Beryly Lubala
Beryly Logos Lubala (born 8 January 1998), commonly known as Bez Lubala, is a Congolese footballer who plays as a forward for club Northampton Town, on loan from Blackpool of the . He previously played for Crawley Town and Birmingham City, where he began his senior career. Life and career. Lubala was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in Leicester, England, where he attended St Paul's Catholic School. As a youngster, he played football for Carib SSFC, Leicester Nirvana and Friar Lane & Epworth. He was noticed by representatives of Birmingham City's academy while  playing in a trial game in 2014, and took up a scholarship with the club that summer. Interviewed later that year, he assessed his strength as his attacking play, and felt he needed to improve his left foot. Birmingham City. He signed his first professional contract, of one year, in April 2016. A year later, after playing regularly for the under-23 team, he signed another one-year deal, with the option of a second year. He played in the first team's pre-season friendly against Kidderminster Harriers, and in February 2018, the club confirmed that it would be taking  up their option on Lubala's contract. With Che Adams suspended and Isaac Vassell and Sam Gallagher injured, he was included on the bench for the Championship fixture at home to Burton Albion on 7 April. He remained unused, but made his debut three days later, away to Bristol City, replacing Jérémie Boga after 69 minutes with his team 2–1 behind; the match ended 3–1. Lubala was a regular member of the first-team squad in 2018–19, and the first few months of the season was frequently included in the matchday squad. He made one start in the EFL Cup  defeat to Reading and three fleeting substitute appearances in the Championship. At the end of the season he was offered a new contract, of one year with the option of a second, but no agreement could be reached between club and player. Crawley Town. On 21 June 2019, Lubala signed a two-year contract with Crawley Town, managed by former Birmingham City coach Gabriele Cioffi. The deal included an option for a third year and an undisclosed sell-on clause. He scored in each of Crawley's first four League Two matches. Away to Carlisle United, he "shook off a  challenge and cut in from the left before firing a low shot through the [goalkeeper's] legs" to tie the scores before the hosts won 2–1, and at home to Salford City, he converted a penalty to open the scoring and had several other chances as his side won 2–0. After goals against Scunthorpe United and Crewe Alexandra, Lubala's fifth goal of the season, a deflected finish in the 17th minute of a 1–0 EFL Cup win against Norwich City on 27 August 2019, gave Crawley a first ever victory over top-flight opposition. He said afterwards that "this  was the best night of my short career so far". He had a strong season with Crawley, scoring 13 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions across the curtailed 2019–20 season. Blackpool. On 1 September 2020, Lubala was signed by League One side Blackpool for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract with the club. Northampton Town. Lubala joined Northampton Town on 31 January 2022 on loan for the rest of the season. Personal life. On 26 January 2022, Lubala was found not guilty of rape by a Brighton jury.