Danny Sonner

Daniel James Sonner (born 9 January 1972) is an English-born former Northern Ireland international footballer. He won thirteen caps in a seven-year international career.

Danny Sonner
Personal information
Full name Daniel James Sonner[1]
Date of birth (1972-01-09) 9 January 1972
Place of birth Wigan, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1990–1991 Wigan Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1993 Burnley 6 (0)
1992–1993 → Bury (loan) 5 (3)
1993–1995 FC Erzgebirge Aue 43 (12)
1995–1996 SCB Preußen Köln 21 (3)
1996–1998 Ipswich Town 56 (3)
1998–2000 Sheffield Wednesday 53 (3)
2000–2002 Birmingham City 41 (2)
2002–2003 Walsall 24 (4)
2003–2004 Nottingham Forest 28 (0)
2004–2005 Peterborough United 15 (0)
2005 → Port Vale (loan) 13 (0)
2005–2007 Port Vale 62 (2)
2007 Walsall 6 (0)
2008 Wrexham 9 (1)
Total 382 (33)
National team
1995–1999 Northern Ireland B 4 (1)
1997–2004 Northern Ireland 13 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A much-travelled midfielder, despite 18 years of professional football he never spent more than two seasons at any one club. He played for numerous English clubs, predominantly in the Midlands, and also played in Germany. In the latter part of his career he was easily recognizable due to his iconic long hair. His more notable spells were with Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, and Port Vale; he played around fifty games for each club. In all he played 386 games in the English Football League, as well as more than 42 games in German football. He played in all of the top four divisions of English football, with his greatest honour being a runners-up medal in the League Cup in 2001.

Club career

Burnley

Starting his professional career with Third Division Wigan Athletic in 1990, Sonner never made a first team appearance for Bryan Hamilton's side, and so signed with Frank Casper's Fourth Division Burnley in March 1991.[3] After Casper was replaced by Jimmy Mullen, Sonner barely featured at Turf Moor during their table-topping 1991–92 season and so was loaned out to Mike Walsh's Bury, back in the fourth tier, in November 1992, staying for the rest of the season.

Germany

Making little impact in the English Football League, he packed his bags and moved to Germany for the start of the 1993–94 season, signing with NOFV-Oberliga Süd side FC Erzgebirge Aue. After Aue's promotion he played in the third-tier Regionalliga Nordost for the 1994–95 season. He spent the 1995–96 season with Preußen Köln in the Oberliga Nordrhein.

Ipswich Town to Sheffield Wednesday

It was whilst at Cologne that he was plucked from obscurity by Ipswich Town manager George Burley. Sonner would spend the 1996–97 season in the English First Division.

In two seasons with the club he played 56 league games, half of which were substitute appearances. However, he and Burley soon fell out and Sonner was on the move to Danny Wilson's Sheffield Wednesday in October 1998 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £75,000. Once again Sonner had fallen on his feet, spending the 1998–99 season in the Premier League.[4] He played the club's 8–0 thumping at the hands of Newcastle United at St James' Park on 19 September, and Wednesday suffered relegation at the end of the 1999–2000 season. He was not retained for the following season after failing to agree a new contract and was forced to search for a new club.[5]

Birmingham City

He soon signed for Birmingham City,[6] where he helped the club to the 2001 League Cup Final. In the quarter finals he had given his old club some food for thought, scoring in a 2–0 victory over the "Owls" on 12 December 2000.[7][8] In the final he was replaced by Bryan Hughes after 71 minutes and was forced to watch his team lose the penalty shootout to Liverpool 5–4, after a 1–1 draw in normal time. In a play-off semi-final defeat at Preston North End's Deepdale, Sonner, teammate Michael Johnson and boss Trevor Francis were all charged with misconduct by the Football Association,[9] Sonner and Johnson were also charged for using abusive language.[10] Sonner was fined £1,000 following a hearing.[11]

He was released by Birmingham at the end of the 2001–02 season.[12] He played his last game for the club on 7 November 2001 and was sent off 77 minutes into a 1–0 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion after a poor challenge on Phil Gilchrist.[13] Not long after this Steve Bruce was appointed as the club's new manager. Bruce never selected Sonner for a matchday squad, and he therefore played no part in the 2002 play-off final.

