Darren Purse
Encyclopedia
Darren John Purse is an English professional footballer who plays for League Two
club Plymouth Argyle
as a defender
, on loan from Championship
side Millwall
.
Purse has more than 450 appearances in the Football League
and Premier League, having previously played for Leyton Orient
, Oxford United
, Birmingham City
, West Bromwich Albion
, Cardiff City
, and Sheffield Wednesday
. He was capped by England at under-21 level
.
, London
and attended Cardinal Pole RC School
in Hackney
. As a youngster Purse followed Millwall
, as well as making trips to watch Arsenal
to see one of his heroes in Tony Adams
. Having played in the same Sunday league side as Lee Bowyer
when he was younger, he was offered a YTS deal by both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
but turned them down in order to complete his A levels. On hearing that he had been offered deals by the two clubs Leyton Orient
showed their interest and told him that they would hand him a professional contract when he turned seventeen if he signed for them. On signing his contract with the club he made his debut just three days later and established himself in the side before moving to Oxford United
in 1996 for £100,000.
for £700,000, despite interest from his former Oxford manager Denis Smith who was then in charge of West Bromwich Albion
, in 1997 and his spell included an appearance at the 2001 Football League Cup Final
as well as promotion to the Premier League. During the League Cup final, Purse scored a 90th minute equaliser in the 2001 League Cup from the penalty spot to take the game to extra time. Birmingham eventually lost on penalties.
Purse moved to West Bromwich Albion
for £750,000 in the summer of 2004. He spent a single season with Albion in the Premier League, making 24 appearances in all competitions.
where he was appointed team captain. He has gained a reputation for hard work and consistency as the foundation of the Cardiff defence, forming an effective partnership with Glenn Loovens
and in July 2007 Purse ended growing speculation about his future by signing a one-year extension to his contract at Cardiff.
On 28 August 2007 he received an injury to his knee cartilage after the 1–0 Carling Cup win over Leyton Orient
. It was expected that he would be unavailable for up to four weeks, but he contracted an infection during an operation on the injured knee that delayed his return for a much longer period and caused him to lose weight alarmingly. He made his return to first team football in October, in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
and went on to score a headed goal in the 2–1 League Cup defeat against Liverpool
on 31 October. The 2007–08 season
turned into a disappointment for Purse as he was forced out of the side by Cardiff fan favourite Roger Johnson
. This being one of a series of blows to strike the veteran centre back in recent times. He scored several own goals including a spectacular volleyed pass back that proved too powerful for Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman
. He was also labelled a "muppet" by Burnley
forward Andrew Cole, after Purse was sent off for what was deemed a dangerous tackle against Cole, although Cardiff manager Dave Jones defended the player and the ban was later overturned.
Purse began the following season remaining on the bench but, in August 2008, Glenn Loovens was sold to Celtic
and he returned to the starting line-up alongside Roger Johnson. He spent three months in the first team before losing his place in the side again, this time to Hungarian
international Gábor Gyepes
who was signed as a replacement for Loovens, after a 2–1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle
on 22 November after which Cardiff manager Dave Jones slammed the defensive performance of the team. Purse responded by criticizing his manager and stating that he did not deserve to be dropped from the side. His comments led to him being dropped from the side completely for the South Wales derby
match against Swansea City
on 30 November before being recalled to the bench for the following game.
In January Purse was told that he could leave the club if a replacement could be signed during the January transfer window and was allowed to open talks with fellow Championship side Norwich City
, but Cardiff could not find a suitable replacement in time and the move was cancelled. At the end of the season Purse was not offered an extension to his contract and left the club.
, and was named team captain. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw with Barnsley
on the opening day of the season. He scored his first goal for Wednesday in a 2–0 win over Coventry City on 17 October 2009.
On 20 January 2011 it was announced that Purse had left the club by mutual consent.
on 21 January 2011 on a contract until the end of the season. He has supported The Lions since he was a boy. Purse made his debut for Millwall two days later in a 4–2 defeat away at Leicester City
.
He scored his first goal for the club on 23 April, in the 4–0 defeat of Preston North End at The Den which was televised live.
In an interview afterwards, Purse dedicated the goal to his "old man", who had been a Millwall supporter for 30–40 years. Having found himself out of the team at the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Purse was loaned out to Yeovil Town
for a month. He made five appearances during that time and manager Terry Skiverton
would have liked to extend his stay with the club. However, on 24 November, Purse moved to Plymouth Argyle
on loan until January 2012 with a permanent 18-month contract to be signed when the transfer window opened.
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, on loan from 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 Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
Purse has more than 450 appearances in the Football League
The 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 Premier League, having previously played for 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...
, Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
, and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. He was capped by England at under-21 level
England 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....
.
Early career
Purse was born in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and attended Cardinal Pole RC School
Cardinal Pole RC School
Cardinal Pole Catholic School is a mixed, voluntary aided secondary school in the London Borough of Hackney, United Kingdom. Year 7 and 8 pupils are housed in the Annexe in Victoria Park Road and pupils in Year 9 to 13 on the main site in Kenworthy Road. The school currently has approximately 1080...
in Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
. As a youngster Purse followed Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, as well as making trips to watch Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to see one of his heroes in Tony Adams
Tony Adams (footballer)
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former player.Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal. He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans and was included in the Football League 100 Legends...
