Ivan Sproule

Ivan Sproule (born February 18, 1981 in Castlederg, County Tyrone) is a Northern Ireland professional football (soccer) who is famed for his fast feet and pace and currently plays for Bristol City F.C. in the Football League Championship.

Sproule, a winger, only turned professional sports after he signed for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian F.C. in January 2005, just a month before his 24th birthday. His early career had been spent at Omagh Town F.C. and Institute F.C., semi-professional clubs in the Irish Football League. He combined playing football with his full time career as an engineer.

Hibernian

Scottish Premier League club Hibernian F.C. invited him for a trial in January 2005, in which he impressed manager Tony Mowbray and signed as a full-time professional until the end of the season, which meant that he had to give up his day job. Hibs paid Institute a transfer fee of just £5,000.

The gamble of signing a player from outside professional football paid off for both Sproule and Hibs. Although he had a slow start with Hibs and it was rumoured that he would return to Northern Ireland, he scored one of the goals in a 3-1 win over Celtic F.C. at Celtic Park. Sproule was offered an extended contract which he accepted.

In August 2005, Sproule hit the headlines by scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 defeat of Scottish football champions Rangers F.C. at Ibrox Stadium. Sproule caused further damage to Rangers by helping Hibs eliminate them from the Scottish Cup 2005-06. Sproule scored one goal and assisted with another, as Hibs again won 3-0 at Ibrox.

Sproule's name was often sung by the Hibs fans with "He's here, he's there, he's every-fucking-where", a reference to his speed. He was part of the team that won the 2007 Scottish League Cup Final. He made a total of 94 appearances for Hibs (40 of which were as a substitute), scoring 18 goals.

Bristol City

Sproule joined Bristol City on a three-year contract on June 27, 2007 for an undisclosed fee believed to be about £500,000. .

He made his debut for the west-country club on August 29, 2007 against Manchester City F.C. in the Football League Cup. He was made to sit out the first four games of the season due to a suspension which he received while playing for Hibernian. He scored his first goal for Bristol City on October 24, 2007 in their 2-1 victory over Southampton F.C. with a thrilling 50 yard run around several players followed by a low left footed shot.

Sproule was part of the Bristol City squad who were beaten in the Football League Championship Football_League_Championship_Play-Offs 2008 against Hull City, played at Wembley Stadium on May 24, 2008.

Northern Ireland

Sproule was called into the Northern Ireland national football team squad for the first time in September 2005, and came on as a substitute in the famous 1-0 win over England national football team at Windsor Park.

Sproule scored on his first start for Northern Ireland against Estonia national football team on March 1, 2006. His goal was the only goal of the game and was scored with his first touch, with only 2 minutes of the game played. During this match, the Northern Ireland fans sang "And I can't - help - falling in love - with - Sproule", after his maiden international goal.

He was left out of the initial Northern Ireland squad for the matches in October 2006 with Danish national football team and Latvia national football team, but was later added for the Latvia match due to call-offs by other players.