Darren Patterson
Encyclopedia
Darren James Patterson (born 15 October 1969) is a Northern Irish
former footballer and manager
. As a player he was primarily a central defender who could also play at full back or as a defensive midfielder. He is the interim assistant manager at Bristol Rovers
, where he has previously held the positions of Head of Youth, Assistant Manager and Caretaker Manager. On 10 June 2011, he became Rotherham United
's assistant manager.
around the time of their relegation from the First Division
in 1986, but failed to make a first-team appearance and was signed by Bryan Hamilton
for Wigan Athletic
early in the 1989–90 season
.
Patterson proved a success in defence for Wigan, making 57 Third Division
appearances and scored five goals before being transferred to Crystal Palace
at the end of the 1991–92 season
. Patterson enjoyed a longer spell at Palace and played for the club in the FA Premier League
before joining Luton Town
in a £230,000 deal in August 1995. During his time at Selhurst Park
, he had seen Palace relegated from the inaugural Premier League in 1992–93
, promoted back as Division One champions in 1993–94
, and relegated back in 1994–95
at the end of a dramatic season in which Palace also reached the semi-finals of both major domestic cup competitions. He was sent off in the FA Cup
semi-final for fighting with Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane
.
He made 66 appearances for Luton (and also had a loan spell at Preston North End
) before leaving on a Bosman ruling
free transfer in the Summer of 1998 to join Dundee United
. At Kenilworth Road
he endured the disappointment of relegation from Division One in his first season
and playoff defeat in Division Two during his second
.
He returned south of the border in December 2000 when he signed for Division Three strugglers York City
. 14 months later he signed for his final club Oxford United
.
After his move to Crystal Palace, Patterson made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team
. He went on to win 17 caps whilst at Palace, Luton and Dundee United.
, although he was ultimately overlooked for the job in favour of Ramón Díaz
. He was finally appointed manager of the club on a full-time basis in March 2006 following the departure of Brian Talbot
. However, no sooner had Patterson been appointed than he lost the job to Jim Smith
following the sale of the club by Firoz Kassam
to Nick Merry
. Patterson managed the club for only eight days, and in doing so became perhaps the shortest-serving manager in the history of the English league. While Bill Lambton
and Tim Ward
both had periods in charge of a club that lasted three and seven days respectively, but neither man actually signed a contract to manage the club, whereas Patterson did. Leroy Rosenior
later managed an even shorter stint at Torquay United in 2007, being fired only 10 minutes after signing his contract, but Torquay were no longer a League club by that point.
In December 2006, Patterson was offered the vacant manager's job at Brentford
; however, caretaker manager Scott Fitzgerald
was appointed on a permanent basis after Patterson declined their terms.
After becoming first team coach in April 2007, he was appointed Oxford's manager once again on 9 November 2007 after Jim Smith
resigned. He was sacked on 30 November 2008 following a poor start to the 2008–09
season.
In May 2009 Patterson was appointed Head of Youth at League One
side Bristol Rovers
, looking after all young players from eight to 18 years of age. Following the sacking of Lennie Lawrence
he took over as assistant manager to Paul Trollope
in May 2010. He was appointed caretaker manager
on 15 December following Trollope's sacking and he lasted in this position until 10 January 2011 when Dave Penney was appointed manager.
Patterson became the assistant manager of Rotherham United
on 10th June 2011.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former footballer and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
. As a player he was primarily a central defender who could also play at full back or as a defensive midfielder. He is the interim assistant manager at Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, where he has previously held the positions of Head of Youth, Assistant Manager and Caretaker Manager. On 10 June 2011, he became Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
's assistant manager.
Playing career
Patterson began his playing career with West Bromwich AlbionWest 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...
around the time of their relegation from the First Division
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 1986, but failed to make a first-team appearance and was signed by Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years. He is currently Technical Director at Antigua Barracuda F.C.-Playing career:Born in Belfast,...
for Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
early in the 1989–90 season
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
.
Patterson proved a success in defence for Wigan, making 57 Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
appearances and scored five goals before being transferred to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
at the end of the 1991–92 season
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...
. Patterson enjoyed a longer spell at Palace and played for the club in 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...
before joining Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in a £230,000 deal in August 1995. During his time at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
, he had seen Palace relegated from the inaugural Premier League in 1992–93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
, promoted back as Division One champions in 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...
, and relegated back in 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
at the end of a dramatic season in which Palace also reached the semi-finals of both major domestic cup competitions. He was sent off 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...
semi-final for fighting with Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
.
