Neil McCafferty
Encyclopedia
Neil McCafferty is a footballer currently playing in the IFA Premiership
with Portadown
.
in 2000-01. He can play either central midfield or on the right-hand side. In 2001, McCafferty was called into Charlton's first-team squad to face Manchester United
at Old Trafford at just 16 years of age. He was a regular in both Charlton's under-19 and reserve teams and was captain of the reserve side in 2004-2005. Whilst under contract with Charlton, McCafferty also had loan spells at both Cambridge United
and Rushden & Diamonds
.
At international level, the player was a regular at youth levels from Under-16 to Under-19 with the Republic of Ireland
. His appearances for Ireland included the 2003 Oporto Youth Tournament held in Portugal
where he represented the Under-19s.
During his spell with Rushden & Diamonds, McCafferty helped the club avoid relegation from the Football League. Having originally signed a one-month deal at Nene Park
toward the end of January 2005, his stay was soon extended to three months after a number of impressive performances which aided in steadying the sinking ship.
McCafferty was so popular with Rushden & Diamonds
fans that when he was released by Charlton Athletic at the end of the 2004-05 season after failing to break into Alan Curbishley
's first-team plans, he was signed by the club that had previously loaned him.
McCafferty signed for his home-town club in July 2006 and made his debut away to Bray Wanderers on
4 August 2006. However, he only managed this one appearance as a substitute before injury ruled him out of the 2006 season. Prior to this and upon his arrival at the club, the Derry City manager at the time, Stephen Kenny was quoted as saying:
McCafferty only managed to make eight league appearances for the Candystripes, five coming from the bench.
Late in 2007, McCafferty spent time with Gillingham
on trial. He eventually signed for Grays Athletic
on 1 January 2008.
On 1 July 2008, Finn Harps
announced that McCafferty had signed for the League of Ireland Premier Division side.
On 10 December 2008, Dungannon Swifts manager John Cunningham
confirmed that McCafferty would be joining the Swifts squad, but was unavailable to play until the transfer window opened in January.
On 12 June 2010, McCafferty signed for Portadown
.
On 28 January 2011, McCafferty signed for Ballymena United
on loan until the end of the current season.
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
with Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
.
Career
McCafferty began his career at Charlton AthleticCharlton 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,...
in 2000-01. He can play either central midfield or on the right-hand side. In 2001, McCafferty was called into Charlton's first-team squad to face 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...
at Old Trafford at just 16 years of age. He was a regular in both Charlton's under-19 and reserve teams and was captain of the reserve side in 2004-2005. Whilst under contract with Charlton, McCafferty also had loan spells at both Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
and Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
.
At international level, the player was a regular at youth levels from Under-16 to Under-19 with the Republic of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
. His appearances for Ireland included the 2003 Oporto Youth Tournament held in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
where he represented the Under-19s.
During his spell with Rushden & Diamonds, McCafferty helped the club avoid relegation from the Football League. Having originally signed a one-month deal at Nene Park
Nene Park
Nene Park is a football stadium situated by Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England, along the bank of the River Nene, and holds 6,441, with 4,641 seated and 1,800 standing. The car park can hold 800 vehicles. From 1992 until 2011 it was the home ground of Rushden & Diamonds football club...
toward the end of January 2005, his stay was soon extended to three months after a number of impressive performances which aided in steadying the sinking ship.
McCafferty was so popular with Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
fans that when he was released by Charlton Athletic at the end of the 2004-05 season after failing to break into Alan Curbishley
Alan Curbishley
Llewellyn Charles "Alan" Curbishley is an English football manager and former professional player....
's first-team plans, he was signed by the club that had previously loaned him.
McCafferty signed for his home-town club in July 2006 and made his debut away to Bray Wanderers on
4 August 2006. However, he only managed this one appearance as a substitute before injury ruled him out of the 2006 season. Prior to this and upon his arrival at the club, the Derry City manager at the time, Stephen Kenny was quoted as saying:
McCafferty only managed to make eight league appearances for the Candystripes, five coming from the bench.
Late in 2007, McCafferty spent time with Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on trial. He eventually signed for Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
on 1 January 2008.
On 1 July 2008, Finn Harps
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
announced that McCafferty had signed for the League of Ireland Premier Division side.
On 10 December 2008, Dungannon Swifts manager John Cunningham
John Cunningham
-Military:* John Cunningham , Group Captain, RAF Night fighter Ace* John Cunningham , East Yorkshire Regiment* John Cunningham , Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment...
confirmed that McCafferty would be joining the Swifts squad, but was unavailable to play until the transfer window opened in January.
On 12 June 2010, McCafferty signed for Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
.
On 28 January 2011, McCafferty signed for Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
on loan until the end of the current season.