Glen Downey
Encyclopedia
Glen Downey is a former English
footballer who played as a Defender between 1997 and 2007. He notably played in the Football League for Grimsby Town
, having also had spells with Hartlepool United
, Bishop Auckland
, Spennymoor United
, Gateshead
, Scarborough
and Worksop Town
.
in 1997 but in three years with the club he had failed to make a single first team appearance and was released in 2000. He then moved into Non-League whilst having a brief spell with Bishop Auckland
, before joining Conference National
side Scarborough
in 2003. He had struggled to make an impact with The Seadogs, and following his release in 2004 he was surprisingly signed up for Football League Two
side Grimsby Town
by Russell Slade
, his manager at Scarborough. Originally signed as defensive cover, he was given a new one-year-deal a year later despite the fact he only played 14 minutes in his first season with The Mariners.
He was often referred to as 'The Invisible Man' by Grimsby fans, who speculated if he really existed, having featured more than 30 times as an unused substitute in his time at Grimsby. In his first appearance of the 05-06 season Downey impressed after replacing the injured Rob Jones
in the impressive 1-0 Football League Cup
victory away against Derby County
. In his only league appearance of that season on New Year's Eve, he came on as substitute and scored an 84th minute winner against Wrexham
in a game where both Grimsby centre backs Simon Ramsden
and Rob Jones departed through injury. Downey had played at left back as part of a makeshift back four with regular left back Tom Newey
moving to centre back to partner striker Gary Jones.
Despite earning several plaudits in all 3 of his appearances for the club, Downey was released and joined Conference North
side Worksop Town
at the start of the 2006-07 season. This was only to be a brief spell and he departed after playing only a handful of games. Following his release from Worksop he was never to sign again with a club at neither professional or semi-professional terms, and despite never officially announcing his retirment from the sport he would never play competitive football again,
from a flat in Sunderland in 2007. He was cleared of these charges in a court hearing in January 2009.
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...
footballer who played as a Defender between 1997 and 2007. He notably played in the Football League for Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
, having also had spells with 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...
, Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
, Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
, 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....
, Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
and Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
.
Career
Downey started his career as a trainee at Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool 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...
in 1997 but in three years with the club he had failed to make a single first team appearance and was released in 2000. He then moved into Non-League whilst having a brief spell with Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland F.C.
Bishop Auckland Football Club are an English football team based in Bishop Auckland, County Durham. They are one of the most successful amateur sides, having won the old FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions , and losing finalists on a further 8. They currently play in the Northern League Division One. ...
, before joining 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...
side Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
in 2003. He had struggled to make an impact with The Seadogs, and following his release in 2004 he was surprisingly signed up for Football 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 Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
by Russell Slade
Russell Slade
Russell Slade is an English football manager currently in charge of League One side Leyton Orient.-Notts County:Slade was assistant manager to Mick Walker at Notts County, and took over as caretaker manager when Walker was sacked in September 1994. When County appointed Howard Kendall as manager...
, his manager at Scarborough. Originally signed as defensive cover, he was given a new one-year-deal a year later despite the fact he only played 14 minutes in his first season with The Mariners.
He was often referred to as 'The Invisible Man' by Grimsby fans, who speculated if he really existed, having featured more than 30 times as an unused substitute in his time at Grimsby. In his first appearance of the 05-06 season Downey impressed after replacing the injured Rob Jones
Rob Jones (footballer born 1979)
Robert William "Rob" Jones is an English footballer who currently plays as a centre back for League One club Sheffield Wednesday....
in the impressive 1-0 Football 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...
victory away against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. In his only league appearance of that season on New Year's Eve, he came on as substitute and scored an 84th minute winner against Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in a game where both Grimsby centre backs Simon Ramsden
Simon Ramsden
Simon Paul Ramsden is an English footballer playing for Football League Two side Bradford City. He is a defender capable of playing in the centre or on the right side.-Sunderland:...
and Rob Jones departed through injury. Downey had played at left back as part of a makeshift back four with regular left back Tom Newey
Tom Newey
Thomas William "Tom" Newey is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Football League Two side Rotherham United...
moving to centre back to partner striker Gary Jones.
Despite earning several plaudits in all 3 of his appearances for the club, Downey was released and joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
side Worksop Town
Worksop Town F.C.
Worksop Town Football Club are a semi-professional English football club from Worksop, Nottinghamshire who play in the Northern Premier League Premier Division...
at the start of the 2006-07 season. This was only to be a brief spell and he departed after playing only a handful of games. Following his release from Worksop he was never to sign again with a club at neither professional or semi-professional terms, and despite never officially announcing his retirment from the sport he would never play competitive football again,
Personal life
Following the end of his football career, Downey moved back to his native North England, and later was accused of money laundering and running a brothelBrothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
from a flat in Sunderland in 2007. He was cleared of these charges in a court hearing in January 2009.
Grimsby Town
- Coca Cola League Two Play-off runner up: 2005-062005-06 in English footballThe 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...