{{Short description|Irish association football player}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=September 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Dale Gorman | image = | fullname = Dale Anthony Gorman<ref>{{cite news |title=The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |publisher=The Football League |page=84 |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=1 December 2015 |archive-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221032147/http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1996|6|28}}<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |title=Dale Gorman |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/dale-gorman-242820/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = Letterkenny, Ireland | height = 1.8m<ref name="11v11"/> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Woking | clubnumber = 8 | youthyears1 = 2010–2013 | youthclubs1 = Letterkenny Rovers | youthyears2 = 2013–2015 | youthclubs2 = Stevenage | years1 = 2015–2018 | clubs1 = Stevenage | caps1 = 62 | goals1 = 3 | years2 = 2018–2020 | clubs2 = Leyton Orient | caps2 = 35 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2020 | clubs3 = → Newport County (loan) | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2020–2021 | clubs4 = Glentoran | caps4 = 24 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2021–2022 | clubs5 = Yeovil Town | caps5 = 40 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 2022–2024 | clubs6 = Barnet | caps6 = 73 | goals6 = 6 | years7 = 2024–2026 | clubs7 = Woking | caps7 = 46 | goals7 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U17 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2013–2014 | nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland U19 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2015–2018 | nationalteam3 = Northern Ireland U21 | nationalcaps3 = 15 | nationalgoals3 = 1 | manageryears1 = 2026 | managerclubs1 = Woking (interim) | club-update = 15:46, 25 April 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 21:01, 16 October 2018 (UTC) }} '''Dale Anthony Gorman''' (born 28 June 1996) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Woking}} club Woking.
Gorman began his career at hometown club Letterkenny Rovers before signing a scholarship with Stevenage in 2013. He broke into the Stevenage first-team during the 2015–16 season and spent three seasons in the first-team before leaving in May 2018. Gorman joined Leyton Orient of the National League ahead of the 2018–19 season, where he helped the club earn promotion back to the Football League in his first season there. He spent two seasons at Leyton Orient, during which he also spent time on loan at Newport County, before being released in June 2020. Gorman signed for Glentoran of the NIFL Premiership in September 2020. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.
==Early life== Gorman is the son of Sheila and coach and former Finn Harps player Anthony Gorman.<ref name="Letterkenny lad signs professional contract with English soccer team"/> He has two younger brothers called Zach and Joel.<ref name="Letterkenny lad signs professional contract with English soccer team"/> Gorman attended St Eunan's College for his secondary education.<ref name="Letterkenny lad signs professional contract with English soccer team">{{cite news | title = Letterkenny lad signs professional contract with English soccer team | url = https://www.donegaldaily.com/2012/12/05/letterkenny-lad-signs-professional-contract-with-english-soccer-team/ | newspaper = Donegal Daily | date = 5 December 2012 | accessdate = 5 December 2012}}</ref> During his time there he captained the school team and played alongside Shaun Patton.<ref>{{cite news | title = Limerick and St Eunans set for Minor final | url = https://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/limerick-and-st-eunans-set-for-minor-final | publisher = Football Association of Ireland | date = 6 May 2010 | accessdate = 6 May 2010}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Early career=== Gorman began his career with his hometown club, Letterkenny Rovers.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage | url = http://donegalnews.com/2014/06/dale-gorman-aims-to-make-his-mark-at-stevenage/ | newspaper = Donegal News | date = 27 June 2014 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref> He attracted the attention of English club Stevenage after being scouted in a Northern Ireland under-17 match against Scotland.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/> After Gorman had finished competing in qualifying for the 2013 European under-17 Championships, he was invited to train at Stevenage's academy, playing in a youth game against Bournemouth.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/> He scored one goal and assisted another in the match, and he was subsequently offered a two-year scholarship.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/> He signed the deal immediately, calling it a "no-brainer".<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/> His parents also had relatives living near the club.<ref name="Letterkenny lad signs professional contract with English soccer team"/>
===Stevenage=== Gorman officially joined Stevenage in May 2013, and spent the following two seasons in the club's youth set-up, competing for the club's under-18 and reserve teams, as well as playing at the IMG Cup in Florida for the Hertfordshire club.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/> During his two years at academy level, Gorman also frequently trained with the first-team.<ref name="Dale Gorman aims to make his mark at Stevenage"/><ref name="Dale Gorman targeting Stevenage FC first team place">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman targeting Stevenage FC first team place | url = http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/dale-gorman-targeting-stevenage-fc-first-team-place-1-4351460 | newspaper = The Comet | date = 17 December 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref> In May 2015, he signed his first professional contract with the club.<ref name="Dale Gorman and George Casey sign first professional deals">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman and George Casey sign first professional deals | url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2015/may/dale-gorman-and-george-casey-sign-first-professional-contracts/ | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 29 May 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref>
Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Gorman featured in several of Stevenage's pre-season fixtures under new manager Teddy Sheringham.<ref name="Dale Gorman targeting Stevenage FC first team place"/> He made his professional debut in the club's second game of the new campaign, coming on as a second-half substitute in Stevenage's 2–1 away loss to Ipswich Town in the League Cup on 11 August 2015.<ref name="Ipswich Town 2–1 Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Ipswich Town 2–1 Stevenage | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33769154 | website = BBC Sport | date = 11 August 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref> Gorman made his first start a week-and-a-half later, playing the whole game as Stevenage secured their first win of the season courtesy of a 2–0 victory over Hartlepool United at Broadhall Way.<ref name="Stevenage 2–0 Hartlepool United">{{cite news | title = Stevenage 2–0 Hartlepool United | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33944520 | website = BBC Sport | date = 22 August 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref> Having made five first-team appearances during the first half of the season,<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2015/2016">{{Soccerbase season|78072|2015|name=Dale Gorman|accessdate=10 February 2015}}</ref> Gorman signed an improved three-year contract with Stevenage in December 2015.<ref name="Dale Gorman signs new three-year Stevenage deal">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman signs new three-year Stevenage deal | url = http://www.skysports.com/football/news/18940/10086027/dale-gorman-signs-new-three-year-stevenage-deal | website = Sky Sports | date = 1 December 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Dale Gorman signs new improved contract">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman signs new improved contract | url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2015/december/dale-gorman-signs-new-improved-contract/ | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 5 December 2015 | accessdate = 8 October 2017}}</ref> He went on to make 14 appearances during his first season in professional football.<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2015/2016"/>
The 2016–17 season served as Gorman's breakthrough campaign as a first-team regular.<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2016/2017">{{Soccerbase season|78072|2016| accessdate = 10 February 2015}}</ref> His first appearance of the new season came at Portman Road in an EFL Cup game away at Championship opposition Ipswich Town, the same match and venue where he made his professional debut a year earlier.<ref name="Ipswich Town 0–1 Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Ipswich Town 0–1 Stevenage | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36948791 | website = BBC Sport | date = 9 August 2016 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> He played the whole match in a 1–0 Stevenage victory.<ref name="Ipswich Town 0–1 Stevenage"/> It marked the start of a run of games in the first-team for the midfielder,<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2016/2017"/> and he scored his first professional goal on 17 December 2016, with a "curling strike" in a 2–1 away victory against local rivals Barnet.<ref name="Barnet 1–2 Stevenage">{{cite news | title = Barnet 1–2 Stevenage | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38272145 | website = BBC Sport | date = 17 December 2016 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> The following month, on 9 January 2017, Gorman signed a new contract with the club, running until 2019.<ref name="Dale Gorman signs new contract">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman signs new contract | url = https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2017/january/dale-gorman-signs-new-contract/ | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 9 January 2017 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> Gorman scored once in 30 appearances during the season as the club finished in 10th-place in League Two.<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2016/2017"/> He made 27 appearances in all competitions during the 2017–18 season, scoring twice, as Stevenage finished the League Two campaign in 16th position.<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2017/2018"/><ref name="League Two – 2017–18">{{cite news | title = League Two – 2017–18 | url = http://www.skysports.com/league-2-table/2017 | website = Sky Sports | accessdate = 11 May 2018}}</ref> He was released in May 2018.<ref name="Player meetings concluded – retained/released list available">{{cite news | title = Player meetings concluded – retained/released list available | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44042024 | publisher = Stevenage F.C. | date = 8 May 2018 | accessdate = 11 May 2018}}</ref>
