Darren Bazeley
Encyclopedia
Darren Shaun Bazeley is an English
association football player who most recently played for Waitakere United
of New Zealand
. He played as either a right full back
or right-sided defensive midfielder. He remained in New Zealand and is now an Area Coach for West Auckland with United Soccer 1.
, England
and began playing football at a young age with local team Northampton Orion. From 11 to 13 years old, Bazeley attended weekly training sessions with the School of Excellence – a coaching scheme run by the FA
. It was through these sessions that Bazeley was scouted by Watford F.C.
, trialling with them before signing at the age of 14. Bazeley played in the youth team at Watford for several seasons, making his first-team debut at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute in the final match of the 1989-90
season against Hull City A.F.C.
Bazeley made sporadic first-team appearances throughout the 1990-91
season with Watford, and before the 1991-92
season became a full professional. Bazeley's first top-grade goal came in September 1991, away at Barnsley F.C.
, and finished the season with a total of six goals from his 34 appearances. At the end of the season, Bazeley broke into the England Under-21 national team
, making his first (and only) appearance, playing 20 minutes in a 2-2 friendly draw against Hungary
. Bazeley played 22 matches in the 1992–93 season before tearing his medial collateral ligament
during 1993-94
, which saw him play a total of just 10 matches in that season. Under Glenn Roeder
, Watford finished seventh in Division 1
in 1994–95, with Bazeley scoring four goals in his 28 appearances. The following season, however, saw Watford relegated
to Division 2
in the final match of the 1995-96
season. Bazeley spent two seasons with Watford in Division 2 under Graham Taylor
, winning the Division 2 Championship in 1997–98, then making the play-offs for promotion to the FA Premier League
the following season. Bazeley scored in the penalty shootout
against Birmingham City F.C.
to put Watford in the play-off final against Bolton Wanderers F.C.
, which they won 2-0 to earn a move to the top flight.
This marked the end of Bazeley's contract with Watford, and instead of re-signing to join them in the Premiership, he chose to end his 10-year, 239-game career with the Hornets. Bazeley's time at Watford saw him net 27 goals, including a hat-trick at Southend
. Bazeley's departure left fans with mixed feelings, recalling times of "exquisite brilliance" but also frustration at his tendency to provide inaccurate and unsuccessful crosses into the penalty area
. Bazeley moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
on a free transfer, where he played every minute of every league match for the Wolves in the 1999–2000 season. By the end of 2000–01, Bazeley had notched up 80 games and four goals with Wolverhampton, before twisting his knee and tearing his cartilage in a match against Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
, and subsequently did not play a match in the 2001–02 season. Bazeley's future was somewhat uncertain until his former manager at Watford and Wolves, Colin Lee
, moved to Walsall F.C.
, with Bazeley following on a free transfer in Summer 2002. Bazeley won the fans' "best new signing award" in 2002–03, his first season with the club. Committed to Walsall for two seasons, Bazeley travelled to New Zealand
to trial with the Auckland Kingz after the 2003–04 season alongside Saddlers teammate Danny Hay
, and was offered a contract with the NSL
club. Bazeley however decided to stay with Walsall for 2004-05
, but left the club in November 2004, after making 89 league appearances. He was later described as "one of the best attacking fullbacks the Saddlers ever had".
Bazeley signed with the re-invented New Zealand Knights
for the new Australia
n A-League
, alongside former Wolves and Walsall teammate Neil Emblen
. Bazeley played every minute of New Zealand's 21 A-League matches in the 2005–06 season
, and took over the captaincy from Danny Hay when the defender transferred to Perth Glory FC
midseason. Bazeley stayed with the Knights for 2006–07 until the club's dissolution.
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...
association football player who most recently played for Waitakere United
Waitakere United
Waitakere United is a football club based in Waitakere City, New Zealand. They are one of the franchises in the ASB Premiership. They play their home games at Fred Taylor Park in Kumeu.-History:...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He played as either a right full back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or right-sided defensive midfielder. He remained in New Zealand and is now an Area Coach for West Auckland with United Soccer 1.
