Loren Dykes

Loren Dykes
MBE
Loren Dykes in March 2020
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-02-05) 5 February 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Morriston, Wales
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
Cardiff City
Youth career
Llanelli Reds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Cardiff City
2008–2020 Bristol City 101 (2)
2020–2021 Cardiff City 0 (0)
International career
2007–2021 Wales 105 (3)
Managerial career
2020–2021 Bristol City (first team coach)
2021–2022 Wales (assistant)
2021–2022 Wales U17
2022–2023 Wales U16
2023– Bristol City (first team coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 March 2020 (UTC)

Loren Dykes MBE (born 5 February 1988) is a football coach and player who is the assistant coach for Bristol City and a player for Cardiff City and the Wales women's national football team.[1]

Dykes began her playing career as a winger or forward before being converted into a full-back.[2] She won her 100th cap for Wales on 4 April 2019, in a friendly against the Czech Republic, at Rodney Parade in Newport.[3]

Early life

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Dykes attended Cwmtawe Community School[4] and also played for Llanelli Reds.[5]

Club career

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Dykes started with Cardiff City Ladies and featured in the UEFA Women's Cup with the Bluebirds,[6] before signing for Bristol Academy during 2008–09.

Dykes played in the 2011 FA Women's Cup final as a winger, then in the 2013 final having retrained as a right-back.[7] Bristol lost both finals to Arsenal.

In July 2020, Dykes announced that she would retire from playing club football and transition into her coaching career; however, she would remain available for selection for her national team.[1] Dykes retired from playing professional football in February 2021.[8]

International career

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Dykes won 17 caps and scored four goals for Wales at U-19 level.[5] She made her senior debut, aged 19, in a 2–1 defeat by the Netherlands in August 2007.[5][9] She played her 100th match for Wales in a friendly against Czech Republic on 4 April 2019.[10]

While attending UWIC, Dykes was called up to represent Welsh universities in the Home Nations championship.[11]

Dykes was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to women's football in Wales.[12]

Coaching career

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Dykes became an assistant coach for her former club Bristol City in July 2020.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Loren Dykes: Wales defender takes assistant coach role at Bristol City". BBC Sport. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  2. ^ Cole, Rob (20 April 2019). "Loren Dykes: Wales' Football Centurion Inspiring Future Generations". Dai Sports. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Loren Dykes: Wales defender to reach 100 caps in Czech friendly". BBC Sport. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Wales too good for Bulgarians". Llanelli Star. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  5. ^ a b c "International Teams — Loren Dykes". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Loren Dykes". UEFA. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Bristol Academy relishing cup final date". Bristol City FC. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Loren Dykes: Wales centurion retires from playing". BBC Sport. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Match Report – Netherlands 2 – 1 Wales". Football Association of Wales. 26 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Wales Women 0-0 Czech Republic: Jayne Ludlow's side fail to make chances count in stalemate". Wales Online. 4 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Welsh University". BUCS. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  12. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N17.
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