on Giovanni Trapattoni's radar for the squad.

Lonergan (wearing green) defending a corner kick , for Bolton Wanderers against Chelsea in 2014
Lonergan playing for Fulham against Queen's Park Rangers in 2016