Career
Bazeley was born in NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, England
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...
and began playing football at a young age with local team Northampton Orion. From 11 to 13 years old, Bazeley attended weekly training sessions with the School of Excellence – a coaching scheme run by the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. It was through these sessions that Bazeley was scouted by Watford F.C.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, trialling with them before signing at the age of 14. Bazeley played in the youth team at Watford for several seasons, making his first-team debut at the age of 17, coming on as a substitute in the final match of the 1989-90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
season against Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
Bazeley made sporadic first-team appearances throughout the 1990-91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
season with Watford, and before the 1991-92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
season became a full professional. Bazeley's first top-grade goal came in September 1991, away at Barnsley F.C.
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...
, and finished the season with a total of six goals from his 34 appearances. At the end of the season, Bazeley broke into the England Under-21 national team
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....
, making his first (and only) appearance, playing 20 minutes in a 2-2 friendly draw against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. Bazeley played 22 matches in the 1992–93 season before tearing his medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
during 1993-94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
, which saw him play a total of just 10 matches in that season. Under Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
, Watford finished seventh in Division 1
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1994–95, with Bazeley scoring four goals in his 28 appearances. The following season, however, saw Watford relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to Division 2
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in the final match of the 1995-96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
season. Bazeley spent two seasons with Watford in Division 2 under Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor (football manager)
Graham Taylor OBE is a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He is best known as the manager of the England national football team, as well as being manager of Watford, a club he took from the Fourth Division to the First in the space of five years, then from bottom of the...
, winning the Division 2 Championship in 1997–98, then making the play-offs for promotion to the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
the following season. Bazeley scored in the penalty shootout
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
against Birmingham City F.C.
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...
to put Watford in the play-off final against Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, which they won 2-0 to earn a move to the top flight.
This marked the end of Bazeley's contract with Watford, and instead of re-signing to join them in the Premiership, he chose to end his 10-year, 239-game career with the Hornets. Bazeley's time at Watford saw him net 27 goals, including a hat-trick at Southend
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. Bazeley's departure left fans with mixed feelings, recalling times of "exquisite brilliance" but also frustration at his tendency to provide inaccurate and unsuccessful crosses into the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
. Bazeley moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
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...
on a free transfer, where he played every minute of every league match for the Wolves in the 1999–2000 season. By the end of 2000–01, Bazeley had notched up 80 games and four goals with Wolverhampton, before twisting his knee and tearing his cartilage in a match against Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
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...
, and subsequently did not play a match in the 2001–02 season. Bazeley's future was somewhat uncertain until his former manager at Watford and Wolves, Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Colin Lee is an English football manager and former footballer. He is currently Chief Executive of League Two side Torquay United and President of Buckfastleigh Rangers Football & Social Club.-Playing career:...
, moved to Walsall F.C.
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, with Bazeley following on a free transfer in Summer 2002. Bazeley won the fans' "best new signing award" in 2002–03, his first season with the club. Committed to Walsall for two seasons, Bazeley travelled to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to trial with the Auckland Kingz after the 2003–04 season alongside Saddlers teammate Danny Hay
Danny Hay
Daniel "Danny" Hay is an association football player who has represented New Zealand at international level as a central defender and captains Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship.-Club career:...
, and was offered a contract with the NSL
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
club. Bazeley however decided to stay with Walsall for 2004-05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
, but left the club in November 2004, after making 89 league appearances. He was later described as "one of the best attacking fullbacks the Saddlers ever had".
Bazeley signed with the re-invented New Zealand Knights
New Zealand Knights FC
This page details the history of the club. For information on seasons and results see New Zealand Knights seasons 2005-06 and 2006-07New Zealand Knights Football Club were the only professional football club in New Zealand before they became defunct...
for the new Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
, alongside former Wolves and Walsall teammate Neil Emblen
Neil Emblen
Neil Emblen is an English football player who plays for and is coach of New Zealand club Waitakere United.Emblen had spent the majority of his career in English football with Millwall, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Walsall.-Career:Emblen started his career as a youth...
. Bazeley played every minute of New Zealand's 21 A-League matches in the 2005–06 season
A-League 2005-06
The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
, and took over the captaincy from Danny Hay when the defender transferred to Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
midseason. Bazeley stayed with the Knights for 2006–07 until the club's dissolution.