His dad Rory played over 350 times in the Premier League and earned cult status for his monstrous long throws.
His brother Liam came through the ranks at Man City and was the shining light for Ipswich in 2024/25, which earned a move to Chelsea in the summer.
And now Finn Delap is carving out a name for himself in the Sky Bet EFL with Burton.
Born in Winchester while his dad was playing for Southampton, the central defender – who grew up idolising Real Madrid’s fearsome duo Sergio Ramos and Pepe – started out at Derby after the family moved when Rory signed for Stoke.
His brother, two years his senior, did, too, but they played in the same team only once.
“It was at a tournament when I was 12 or 13 and he was 14 or 15,” Delap recalls.
“We both played centre-mid and I never wanted to play with him again after that. It didn’t end well! We’ve always said the best thing that could happen is for us to come up against each other.
Liam Delap joined Chelsea from Ipswich in the summer
“It would always be competitive when we’d play head tennis or practice shooting in the garden, but there’d be a spark to it. There was always someone kicking someone!”
Many former footballers’ sons have followed in their dad’s footsteps; particularly in recent years, it seems there is a new face with a familiar surname regularly bursting onto the scene.
The natural question to ask is whether they feel the weight of expectation as a result of that.
“People have put it out there that my dad had a career, my brother is making a career and I can’t let them down,” Delap says.
“At the end of the day, my dad always said, if we didn’t want to play football, we didn’t want to play football. It was the decision of both me and Liam that we both wanted to.
“My dad has helped me out a lot and going to his games made me fall in love with football.
“When I didn’t have the greatest of games when I was younger and he’d give me an earful in the car, I didn’t see it that way, but now looking back, it’s a big factor of why I’ve kept going and the player it has made me.
“Still to this day, he’ll speak to me about games when I get home and ask about training every day.”
Rory Delap finished his playing career with Burton in 2013
Finn was released by Derby in the summer of 2021 and subsequently joined nearby Burton – where his dad finished his career eight years earlier – on a scholarship.
In 2022/23, shortly after his 17th birthday, the club made the decision to give him his first taste of men’s football and he was sent out on loan to Ilkeston Town of the Southern League Premier Central Division, one division below the National League North.
“That’s had the biggest influence on me and I’m so grateful it happened. I jumped straight into it and loved every minute,” he says.
Delap has played six times in all competitions for Burton so far this term
“I learned a lot of lessons playing in non-League that I wouldn’t have if I was playing in the youth teams. It was all about winning. It wasn’t like ‘Oh, you played well, but you lost’. You’ve got to win.
“I was playing with [five-time England U19 international] Kieran Fenton at the back. I looked up to him a lot. He was a good player and he took me under his wing and taught me lessons about football and also about life.
“The group we had there was unbelievable. Jamie Ward was the manager, Leroy Lita was playing up top. Lee Tomlin and Chris O’Grady were there, too. We had a lot of experienced pros that had been there and done it that I could learn from.”
Delap then spent the first half of 2023/24 in the same division with Mickleover, and shortly after returning, Martin Paterson handed him his professional debut when he brought him on as a substitute in a 2-1 win at Bristol Rovers in Sky Bet League One.
“It’s the biggest milestone I’ve hit so far,” he adds. “It’s like a dream come true.”
He played the final seconds away at Leyton Orient the next week, then went back out on loan, this time to Woking in the National League, and started 2024/25 on loan at Buxton in the National League North.
When he returned to Burton just after Christmas last year, Gary Bowyer was the man in charge at the Pirelli Stadium. He included Delap in the next 18 league squads and gave him a run in the first team with five appearances in the last six.
That faith played a key role in the defender signing a new two-year contract in the summer.
“The previous manager [Mark Robinson] still saw me as a young lad who needed experience and when the gaffer now came in, he said he wanted me here and wanted me to fight for a place.
“He saw the experience I had, but also wanted me to build my experience here, rather than being out on loan.
“Knowing he was going to be here this year was massive for me. I had a good run at the end of the season and speaking to him over the summer period, he was very keen on me staying. There was no other decision for me after that chat.
“I have such a good connection with the gaffer, probably the best relationship I’ve had with a manager so far.”
For now, Delap – who says he likes being on the ball, but likes to do “the old-school defending if it needs to be done” – is concentrating on nailing down a regular starting spot under Bowyer.
Things are going well in that respect – and playing the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over title favourites Cardiff on September 30 will have done his cause no harm.
Highlights of the Sky Bet League One match between Cardiff City and Burton Albion.
But he is taking inspiration from his brother’s rise.
