Robert Duffy (footballer)

Robert Duffy (born 2 December 1982) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a striker for Basford United where he is also the club's manager alongside Martin Carruthers.

Rob Duffy
Personal information
Full name Robert Duffy
Date of birth (1982-12-02) 2 December 1982
Place of birth Swansea, Wales
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Basford United
(Player/Manager)
Youth career
1998–2001 Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Rushden & Diamonds 30 (1)
2005 → Stamford (loan) 2 (2)
2005 Cambridge United 9 (0)
2005 Kettering Town 4 (1)
2006 Stevenage Borough 1 (0)
2006–2008 Oxford United 56 (24)
2008 → Wrexham (loan) 6 (0)
2008–2009 Newport County 21 (1)
2009–2011 Mansfield Town 78 (28)
2011–2012 Grimsby Town 52 (8)
2012–2013 Lincoln City 3 (0)
2013–2014 King's Lynn Town 27 (12)
2014–2015 Ilkeston 51 (21)
2015–2016 Nuneaton Town 31 (11)
2016– Basford United 43 (13)
Teams managed
2017– Basford United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:42, 1 July 2015 (UTC)

He is a Welsh former Youth and Under-21 international, and has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Stamford, Cambridge United, Kettering Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Stevenage Borough, Oxford United, Wrexham, Newport County, Mansfield Town, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, King's Lynn Town, Ilkeston and Nuneaton Town.

Playing career

Early career

Robert Duffy, who is older brother to footballer Richard Duffy, played his junior football in Swansea for Garden Village. He came through the youth system at Charlton Athletic, but was never offered a professional contract. Duffy followed Charlton's youth team manager Terry Westley to Rushden & Diamonds in 2001, where he made over 30 appearances, most as a substitute.[1] He fractured his kneecap in a training ground accident in August 2003 and did not play again until January 2004, when he played most of a reserve game.[2][3] He struggled to regain form,[1] was loaned to non-league club Stamford and had short spells with Cambridge United and Kettering Town before joining Gainsborough Trinity in January 2006.[1][4] Duffy ended the 2005–06 season at Stevenage Borough.[5]

Oxford United

Duffy was recommended to Oxford United by former youth development officer, Malcolm Elias, and joined the club on a one-month trial in July 2006.[5] He was signed by Oxford at the beginning of the 2006–07 season on a two-year contract,[6] and was Oxford United's top scorer in that season, including a hat-trick against Forest Green Rovers in October 2006.[7] In September 2007, Duffy broke his left arm after falling awkwardly during a match,[8] which sidelined him for two months. In November, he returned to action as a late substitute in the 78th minute against Ebbsfleet United, but was sent off just 20 seconds later after an off-the-ball incident with Ebbsfleet's Mark Ricketts as he went past him.[9]

Duffy was placed on the transfer list in January 2008 as manager Darren Patterson tried to free up funds to bring in new players,[10] and joined Wrexham on loan later that month.[11][12] He made only six substitute appearances for Wrexham and in April 2008, was released and returned to Oxford.[13]

Newport County

He was released by Oxford at the end of the season and, after an unsuccessful trial at Mansfield Town, he signed for Conference South side Newport County in July 2008.[14][15]

Mansfield Town

On 7 January 2009 Duffy then signed permanently for Mansfield Town, managed by David Holdsworth, twin brother of his manager at Newport County, Dean Holdsworth.[14] Despite his lack of goals at Newport, David Holdsworth's faith in Duffy was repaid as he scored the winning goal on his Mansfield debut, going on to score eight further times as Mansfield pulled away from the Conference relegation zone to finish in mid-table.[16]

Grimsby Town

On Monday 24 January 2011 it was stated on BBC Radio Humberside that Duffy had failed to agree personal terms with Grimsby Town after a fee was agreed between the two clubs. After further negotiation, it was announced on 28 January that Duffy had signed a two-year deal with the Mariners.[17] Duffy scored 28 seconds into his Grimsby debut in their 3–2 win over Eastbourne Borough on 29 January 2011 and three days later he scored again as Town drew 2–2 away at Southport.[18]

Following the conclusion of the 10–11 season and despite being under contract, Duffy was told that he no longer had a future at the club and he was free to find himself a new one.[19] On 16 May 2011 Town chairman John Fenty mentioned that the club had made a mistake in signing Duffy and teammates Charles Ademeno and Serge Makofo.[20] Duffy however stayed for nearly the entire 11–12 campaign, and after playing a cameo role all season he was released before the final game of the season.[21]

Lincoln City

On Monday 21 May 2012 Duffy signed a 1-year contract with Lincoln City.[22] On 9 April 2013 Duffy was released by the club after an injury hit season had restricted him to only 3 games during the 2012–13 season.[23]

Non League

In August 2013 he joined King's Lynn Town.[24] In March 2014, Duffy joined Ilkeston, debuting in the club's 2–0 home Northern Premier League defeat to Buxton on 15 March 2014. On 1 July 2015 he joined Nuneaton as a player coach.[25]

On 1 July 2015, Duffy joined Nuneaton Town.[26] In June 2016 he moved on to join Basford United.[27]

Honours

Football league 2 winner Rushden & Diamonds fc

Grimsby Town

Personal life

He is also a qualified physiotherapist having graduated from the University of Salford in 2016.[28]

References
  1. "Trinity hand chance to Duffy". Non League Daily. 5 January 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  2. "Talbot suffers Duffy blow". BBC Sport. 5 August 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  3. "Duffy raring to go". BBC Sport. 28 January 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  4. "Wilson finally gets his man". Non League Daily. 23 December 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  5. "U's hand duo a chance to impress". Non League Daily. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  6. "Striker Duffy handed Oxford deal". BBC Sport. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  7. "Friday night's Nationwide Conference National round-up". Non League Daily. 7 October 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  8. "Duffy sidelined with broken arm". BBC Sport. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  9. "Oxford Utd 0, Ebbsfleet Utd 0". The Oxford Times. Newsquest Media Group. 17 November 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  10. "Oxford put six on transfer list". BBC Sport. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  11. "Wrexham net Oxford striker Duffy". BBC Sport. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  12. "Duffy extends Wrexham loan deal". BBC Sport. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  13. "Wrexham release loan strike trio". BBC Sport. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  14. "Stags sign striker Duffy". Nottingham Evening Post. Harmsworth Printing. 7 January 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  15. "Robert Duffy Signs". Newport County AFC. 24 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  16. "Robert Duffy career statistics". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Eastbourne Boro 2–3 Grimsby". BBC News. 29 January 2011.
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. "Signing of Serge Makofo was a disaster for Town - chairman". thisisgrimsby.co.uk. 16 May 2011. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  21. http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~2750099,00.html%5B%5D
  22. "Gary Mills, Ashley Westwood and Rob Duffy all join Lincoln City". thisislincolnshire.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
  23. LCFC. "Duffy Departs". redimps.co.uk.
  24. "King's Lynn Town land former Wales Under-21 striker Rob Duffy". Eastern Daily Press. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  25. "Ilkeston new boy cannot save Robins from defeat". Derby Telegraph. 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  26. "Nuneaton Town: New player-coach at the Boro". MIG1-Nuneaton News. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  27. "Impressive new recruits for Basford". NonLeague.pitchero.com. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  28. ThePFA.com. "PFA graduates 2016!". thepfa.com.
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