Michael Maidens
Encyclopedia
Michael Douglas Maidens (7 May 1987 – 19 October 2007) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder
. He started his career with Hartlepool United
in 2004, making his debut in the League Cup
against Crystal Palace
in September 2004.
He joined York City
on a month's loan
in January 2007 and made three appearances in the Conference National
. He joined Blyth Spartans
on loan during the 2007–08 season and made seven appearances and scored one goal for them in Conference North
.
and in 2001 was placed on standby for The Football Association
's "Under-15 Schoolboy Development Course", before being given a full call-up. His first team debut came on 21 September 2004 when he was a late substitute for Gavin Strachan
in the 2–1 League Cup
defeat away to Crystal Palace
. A month later, on 30 October 2004, he made his league debut in the 1–0 home win against Port Vale
. He scored Hartlepool's goal of the season in the 2005–06 season, a curling effort in a 3–1 victory over Huddersfield Town
in March 2006.
Maidens joined York City on a month's loan
on 19 January 2007. He made three appearances for the club.
He joined Blyth Spartans
on loan in time for the start of the 2007–08 season and scored on his Conference North
debut, a 2–0 win at home to Alfreton Town
. He made seven appearances and scored one goal for the club.
announced that Maidens had died in a road traffic accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle which lost control and collided with a metal post near a roundabout on the A174
at 20.25 hours on 19 October, police reported. Both their youth team game and their league game against Swansea City
were postponed as a mark of respect. The postponement was fully backed by Swansea City and the Football League
.
Swansea City and Hartlepool players paid tribute to Maidens on 21 October. One of the Swansea players who was deeply saddened by Maidens' passing was Tom Butler
, who played alongside him during his time at Hartlepool. Hartlepool have since retired Maidens' number 25 shirt.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He started his career 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...
in 2004, making his debut in the 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...
against 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...
in September 2004.
He joined 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...
on a month's 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 January 2007 and made three appearances in the 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...
. He joined Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
on loan during the 2007–08 season and made seven appearances and scored one goal for them in 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...
.
Career
Maidens started his career as a trainee with 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...
and in 2001 was placed on standby for The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
's "Under-15 Schoolboy Development Course", before being given a full call-up. His first team debut came on 21 September 2004 when he was a late substitute for Gavin Strachan
Gavin Strachan
Gavin David Strachan is a Scottish association football coach and sports journalist. He is the son of manager and former player Gordon Strachan, and currently is youth team coach at Peterborough United...
in the 2–1 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...
defeat away 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...
. A month later, on 30 October 2004, he made his league debut in the 1–0 home win against Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. He scored Hartlepool's goal of the season in the 2005–06 season, a curling effort in a 3–1 victory over Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in March 2006.
Maidens joined York City on a month's 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....
on 19 January 2007. He made three appearances for the club.
He joined Blyth Spartans
Blyth Spartans A.F.C.
Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They...
on loan in time for the start of the 2007–08 season and scored on his 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...
debut, a 2–0 win at home to Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
. He made seven appearances and scored one goal for the club.
Death
On 20 October 2007, 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...
announced that Maidens had died in a road traffic accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle which lost control and collided with a metal post near a roundabout on the A174
A174 road
The A174 is a major road in North Yorkshire, England. It runs from Thornaby-on-Tees to Whitby....
at 20.25 hours on 19 October, police reported. Both their youth team game and their league game against 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...
were postponed as a mark of respect. The postponement was fully backed by Swansea City and the Football 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...
.
Swansea City and Hartlepool players paid tribute to Maidens on 21 October. One of the Swansea players who was deeply saddened by Maidens' passing was Tom Butler
Thomas Butler (footballer)
Thomas Butler is a professional footballer who currently plays for Swansea City in the Premier League. He has played for the Republic of Ireland at under-21 and senior level....
, who played alongside him during his time at Hartlepool. Hartlepool have since retired Maidens' number 25 shirt.
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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| 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... |
2004–05 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 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... (loan) |
2006–07 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Blyth Spartans Blyth Spartans A.F.C. Blyth Spartans A.F.C. are a professional football club who play in the Conference North, and are based in the town of Blyth, Northumberland, England. They are often the most Northerly team in whichever league or cup they are playing in. They are managed by former Spartans player Steve Cuggy.They... (loan) |
2007–08 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Total | 35 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 2 | |
External links
- Michael Maidens profile at the Hartlepool United website