“I’m very proud of him. The way he’d come through, going from Derby to Man City, to then have loan spells in the Championship and some not work out, to then be in the position he is today,” he adds.
“It just makes me want to do the same.”
The next Delap forging his own path in the game, and he has high ambitions.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire: Rico Dowdle hot hand, Kendrick Bourne, plus more injury replacements
There were several players mentioned in last week's waiver wire column who played a big part in a lot of victories in Week 5. Sam Darnold was a top-three quarterback. Rico Dowdle was the No. 2 running back. And Theo Johnson and Darren Waller were both top-five tight ends.Now, let's see if there are any plug-and-play options off the waiver wire to help in Week 6.There are only two teams on a bye in Week 6 with Minnesota and Houston, but we still have several injuries to monitor, notably for Omarion Hampton (ankle), who was placed on injured reserve. With Hampton out, it will likely be a tandem of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, which could be messy, but we'll address that below.Kenneth Gainwell will be the top running back to add this week, but keep an eye on if […]
Tarleton State basketball coach Billy Gillispie reinstated after review from anonymous complaint ahead of 6th season
Tarleton State men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie was reinstated on Monday, just days after he was placed on administrative leave following a complaint that was filed against him.The nature of the complaint, which was filed anonymously last week, is still not clear.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]"We're thankful to the Texas A&M System for working expeditiously in addressing this anonymous complaint," athletic director Steve Uryasz said in a statement. "The welfare of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance to Tarleton State University and the Texas A&M System. We look forward to the start of the Texan Men's Basketball season."Gillispie is preparing to enter his sixth season leading Tarleton State, which marks his longest coaching stint in college basketball. The 65-year-old got his start at UTEP in 2002, and held short stints at Texas A&M, […]
Chiefs vs. Jaguars Score, Updates: Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence Meet Again
The AFC will take center stage to close NFL Week 5 as the Jaguars (3-1) and Chiefs (2-2) battle it out inside EverBank Stadium on Monday Night Football. The contest will be Patrick Mahomes and Trevor Lawrence's fourth meeting and first since 2023. Both teams boast solid defenses that could decide the game, with the Jags ranking fourth (18 PPG) and Chiefs fifth (19 PPG) in points allowed, while the offenses rank middle of the pack in scoring—Chiefs at 24.3 PPG (15th), Jags at 24 PPG (16th). Will Mahomes' Chiefs stay undefeated against Jacksonville? Or will Lawrence and Co. take them down to secure the Jaguars' first 4-1 start since 2007? <!-->Follow along below for all the analysis and highlights from Chiefs -Jaguars on Monday Night Football: --> 8:40p ET Get in on the action with DraftKings Sportsbook 4:28p ET […]
Bengals HC Zac Taylor Leaves Open Possibility of Benching QB Jake Browning
It took two games and three quarters for Zac Taylor to realize having the same game plan for Jake Browning and Joe Burrow doesn't work.How the Cincinnati Bengals coach adjusts over the next couple of weeks will define whether his team has a shot at staying competitive while Burrow recovers from toe surgery.The Bengals scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make their 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions appear closer on the scoreboard than what transpired on the field. The late scores didn't take the stink off a lousy performance by Browning, who was intercepted three times.After a 2-0 start, the Bengals have dropped three straight and have been outscored 113-37 in defeats to the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Lions.Browning has been picked off eight times in four games, second most in the league and one behind […]
Big Boost for the Brewers as Jackson Chourio Set for Game 2 vs. Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio was back in the lineup for Game 2 of the NL Division Series with the Chicago Cubs after tightness in his right hamstring caused him to exit the series opener.Brewers manager Pat Murphy offered the update on Chourio's status during his pregame availability Monday by saying the 21-year-old would be leading off and playing left field."If he gets in a situation where he feels it, we’re going to take him out," Murphy said. "If he gets in a situation where he doesn’t feel like he can do the job, we’re going to take him out."Chourio went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in Milwaukee’s 9-3 Game 1 victory Saturday before leaving in the second inning with tightness in his right hamstring. He became the first player ever to have three hits in the first two […]
Jonathan Gannon Apologizes for Heated Sideline Exchange With RB Emari Demercado
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he apologized to Emari Demercado after a heated sideline conversation following the running back's costly, unforced fumble during a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday."I woke up this morning and didn't feel great about it, honestly," Gannon said Monday. "So in the team meeting I addressed it, I apologized to Emari, apologized to the team. I just told them I let the moment of what happened get the better of me."Demercado looked like he had a 72-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that would have increased the Cardinals' lead to 28-6. Instead, he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line, and the play was ruled a fumble out of the back of the end zone, which gave the Titans possession at their 20.After the fumble, video circulated on […]
