Darren Wassall
Encyclopedia
Darren Wassall is a retired English
football
defender
.
Wassall began his career in 1984 at Nottingham Forest
, where he was a product of the youth system. He failed to win a regular first team place, although he was a reliable stand-in to the likes of Des Walker
, and was loaned out to Hereford United
and Bury
. Despite his limited opportunities Wassall featured in two finals for Forest, winning a medal in the 1992 Zenith Data Systems
3–2 triumph over Southampton
(having scored his one and only Forest goal in the semi-final second leg against Leicester City at the City Ground
) and playing in the 1–0 defeat in the 1992 Football League Cup Final
against Manchester United. He left Forest for Derby County
in 1992 in a £600,000 deal amid rumours of a dressing room incident with manager Brian Clough
which left Wassall feeling unable to remain at Forest. Whilst at Derby he had loan spells at Manchester City
and Birmingham City
.
Wassall joined Birmingham full-time in 1997 in a £150,000 deal, although his impact was limited as he struggled with injuries. He retired in 2000 after suffering an achilles
injury. However Wassall was able to continue playing by dropping out of the Football League and playing for Burton Albion
. He retired altogether in 2005 to take charge of the club's youth team.
In 2009 Wassall became Academy Manager at Derby County under Nigel Clough's regime. He is still in the position and is responsible for bringing through a number of players to Derby's first team including Mark O'Brien, Jeff Hendrick and Callum Ball.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
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....
.
Wassall began his career in 1984 at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, where he was a product of the youth system. He failed to win a regular first team place, although he was a reliable stand-in to the likes of Des Walker
Des Walker
Desmond Sinclair "Des" Walker is a former England international footballer who is best remembered for his spells with Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday...
, and was loaned out to Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
. Despite his limited opportunities Wassall featured in two finals for Forest, winning a medal in the 1992 Zenith Data Systems
Zenith Data Systems
Zenith Data Systems was a division of Zenith founded in 1979 after Zenith acquired Heathkit, which had, in 1977, entered the personal computer market. Headquartered in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Zenith sold personal computers under both the Heath/Zenith and Zenith Data Systems names...
3–2 triumph over Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
(having scored his one and only Forest goal in the semi-final second leg against Leicester City at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
) and playing in the 1–0 defeat in the 1992 Football League Cup Final
1992 Football League Cup Final
The 1992 Football League Cup Final took place at Wembley Stadium, and was played between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.Manchester United won 1–0 in what was their first League cup win...
against Manchester United. He left Forest for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in 1992 in a £600,000 deal amid rumours of a dressing room incident with manager Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
which left Wassall feeling unable to remain at Forest. Whilst at Derby he had loan spells at 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...
and 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...
.
Wassall joined Birmingham full-time in 1997 in a £150,000 deal, although his impact was limited as he struggled with injuries. He retired in 2000 after suffering an achilles
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury. However Wassall was able to continue playing by dropping out of the Football League and playing for Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
. He retired altogether in 2005 to take charge of the club's youth team.
In 2009 Wassall became Academy Manager at Derby County under Nigel Clough's regime. He is still in the position and is responsible for bringing through a number of players to Derby's first team including Mark O'Brien, Jeff Hendrick and Callum Ball.
Honours
Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
- Full Members CupFull Members CupThe Full Members Cup was an association football cup competition held in English football from 1985 to 1992. It was also known under its sponsored names of the Simod Cup from 1987 to 1989 and the Zenith Data Systems Cup from 1989 to 1992....
winners: 1992