Phil Doughty
Encyclopedia
Philip Michael Doughty is an English
professional footballer who currently plays for Fylde
, when aged 16 years and 93 days he came on as a last-minute substitute against Torquay United
in a second-round match whilst he was still at school locally in Kirkham and still too young to train with the Blackpool team, and he had to receive special permission to play from his headmaster at Carr Hill School.
On 3 May 2003, Doughty again needed his headmaster's permission to feature for Blackpool, this time as an unused substitute for Blackpool's final league game of the 2002-03 season
against Chesterfield
, when then Blackpool manager Steve McMahon
named five youth team players in the matchday squad. In the summer of 2003 Doughty joined the club's youth team.
Doughty signed a two-year professional contract on 17 November 2004, with an option for a further two years at Blackpool after impressing as captain of the club's reserve team and also as an unused substitute as part of the first-team squad. Since then Doughty has played for the club in competitions such as the LDV Trophy
, but not in the league.
On 14 January 2005, Doughty signed on loan with Leigh RMI
, who were then in the Conference National
where he was due to stay until 25 April. However, on 11 February, then Blackpool manager, Colin Hendry
cancelled the loan deal after Doughty had played in just one game out of a possible four. In October, Doughty broke two bones in his leg in a youth-team match and was told he would be out of action for between nine and twelve months.
After finally recovering from a fractured tibular and fibia, Doughty became a regular in the Blackpool reserve team, and on 29 March 2007, he was loaned out to Conference North
club Barrow
until the end of the 2006-07 season
. In July 2007, Blackpool extended his contract by one year with an option for further twelve months.
Although a regular in the Blackpool reserve team, and despite being seen earlier in his career as one the club's brightest prospects, Doughty had not played a first-team game for Blackpool for three years when, on 7 November 2007, he joined Football League Two
club Macclesfield Town
on a one-month loan deal in order to get some first-team football, and to try and earn a new contract with Blackpool, where his contract is due to finish at the end of the 2007-08 season
. Doughty was offered a permanent deal to sign for Macclesfield when his loan spell with the club ended on 17 January 2008, with manager Ian Brightwell
keen to sign Doughty. However, he turned down the move and instead the following day went out on a one-month loan again, this time to fellow League Two club Accrington Stanley after talks with manager John Coleman, with a view to a possible permanent move. However, after his loan spell, he returned to Blackpool on 21 February as defensive cover for the club due to injuries. On 7 May 2008, he was released by Blackpool.
Doughty had trials at Hereford United
and Huddersfield Town before signing for Fleetwood Town, newly promoted to the Conference North
, with club manager, Tony Greenwood saying, "Phil is an ambitious young lad who has been looking for a Football League club and we have given him the shop window to achieve that". After struggling to maintain a first team place, Doughty joined Welsh Premier League side Technogroup Welshpool Town on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He returned to Fleetwood Town at the end of the season, signing a season-long loan deal with Fylde
on 17 June 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...
professional footballer who currently plays for Fylde
A.F.C. Fylde
A.F.C. Fylde is a football club based at Warton in the Borough of Fylde in the English county of Lancashire. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season...
Career
After signing as a trainee on 1 December 2002, only six days later Doughty became the youngest player to represent Blackpool in the FA CupFA 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...
, when aged 16 years and 93 days he came on as a last-minute substitute against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in a second-round match whilst he was still at school locally in Kirkham and still too young to train with the Blackpool team, and he had to receive special permission to play from his headmaster at Carr Hill School.
On 3 May 2003, Doughty again needed his headmaster's permission to feature for Blackpool, this time as an unused substitute for Blackpool's final league game of the 2002-03 season
2002-03 in English football
The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...
against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, when then Blackpool manager Steve McMahon
Steve McMahon
Stephen Joseph McMahon is an English former football midfielder who most notably played for Liverpool in the late 1980s...
named five youth team players in the matchday squad. In the summer of 2003 Doughty joined the club's youth team.
Doughty signed a two-year professional contract on 17 November 2004, with an option for a further two years at Blackpool after impressing as captain of the club's reserve team and also as an unused substitute as part of the first-team squad. Since then Doughty has played for the club in competitions such as the LDV 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...
, but not in the league.
On 14 January 2005, Doughty signed on loan with Leigh RMI
Leigh RMI F.C.
Leigh Genesis Football Club, formerly known as Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. and Leigh Railway Mechanics Institute F.C. , was an English semi-professional association football team that folded after relegation from the Northern Premier League in 2011...
, who were then 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...
where he was due to stay until 25 April. However, on 11 February, then Blackpool manager, Colin Hendry
Colin Hendry
Edward Colin Hendry is a retired Scottish footballer and manager, who played as a defender. Hendry started his career with Dundee in 1983 and spent spells at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Rangers, Coventry City, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool...
cancelled the loan deal after Doughty had played in just one game out of a possible four. In October, Doughty broke two bones in his leg in a youth-team match and was told he would be out of action for between nine and twelve months.
After finally recovering from a fractured tibular and fibia, Doughty became a regular in the Blackpool reserve team, and on 29 March 2007, he was loaned out to 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...
club Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
until the end of the 2006-07 season
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...
. In July 2007, Blackpool extended his contract by one year with an option for further twelve months.
Although a regular in the Blackpool reserve team, and despite being seen earlier in his career as one the club's brightest prospects, Doughty had not played a first-team game for Blackpool for three years when, on 7 November 2007, he joined 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....
club Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
on a one-month loan deal in order to get some first-team football, and to try and earn a new contract with Blackpool, where his contract is due to finish at the end of the 2007-08 season
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...
. Doughty was offered a permanent deal to sign for Macclesfield when his loan spell with the club ended on 17 January 2008, with manager Ian Brightwell
Ian Brightwell
Ian Robert Brightwell is an English former footballer, he played for six clubs, most notably spending twelve years with Manchester City...
keen to sign Doughty. However, he turned down the move and instead the following day went out on a one-month loan again, this time to fellow League Two club Accrington Stanley after talks with manager John Coleman, with a view to a possible permanent move. However, after his loan spell, he returned to Blackpool on 21 February as defensive cover for the club due to injuries. On 7 May 2008, he was released by Blackpool.
Doughty had trials at 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 Huddersfield Town before signing for Fleetwood Town, newly promoted to the 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...
, with club manager, Tony Greenwood saying, "Phil is an ambitious young lad who has been looking for a Football League club and we have given him the shop window to achieve that". After struggling to maintain a first team place, Doughty joined Welsh Premier League side Technogroup Welshpool Town on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. He returned to Fleetwood Town at the end of the season, signing a season-long loan deal with Fylde
A.F.C. Fylde
A.F.C. Fylde is a football club based at Warton in the Borough of Fylde in the English county of Lancashire. The club were known as Kirkham & Wesham F.C. until the end of the 2007-08 season...
on 17 June 2009.