Related
Fantasy Football Week 6 Waiver Wire: Rico Dowdle hot hand, Kendrick Bourne, plus more injury replacements
There were several players mentioned in last week's waiver wire column who played a big part in a lot of victories in Week 5. Sam Darnold was a top-three quarterback. Rico Dowdle was the No. 2 running back. And Theo Johnson and Darren Waller were both top-five tight ends.Now, let's see if there are any plug-and-play options off the waiver wire to help in Week 6.There are only two teams on a bye in Week 6 with Minnesota and Houston, but we still have several injuries to monitor, notably for Omarion Hampton (ankle), who was placed on injured reserve. With Hampton out, it will likely be a tandem of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins, which could be messy, but we'll address that below.Kenneth Gainwell will be the top running back to add this week, but keep an eye on if […]
Tarleton State basketball coach Billy Gillispie reinstated after review from anonymous complaint ahead of 6th season
Tarleton State men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie was reinstated on Monday, just days after he was placed on administrative leave following a complaint that was filed against him.The nature of the complaint, which was filed anonymously last week, is still not clear.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]"We're thankful to the Texas A&M System for working expeditiously in addressing this anonymous complaint," athletic director Steve Uryasz said in a statement. "The welfare of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance to Tarleton State University and the Texas A&M System. We look forward to the start of the Texan Men's Basketball season."Gillispie is preparing to enter his sixth season leading Tarleton State, which marks his longest coaching stint in college basketball. The 65-year-old got his start at UTEP in 2002, and held short stints at Texas A&M, […]
Chiefs vs. Jaguars Score, Updates: Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence Meet Again
The AFC will take center stage to close NFL Week 5 as the Jaguars (3-1) and Chiefs (2-2) battle it out inside EverBank Stadium on Monday Night Football. The contest will be Patrick Mahomes and Trevor Lawrence's fourth meeting and first since 2023. Both teams boast solid defenses that could decide the game, with the Jags ranking fourth (18 PPG) and Chiefs fifth (19 PPG) in points allowed, while the offenses rank middle of the pack in scoring—Chiefs at 24.3 PPG (15th), Jags at 24 PPG (16th). Will Mahomes' Chiefs stay undefeated against Jacksonville? Or will Lawrence and Co. take them down to secure the Jaguars' first 4-1 start since 2007? <!-->Follow along below for all the analysis and highlights from Chiefs -Jaguars on Monday Night Football: --> 8:40p ET Get in on the action with DraftKings Sportsbook 4:28p ET […]
Bengals HC Zac Taylor Leaves Open Possibility of Benching QB Jake Browning
It took two games and three quarters for Zac Taylor to realize having the same game plan for Jake Browning and Joe Burrow doesn't work.How the Cincinnati Bengals coach adjusts over the next couple of weeks will define whether his team has a shot at staying competitive while Burrow recovers from toe surgery.The Bengals scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to make their 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions appear closer on the scoreboard than what transpired on the field. The late scores didn't take the stink off a lousy performance by Browning, who was intercepted three times.After a 2-0 start, the Bengals have dropped three straight and have been outscored 113-37 in defeats to the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Lions.Browning has been picked off eight times in four games, second most in the league and one behind […]
Big Boost for the Brewers as Jackson Chourio Set for Game 2 vs. Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio was back in the lineup for Game 2 of the NL Division Series with the Chicago Cubs after tightness in his right hamstring caused him to exit the series opener.Brewers manager Pat Murphy offered the update on Chourio's status during his pregame availability Monday by saying the 21-year-old would be leading off and playing left field."If he gets in a situation where he feels it, we’re going to take him out," Murphy said. "If he gets in a situation where he doesn’t feel like he can do the job, we’re going to take him out."Chourio went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in Milwaukee’s 9-3 Game 1 victory Saturday before leaving in the second inning with tightness in his right hamstring. He became the first player ever to have three hits in the first two […]
Jonathan Gannon Apologizes for Heated Sideline Exchange With RB Emari Demercado
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he apologized to Emari Demercado after a heated sideline conversation following the running back's costly, unforced fumble during a 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday."I woke up this morning and didn't feel great about it, honestly," Gannon said Monday. "So in the team meeting I addressed it, I apologized to Emari, apologized to the team. I just told them I let the moment of what happened get the better of me."Demercado looked like he had a 72-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that would have increased the Cardinals' lead to 28-6. Instead, he dropped the ball before crossing the goal line, and the play was ruled a fumble out of the back of the end zone, which gave the Titans possession at their 20.After the fumble, video circulated on […]
Be the first to leave a comment