Born: 18 February 1981, Castlederg
Height: 5.08 ft
Weight: 11.09 st
Position: Winger/Forward
Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 11 Full Caps / 1 Goal (2005-2007).
Club Honours: (with Hibs) Scottish Cup Runner-Up 2011/12; Scottish League Cup Winner 2006/07; (with Linfield) Co. Antrim Shield Winner 2013/14; (with Dergview Reserves) Irish Junior Cup Winner 2022/23.
Club Career:
Teams
|
Seasons
|
Signed
|
Fee
|
League
|
FA Cup
|
FL Cup
|
Europe
|
Other
|
Killen
Rangers
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Ballinamallard
U.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Dergview
|
99/00
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Moyola
Park
|
00/01
|
c/s-00
|
-
|
/14
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
/6
|
Omagh
Town
|
01/02-03/04
|
Aug-01
|
-
|
95 (-)/19
|
-
|
-
|
2(0)/1
|
-
|
Institute
|
04/05
|
c/s-04
|
-
|
11 (0)/ 2
|
-
|
3(0)/0
|
-
|
2(0)/0
|
Hibernian
|
04/05-06/07
|
Jan-05
|
£5k
|
35 (36)/12
|
10(1)/4
|
5(1)/0
|
4(2)/2
|
-
|
Bristol
City
|
07/08-10/11
|
Jun-07
|
£500k
|
61 (58)/ 6
|
4(0)/0
|
2(3)/1
|
-
|
0(2)/0
|
Yeovil
Town
|
10/11
|
Nov-10
|
Loan
|
2 (0)/ 0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Notts
County
|
10/11
|
Mar-11
|
Loan
|
4 (1)/ 0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Hibernian
|
11/12-12/13
|
Jul-11
|
Free
|
28 (16)/ 3
|
3(3)/0
|
3(0)/1
|
-
|
-
|
Ross
County
|
12/13-13/14
|
Jan-13
|
Free
|
20 (3)/ 8
|
-
|
1(0)/0
|
-
|
-
|
Linfield
|
13/14-15/16
|
Dec-13
|
Free
|
42 (15)/ 7
|
1(1)/0
|
2(0)/2
|
8(0)/0
|
3(0)/0
|
Ballinamallard
U.
|
15/16
|
Jan-16
|
Loan
|
13 (-)/ 1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Degview
|
16/17
|
Jul-16
|
Free
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
TOTALS
|
-
|
£505k
|
311(129)/72
|
18(5)/4
|
16(4)/4
|
14(2)/3
|
5(2)/6
|
|
Biography:
In January 2005 Ivan Sproule was recognised as perhaps the fastest player in the Irish League, but many questioned his consistency and application. Hibs manager Tony Mowbray clearly saw something in the flying winger, and invited him to Easter Road for a trial. After the trial Mowbray offered Sproule a full-time professional contract, but still it was a gamble for him to take it as moving to Scotland entailed giving up his job as an engineer. That gamble paid off handsomely.
Sproule became the scourge of the Old Firm, a hattrick against boyhood idols Rangers particularly notable. Although often used as an impact substitute, Sproule was given a starting place in the 2007 CIS Cup Final against Kilmarnock, Hibs cruising to an impressive 5-1 win.
Previously a Windsor Park regular for international matches, Sproule made his Northern Ireland debut as an 88th minute substitute in the famous 1-0 win over England in September 2005. Thereafter he was a peripheral squad member. He did however mark his first start in a Northern Ireland shirt with a goal against Estonia after just two minutes.
..
On 27 June 2007 Ivan Sproule committed to a three year contract with Championship side, Bristol City. He was part of the City squad that lost out in the 2008 Championship play-off final. His Northern Ireland career stalled after an apparent falling out with Nigel Worthington following a 1-0 Euro 2008 qualifier defeat by Spain in November 2007.
After several loan spells during the 2010/11 season, Sproule signed a pre-contract agreement to return to Hibs. He was little more than a squad player during his second spell at Easter Road and left for Ross County in January 2013. He marked his County debut with two goals in a 4-1 win at St Mirren. In November 2013 his contract was cancelled for personal reasons as he sought to return to Northern Ireland; his final act in a Staggies' shirt had been a horror tackle against St Mirren that saw him sent-off.
Sought after by a number of clubs, both north and south of the border, Sproule signed for Linfield on a year-and-a-half contract in December. He had to wait for his debut until the transfer window opened in January. He spent two largely barren years with the Blues, with only a Country Antrim Shield winner's medal for his efforts. In January 2016 he moved closer to his Castlederg home to join Ballinamallard on loan. In April 2016 Sproule announced his retirement, but he performed a u-turn in July in order to return to hometown club, Dergview.
Sproule entered management in May 2017 when he took the job at Ardstraw. He then managed Dergview before re-signing for Ardstraw as a player in July 2022. In May 2023 he was part of the Dergview Reserves side that won the Junior Cup, rolling back the years to score twice in a 4-1 win.
Sought after by a number of clubs, both north and south of the border, Sproule signed for Linfield on a year-and-a-half contract in December. He had to wait for his debut until the transfer window opened in January. He spent two largely barren years with the Blues, with only a Country Antrim Shield winner's medal for his efforts. In January 2016 he moved closer to his Castlederg home to join Ballinamallard on loan. In April 2016 Sproule announced his retirement, but he performed a u-turn in July in order to return to hometown club, Dergview.
Sproule entered management in May 2017 when he took the job at Ardstraw. He then managed Dergview before re-signing for Ardstraw as a player in July 2022. In May 2023 he was part of the Dergview Reserves side that won the Junior Cup, rolling back the years to score twice in a 4-1 win.
Northern Ireland Cap Details:
07-09-2005 England. H W 1-0 WCQ sub
15-11-2005 Portugal H D 1-1 FR. sub
01-03-2006 Estonia. H W 1-0 FR. 1 Goal
21-05-2006 Romania. N L 0-1 FR
26-05-2006 Uruguay. N L 0-2 FR
16-08-2006 Finland. A W 2-1 FR. sub
06-02-2007 Wales... H D 0-0 FR
28-03-2007 Sweden.. H W 2-1 ECQ sub
17-10-2007 Sweden.. A D 1-1 ECQ
17-11-2007 Denmark. H W 2-1 ECQ sub
21-11-2007 Spain... A L 0-1 ECQ
..
Summary: 6(5)/1. Won 5, Drew 3, Lost 3.
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