Stephen Darby
Encyclopedia
Stephen Mark Darby is an English footballer who plays in the right-back position for Rochdale
on loan from Liverpool
. Darby was brought up in Maghull
, where he attended St John Boscos primary school.
, Stephen was one of them. Darby played in Liverpool's FA Youth Cup
winning teams in 2006 and 2007 that defeated Manchester City and Manchester United's academies in the finals respectively, captaining the team in the 2006 final. He was first selected for the Liverpool squad which played Turkish side Galatasaray
in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League
in December 2006, but he was an unused substitute in that match. Despite being on the first team bench he didn't forget his roots and after a four-hour flight from Istanbul
to Liverpool he went straight to The Hawthorns
and played a full game including extra-time to help the youth team through to the fourth round.
During 2007–08 season Darby was the captain of Liverpool's reserves team that ended the campaign as northern and national champions. His performances earned him praises from manager Gary Ablett calling him 'Mr. Consistency'.
His first appearance in a competitive match was as a substitute in Liverpool's League Cup
fourth round defeat against Tottenham Hotspur
in November 2008.
He made his Champions League
debut against PSV Eindhoven on 9 December 2008, coming on as a substitute alongside fellow homegrown players Jay Spearing
and Martin Kelly
. On 5 July 2009, Darby secured a three-year extension to his contract along with fellow Melwood graduate Jay Spearing.
He made his first competitive start for Liverpool against ACF Fiorentina
in the UEFA Champions League
on the 9 December 2009 in a 2–1 defeat. His second competitive start came against Reading
in the FA Cup
. The game finished 1–1. Darby was praised by Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher for his performance in the game.
Darby made his Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur on 20 January 2010, coming on as a substitute in the 90th minute for Philipp Degen
.
He was included in Liverpool's 21 man squad for the 2010–11 Premier League season.
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. He started his first game on 13 March 2010 against Brighton & Hove Albion
and played the full 90 minutes at right back. He then took part in the play-off semi final against Charlton Athletic, where he scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out.
snapped up both Stephen Darby and Thomas Ince on a loan deal from Liverpool. He made his County debut on 6 November in an FA Cup
1st round match against Gateshead
On 13 November, he started in County's 3-1 league defeat to Exeter City
. A week later, he started again in the 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers
. On 23 November, he started and was named Man of the Match in the 1-0 win against one of his former clubs, Swindon. Again he started on 11 December, this time in a win as County defeated the Milton Keynes Dons
at home, 2-0. After his loan spell completed on 3 January 2011 he returned to Liverpool. He rejoined County later in January for the remainder of the season, before returning to Liverpool in early May.
in May 2007 and made two appearances alongside Liverpool team-mates Jack Hobbs
, Craig Lindfield
and Adam Hammill
.
Statistics accurate as of match played 23 August 2011
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan from 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...
. Darby was brought up in Maghull
Maghull
Maghull is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. The town is located eight miles north of the City of Liverpool and south of Ormskirk in West Lancashire. The area of Moss Side also contains HM Prison Kennet and Ashworth Hospital. Maghull had a...
, where he attended St John Boscos primary school.
Liverpool
On July 18, 2006 Liverpool's official site announced that five academy players have been promoted to MelwoodMelwood
Melwood, in West Derby, Liverpool, is home to Liverpool FC's training ground. It is not attached to The Academy, which is in Kirkby.It is based in the West Derby area of Liverpool and has been their home since the fifties. The ground previously belonged to St Francis Xavier, a local school...
, Stephen was one of them. Darby played in Liverpool's FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
winning teams in 2006 and 2007 that defeated Manchester City and Manchester United's academies in the finals respectively, captaining the team in the 2006 final. He was first selected for the Liverpool squad which played Turkish side Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in December 2006, but he was an unused substitute in that match. Despite being on the first team bench he didn't forget his roots and after a four-hour flight from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
to Liverpool he went straight to The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,484. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the...
and played a full game including extra-time to help the youth team through to the fourth round.
During 2007–08 season Darby was the captain of Liverpool's reserves team that ended the campaign as northern and national champions. His performances earned him praises from manager Gary Ablett calling him 'Mr. Consistency'.
His first appearance in a competitive match was as a substitute in Liverpool's 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...
fourth round defeat against 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....
in November 2008.
