Dean James Robert Rance (born 24 September 1991) is an English footballer who plays for Folkestone Invicta as a defensive midfielder.
Career Born in Maidstone, Kent, Rance joined the Gillingham Centre of Excellence at the age of eight. He started an apprenticeship with the club during the summer of 2008 and his good form for the youth team earned him a call-up for the first team squad, being named on the bench for Gillingham's FA Cup game against Aston Villa in January 2009. Rance finished the 2009–10 season as the youth team's top goalscorer, and in May 2010 signed his first professional contract with the club. However, his opportunities in the first team were limited in the 2010–11 season by a foot injury sustained during a pre-season friendly.
Despite this, he impressed during loan spells with non-League sides Maidstone United and Bishop's Stortford. He signed a new one-year contract with Gillingham ahead of the 2011–12 season, during which he made his first team debut as a substitute in an FA Cup first round replay against Bournemouth in November 2011.
Rance was loaned out to Conference South side Dover Athletic on a one-month loan on 2 March 2012. He was released by Gillingham in May 2012 and signed a permanent contract with Dover.
Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Rance signed for Ebbsfleet United. Rance quickly established himself as a fan favourite at Stonebridge Road and was named players' player of the season despite being sent off in the play-off final second leg at Bromley and thus missing the play-off final against his former club, Dover.
In March 2023, Rance signed for Scunthorpe United on a short-term deal until the end of the season, with the option for a further year. He joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Folkestone Invicta on a one-month loan deal in January 2024, managed by Rance's former Ebbsfleet United teammate Andy Drury. On 1 May 2024, he joined the club permanently, signing a two-year deal.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGillingham 2009–10League One00000000002010–11League Two00100000102011–12League Two0000000000Total0010000010Bishop's Stortford (loan)2010–11Conference South73———732011–12Conference North80———80Total153———153Dover Athletic (loan)2011–12Conference South20———20Dover Athletic2012–13Conference South35020—5Three appearances in Conference South play-offs, two in FA Trophy0420Total37020—50440Ebbsfleet United2013–14Conference South37340—6Two appearances in Conference South play-offs, four in FA Trophy04732014–15Conference South18120—4Appearances in FA Trophy02412015–16National League South37020—504402016–17National League South39220—7Three appearances and one goal in National League South play-offs, four in FA Trophy14832017–18National League34330—4Two appearances in National League play-offs, two in FA Trophy03932018–19National League28010—10300Total1939140—27123410Aldershot Town2019–20National League31210—10332Dagenham & Redbridge2020–21National League26210—102822021–22National League23120—402912022–23National League29240—20352Total78570—70925Scunthorpe United2022–23National League70———702023–24National League North0000—0000Total7000000070Folkestone Invicta (loan)2023–24Isthmian League Premier Division16000—00160Career totals377192500040144220
References
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