Walsall

After training with Wolverhampton Wanderers,[14] he spent the 2002–03 season with Walsall.[15] He got off to a bad start, wrestling opposition player Tommy Smith to the ground in a 2–0 defeat at Watford, earning a red card and causing manager Colin Lee to brand his behaviour "a disgrace".[16] He managed to recover his reputation, scoring four goals in 28 games. After getting released at the end of the season by the cash-strapped club,[17] he considered a move to Carlisle United,[18] before opting for Nottingham Forest.[19]

Nottingham Forest

He was with Forest throughout the 2003–04 season,[20] playing 32 games over all competitions. At Forest, a bad miss caused the late Brian Clough to say: "I wish I'd been out there. I scored 250 goals in 271 games and I could have put that in with my you-know-what!"[21] Sonner was keen to stay at the City Ground,[22] but was released by manager Joe Kinnear at the end of the season. Sonner received an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt, a trial at Kidderminster Harriers[23] and an offer from Portadown.[24]

Peterborough United to Port Vale

Sonner spent the 2004–05 season at League One Peterborough United, then managed by Barry Fry. He spent February to May of that season on loan with Port Vale,[25] making 13 appearances. Impressing during his loan spell,[26] he signed with Vale permanently for the start of the 2005–06 season.[27] A regular under Martin Foyle, he also spent the 2006–07 season at Vale Park, where he and Tony Dinning became the old heads at the centre of the park. Sonner was popular with the fans and in fact played more games for the club than he did for any other club.[28] However, at the age of 35, Sonner rejected Vale's contract offer,[29] claiming that offer was too low paying.[30] He said: "I deserve a rise and a decent offer. The club wants me to play for next to nothing. If they carry on paying Conference wages, then the club is going nowhere. They talk about promotion, but don't want to keep players."[31] Chairman Bill Bratt responded by saying that: "The manager had faith in Danny to pluck him from Peterborough reserves and to offer him another contract with better terms... if he thinks he is on next to nothing he should try working in the pottery industry for 40 hours a week for £200."[31]

Later career

He moved on to former club Walsall,[32] now led by Richard Money, but due to injury he played just seven games of the 2007–08 season before leaving the club in September 2007.[33] In January 2008, Sonner and fellow "Saddlers" teammate, Paul Hall both joined League Two strugglers Wrexham.[34] He was released by manager Brian Little in May 2008, following the club's relegation to the Conference.[35] Sonner scored once during his spell at Wrexham, his goal coming in a 2–2 draw with Morecambe on 29 January 2008.[36]

International career

Sonner has represented Northern Ireland 13 times.[37] Between 1995 and 1999 he also earned four Northern Ireland B caps, scoring one goal.[38]

He earned his first cap on 10 September 1997 in a 1–0 defeat to Albania in Zürich. His second cap came in a 3–0 home loss to Germany on 27 March 1999 in a Euro 2000 qualifier. The rest of his caps were all friendlies.[37] His first start for Northern Ireland came in Belfast on 26 April 2000, his sixth cap – the Northern Irish beat the Hungarians 1–0.[37]

After three years away from the international scene, he was recalled in February 2004.[39] He played six games in 2004 after being recalled, his last one coming in a goalless draw with Switzerland on 18 August.[37]

Style of play

Sonner was a midfielder with long hair, a languid playing style and excellent vision and passing skills.[40]

Coaching career

Sonner joined Savannah United (based in Savannah, Georgia) as a staff coach in August 2015.[41]

Statistics

Club level
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Burnley1991–92Fourth Division6000112192
1992–93Third Division0000000000
Total 6000112192
Bury (loan)1992–93Third Division53300021104
FC Erzgebirge Aue1993–94[42]NOFV-Oberliga Süd226––––00226
1994–95[42]Regionalliga Nordost 216[lower-alpha 1] ––––1[lower-alpha 2]0226
Total 4312––––104412
Preußen Köln1995–96[44]Oberliga Nordrhein213––––00213
Ipswich Town1996–97[45]First Division292106110372
1997–98[46]First Division23110201[lower-alpha 3]0271
1998–99[47]First Division4000200060
Total 5632010120703
Sheffield Wednesday1998–99[47]Premier League263300000293
1999–2000[48]Premier League270304100341
Total 533604100634
Birmingham City2000–01[49]First Division26110912[lower-alpha 3]0382
2001–02[50]First Division151003000181
Total 4121012120563
Walsall2002–03[51]First Division244202000284
Nottingham Forest2003–04[52]First Division280103000320
Peterborough United2004–05[53]League One15000101[lower-alpha 4]0170
Port Vale2004–05[53]League One130000000130
2005–06[54]League One29120101[lower-alpha 4]0331
2006–07[55]League One33120401[lower-alpha 4]0401
Total 752405020862
Walsall2007–08[56]League One6000100070
Wrexham2007–08[56]League Two9100000091
Career total 3823319039412245239
  1. Sonner's profile page at bsg-wismut-aue.de gives him four goals for 1994–95,[42] but individual match reports on that site give him six.[43]
  2. Appearance/s in the Saxony Cup.
  3. Appearance/s in the play-offs.
  4. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.