He made his Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
debut against PSV Eindhoven on 9 December 2008, coming on as a substitute alongside fellow homegrown players Jay Spearing
Jay Spearing
Jay Francis Spearing is an English footballer who plays for Liverpool as a Defensive midfielder. He was originally spotted playing for amateur Wallasey side Greenleas alongside former Liverpool professional Craig Lindfield....
and Martin Kelly
Martin Kelly
Martin Ronald Kelly is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Liverpool as a right back, although he spent most of his Academy career playing as a centre back.-2007–08:...
. On 5 July 2009, Darby secured a three-year extension to his contract along with fellow Melwood graduate Jay Spearing.
He made his first competitive start for Liverpool against ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
on the 9 December 2009 in a 2–1 defeat. His second competitive start came against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
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...
. The game finished 1–1. Darby was praised by Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher for his performance in the game.
Darby made his Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur on 20 January 2010, coming on as a substitute in the 90th minute for Philipp Degen
Philipp Degen
Philipp Degen is a Swiss footballer. Degen is usually a right back but can also play at left back or on the right wing...
.
He was included in Liverpool's 21 man squad for the 2010–11 Premier League season.
Swindon
On 11 March 2010, Darby joined Swindon TownSwindon 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...
on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. He started his first game on 13 March 2010 against Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and played the full 90 minutes at right back. He then took part in the play-off semi final against Charlton Athletic, where he scored the decisive penalty in the shoot-out.
Notts County
On 1 November 2010, Notts County manager and ex-Liverpool player Paul IncePaul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
snapped up both Stephen Darby and Thomas Ince on a loan deal from Liverpool. He made his County debut on 6 November in an 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 round match against Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
On 13 November, he started in County's 3-1 league defeat to Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. A week later, he started again in the 1-0 home defeat to Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. On 23 November, he started and was named Man of the Match in the 1-0 win against one of his former clubs, Swindon. Again he started on 11 December, this time in a win as County defeated the Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
at home, 2-0. After his loan spell completed on 3 January 2011 he returned to Liverpool. He rejoined County later in January for the remainder of the season, before returning to Liverpool in early May.
Rochdale
On 7 July 2011, Rochdale confirmed the signing of Stephen Darby on loan for the 2011/12 campaign. He made his debut on Saturday 6 August 2011 against Sheffield Wednesday, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 defeat. He was the fans' man of the match in the 0-0 home draw against Carlisle United on the 16th August 2011.International career
Darby took part in England's squad for UEFA European U19 Championship qualifications2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2007 is the second round of qualification for the final tournament of the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. Spain, Italy, and England automatically qualified for this round...
in May 2007 and made two appearances alongside Liverpool team-mates Jack Hobbs
Jack Hobbs (footballer)
Jack Hobbs is a professional English football player, currently playing for Hull City.-Lincoln City:From Moulton, a small village near Spalding, Lincolnshire, Hobbs played for Moulton Harrox from the age of 10. The former Spalding Grammar School student left Moulton Harrox a few years later when...
, Craig Lindfield
Craig Lindfield
Craig Anthony Lindfield is an English footballer who plays as a striker. He is currently playing for Accrington Stanley.-Early life:...
and Adam Hammill
Adam Hammill
Adam James Hammill is an English footballer of Irish descent who plays as a winger for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rochdale (loan) | 2011-12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 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... |
2010–11 2010–11 Premier League The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Notts County Notts County F.C. Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system... (loan) |
2010–11 2010–11 Football League One The 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format... |
22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 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... |
2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 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... (loan) |
2009–10 2009–10 Football League One The Football League 2009–10 , was be the seventeenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2009 and ended on 8 May 2010.... |
12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 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... |
2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career total | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 52 | 0 | |
Statistics accurate as of match played 23 August 2011
Honours
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 2006, 2007 - Premier Reserve League: 2008Premier Reserve League 2007-08The 2007–08 Premier Reserve League season is the ninth since its establishment. The events in the senior leagues during the 2006–07 season saw Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United all relegated and replaced by the promoted teams Birmingham, Derby County, and Sunderland.Northern Champions...
- Winner of the Ian FrodshamIan FrodshamIan Timothy Frodsham was an English footballer who was at Liverpool. He joined the club as an under-11, from Brookfield School in Kirkby. He signed his professional contract at 17, and played regularly with the Liverpool reserves...
Young Player Of The Year Award 2008