He made 66 appearances for Luton (and also had a loan spell at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
) before leaving on a Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
free transfer in the Summer of 1998 to join Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
. At Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road
Kenilworth Road Stadium is a football stadium in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. It has been home to Luton Town Football Club since 1905, when financial complications forced the club to leave its previous location at Dunstable Road...
he endured the disappointment of relegation from Division One in his first season
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....
and playoff defeat in Division Two during his second
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
.
He returned south of the border in December 2000 when he signed for Division Three strugglers York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
. 14 months later he signed for his final club 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...
.
After his move to Crystal Palace, Patterson made his debut for the Northern Ireland national team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. He went on to win 17 caps whilst at Palace, Luton and Dundee United.
Managerial and coaching career
After retiring from the game Patterson remained at Oxford as youth team coach. He served as caretaker manager of the club following the departure of Graham RixGraham Rix
Graham Cyril Rix is an English former football player and coach. He was fired by Heart of Midlothian in March 2006, which was his most recent role in professional football...
, although he was ultimately overlooked for the job in favour of Ramón Díaz
Ramón Díaz
Ramón Ángel Díaz , is a former Argentine football player. For most of his career, he played for, and later coached, Club Atlético River Plate. He is also known by the nickname of El Pelado ....
. He was finally appointed manager of the club on a full-time basis in March 2006 following the departure of Brian Talbot
Brian Talbot
Brian Ernest Talbot is an English football manager and former player. His son is Daniel Talbot.-Playing career:...
. However, no sooner had Patterson been appointed than he lost the job to Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
following the sale of the club by Firoz Kassam
Firoz Kassam
Firoz Kassam is a Tanzanian-born, businessman. He is the former owner of Oxford United F.C.He was born in Tanzania ofPakistani parents and came to Britain as a student during the 1970s....
to Nick Merry
Nick Merry
Nicholas "Nick" Merry is a British businessman who made his money in the United States running a now defunct Florida-based dental biotechnology company called MicroDenteX as well as investment in gemstones in Guinea....
. Patterson managed the club for only eight days, and in doing so became perhaps the shortest-serving manager in the history of the English league. While Bill Lambton
Bill Lambton
William "Bill" Lambton was an English football player and manager. He played in goal for Nottingham Forest, Exeter City and Doncaster Rovers, although he made just three Football League appearances in total with his playing days largely coinciding with the Second World War.Lambton is better...
and Tim Ward
Tim Ward (footballer)
Tim Ward was an English footballer and subsequently football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County.-Biography:...
both had periods in charge of a club that lasted three and seven days respectively, but neither man actually signed a contract to manage the club, whereas Patterson did. Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior
Leroy Rosenior is a professional football coach and pundit. He is a former professional footballer whose clubs included Fulham, Queens Park Rangers , Bristol City and West Ham United.As one of the few black football managers in England, Rosenior has spoken openly about the racism...
later managed an even shorter stint at Torquay United in 2007, being fired only 10 minutes after signing his contract, but Torquay were no longer a League club by that point.
In December 2006, Patterson was offered the vacant manager's job at Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
; however, caretaker manager Scott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald (footballer born 1969)
Scott Fitzgerald is a football coach, who is employed by Millwall as youth team manager. Fitzgerald is a former footballer, and the former manager of League One side Brentford.-Career:...
was appointed on a permanent basis after Patterson declined their terms.
After becoming first team coach in April 2007, he was appointed Oxford's manager once again on 9 November 2007 after Jim Smith
Jim Smith (footballer)
James Michael "Jim" Smith is a retired English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of The Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for three-and-a-half years for Boston United of the...
resigned. He was sacked on 30 November 2008 following a poor start to the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season.
In May 2009 Patterson was appointed Head of Youth at League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, looking after all young players from eight to 18 years of age. Following the sacking of Lennie Lawrence
Lennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
he took over as assistant manager to Paul Trollope
Paul Trollope
Paul Jonathan Trollope is an English-born Welsh international football midfielder, now turned manager. He was manager of Bristol Rovers from 2005 to 2010. In July 2011, Paul was appointed first-team coach at Birmingham City....
in May 2010. He was appointed caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
on 15 December following Trollope's sacking and he lasted in this position until 10 January 2011 when Dave Penney was appointed manager.
Patterson became the assistant manager of Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on 10th June 2011.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nation | From | 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... (caretaker) | 14 November 2004 | 9 December 2004 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
14 March 2006 | 22 March 2006 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33.3 | |||||
| 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... |
9 November 2007 | 30 November 2008 | 59 | 24 | 11 | 24 | 40.7 | |||||
| Bristol Rovers Bristol Rovers F.C. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city.... (caretaker) |
15 December 2010 | 10 January 2011 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | |||||
| Total | 67 | 26 | 13 | 28 | 38.8 | |||||||