International level
Northern Ireland national team[57]
YearAppsGoals
199710
199920
200030
200110
200460
Total130

Honours
Burnley
Birmingham City

References
  1. "Danny Sonner". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2006/07". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. "DANNY SONNER - Clarets Mad". www.clarets-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  4. "Sheffield Wednesday FC 1998-2000". sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  5. "Sheffield Wednesday lose Sonner and Nolan". BBC Sport. 4 July 2000. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  6. "Birmingham City FC 2000-2002". sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  7. "Sonner shines in the rain". BBC Sport. 12 December 2000. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  8. "Former Owl makes his point". BBC Sport. 13 December 2000. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  9. "Blues trio face FA charges". BBC Sport. 27 July 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  10. "Francis faces FA rap". BBC Sport. 28 August 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  11. "Francis fined over conduct". BBC Sport. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  12. "Birmingham release trio". BBC Sport. 21 May 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  13. "Mills frustrated by defeat". BBC Sport. 8 November 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  14. "Sonner trains at Wolves". BBC Sport. 11 July 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  15. "Sonner seals Saddlers switch". BBC Sport. 18 July 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  16. "Sonner fined by Walsall". BBC Sport. 10 September 2002. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  17. "Sonner leaves Walsall". BBC Sport. 10 April 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  18. "Carlisle in Sonner talks". BBC Sport. 20 May 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  19. "Forest bring in duo". BBC Sport. 4 August 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  20. "Nottingham Forest FC 2003-2004". sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  21. "Quotes: Clough and Westwood". BBC Sport. 6 October 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  22. "Sonner makes Forest plea". BBC Sport. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  23. "Harriers hand Sonner trial". BBC Sport. 22 July 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  24. "Ports chase Sonner". BBC Sport. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  25. "Sonner joins Vale in loan switch". BBC Sport. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  26. "Sonner lengthens Vale loan move". BBC Sport. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  27. "Vale sign Posh midfielder Sonner". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  28. "- AUCTION". Port Vale Official Website. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  29. "Veteran Sonner rejects Vale offer". BBC Sport. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  30. Bratt, Bill (24 May 2007). "- LATEST". Official Port Vale Website. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  31. "Chairman responds to Sonner blast". BBC Sport. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  32. "Veteran Sonner returns to Walsall". BBC Sport. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  33. "Midfielder Sonner leaves Walsall". BBC Sport. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  34. "Wrexham capture Hall and Sonner". BBC Sport. 11 January 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
  35. "Roberts and Llewellyn leave Reds". BBC Sport. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  36. "Morecambe 2-2 Wrexham". BBC. 29 January 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  37. Scholes, Tony (12 October 2006). "Danny Sonner (N IRELAND) - 13 caps". Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  38. "Danny Sonner". nifootball.blogspot.com. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  39. "Sonner back in NI squad". BBC Sport. 10 February 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2009.
  40. "Cult Hero 09: Danny Sonner". onevalefan.co.uk. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  41. "Staff". www.savannahunited.com. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  42. "Daniel Sonner". bsg-wismut-aue.de (in German). Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  43. "Spielinfo: 1. Suhler SV 06 – FC Erzgebirge Aue 1:4"., "Spielinfo: Dresdner SC Fußball 98 – FC Erzgebirge Aue 2:5"., and "Spielinfo: FC Erzgebirge Aue – Chemnitzer SV 51 Heckert 6:0". bsg-wismut-aue.de (in German). Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  44. "League games and goals for Preußen Köln". viktoria-koeln-fancenter.de (in German). Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  45. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  46. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  47. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  48. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  54. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  55. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  56. "Games played by Danny Sonner in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  57. "Player profile". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
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