Lionel Ainsworth

Lionel Glenn Robert Ainsworth (born 1 October 1987) is an English footballer who plays for Aveley as a right winger.

He has previously played for multiple Football League and non-league clubs as well as in the Scottish Premiership.

He was capped at youth level by England, featuring for England U19 after joining the Derby senior squad.

Ainsworth was born in Derby and started his career at Derby County, signing his first professional contract on 4 August 2005.

He made his first team debut on 25 February 2006 in a 1–0 home win over Plymouth Argyle, coming on as a late substitute for Kevin Lisbie.

His second and final first team appearance for Derby came in a 5–0 defeat to Reading on 1 April 2006, again as a substitute.

Ainsworth spent the first four months of the 2006–07 season on loan at League One side AFC Bournemouth, but made only nine appearances.

He was released by Derby at the end of the 2006–07 season and was signed by Hereford United, who were about to start their second season back in the Football League.

He quickly established his place in the side and featured in every first team match bar one, during his time with the Bulls.

In only his second match he scored his first senior hat-trick in a 4–1 League Cup first round win over Yeovil Town.

He went on to score another hat-trick, this time in a 3–2 league win at Stockport County.

Ainsworth's last match for Hereford saw him score a 3rd-minute winner against Leeds United, in the FA Cup first round.

Ainsworth's performances for Hereford saw Watford sign him initially on loan, with Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd extending the loans of Toumani Diagouraga and Theo Robinson to Hereford until the end of the season as part of the transfer deal.

In January 2007, he joined Conference side Halifax Town for a month, scoring his first senior goal on his debut against York City.

Soon after his return to Derby, he joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of the season, where he made seven appearances before being recalled in April.

He also gave Hereford first option on Diagouraga, which the Bulls duly utilised in the summer of 2008.

On 5 January 2008, Ainsworth signed for Watford permanently for an undisclosed six figure fee, agreeing a contract until the end of the 2009–10 season.

On 16 November 2008, Watford caretaker manager Malky Mackay named Ainsworth as one of three players that were to be loaned to other clubs to gain match fitness.

Four days later Ainsworth rejoined Hereford United on a month's loan, on the anniversary of his final match for the Bulls.

He scored three more goals for United in the 2008–09 season including a brace and two assists against Oldham Athletic in a 5–0 hammering.

Following that performance, Ainsworth was recalled to Watford with one game still left on his loan deal.

On 23 January 2009, Ainsworth was signed by Football League One side Huddersfield Town on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

His debut came as a substitute for Keigan Parker in the 1–0 defeat by Yeovil Town at Huish Park on 27 January 2009.

His first start for the Terriers came in the 1–0 win over Peterborough United on 31 January 2009.

After a period of being left out of the side altogether, Ainsworth moved on loan to fellow League One side Brentford on 27 January 2010.

He made his debut in the 4–0 win over Gillingham at Griffin Park on 6 February 2010.

After making his first start for the Bees, against Yeovil in April 2010, he got in trouble with the club's manager Andy Scott, having gone straight down the tunnel after being substituted.

Afterwards Scott said that Ainsworth wouldn't play for the club again for showing disrespect to the club and its fans, and he was sent back to Huddersfield.

A season of mixed fortunes led to Ainsworth looking for a transfer away from Huddersfield.

Rival clubs Shrewsbury Town & Hereford United were rumoured to be interested in him.

At a fans forum on 21 July 2010 Hereford's manager Simon Davey confirmed he had made an approach to Huddersfield.

Ainsworth signed a two-year deal with Shrewsbury Town during the 2010–11 pre-season on a free transfer, with Huddersfield gaining 20% of any future sell on fee by Shrewsbury.

He made his league debut for Shrewsbury Town on 7 August 2010, with a man of the match performance in a 3–1 victory against Bradford City on the opening day of the 2010–11 season.

He scored his first goal for Shrewsbury Town against Rotherham United on 4 September 2010, the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win at the Greenhous Meadow.

Ainsworth got his first hat-trick for Shrewsbury Town in a 5–1 win against Lincoln City on Tuesday 8 February 2011.

He finished the season with 9 goals, the majority from the wing.

At the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Ainsworth played a big part in Shrewsbury's League Cup wins against former club Derby County and Premier League club Swansea City to set up a third round clash with Arsenal.

On 6 March 2012, Ainsworth joined fellow Football League Two side Burton Albion on a one-month loan deal.

In May 2012, Ainsworth was released by Shrewsbury after being told his contract would not be renewed.

Ainsworth signed for Rotherham United on 18 June 2012.