Darryl Duffy
Encyclopedia
Darryl Alexander Duffy (born 16 April 1984 in Glasgow
) is a Scottish
footballer who is currently playing for Cheltenham Town
as a striker
.
and made his debut in the Scottish Premier League
against Dundee United
. However, limited first team opportunities saw Duffy leave Glasgow, firstly on loan to Brechin City
, and then to join Scottish First Division club Falkirk
. In his first season at Falkirk, he finished top scorer in the First Division with 17 goals and helped his side to promotion to the Scottish Premier League
. He started the 2005-06 season
in good form, scoring nine goals in the first half of the season. In total, Duffy scored 37 goals in 68 for Falkirk.
After prolonged interest, Hull City
signed Duffy from Falkirk on 10 January 2006 for £250,000.
However, with limited opportunities at Hull, particularly after the departure of manager Peter Taylor, he joined Hartlepool United
on loan
in November 2006, scoring 5 goals in 10 games for the then League Two
side.
An even more productive loan spell followed in February 2007, when Duffy joined League One
side Swansea City
on loan, scoring five goals in as many starts, as the Swans narrowly missed out on the playoffs. In July 2007 Duffy joined Swansea permanently, signing a three-year contract for an initial fee of £200,000.
Bristol Rovers
signed Duffy from Swansea on 3 July 2008 for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000. Duffy scored twice in a 6-1 over Hereford United
and in a 2–2 draw at Elland Road
against Leeds United
. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Duffy had scored 13 goals for Rovers. After this, however, Duffy's first team opportunities were restricted.
On 30 August 2010, Duffy signed a season-long loan deal with SPL
side Hibernian
to team up with his former Falkirk
manager John Hughes. Duffy was ostensibly signed by Hibs as a replacement for Anthony Stokes, but suffered a foot injury soon after signing for the club. The injury meant that Duffy was unable to play for Hibs before Hughes left the club by mutual consent. Duffy featured infrequently after he returned from injury and Hibs announced in April 2011 that he would return to Bristol after the loan deal is completed.
Duffy was one of seventeen players released by Rovers in May 2011. Cheltenham Town
announced in July that they had agreed to sign Duffy. The striker hit his first goals for the club in a 3-2 win at Northampton Town
.
against Poland and Turkey during the 2005 Future Cup.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who is currently playing for Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Club career
Duffy started his career as a youth player for RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and made his debut in the 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...
against 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...
. However, limited first team opportunities saw Duffy leave Glasgow, firstly on loan to Brechin City
Brechin City F.C.
Brechin City Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Brechin, Angus. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the Second Division in the 2010–11 season...
, and then to join Scottish First Division club Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
. In his first season at Falkirk, he finished top scorer in the First Division with 17 goals and helped his side to promotion to the 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...
. He started the 2005-06 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
in good form, scoring nine goals in the first half of the season. In total, Duffy scored 37 goals in 68 for Falkirk.
After prolonged interest, Hull City
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...
signed Duffy from Falkirk on 10 January 2006 for £250,000.
However, with limited opportunities at Hull, particularly after the departure of manager Peter Taylor, he joined Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
in November 2006, scoring 5 goals in 10 games for the then 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....
side.
An even more productive loan spell followed in February 2007, when Duffy joined 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 Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on loan, scoring five goals in as many starts, as the Swans narrowly missed out on the playoffs. In July 2007 Duffy joined Swansea permanently, signing a three-year contract for an initial fee of £200,000.
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....
signed Duffy from Swansea on 3 July 2008 for a transfer fee in the region of £100,000. Duffy scored twice in a 6-1 over 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',...
and in a 2–2 draw 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...
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 the end of the 2008–09 season, Duffy had scored 13 goals for Rovers. After this, however, Duffy's first team opportunities were restricted.
On 30 August 2010, Duffy signed a season-long loan deal with SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
to team up with his former Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
manager John Hughes. Duffy was ostensibly signed by Hibs as a replacement for Anthony Stokes, but suffered a foot injury soon after signing for the club. The injury meant that Duffy was unable to play for Hibs before Hughes left the club by mutual consent. Duffy featured infrequently after he returned from injury and Hibs announced in April 2011 that he would return to Bristol after the loan deal is completed.
Duffy was one of seventeen players released by Rovers in May 2011. Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
announced in July that they had agreed to sign Duffy. The striker hit his first goals for the club in a 3-2 win at Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
International career
Duffy earned international recognition whilst a Falkirk player, by being selected for Scotland BScotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
against Poland and Turkey during the 2005 Future Cup.