Darren Randolph
Encyclopedia
Darren Edward Randolph is an Irish
football goalkeeper playing for Scottish Premier League
club Motherwell
. He is a Republic of Ireland U-21
international and has also been in the senior Republic of Ireland
squad. Randolph has also represented Ireland at basketball.
and played school football with Ardmore Rovers. He joined Charlton Athletic
in the summer of 2003 by virtue of the links between the Irish and English clubs. He trained with Robert Elliot and Jimmy Stone, both young goalkeepers at the club, before Stone was released.
. Even though Charlton were already relegated, Randolph put in a sound performance and limited Liverpool to two goals, one of which was a penalty kick in the 90th minute for a 2–2 draw.
Randolph's most recent league match was in a Championship fixture for Charlton at Sheffield Wednesday
on 17 January 2009, where he conceded four goals. For the 2009/10 season Randolph played second fiddle to Robert Elliot
and made his first appearance of the season in the first round of the FA Cup against Northwich Victoria during a 1–0 defeat. Following an injury against sustained by Elliot against Gillingham F.C.
in the league on 20 March 2010, Randolph regained his starting berth for the following game away at Huddersfield Town on 27 March 2010 and kept his place for the following weekends visit to the Milton Keynes Dons on 3 April 2010.
season on loan at Accrington Stanley
and earned himself a two year contract at Charlton. In August and September 2006 he spent a month on loan at League One
Gillingham
.
on a season long loan in July 2008. He started 14 of the first 17 matches of the season. His most notable match was against Leeds United
at Elland Road
, where he put in an "outstanding" performance, conceding one goal.
On 11 November 2008 it came to light that Randolph had refused to play in an FA Cup
match against Dagenham & Redbridge
, amid speculation that another goalkeeper would be joining Hereford. He was fined two weeks wages and it was announced he was unlikely to play for Hereford United again. The following day, goalkeeper Matt Murray
joined Hereford on a month's loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Graham Turner
said in his Hereford Times
column that it was a situation that he had never experienced before in nearly 30 years of management, and it was not what he expected from a professional player.
club Motherwell
on 1 July 2010 on a free transfer. He signed a 3-year-contract at Fir Park
and quickly cemented his place in the team as the club's first choice 'keeper. Randolph broke the club record of 15 clean sheets, previously held by John Ruddy
, surpassing him on 27 February in a 2–0 win over Celtic
. He helped Motherwell to the final of the 2011 Scottish Cup but they lost the match 3–0 against Celtic.
In May 2011 he was once again called into to the Republic of Ireland
squad for the games against Northern Ireland
and Scotland
in the Carling Cup of Nations.
for UCD Marian
and was one of the first American imports to the Irish Basketball League. He is also a past pupil of St. Cronan's Boys National School and Presentation College, Bray
. He gained small media interest in 2009 for his long-term relationship with Rochelle Wiseman
from girl group The Saturdays
.
Motherwell
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
football goalkeeper playing for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
. He is a Republic of Ireland U-21
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
international and has also been in the senior Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squad. Randolph has also represented Ireland at basketball.
Early career
Randolph was born in BrayBray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
and played school football with Ardmore Rovers. He joined Charlton Athletic
Charlton 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 the summer of 2003 by virtue of the links between the Irish and English clubs. He trained with Robert Elliot and Jimmy Stone, both young goalkeepers at the club, before Stone was released.
Charlton Athletic
In the last game of the 2006–07 season, Randolph played his first game for Charlton Athletic's first team in an away match against LiverpoolLiverpool 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...
. Even though Charlton were already relegated, Randolph put in a sound performance and limited Liverpool to two goals, one of which was a penalty kick in the 90th minute for a 2–2 draw.
Randolph's most recent league match was in a Championship fixture for Charlton at Sheffield Wednesday
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...
on 17 January 2009, where he conceded four goals. For the 2009/10 season Randolph played second fiddle to Robert Elliot
Robert Elliot (footballer)
Robert Elliott is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League .He is the younger brother of St Kilda Best and Fairest winner Glenn Elliott....
and made his first appearance of the season in the first round of the FA Cup against Northwich Victoria during a 1–0 defeat. Following an injury against sustained by Elliot against Gillingham F.C.
