Introduction
Derek Lyle (born 13 February 1981) is a Scottish footballer who has played as a forward for numerous clubs, including Partick Thistle, Dundee and Hamilton Academical. Lyle's longest spell in his career has been with current club Queen of the South in Dumfries, where he has currently scored 109 goals in 330 appearances.
Career
Partick Thistle
Lyle's career started at Partick Thistle in 1999. Lyle had loan spells at East Stirlingshire and Queen of the South.
Queen of the South
Whilst on loan at Palmerston Park the club lifted the Second Division title in the 2001–02 season. Six league goals in only 13 league appearances sealed a permanent move to Dumfries.
Queens won the Scottish Challenge Cup in the following season. Lyle and John O'Neill scored the goals in a 2-0 win at Broadwood over Brechin City. Lyle scored 16 league goals in 97 league appearances during his this spell at Queens.
Lyle was not always a regular in the team and had loan spells at Stirling Albion and Dunfermline Athletic. After being told by Queens boss Ian McCall that he was not going to be the first-choice striker, Lyle decided to leave the club.
Dundee
Lyle made an instant impact after joining Dundee from Queens in August 2006, scoring on his debut in a 3–0 win over Clyde. Lyle scored 18 league goals in 53 league appearances at Dens Park.
Hamilton
Lyle joined Hamilton Academical in July 2008 after his new club secured promotion to the SPL, after finishing above Dundee, Lyle's previous club. Lyle suffered a career threatening knee ligament injury in the first minute of the club's 0–0 draw with Falkirk on 19 September 2009 when he was 27 years old. He underwent a successful operation a week laterbut would not play again for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. He signed a short-term contract extension in August 2010and made his first team return later that month.
Morton, Hamilton (2nd spell) and Cowdenbeath
In January 2011 Lyle signed a half season with Greenock Morton which saw him through to the end of the 2010–11 season. On 5 March 2011, Lyle scored his fifth goal for the Cappielow club in a 3–1 win at East End Park over Dunfermline Athletic,. Lyle was released when his contract expired at the end of that season.
Lyle then returned to New Douglas Park in July 2011 on a half-season contractand departed the club when his contract expired in January 2012.
He then signed for the remaining half of the season for Cowdenbeath.
Queen of the South (2nd spell)
Lyle signed on at Queens for a second spell on 3 August 2012, along with Derek Young. Lyle was part of the Division Two and Challenge Cup double-winning team and is the only player in the club's history to obtain four senior winners' medals. Lyle has won two Second Division titles and has also won two Challenge Cups.
On 27 August 2016, Lyle scored his 100th goal for Queen of the South in a 1-0 win at East End Park over Dunfermline Athletic. Lyle is currently the fourth highest goalscorer in the club's history with 109 goals at present.
Lyle has been honoured with a testimonial match by Queens on 25 June 2017 to be played versus Rangers Legends. A golf day as well as dinners in Dumfries and Glasgow are also being planned.
Honours
Queen of the South:
Scottish League Division Two Winners: 2001-02, 2012-13
Scottish Challenge Cup Winners: 2002-03, 2012-13