. Having played in the same Sunday league side as Lee Bowyer
Lee Bowyer
Lee David Bowyer is an English professional footballer born in Canning Town, London, who plays as a midfielder for Ipswich Town of the Football League Championship....
when he was younger, he was offered a YTS deal by both Arsenal and 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....
but turned them down in order to complete his A levels. On hearing that he had been offered deals by the two clubs 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...
showed their interest and told him that they would hand him a professional contract when he turned seventeen if he signed for them. On signing his contract with the club he made his debut just three days later and established himself in the side before moving to Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
in 1996 for £100,000.
Birmingham City
Purse spent just eighteen months with Oxford before he joined Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for £700,000, despite interest from his former Oxford manager Denis Smith who was then in charge of West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
, in 1997 and his spell included an appearance at the 2001 Football League Cup Final
2001 Football League Cup Final
The 2001 Worthington Cup Final was a football match played between Liverpool and Birmingham City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday 25 February 2001...
as well as promotion to the Premier League. During the League Cup final, Purse scored a 90th minute equaliser in the 2001 League Cup from the penalty spot to take the game to extra time. Birmingham eventually lost on penalties.
Purse moved to West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
for £750,000 in the summer of 2004. He spent a single season with Albion in the Premier League, making 24 appearances in all competitions.
Cardiff City
In July 2005, Purse moved to Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
where he was appointed team captain. He has gained a reputation for hard work and consistency as the foundation of the Cardiff defence, forming an effective partnership with Glenn Loovens
Glenn Loovens
Glenn Loovens is a Dutch professional footballer currently playing as a centre back for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League...
and in July 2007 Purse ended growing speculation about his future by signing a one-year extension to his contract at Cardiff.
On 28 August 2007 he received an injury to his knee cartilage after the 1–0 Carling Cup win over 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...
. It was expected that he would be unavailable for up to four weeks, but he contracted an infection during an operation on the injured knee that delayed his return for a much longer period and caused him to lose weight alarmingly. He made his return to first team football in October, in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and went on to score a headed goal in the 2–1 League Cup defeat against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on 31 October. The 2007–08 season
Cardiff City F.C. season 2007-08
During the 2007-08 season Cardiff City played in the Football League Championship. It was the team's fifth year in the Championship since being promoted from League One. The season was the first full year in charge for chairman Peter Ridsdale after taking over from Sam Hammam the previous...
turned into a disappointment for Purse as he was forced out of the side by Cardiff fan favourite Roger Johnson
Roger Johnson (footballer)
Roger Johnson is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
. This being one of a series of blows to strike the veteran centre back in recent times. He scored several own goals including a spectacular volleyed pass back that proved too powerful for Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman
Peter Enckelman
Peter Enckelman is a Finnish football goalkeeper who currently plays for St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premier League.-Aston Villa:...
. He was also labelled a "muppet" by Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
forward Andrew Cole, after Purse was sent off for what was deemed a dangerous tackle against Cole, although Cardiff manager Dave Jones defended the player and the ban was later overturned.
Purse began the following season remaining on the bench but, in August 2008, Glenn Loovens was sold to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and he returned to the starting line-up alongside Roger Johnson. He spent three months in the first team before losing his place in the side again, this time to Hungarian
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
international Gábor Gyepes
Gábor Gyepes
Gábor Gyepes is a Hungarian professional footballer, currently playing for Football League Championship side Cardiff City and the Hungary national team.-Ferencváros:Gyepes began his career at Ferencváros in his home country...
who was signed as a replacement for Loovens, after a 2–1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 22 November after which Cardiff manager Dave Jones slammed the defensive performance of the team. Purse responded by criticizing his manager and stating that he did not deserve to be dropped from the side. His comments led to him being dropped from the side completely for the South Wales derby
South Wales derby
The South Wales derby is a football local derby between Welsh clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City and is regarded as one of the most fierce rivalries in British football....
match against Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 30 November before being recalled to the bench for the following game.
In January Purse was told that he could leave the club if a replacement could be signed during the January transfer window and was allowed to open talks with fellow Championship side 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...
, but Cardiff could not find a suitable replacement in time and the move was cancelled. At the end of the season Purse was not offered an extension to his contract and left the club.
Sheffield Wednesday
Following his release, it was announced that Purse had signed for Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, and was named team captain. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw with Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on the opening day of the season. He scored his first goal for Wednesday in a 2–0 win over Coventry City on 17 October 2009.
On 20 January 2011 it was announced that Purse had left the club by mutual consent.
Millwall
The day after his release from Sheffield Wednesday, Purse signed with MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 21 January 2011 on a contract until the end of the season. He has supported The Lions since he was a boy. Purse made his debut for Millwall two days later in a 4–2 defeat away at Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
.
He scored his first goal for the club on 23 April, in the 4–0 defeat of Preston North End at The Den which was televised live.
In an interview afterwards, Purse dedicated the goal to his "old man", who had been a Millwall supporter for 30–40 years. Having found himself out of the team at the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Purse was loaned out to Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
for a month. He made five appearances during that time and manager Terry Skiverton
Terry Skiverton
Terence "Terry" John Skiverton is a former English footballer who enjoyed a long playing career at Yeovil Town for 11 years, appearing 382 times in all competitions, before becoming their current manager....
would have liked to extend his stay with the club. However, on 24 November, Purse moved to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on loan until January 2012 with a permanent 18-month contract to be signed when the transfer window opened.