Calum Davenport
Encyclopedia
Calum Ray Paul Davenport (born 1 January 1983) is an English
footballer, who is currently playing for Wootton Blue Cross after being released by West Ham United
. He plays as a centre back.
as a trainee in August 2000. He made his debut, in the final game of the 2000–01, a 0–0 draw against Bradford City, the season which saw the club relegated from the Premiership
. It was not until the 2002–03
season that he became a regular first team player, earning the accolade of Young Player of the Year. During the 2003–04 season
he gained another accolade, winning the Player of the Year award. He made 84 appearances for Coventry City in all competitions, scoring three goals.
, Southampton
and Norwich City
. After returning to Tottenham in January 2006, Davenport made his Premiership debut in the 2–1 home defeat to Manchester United
in April 2006. He was the subject of transfer talk during the 2006 close season but remained at Spurs following a series of injuries to other defenders in pre-season. Davenport scored his first league goal in a Tottenham Hotspur
shirt in December 2006, being the first goal in a 2–1 victory away to Manchester City
, scored from a Tom Huddlestone
freekick. However, since joining Tottenham in 2004, he had struggled to establish himself in the Tottenham first team and in January 2007, transferred to West Ham
.
Davenport made twenty appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring one goal. While on loan, he made ten appearances for West Ham, twelve appearances for Southampton and 16 appearances for Norwich.
for an undislosed fee, reported to be £3,000,000, on 18 January 2007. He signed a three and a half year contract. He made his first start in his second spell for the club two days later in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United. He had a goal disallowed during this match by referee Uriah Rennie
.
On 18 January 2008, he joined Championship
side Watford
on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent deal. Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd had previously been interested in signing Davenport when he was at Tottenham, and he was to provide cover for Danny Shittu
whilst he was at the African Cup of Nations
. Davenport made his debut against Charlton Athletic
on 19 January 2008, but had to be substituted before half-time after a collision with team-mate Darius Henderson
. He was stretchered off and taken to hospital, where he spent a number of days and was diagnosed with a fracture to a bone in his neck. His injury meant the loan deal was cancelled. After a lengthy spell on the sidelines Davenport returned to competitive action for the start of the 2008-2009 campaign. Injuries meant he found himself in the starting eleven against Wigan Athletic on opening day. Davenport took his chance in the first team impressing many critics with both his defending and goal threat from set pieces. He scored his first goal for The Hammers against Blackburn Rovers
on 30 August 2008 when he headed in Julien Faubert
's corner. On 2 February 2009 he joined Premier League club Sunderland
on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. He made eight appearances for Sunderland. Davenport returned to West Ham for the start of the 2009–10 season but in August was involved in a stabbing incident. He did not play again for West Ham and in March 2010 his contract was terminated by mutual consent. He played fourteen games in all competitions for West Ham scoring one goal. After being released by West Ham, Davenport joined Nottingham Forest on trial during the club's 2010 pre season.
.
, Bedfordshire
. Davenport was stabbed in the legs, lost 50% of the blood from his body and underwent emergency surgery for injuries described as serious. Two men were arrested the same day in connection with the stabbings. At Bedford Magistrates Court, on 24 August, 25 year-old Worrell Whitehurst, the boyfriend of Davenport's sister, was remanded in custody charged with grievous bodily harm with intent
in connection with the attack on Davenport, and with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to his mother; the second man was released on bail pending further inquiries. On 12 July 2010 Whitehurst was jailed for six years, for the attack on Davenport, after he had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He also admitted a charge of unlawfully wounding Davenport's mother.
reported that Davenport had returned to Chadwell Heath for light training with the team following his release from the hospital. However, in January 2010, West Ham suspended Davenport's wages until completion of the court case alleging breach of contract on his part when he was involved in the assault in August 2009. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in March 2010.
ed on the condition that he has no contact with his sister. During a hearing in December 2009, the case was committed to Luton
Crown Court
with the plea and directions hearing due on 25 January 2010. The magistrates court was told that he would plead not guilty. On 25 January, Davenport pleaded not guilty to the charge at Luton Crown Court and the case was adjourned. On 1 July, Davenport was cleared of all charges in regard to the alleged assault on his sister.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who is currently playing for Wootton Blue Cross after being released by West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. He plays as a centre back.
Coventry City
Davenport joined Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
as a trainee in August 2000. He made his debut, in the final game of the 2000–01, a 0–0 draw against Bradford City, the season which saw the club relegated from the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. It was not until the 2002–03
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
season that he became a regular first team player, earning the accolade of Young Player of the Year. During the 2003–04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
he gained another accolade, winning the Player of the Year award. He made 84 appearances for Coventry City in all competitions, scoring three goals.
Tottenham Hotspur
He moved to Tottenham in August 2004 for a fee of £1,300,000. While at Spurs, Davenport had short loan spells at West HamWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. After returning to Tottenham in January 2006, Davenport made his Premiership debut in the 2–1 home defeat to Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in April 2006. He was the subject of transfer talk during the 2006 close season but remained at Spurs following a series of injuries to other defenders in pre-season. Davenport scored his first league goal in a Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
shirt in December 2006, being the first goal in a 2–1 victory away to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, scored from a Tom Huddlestone
Tom Huddlestone
Thomas Andrew Huddlestone is an English footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team.-Derby County:...
freekick. However, since joining Tottenham in 2004, he had struggled to establish himself in the Tottenham first team and in January 2007, transferred to West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
Davenport made twenty appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, scoring one goal. While on loan, he made ten appearances for West Ham, twelve appearances for Southampton and 16 appearances for Norwich.
