Born in
Alnwick, Northumberland, Dreyer started his career with
Wallingford Town, leaving to join
Oxford United in January 1985. He joined
Torquay United on loan in December 1985 and made his league debut, for Torquay, on 14 December in a 1–1 draw at home to
Cambridge United. He returned to Oxford on 13 January 1986, but moved on loan again on 27 March 1986, joining
Fulham until the end of the season. He broke into the Oxford first team the following season, playing 60 times before a £140,000 move to
Luton Town on 27 June 1988. In six years at Kenilworth Road he played 214 games, scoring 13 times, but was released at the end of the
1993–94 season. In July 1994 he joined
Stoke City, but started only two games for the Potters. He joined
Bolton Wanderers in March 1995, and was part of the Trotters squad which secured promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. On 6 November 1996, he signed for
Bradford City for £25,000. He scored on his debut in a 3–3 draw at
Huddersfield Town. Dreyer scored a further three goals that season all in the FA Cup. They included two goals at
Wycombe Wanderers and one in City's 3–2 upset of
Everton. Dreyer struggled to hold down a regular place in the side the following season but in
1998–99 he helped the Bantams to gain promotion to the
Premier League including making a vital clearance in the final win of the season, 3–2 at
Wolverhampton Wanderers. Although Dreyer made just 14 starts in City's season in the top flight, he made an equally vital contribution with the only goal in a 1–0 victory over
Sunderland as Bradford stayed up by just two points. He left the Bantams after turning down a new one-year contract as he felt he deserved a two-year deal. He joined
Cambridge United in July 2000, playing a major role in keeping Cambridge in Division Two the following season. He left after one season (and one goal against Colchester in the
Football League Trophy){{cite web ==Managerial career==