Greg Halford
Encyclopedia
Gregory "Greg" Halford is an English footballer who plays for Portsmouth
. He is naturally a right wingback or winger
, but has played a number of other positions throughout his career, including striker
and centre back.
's youth team. He signed a professional contract on 1 August 2002, made his first team debut on in a 5–0 home defeat to Luton Town
on 21 April 2003, and scored his first senior goal in a 2–1 defeat at home to Hartlepool United
.
Halford continued his progress at Colchester, picking up the Young Player of the Year award for the 2004–05 season, and being named in the PFA
League One
Team of the Year.
In over 150 games in five years for the first team at Layer Road
, he gained the reputation of being a 'utility man' having played in defence, midfield and attack for club and country, his last manager, Geraint Williams
, preferring to play him at right back. He also had a reputation for a long throw, with a high percentage of Colchester's goals in the 2005–06
season coming from Halford's long throw. He said "I tried measuring it one time – it was half the pitch, 50 yards."
. He was linked with a number of Premier League clubs, but on 30 January 2007, Reading
completed the signing of Halford for an undisclosed fee, believed to be at least £2.25million, on a contract that would keep him at Reading until June 2010. His debut for Reading came as a substitute
appearance in their 0–0 home draw with Portsmouth
on 17 March 2007, where he played for the last few minutes on the left wing. He made his full debut in Reading's 1–0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur
on 1 April 2007, where he conceded a penalty due to a controversial hand ball decision.
had previously tracked Halford and was extremely pleased to capture him, rating him very highly and expecting much from him in the 2007–08 season. Reading's Director of Football, Nick Hammond
, revealed that Halford had not fitted in with the rest of the Reading squad, and had failed to make the impact both Reading and Halford had desired.
He made his debut for Sunderland on 15 August 2007 in a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City
at St Andrews
. However, on 11 January 2008, it was announced that Sunderland would listen to offers, following reported interest in him from Crystal Palace
and Charlton Athletic
. He moved on loan to Charlton at the end of January 2008, scoring twice against West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
side Sheffield United
a season-long loan and subsequently made his debut for them in the opening game of the season at . Halford scored his first goal for the club against Blackpool
on 23 August. His goal in the semi-final play-off against meant that Sheffield United earned a place in the 2008–09 playoff final.
on 3 July 2009 in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 15 August 2009 against West Ham United, going on to make 17 Premier League appearances for Wolves, along with three in cup competitions. He mostly played on the right of midfield or at right back. As with earlier in his career, long throw-ins were a strong feature of his game.
side Portsmouth
in October 2010 for two months. He made his debut for the Fratton Park
club in a victory over Millwall
and scored his first goal for the club on 23 October 2010 when he struck the winner in a 2–1 win at Hull City
. On November 17, the loan was extended for one-month.
In January 2011, Halford rejoined Portsmouth on a loan until the end of the season. He was used mostly as a centre back in 2011, with fellow loanee Ritchie De Laet preferred at right back.
On 11 July 2011, Halford joined Portsmouth on a permanent basis for a fee believed to be in the region of £1m, signing a three-year deal.
at U20 level, making his debut against Portugal
in the Toulon Tournament
on 4 June 2005, and scoring his first international goal in a 3–0 win against South Korea on 6 June 2005.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. He is naturally a right wingback or winger
Winger (sport)
In certain sports, such as football, field hockey, ice hockey, handball, rugby union, lacrosse and rugby league, the term winger is the name of a position. It refers to positions on the extreme left and right sides of the pitch . In American football and Canadian football, the analogous position...
, but has played a number of other positions throughout his career, including 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...
and centre back.
Colchester United
Halford started his football career in July 2001 when he joined Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
's youth team. He signed a professional contract on 1 August 2002, made his first team debut on in a 5–0 home defeat to 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...
on 21 April 2003, and scored his first senior goal in a 2–1 defeat at home to 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...
.
Halford continued his progress at Colchester, picking up the Young Player of the Year award for the 2004–05 season, and being named in the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
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....
Team of the Year.
In over 150 games in five years for the first team at Layer Road
Layer Road
Layer Road was a Football League stadium in Colchester, England. It was only used for football matches and was the home ground of Colchester United before being replaced by the Weston Homes Community Stadium. The stadium held spectators and was built in 1907, originally for use by Colchester Town...
, he gained the reputation of being a 'utility man' having played in defence, midfield and attack for club and country, his last manager, Geraint Williams
Geraint Williams
David Geraint Williams is a former professional footballer who also played for Wales. He has also managed Colchester United and Leyton Orient.- Career :...
