Darryl Westlake

Born in Sutton Coldfield, England, Westlake started his youth career at Walsall and signed his first professional contract with the club, having been training in the first team.[2][3] Westlake made his Walsall début on 15 August 2009 in the Football League One clash with Southend United at the Bescot Stadium, which ended in a 2–2 draw.[4] He was seen as a future prospect due to his consistent performances at such a young age, finishing the season with the Young Player of the Year Award and a new two-year contract in May 2010.[5][6]

Westlake started the 2010–11 season when he played his first game, in a 1–0 loss against Colchester United on 4 September 2010.[7] Having made four appearances for the club this season, Westlake was linked with a loan move to League Two side Lincoln City, but the club refused to loan him out.[8] As a result, Westlake forced his way back in the first team and continued to retain his first place for the rest of the season.[9] Westlake scored his first Walsall goal (and his first professional goal), in a 1–1 draw against Oldham Athletic on 25 January 2011.[10] Westlake later credited Manager Dean Smith for giving him confidence to fight for first team football and went on make 28 appearances for the club.[11]

2011–12 Westlake played seventeen games and at the end of the season was offered a new contract with a one-year deal.[12]

On 20 July 2012, Westlake joined Sheffield United in July 2012, signing a two-year contract, with an option for a third year.[13] Following his move to Sheffield United, the club have to pay Walsall an undisclosed compensation package because in England, when a player under the age of 23 leaves a club at the end of his contract, his new club must pay a fee to his old club as compensation for having trained him up and Westlake was under 23 when he left Walsall.[14] Westlake made his debut for the Blades in September 2012, playing in central midfield in a 1–1 home draw against Bury.

On 28 November 2013 Westlake joined Mansfield Town on loan until 5 January 2014,[15] a deal that was later extended until the end of the season.[16] Westlake played regularly for the Stags and returned to Bramall Lane the following summer having played 25 games.[17] Westlake was released by Sheffield United on 16 May 2014.[18]

On 9 September 2014, Westlake signed for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on a one-year contract with the option of an extra year.[19]

Westlake made his league debut for the club, playing as a left back position, in a 3–0 win over Partick Thistle on 27 September 2014.[20] However, Westlake was soon injured in the 43rd minute, resulting being in the stretcher, in a 1–0 loss against Aberdeen on 20 December 2014.[21] Westlake made his return to the team, in a 2–2 draw against Partick Thistle on 24 January 2015.[22] Westlake then scored his first Kilmarnock goal on 15 April 2015, in a 4–1 loss to Celtic.[23]

2015-2016 Westlake took up the option of the second year and helped with an assist against Celtic on 12 August 2015[24] He played eight games for Kilmarnock at the beginning of the season. Having an ankle injury over the winter period Westlake returned to training and played several games for the under-20 team which then saw him back in the squad on 19 March 2016 against Celtic. Westlake's contract with Kilmarnock ended on 8 April 2016 by mutual consent.