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...
in the league on 20 March 2010, Randolph regained his starting berth for the following game away at Huddersfield Town on 27 March 2010 and kept his place for the following weekends visit to the Milton Keynes Dons on 3 April 2010.
Accrington and Gillingham loans
Randolph spent the beginning of the 2005–062005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season on loan at Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
and earned himself a two year contract at Charlton. In August and September 2006 he spent a month on loan 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....
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...
.
Hereford United loan
Randolph joined Hereford UnitedHereford 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',...
on a season long loan in July 2008. He started 14 of the first 17 matches of the season. His most notable match was against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, where he put in an "outstanding" performance, conceding one goal.
On 11 November 2008 it came to light that Randolph had refused to play 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...
match against Dagenham & Redbridge
Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.
Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club , informally known as Daggers, is an English association football club based in Dagenham, in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham, East London. It was formed in 1992 after a merger between Redbridge Forest and Dagenham...
, amid speculation that another goalkeeper would be joining Hereford. He was fined two weeks wages and it was announced he was unlikely to play for Hereford United again. The following day, goalkeeper Matt Murray
Matt Murray
Matthew William "Matt" Murray is an English former football goalkeeper who spent his entire career at Wolverhampton Wanderers. His career was plagued by injuries which eventually forced him to retire aged 29.-Career:...
joined Hereford on a month's loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers
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...
. Graham Turner
Graham Turner
Graham John Turner is an English former footballer who became a manager. He is currently manager of League Two club Shrewsbury Town. His son Mark was also a professional footballer....
said in his Hereford Times
Hereford Times
The Hereford Times is a weekly tabloid newspaper published every Thursday in Hereford, England. Its offices are based in Holmer Road. The editor is Fiona Phillips...
column that it was a situation that he had never experienced before in nearly 30 years of management, and it was not what he expected from a professional player.
Motherwell
Randolph signed for Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
on 1 July 2010 on a free transfer. He signed a 3-year-contract at Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
and quickly cemented his place in the team as the club's first choice 'keeper. Randolph broke the club record of 15 clean sheets, previously held by John Ruddy
John Ruddy
John Thomas Gordon Ruddy is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Norwich City.-Everton:...
, surpassing him on 27 February in a 2–0 win over Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. He helped Motherwell to the final of the 2011 Scottish Cup but they lost the match 3–0 against Celtic.
International career
Randolph has represented Ireland at U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, U21 and B levels. On 14 March 2011, Randolph was called up to the full squad for the first time for the game against Macedonia.In May 2011 he was once again called into to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
squad for the games against Northern Ireland
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...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the Carling Cup of Nations.
Personal life
His father Ed Randolph played basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
for UCD Marian
UCD Marian
University College Dublin Marian is an Irish basketball club with teams in the Irish Superleague and Divisions 1 - 4.- History :Marian Basketball Club was founded in 1968 when a group of pupils and past-pupils of Marian College, Ballsbridge entered a team in the Dublin Minor Basketball league.....
and was one of the first American imports to the Irish Basketball League. He is also a past pupil of St. Cronan's Boys National School and Presentation College, Bray
Presentation College, Bray
Presentation College is a Catholic secondary school established in 1921 by the Presentation Brothers in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.There are currently about 600 students in Presentation College. The school's main building was built in the late 1960s...
. He gained small media interest in 2009 for his long-term relationship with Rochelle Wiseman
Rochelle Wiseman
Rochelle Eulah Eileen Wiseman is an English singer, actress and television presenter. She is best known for her work in pop groups S Club 8 and The Saturdays...
from girl group The Saturdays
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
.
Career statistics
| Club | Division | Season | League The Football League The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football... |
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... |
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... |
FL Trophy Football League Trophy The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top... |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Charlton Athletic Charlton 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,... |
Premier League | 2005–06 2005-06 in English football The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Premier League | 2006–07 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
2007–08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... |
2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 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.... |
2009–10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley F.C. Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system.... |
Conference National Conference National Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system... |
2005–06 2005-06 in English football The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether... |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 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... |
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.... |
2006–07 2006-07 in English football The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 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... |
League Two Football League Two Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system.... |
2007–08 2007-08 in English football The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool... |
14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 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',... |
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.... |
2008–09 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Career totals | 52 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0 | ||
Honours
Accrington StanleyAccrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
- Conference NationalConference NationalConference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
: 2005–06
Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: 2011 (Runner-up)