, preferring to play him at right back. He also had a reputation for a long throw, with a high percentage of Colchester's goals in the 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...
season coming from Halford's long throw. He said "I tried measuring it one time – it was half the pitch, 50 yards."
Reading
After helping the U's to gain promotion to the Championship last term, Halford handed in a transfer request in August 2006 after interest from several Premier League clubs. Keen to prove himself at a higher level, the England U20 international stated his wish to play in the Premier League, but the transfer request was rejected despite Halford reporting that Colchester had received a "big offer" from Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. He was linked with a number of Premier League clubs, but on 30 January 2007, Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
completed the signing of Halford for an undisclosed fee, believed to be at least £2.25million, on a contract that would keep him at Reading until June 2010. His debut for Reading came as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
appearance in their 0–0 home draw with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 17 March 2007, where he played for the last few minutes on the left wing. He made his full debut in Reading's 1–0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on 1 April 2007, where he conceded a penalty due to a controversial hand ball decision.
Sunderland
Halford signed a four year deal with Sunderland after making only three appearances for Reading in his short spell there. He was confirmed as Sunderland's first signing of the summer transfer window on 11 June 2007, and cost the club £3.5 million. Roy KeaneRoy 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....
had previously tracked Halford and was extremely pleased to capture him, rating him very highly and expecting much from him in the 2007–08 season. Reading's Director of Football, Nick Hammond
Nick Hammond
Nicholas David Hammond is an English former football goalkeeper, and currently Director of Football at Reading Football Club.-Playing career:...
, revealed that Halford had not fitted in with the rest of the Reading squad, and had failed to make the impact both Reading and Halford had desired.
He made his debut for Sunderland on 15 August 2007 in a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City
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...
at St Andrews
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
. However, on 11 January 2008, it was announced that Sunderland would listen to offers, following reported interest in him from 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...
and 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,...
. He moved on loan to Charlton at the end of January 2008, scoring twice against West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sheffield United
On 2 July 2008, Halford moved to ChampionshipFootball 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...
side Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
a season-long loan and subsequently made his debut for them in the opening game of the season at . Halford scored his first goal for the club against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 23 August. His goal in the semi-final play-off against meant that Sheffield United earned a place in the 2008–09 playoff final.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Halford signed for newly-promoted Premier League side Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton 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 3 July 2009 in a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut on 15 August 2009 against West Ham United, going on to make 17 Premier League appearances for Wolves, along with three in cup competitions. He mostly played on the right of midfield or at right back. As with earlier in his career, long throw-ins were a strong feature of his game.
Portsmouth
Unable to stake a claim to regular football at Molineux he went out on loan at ChampionshipFootball 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...
side Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in October 2010 for two months. He made his debut for the Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
club in a victory over Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and scored his first goal for the club on 23 October 2010 when he struck the winner in a 2–1 win at 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...
. On November 17, the loan was extended for one-month.
In January 2011, Halford rejoined Portsmouth on a loan until the end of the season. He was used mostly as a centre back in 2011, with fellow loanee Ritchie De Laet preferred at right back.
On 11 July 2011, Halford joined Portsmouth on a permanent basis for a fee believed to be in the region of £1m, signing a three-year deal.
International career
Halford has been capped for EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at U20 level, making his debut against Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
in the Toulon Tournament
Toulon Tournament
The Toulon Tournament is a football tournament which traditionally features invited national teams composed of under-21 players, although the first tournament in 1967 featured club teams...
on 4 June 2005, and scoring his first international goal in a 3–0 win against South Korea on 6 June 2005.
Career statistics
| Club | 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... |
Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Colchester Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
2002–03 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 4 | |
| 2004–05 | 44 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 9 | |
| 2005–06 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 8 | |
| 2006–07 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | |
| Total | 136 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 163 | 24 | |
| Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
2006–07 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
2007–08 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Charlton 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,... (loan) |
2007–08 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | |
| Sheffield Utd Sheffield United F.C. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production... (loan) |
2007–08 | 41 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 8 |
| Total | 41 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 49 | 8 | |
| Wolves 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... |
2009–10 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... (loan) |
2010–11 2010–11 Football League Championship The 2010–11 Football League Championship was the seventh season of the league under its current name and nineteenth season under its current league division format... |
35 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 5 |
| Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
2011–12 2011–12 Football League Championship The 2011–12 Football League Championship is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format.... |
13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Total | 46 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 6 | |
External links
- Greg Halford profile at the Wolverhampton Wanderers website