Beryly Lubala

Beryly Logos Lubala (born 8 January 1998), commonly known as Bez Lubala,[4] is a Congolese footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One club Burton Albion. He previously played for Birmingham City, where he began his senior career, Crawley Town, Blackpool, and on loan to Northampton Town and Colchester United.

Beryly Lubala
Lubala with Birmingham City in April 2018
Personal information
Full name Beryly Logos Lubala[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-08) 8 January 1998[2]
Place of birth Democratic Republic of the Congo
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Burton Albion
Number 15
Youth career
Carib SSFC
Leicester Nirvana
Friar Lane & Epworth
2014–2016 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Birmingham City 4 (0)
2019–2020 Crawley Town 34 (12)
2020–2023 Blackpool 12 (0)
2022 → Northampton Town (loan) 14 (0)
2022–2023 → Colchester United (loan) 8 (1)
2023– Burton Albion 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:50, 3 October 2023 (UTC)

Life and career

Lubala was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in Leicester, England, where he attended St Paul's Catholic School.[2] As a youngster, he played football for Carib SSFC,[5] Leicester Nirvana[6] and Friar Lane & Epworth.[7] He was noticed by representatives of Birmingham City's academy while playing in a trial game in 2014, and took up a scholarship with the club that summer.[2][8] Interviewed later that year, he assessed his strength as his attacking play, and felt he needed to improve his left foot.[2]

Birmingham City

He signed his first professional contract, of one year, in April 2016.[9] A year later, after playing regularly for the under-23 team, he signed another one-year deal, with the option of a second year.[10] He played in the first team's pre-season friendly against Kidderminster Harriers,[11] and in February 2018, the club confirmed that it would be taking up their option on Lubala's contract.[12] With Che Adams suspended and Isaac Vassell and Sam Gallagher injured, he was included on the bench for the Championship fixture at home to Burton Albion on 7 April.[13][14] He remained unused, but made his debut three days later, away to Bristol City, replacing Jérémie Boga after 69 minutes with his team 2–1 behind; the match ended 3–1.[15]

Lubala was a regular member of the first-team squad in 2018–19,[16] and the first few months of the season was frequently included in the matchday squad. He made one start in the EFL Cup defeat to Reading and three fleeting substitute appearances in the Championship.[17] At the end of the season he was offered a new contract, of one year with the option of a second,[16] but no agreement could be reached between club and player.[18]

Crawley Town

On 21 June 2019, Lubala signed a two-year contract with Crawley Town, managed by former Birmingham City coach Gabriele Cioffi. The deal included an option for a third year and an undisclosed sell-on clause.[18][19] He scored in each of Crawley's first four League Two matches.[20] Away to Carlisle United, he "shook off a challenge and cut in from the left before firing a low shot through the [goalkeeper's] legs" to tie the scores before the hosts won 2–1,[21] and at home to Salford City, he converted a penalty to open the scoring and had several other chances as his side won 2–0.[22] After goals against Scunthorpe United and Crewe Alexandra,[20] Lubala's fifth goal of the season, a deflected finish in the 17th minute of a 1–0 EFL Cup win against Norwich City on 27 August 2019, gave Crawley a first ever victory over top-flight opposition.[23][24] He said afterwards that "this was the best night of my short career so far".[25] He had a strong season with Crawley, scoring 13 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions across the curtailed 2019–20 season.[26]

Blackpool

On 1 September 2020, Lubala was signed by League One side Blackpool for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract with the club.[26]

Lubala joined Northampton Town on 31 January 2022 on loan for the rest of the season.[27]

After making one appearance for his parent club in the 2022–23 EFL Cup,[28] Lubala joined League Two club Colchester United on loan for the remainder of the season.[29] He made his debut on 3 September as a half-time substitute with his side 1–0 down at home to Hartlepool United, and headed the equalising goal from Cameron Coxe's cross in the fifth minute of stoppage time.[30]

He was released by Blackpool at the end of the 2022–23 season.[31]