===Leyton Orient=== Following his departure from Stevenage, Gorman signed for National League club Leyton Orient on a two-year deal on 14 June 2018.<ref name="Dale Gorman: Leyton Orient sign former Stevenage midfielder on two-year deal">{{cite news | title = Dale Gorman: Leyton Orient sign former Stevenage midfielder on two-year deal | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44481796 | website = BBC Sport | date = 14 June 2018 | accessdate = 14 June 2018}}</ref> He scored his first goal for Orient when he scored in an EFL Trophy tie against Southend United on 3 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leytonorient.com/2019/09/03/report-leyton-orient-2-0-southend-united/ |title=Report: Leyton Orient 2-0 Southend United |date=3 September 2019 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |accessdate=4 September 2019}}</ref> On 10 January 2020 Gorman joined Newport County on loan for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.<ref>[https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/18150168.midfielder-dale-gorman-joins-newport-county-rest-season/ Gorman joins Newport]</ref> He made his debut for Newport County on 18 January 2020 in the 2-0 League Two win against Swindon Town as a second half substitute.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51073102 Gorman Newport debut]</ref> He scored his first goal for Newport on 7 March 2020 in the 1-0 League Two win against Morecambe.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51685288 Gorman first goal for Newport]</ref> He was released by Leyton Orient in June 2020 after his contract expired.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 June 2020|title=Leyton Orient Retained List: 2020/21 Season|url=https://www.leytonorient.com/2020/06/02/leyton-orient-retained-list-2020-21-season/|access-date=2 September 2020|publisher=Leyton Orient F.C.|language=en-GB}}</ref>
===Glentoran=== Gorman joined NIFL Premiership club Glentoran on 2 September 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Glentoran sign ex-NI U21 midfielder Gorman|language=en-GB|website=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53996534|access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref>
===Yeovil Town=== On 22 July 2021, Gorman signed for National League club Yeovil Town for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ytfc.net/news/2021/july/signing--gorman-signs-in-somerset/ |title=Signing {{!}} Gorman signs in Somerset |publisher=Yeovil Town F.C. |date=22 July 2021 |accessdate=22 July 2021 |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722171947/https://www.ytfc.net/news/2021/july/signing--gorman-signs-in-somerset/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of the 2021–22 season, Gorman rejected the offer of a new contract from Yeovil and departed following the expiry of his contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ytfc.net/club-news-released-retained-list/ |title=Club News {{!}} Released/retained list |work=ytfc.net |publisher=Yeovil Town F.C. |date=3 June 2022 |access-date=3 June 2022 }}</ref>
===Barnet=== On 2 July 2022, Gorman signed for Barnet.<ref>[https://www.barnetfc.com/dale-gorman-agrees-to-sign Dale Gorman agrees to sign]</ref> Over two seasons, he captained the side to two finishes in the playoffs, making 87 appearances and scoring eight goals.
===Woking=== Gorman joined Woking ahead of the 2024-25 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wokingfc.co.uk/news/article/8573/dale-gorman-signs/ | title=Dale Gorman signs }}</ref> On 1 March 2026, after the exit of first-team manager Neal Ardley, Gorman was appointed to take interim charge of the team alongside Jake Hyde and Craig Ross.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Club Statement |url=https://wokingfc.co.uk/03/01/club-statement/ |website=wokingfc.co.uk |date=1 March 2026 |accessdate=2 March 2026 |first=Ben |last=Stone}}</ref>
On 7 May 2026, it was announced that Gorman would leave the club at the end of his contract in June.<ref>{{Cite news |title=2025/26 Retained & Released List |url=https://wokingfc.co.uk/05/07/2025-26-retained-released-list/ |website=wokingfc.co.uk |first=Benjamin |last=Parker |date=7 May 2026 |accessdate=8 May 2026}}</ref>
==International career== Gorman decided to play for Northern Ireland in order to further his prospects of gaining a move to an English club. Having earned six caps for Northern Ireland's under-17 team from October 2012 to March 2013,<ref name="UEFA – Dale Gorman">{{cite news | title = UEFA – Dale Gorman | url = http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250056576/profile/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171009092923/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250056576/profile/index.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 October 2017 | publisher = UEFA | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> Gorman made the step up to under-19 level following his move to Stevenage in the summer of 2013, receiving his first call-up at under-19 level in October 2013,<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman">{{cite news | title = Soccerway – Dale Gorman | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/players/dale-gorman/274911/ | publisher = Soccerway | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> and made three appearances at that level over the space of a year.