Frank Fielding - Club Career

Club Career

Born in Blackburn Lancashire, Fielding is a product of Blackburn Rovers Academy. He joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on 28 September 2007 on a three-month loan deal alongside Bolton Wanderers' Polish goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak. The deal was made due to Wycombe having injury problems with both first team goalkeepers Scott Shearer and Jamie Young. Fielding made his debut a day after signing on loan, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at Bradford City. His loan was extended until the end of the season on 10 January 2008 and he managed to keep his place after the return to fitness of Young.

He then joined Northampton Town on loan for three months on 9 September where he made 12 appearances before returning to Blackburn.

Fielding moved out on loan again, this time to Rochdale on 6 January 2009, where he starred before eventually featuring in an unsuccessful playoff attempt, losing to Gillingham in the semi-finals. On 2 February, Fielding extended his stay with Rochdale until the end of the 2008–09 season.

On 29 September 2009, Fielding joined Leeds United on a one-month emergency loan to cover for the injured Shane Higgs. He was named as an unused substitute in Leeds' game against Carlisle. He was unavailable for Leeds' Football League Trophy game against Darlington as he was called up to England under-21 team. Fielding played his first game for Leeds the reserve team against Hartlepool United on 13 October. After being unable to displace Casper Ankergren, On 26 October, Leeds announced they would not be renewing his loan and he returned to Blackburn. On 1 February 2010, Fielding returned to Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season and made his debut in the 1–0 defeat at Bury, eventually helping Rochdale to a third place finish and promotion to Football League One.

Fielding again started the 2010–11 season out of the first team picture as Paul Robinson's understudy. He was linked with a move to Championship side Derby County. The interest caused Fielding to issue a "come-and-get-me" plea, stating "It is the worst feeling when you are training all week and not playing - so if anyone wants me on loan, I'm available!" He joined Derby on a four-week emergency loan on 15 October 2010 and went straight into the squad for the home match against Preston North End the next day, keeping a cleansheet on his debut as the team ran out 3–0 winners. The loan was extended for an additional month on 13 November, after his seven appearances had reaped three clean sheets and 15 points from a possible 21 as Derby moved to fourth in the table. After Stephen Bywater returned from his wrist injury, Fielding returned to Blackburn in December. He was then named on the subs bench for Blackburn to cover from Mark Bunn when Paul Robinson picked up an injury. In February 2011, after Bywater and Saul Deeney picked up injuries, Fielding returned to Derby on loan. Though the deal was initially announced as being until the end of the 2010-11 season, Fielding's two month emergency loan deal with the club in October and November meant that he could only remain at the club for an additional month, with his second stay ending after the away fixture at Crystal Palace on March 19, 2011, though Fielding would train with the Derby squad for the remainder of the season.

Having left Derby 7th in the table, Fielding returned to the club in 19th after it had claimed only six points from the thirteen fixtures since his departure. In his first five games back at Derby, Fielding kept two clean sheets helping The Rams to an important wins against Sheffield United and Swansea City and draws with Barnsley and Crystal Palace. The 8 points from six games played in Fielding's second loan spell, came in stark contrast to the mere six point return from the 12 games since Fielding's previous loan spell finished.