Ciarán Toner (born 30 June 1981) is a Northern Irish football coach and former professional footballer.
As a player, he played as a midfielder from 2000 to 2015. He came through the youth academy at Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and was promoted to the club's first team during the 2000–01 season, but after loans to both Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers he was eventually released in 2002 without playing a first-team game for the club. He then spent two years with Leyton Orient before joining Lincoln City for the 2004–05 season. He was loaned out to Cambridge United later that season but ended up suffering relegation to the Conference National with Cambridge while his parent club lost out on promotion in the League Two Play-off final. Following a trial he signed for Grimsby Town the following season and remained with The Mariners for three seasons and suffered a play-off final defeat in his first year whilst finishing joint top scorer in his second season. In the summer of 2008 he joined Rochdale and was part of the side that earned promotion to League One during the 2009–10 campaign. He left the club shortly afterwards to pursue other interests and moved into non-League football for the first time in his career by signing for Conference North sides Harrogate Town, and a year later Guiseley. He remained clubless for the entire 2012–13 season to pursue a career in coaching and later joined the coaching staff at Rotherham United before returning to playing at the age of 32 when he signed with Gainsborough Trinity in September 2013 combining, both, playing and coaching. He, quickly moved up the ranks at Rotherham United from under-15 to under-18 coach in the space of 5 years and is, currently, the lead professional development phase coach.
He has also earned two caps in 2003 for Northern Ireland and earned 17 caps, scoring once, for the Northern Ireland U21 side.
Club career
Tottenham Hotspur
Toner was promoted to the first team setup at White Hart Lane at the beginning of the 2000–01 season. He failed to make an appearance for the club in his two seasons at the Premiership outfit, but spent time on loan with Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers, before being released at the end of the 2001–02 season.
Leyton Orient
His next port of call was to sign with Leyton Orient. He made his debut for the Brisbane Road club on the opening day of the 2002–03 season, with a 3–2 victory over Macclesfield Town. Toner went on to make just over 60 appearances for the club in his two-season stay. He scored twice, his first coming in a 1–1 away draw with Hull City on 31 August 2002. While with Orient, Toner impressed enough to be called up to the Northern Ireland international team, where he played in two games, against Spain and Italy.
Lincoln City
At the start of the 2004–05 season, Toner was signed by Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander on a one-year deal. He became a first team regular at Sincil Bank, scoring vital goals in victories over the club's rivals Grimsby Town and Mansfield Town. Toner made 17 appearances for The Imps, scoring twice, before being loaned out to Cambridge United later that season. Toner made eight appearances for United, and the club were eventually relegated from the Football League at the end of the season.