<ref name="UEFA – Dale Gorman"/><ref name="Northern Ireland U19 1–1 France U19">{{cite news | title = Northern Ireland U19 1–1 France U19 | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2013/10/12/europe/uefa-u19-championship/northern-ireland-under-19/france-under-19/1574502/ | publisher = Soccerway | date = 12 October 2013 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Iceland U19 1–0 Northern Ireland U19">{{cite news | title = Iceland U19 1–0 Northern Ireland U19 | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2013/10/15/europe/uefa-u19-championship/iceland-under-19/northern-ireland-under-19/1574504/ | publisher = Soccerway | date = 15 October 2013 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Russia U19 5–2 Northern Ireland U19">{{cite news | title = Russia U19 5–2 Northern Ireland U19 | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/10/11/europe/uefa-u19-championship/russia-under-19/northern-ireland-under-19/1952951/ | publisher = Soccerway | date = 11 October 2014 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref> A month after making his professional debut at Stevenage, Gorman was called up to the Northern Ireland under-21 team,<ref name="Stevenage youngsters ready for international duty with Northern Ireland and Finland">{{cite news | title = Stevenage youngsters ready for international duty with Northern Ireland and Finland | url = http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/stevenage-youngsters-ready-international-duty/story-27715133-detail/story.html | newspaper = Hertfordshire Mercury | date = 2 September 2015 | accessdate = 9 October 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> making his debut on 5 September 2015, a game in which he was sent off for two bookable offences in a 2–1 home defeat to Scotland under-21s.<ref name="Northern Ireland U21 1–2 Scotland U21">{{cite news | title = Northern Ireland U21 1–2 Scotland U21 | url = https://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2015/09/05/europe/uefa-u21-championship/northern-ireland-u21/scotland-under-21/2021341/ | publisher = Soccerway | date = 5 September 2015 | accessdate = 9 October 2017}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 25 April 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan=2|Club !rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, Irish Cup}} !colspan=2|EFL Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan=4|Stevenage |2015–16<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2015/2016"/> |League Two |13||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||14||0 |- |2016–17<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2016/2017"/> |League Two |25||1||1||0||2||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFL>Appearances and goals in EFL Trophy</ref>||0||30||1 |- |2017–18<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2017/2018">{{Soccerbase season|78072|2017| accessdate = 1 September 2017}}</ref> |League Two |24||2||1||0||1||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFL>Appearances and goals in EFL Trophy</ref>||0||27||2 |- !colspan=2|Total !62!!3!!2!!0!!4!!0!!3!!0!!71!!3 |- |rowspan=3|Leyton Orient |2018–19<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2018/2019">{{Soccerbase season|78072|2018| accessdate = 14 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |22||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||5<ref group=lower-alpha name=FATrophy>Appearances and goals in FA Trophy</ref>||1||27||1 |- |2019–20<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2019/2020">{{Soccerbase season|78072|2019| accessdate = 22 July 2021}}</ref> |League Two |13||0||1||0||1||0||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=EFL/>||1||17||1 |- !colspan=2|Total !35!!0!!2!!0!!1!!0!!7!!2!!45!!2 |- |Newport County (loan) |2019–20<ref name="Games played by Dale Gorman in 2019/2020"/> |League Two |8||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||1 |- |Glentoran |2020–21<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |NIFL Premiership |24||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||26||1 |- |Yeovil Town |2021–22<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |40||4||5||1||colspan=2|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=FATrophy/>||0||47||5 |- |rowspan=3|Barnet |2022–23<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |40||3||4||1||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha>Three appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in National League playoffs</ref>||0||48||4 |- |2023–24<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |33||3||2||0||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, one appearance in Middlesex Senior Cup, one appearance in National League playoffs</ref>||1||39||4 |- !colspan=2|Total !73!!6!!6!!1!!0!!0!!8!!1!!87!!8 |- |rowspan="3"|Woking |2024–25<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |36||2||2||0||colspan=2|—||8{{efn|Four appearances in FA Trophy; Four appearancea in National League Cup}}||0||46||2 |- |2025–26<ref name="Soccerway – Dale Gorman"/> |National League |10||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||10||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total |46||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0||56||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !288!!17!!19!!2!!5!!0!!28!!3!!340!!22 |}
{{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Leyton Orient''' *National League: 2018–19<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=1647 |title=National League: 2018/19: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=6 May 2019}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/teams/england/leyton-orient-fc/744/squad/ |title=Leyton Orient FC: Squad |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Woking F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Dale}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:Association footballers from County Donegal Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:NIFL Premiership players Category:Letterkenny Rovers F.C. players Category:Leyton Orient F.C. players Category:Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers Category:People educated at St Eunan's College Category:Sportspeople from Letterkenny Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Stevenage F.C. players Category:Newport County A.F.C. players Category:Glentoran F.C. players Category:Yeovil Town F.C. players Category:Barnet F.C. players Category:Woking F.C. players Category:21st-century sportsmen from Northern Ireland Category:Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers Category:Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland