Darren Dykes
Encyclopedia
Daren Dykes is an English
footballer. He played professionally as an attacking midfielder
for Swindon Town
and Lincoln City
and currently plays for Newport Pagnell Town
as a centre-forward.
as a schoolboy until he was 15 before joining the youth set-up at Leyton Orient
where he remained until he was 17. He moved into non-league football with Newport Pagnell Town
before joining Buckingham Town
in January 2001.
and in July 2002 joined Swindon Town
initially on trial before agreeing a one-year contract. He made his Swindon debut as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers
in the Football League Cup
on 11 September 2002 and made a further two appearances in the Football League Trophy
before joining Lincoln City
on loan in December 2002. He was immediately inserted into the first team, making his Football League debut as a substitute in the 1-1 away draw with York City
on 20 December 2002. After starting Lincoln's next two games, he was dropped to the bench and his loan deal was not renewed. Returning to Swindon, Dykes made two further league appearances before being released at the end of the season.
before returning to Buckingham Town
. He would make only five appearances, two in the United Counties League and three in the FA Cup
, in his return to the club before suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury in the 2-0 FA Cup
victory over Ford Sports Daventry
on 30 August 2003. The injury would keep him out of action for over two years.
In November 2005 he made a return to the United Counties League, scoring on his debut for Stotfold
in the 3-1 victory over St Ives Town
on 22 November 2005. He joined Stony Stratford Town
ahead of the 2006-2007 season. Playing in a more advanced role, he was a regular goalscorer for the club, netting a total of 22 goals in his first season, though only 10 of these came in the league. The following season saw him reach a total of 38 goals in all competitions, with 27 in the league.
In June 2008 he moved up the non-league pyramid joining Rugby Town
, debuting in the 2-0 away defeat to Bedford Town
on 25 August 2008. Rugby's manager Rod Brown moved to Bromsgrove Rovers
at the beginning of September 2008 with Tony Dobson
appointed in his place. Dykes quickly moved on from Rugby Town
, linking up with his one-time Buckingham Town
manager Morell Maison at Halesowen Town
. His spell at Rugby comprised a total of seven games, five in the league, and two goals, both of which came in the 5-3 FA Cup
1st Qualifying Round Replay home victory over Friar Lane & Epworth
on 16 September 2008. However, he made only a single appearance for Halesowen before returning to Rugby where injury restricted his outtings and he temporarily linked up with former club Buckingham Town
to gain fitness. He returned to Newport Pagnell Town
at the start of the 2009-2010 season, scoring on his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Boston Town
on 8 August 2009.
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. He played professionally as an attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
and currently plays for Newport Pagnell Town
Newport Pagnell Town F.C.
Newport Pagnell Town F.C. is a football club based at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in England.-History:The Swans were founded in 1963 as Newport Pagnell Wanderers. In 1964 they joined the North Bucks & District Football League, winning the Division Three shield at their first attempt...
as a centre-forward.
Early career
Dykes began his career on the books of Tottenham HotspurTottenham 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....
as a schoolboy until he was 15 before joining the youth set-up at Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
where he remained until he was 17. He moved into non-league football with Newport Pagnell Town
Newport Pagnell Town F.C.
Newport Pagnell Town F.C. is a football club based at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in England.-History:The Swans were founded in 1963 as Newport Pagnell Wanderers. In 1964 they joined the North Bucks & District Football League, winning the Division Three shield at their first attempt...
before joining Buckingham Town
Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Ford Meadow.-History:...
in January 2001.
League career
A series of impressive performances for Buckingham saw Dykes attract the attention of scouts from the Football LeagueThe Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and in July 2002 joined Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
initially on trial before agreeing a one-year contract. He made his Swindon debut as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
on 11 September 2002 and made a further two appearances in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
before joining Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on loan in December 2002. He was immediately inserted into the first team, making his Football League debut as a substitute in the 1-1 away draw with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
on 20 December 2002. After starting Lincoln's next two games, he was dropped to the bench and his loan deal was not renewed. Returning to Swindon, Dykes made two further league appearances before being released at the end of the season.
Return to the non-leagues
Following his release by Swindon, Dykes had an unsuccessful trial with Maltese side MarsaxlokkMarsaxlokk F.C.
Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. The club was founded in 1949...
before returning to Buckingham Town
Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Ford Meadow.-History:...
. He would make only five appearances, two in the United Counties League and three in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, in his return to the club before suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury in the 2-0 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
victory over Ford Sports Daventry
Ford Sports Daventry F.C.
Daventry United F.C. are an association football club based in Daventry, England.-History:The club was established in 1968 as Ford Sports Daventry and is one of the youngest clubs in the United Counties Football League in which they have played since joining in 1977...
on 30 August 2003. The injury would keep him out of action for over two years.
In November 2005 he made a return to the United Counties League, scoring on his debut for Stotfold
Stotfold F.C.
Stotfold F.C. is a football club based at Stotfold, Bedfordshire, England.-History:Though the club was officially formed in 1904, it is believed that there was a football club in the town earlier than this. In 1911, the Eagles’ current ground was a meadow called "Roker", used by Stotfold Athletic...
in the 3-1 victory over St Ives Town
St Ives Town F.C.
St. Ives Town is a football club based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, England. This St Ives Town must not be confused with the Cornwall Combination team playing in St Ives, Cornwall, which is also called St Ives Town.-History:...
on 22 November 2005. He joined Stony Stratford Town
Stony Stratford Town F.C.
Stony Stratford Town F.C. is a football club based in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England that joined the South Midlands League in 1947. For the 2011-12 season, the first team is a member of the Spartan South Midlands League Division One....
ahead of the 2006-2007 season. Playing in a more advanced role, he was a regular goalscorer for the club, netting a total of 22 goals in his first season, though only 10 of these came in the league. The following season saw him reach a total of 38 goals in all competitions, with 27 in the league.
In June 2008 he moved up the non-league pyramid joining Rugby Town
Rugby Town F.C.
Rugby Town F.C. is a football club based in Rugby, Warwickshire, which plays in the Southern Football League Division One Central. It is nicknamed The Valley, and plays its home matches at Butlin Road...
, debuting in the 2-0 away defeat to Bedford Town
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
on 25 August 2008. Rugby's manager Rod Brown moved to Bromsgrove Rovers
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C.
Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. were a non-League football club from the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The peak of the club's success was in 1993 when Rovers finished runner-up in the Football Conference...
at the beginning of September 2008 with Tony Dobson
Tony Dobson
Tony "Dobbo" Dobson is a retired English professional footballer who played in the Premier League.-Coventry City:Tony Dobson started his professional career at Coventry City at the age of 18. He officially signed on July 7, 1986...
appointed in his place. Dykes quickly moved on from Rugby Town
Rugby Town F.C.
Rugby Town F.C. is a football club based in Rugby, Warwickshire, which plays in the Southern Football League Division One Central. It is nicknamed The Valley, and plays its home matches at Butlin Road...
, linking up with his one-time Buckingham Town
Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Ford Meadow.-History:...
manager Morell Maison at Halesowen Town
Halesowen Town F.C.
Halesowen Town is an English association football club formed in 1873, since 2011 playing in the Southern League Division One South & West]]. The team is nicknamed "The Yeltz".-History:...
. His spell at Rugby comprised a total of seven games, five in the league, and two goals, both of which came in the 5-3 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
1st Qualifying Round Replay home victory over Friar Lane & Epworth
Friar Lane & Epworth F.C.
Friar Lane & Epworth F.C. is a football club based in Aylestone, which is a suburb of Leicester, Leicestershire, England.In 2004, Friar Lane Old Boys F.C. and Epworth F.C. merged to form the present club. They have reached the second round of the FA Vase twice in their short history...
on 16 September 2008. However, he made only a single appearance for Halesowen before returning to Rugby where injury restricted his outtings and he temporarily linked up with former club Buckingham Town
Buckingham Town F.C.
Buckingham Town F.C. is an English football club based in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One of the United Counties League and play at Ford Meadow.-History:...
to gain fitness. He returned to Newport Pagnell Town
Newport Pagnell Town F.C.
Newport Pagnell Town F.C. is a football club based at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire in England.-History:The Swans were founded in 1963 as Newport Pagnell Wanderers. In 1964 they joined the North Bucks & District Football League, winning the Division Three shield at their first attempt...
at the start of the 2009-2010 season, scoring on his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Boston Town
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
on 8 August 2009.