West Ham United
Davenport joined West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for an undislosed fee, reported to be £3,000,000, on 18 January 2007. He signed a three and a half year contract. He made his first start in his second spell for the club two days later in a 2–2 draw against Newcastle United. He had a goal disallowed during this match by referee Uriah Rennie
Uriah Rennie
Uriah D. Rennie is a retired English football referee.-Career:He began refereeing in 1979 in local leagues, then operated in the Northern Premier League until 1994, at which time he was appointed to the Football League List of referees.He was given his first Premiership appointment on 23 August...
.
On 18 January 2008, he joined Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
on a month's loan, with a view to a permanent deal. Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd had previously been interested in signing Davenport when he was at Tottenham, and he was to provide cover for Danny Shittu
Danny Shittu
Daniel Olusola "Danny" Shittu is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers."Olusola" is a nickname for the Yoruba name "Oluwanisola" .-Early career:...
whilst he was at the African Cup of Nations
African Cup of Nations
The Africa Cup of Nations, also referred to as the African Cup of Nations or African Nations Cup, officially CAN , is the main international association football competition in Africa. It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football , and was first held in 1957. Since 1968, it has been...
. Davenport made his debut against Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
on 19 January 2008, but had to be substituted before half-time after a collision with team-mate Darius Henderson
Darius Henderson
Darius Alexis Henderson is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Millwall.-Reading:...
. He was stretchered off and taken to hospital, where he spent a number of days and was diagnosed with a fracture to a bone in his neck. His injury meant the loan deal was cancelled. After a lengthy spell on the sidelines Davenport returned to competitive action for the start of the 2008-2009 campaign. Injuries meant he found himself in the starting eleven against Wigan Athletic on opening day. Davenport took his chance in the first team impressing many critics with both his defending and goal threat from set pieces. He scored his first goal for The Hammers against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 30 August 2008 when he headed in Julien Faubert
Julien Faubert
Julien Faubert is a French footballer who plays for West Ham United as a right back or midfielder in the Championship. Faubert started his footballing career in France with Cannes before moving to Bordeaux. In 2007 he moved to England to play for West Ham...
's corner. On 2 February 2009 he joined Premier League club Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on loan until the end of the 2008–09 season. He made eight appearances for Sunderland. Davenport returned to West Ham for the start of the 2009–10 season but in August was involved in a stabbing incident. He did not play again for West Ham and in March 2010 his contract was terminated by mutual consent. He played fourteen games in all competitions for West Ham scoring one goal. After being released by West Ham, Davenport joined Nottingham Forest on trial during the club's 2010 pre season.
Leeds United
In August 2010, Davenport started training with Leeds United. He started a trial period which was later confirmed by manager Simon Grayson. In September 2010 Davenport returned home to think over his options. 2 September manager Simon Grayson revealed Leeds are still interested in the player and are awaiting Davenport to think over his future.Wootton Blue Cross
In September 2010 Davenport signed for United Counties team Wootton Blue Cross in order to gain some match fitness before returning to the professional ranks and made his debut in a 4-0 defeat to Bourne Town.International career
Davenport played for the England national team at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levelsEngland national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
.
Stabbing
In the early hours of 22 August 2009, Davenport and his mother were stabbed at her home in KempstonKempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. Davenport was stabbed in the legs, lost 50% of the blood from his body and underwent emergency surgery for injuries described as serious. Two men were arrested the same day in connection with the stabbings. At Bedford Magistrates Court, on 24 August, 25 year-old Worrell Whitehurst, the boyfriend of Davenport's sister, was remanded in custody charged with grievous bodily harm with intent
Grievous bodily harm
Grievous bodily harm is a term of art used in English criminal law which has become synonymous with the offences that are created by sections 18 and 20 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861....
in connection with the attack on Davenport, and with assault occasioning actual bodily harm to his mother; the second man was released on bail pending further inquiries. On 12 July 2010 Whitehurst was jailed for six years, for the attack on Davenport, after he had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He also admitted a charge of unlawfully wounding Davenport's mother.
Threat to career
Due to the nature of the injury, his career is believed to be under threat. On 16 October, Gianfranco ZolaGianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, OBE, Ufficiale OMRI is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi...
reported that Davenport had returned to Chadwell Heath for light training with the team following his release from the hospital. However, in January 2010, West Ham suspended Davenport's wages until completion of the court case alleging breach of contract on his part when he was involved in the assault in August 2009. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in March 2010.
Charges and court hearings
On 28 October 2009, Davenport was charged with assault on his sister, Cara Davenport, in an incident prior to that in which he was stabbed. On 10 November 2009, Davenport appeared before Bedford magistrates court charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty and was bailBail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
ed on the condition that he has no contact with his sister. During a hearing in December 2009, the case was committed to Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
with the plea and directions hearing due on 25 January 2010. The magistrates court was told that he would plead not guilty. On 25 January, Davenport pleaded not guilty to the charge at Luton Crown Court and the case was adjourned. On 1 July, Davenport was cleared of all charges in regard to the alleged assault on his sister.