Name and age
Kyle Michael Dempsey - 19-years-old.
Background
Dempsey was born in Maryport in Cumbria on 17th September 1995 and is the son of former professional rugby league player Michael Dempsey and actually has a background in the sport, having grown up in an area more famed for producing players better at kicking the oval ball than the round one.
He was a scholar at Wigan Warriors until the age of 16 and was so well thought-of that he was also involved with the England Under 16s but in 2012 decided to sign on with the Cumbrians despite being offered extended terms by Wigan, having also turned out for Ellenborough Rangers and Workington Town in the sport.
“It took me a good six months to decide,” he said at the start of his first full season with Carlisle.
“It was Christmas time when I was offered my youth contract [by United], and I had to decide whether to sign it then. So I had to tell Wigan, ‘Listen, thanks for the support, but it’s Carlisle where I’m going’.”
Dempsey was also asked whether his father applied pressure to him when it came to the crux, but revealed he was surprisingly accepting of his decision.
He said: “It’s quite weird, because although he played rugby he backed me all the way with football. I don’t know why that was, I expected him to be more persuasive with the rugby, but obviously he’s watched me at both sports for eight years and, like myself, must’ve thought I was a better at football.”
First-team breakthrough
Having progressed through the youth ranks with Carlisle having joined at 16, Dempsey made his debut as an 18-year-old in a 3-0 win over MK Dons, arriving as an 84th-minute substitute for former Liverpool striker David Amoo.
He would go on to make four appearances in total during 2013/14, but it was last season when he truly burst onto the scene at Brunton Park.
Dempsey made his first start for the club in a 2-0 Capital One Cup first-round home defeat to Championship side Derby County but impressed onlookers enough to earn the sponsors' man of the match in a match televised on Sky.
Despite his eye-catching cameo, Dempsey's post-match response underlined how grounded he is amidst a fairly meteoric rise.
Kyle Dempsey in 2014/15
10
Goals
9
Assists
5
Yellow cards
1
Red cards
League only
“People back home just see me as a young lad from Maryport,” he claimed. “They don’t see me as much else. Before the game a couple of my mates were saying, ‘I can’t believe you’re playing on Sky’.”
He netted his first goal for the club less than a month later in a 3-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy triumph at Accrington Stanley and he followed that up with two more just four days later in a thrilling 4-4 draw with AFC Wimbledon.
He netted 11 goals in total last season, leading to an improved 18-month contract until the summer of 2016 as reward for his rapid progress.
What type of player is he?
Dempsey himself admitted earlier this year that his preferred position is at the heart of midfield, but he has often lined up on the flanks, particularly the left, and could even be used as an auxiliary attacker.
He is comfortable with both feet and is known for both his dribbling ability and pace, while his preference for playing in the centre is born out of his desire to dictate games.
In an interview earlier this year he cited Paul Scholes as one of his role models, saying: “I used to love watching him.
“His range of passing was kind of a joke, he would hit his team-mate’s feet or chest every single time.
“He wasn’t overly talented with pace and strength but the way he could dictate a game was something special.”
Watch Dempsey score against Wycombe Wanderers in the video below...
And when asked to describe why he prefers playing centrally to out wide, he said: “I like close combat battles with other centre midfielders, that’s kind of my game.
“I just see playing on the wings as filling in and doing a job for the team. I’ll play there and give the best I can but prefer to be in the middle.”
Who else wants him?
Town naturally face competition in the race to land such a young coveted talent, with long-term admirers Barnsley likely to be one of their biggest rivals for his signature.
Championship new boys MK Dons are also reportedly interested in acquiring the 19-year-old's services, with one second-tier club having seen an offer knocked back along with Lee Johnson's side.
There is a buy-out clause in the contract he signed earlier this year which means Carlisle are susceptible to bids for their prized asset.
Dempsey is rated at around £450,000, which would represent just under a quarter of the fee they received from Wolves for Conor Coady.