Burton Albion

On 2 September 2023, League One club Burton Albion confirmed the signing of Lubala on a short-term deal.[32] He made his debut the same day, as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 defeat at home to Exeter City.[33]

Career statistics
As of match played 3 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Birmingham City 2017–18[17] Championship100000—10
2018–19[34] Championship300010—40
Total 4000100050
Crawley Town 2019–20[20] League Two341220312[lower-alpha 1]04113
Blackpool 2020–21[35] League One12040004[lower-alpha 1]0200
2021–22[36] Championship000000—00
2022–23[28] Championship00—10—00
Total 120401040210
Northampton Town (loan) 2021–22[36] League Two140000000140
Colchester United (loan) 2022–23[28] League Two8110—3[lower-alpha 1]0121
Burton Albion (loan) 2023–24[33] League One6100—0061
Career total 78147051909915
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy

Personal life

On 26 January 2022, Lubala was found not guilty of rape by a Brighton jury.[37]

References
  1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. "Blue kid on the block – Beryly Lubala". Birmingham City F.C. 15 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014.
  3. "First team: Beryly Lubala". Crawley Town F.C. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  4. "Report: Blues 1 Burton Albion 1". Birmingham City F.C. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  5. Ward, John (10 December 2006). "League Summary: U9s". BBC Leicester. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  6. Thompson, Richard (20 April 2016). "Former Nirvana player signs professional deal with Birmingham City". Leicester Nirvana F.C. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  7. "Match report Under16s 5 v 0 St Andrews". Friar Lane & Epworth F.C. 1 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2014 and 31/07/2014". The Football Association. p. 44. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. "Professional deal for Beryly Lubala". Birmingham City F.C. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  10. Ireland, Shane (31 May 2017). "Birmingham City attacker aiming to go one better this summer". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  11. "Report: Kidderminster Harriers 1 Blues 1". Birmingham City F.C. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  12. "Contract offers for Blues Under-23s". Birmingham City F.C. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  13. Chapman, Joseph (6 April 2018). "Birmingham City v Burton Albion TV details: How can I follow the action? Who is injured? All you need to know". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  14. Dick, Brian (7 April 2018). "Birmingham City team news: Garry Monk makes two changes and youngster on the bench for Burton clash". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  15. "Bristol City 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  16. "New contract offers to Blues duo". Birmingham City F.C. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  17. "B. Lubala". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  18. Husband, Ben (21 June 2019). "Birmingham City agree sell-on clause as youngster moves on". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  19. "Beryly Lubala: Crawley Town sign midfielder from Birmingham". BBC Sport. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  20. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  21. "Carlisle United 2–1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. PA Media. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  22. Morton, Sam (10 August 2019). "Crawley Town 2 – Salford City 0: First home game of the season ends in victory for dominant Reds". Crawley Observer. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  23. "Crawley knock Norwich out of EFL Cup". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. Szczepanik, Nick (27 August 2019). "Norwich crash out of Carabao Cup following shock defeat at League Two Crawley". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  25. Dick, Brian (28 August 2019). "'My best night' Ex-Blues starlet euphoric at Carabao Cup feat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  26. Scrafton, Matt (1 September 2020). "Blackpool swoop for Crawley Town forward who was previously linked with Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Sunderland". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  27. "Lubala joins Northampton Town on loan". Blackpool F.C. 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  28. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  29. Waldron, Jonathan (1 September 2022). "Colchester United have signed Beryly Lubala from Blackpool on loan". Gazette & Essex County Standard. Colchester. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  30. Waldron, Jonathan (3 September 2022). "Colchester United claim a draw against Hartlepool United". Gazette & Essex County Standard. Colchester. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  31. "Retained List Confirmed". 16 May 2023.
  32. "Burton sign former Blackpool forward Lubala". BBC Sport. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  33. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  34. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  35. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  36. "Games played by Beryly Lubala in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  37. "Bez Lubala trial: Blackpool forward cleared of rape allegations by jury in Brighton". Blackpool Gazette. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
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