{{short description|English footballer}} {{Use British English|date=December 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Danny Key |image = |image_size = |caption = |fullname = Daniel Charles Key<ref name=Hugman/> |birth_date = {{birth date|1977|11|2|df=y}}<ref name=Hugman/> |birth_place = Darlington, County Durham, England |height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref name=sbase/> |position = Midfielder |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 1996–1997 |clubs1 = Darlington |caps1 = 3 |goals1 = 0 |years2 = 1997 |clubs2 = → Waterford United (loan) |caps2 = |goals2 = |years3 = 1997 |clubs3 = Gateshead |caps3 = 8 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = – |clubs4 = Spennymoor Town |caps4 = |goals4 = |years5 = 1998–2000 |clubs5 = Crook Town |caps5 = |goals5 = |years6 = 2000–2002 |clubs6 = Whitby Town |caps6 = |goals6 = |years7 = 2002–2005 |clubs7 = Shildon |caps7 = |goals7 = |years8 = 2005–2008 |clubs8 = West Auckland Town |caps8 = |goals8 = |years9 = 2008–20?? |clubs9 = Darlington Railway Athletic }}

'''Daniel Charles Key''' (born 2 November 1977) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Darlington,<ref name=Hugman/> spent time on loan with League of Ireland club Waterford United, and played non-league football for a variety of clubs in the north-east of England.

==Life and career== Key was born in Darlington, County Durham, and began his football career as a youth trainee with his hometown club, Darlington F.C.<ref name=Hugman>{{Hugman|10969|accessdate=6 December 2016}}</ref> He made his Football League debut on 15 October 1996, as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat away to Cardiff City in the Third Division.<ref name=sbase>{{soccerbase season|9619|1996|accessdate=24 December 2014}}</ref> He appeared twice more in the Third Division, each time as a late substitute in a defeat, and once in the 1996–97 FA Cup, starting the match against non-league club Runcorn which Darlington won 4–1.<ref name=sbase/> He spent time on loan with League of Ireland club Waterford United in early 1997,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waterford-united.ie/athlone-jun-2009-two-from-the-archives/ |title=Two from the archives |publisher=Waterford United |date=6 September 2011 |accessdate=24 December 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228131355/http://www.waterford-united.ie/athlone-jun-2009-two-from-the-archives/ |archivedate=28 December 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref> and finished the season with Gateshead, for whom he played eight games in the Conference.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gfcstats.webs.com/9697.htm |title=Gateshead F.C. Season 1996/97 |website=Gateshead FC Stats 1977–2014 |publisher=Alan Percival |accessdate=24 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009063514/http://gfcstats.webs.com/9697.htm |archive-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Harman |title=Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-869833-52-7 |page=292}}</ref>

He went on to play non-league football for Crook Town,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/nightmare-week-sees-blues-hit-rock-bottom.209923.html |title=Nightmare week sees Blues hit rock bottom |newspaper=Cumberland & Westmorland Herald |date=17 October 1998 |accessdate=24 December 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Spennymoor United,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:MNEB1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FEC965C5D1B502A&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Meet the team |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Middlesbrough |date=8 November 2003 |accessdate=27 December 2014 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Whitby Town,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/archive/2000/04/22/8056093.Guiseley_need_a_miracle/ |title=Guiseley need a miracle |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |location=Bradford |date=22 April 2000 |accessdate=24 December 2014}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/sudden-death-of-cup-dreams-3857588 |title=Sudden death of Cup dreams |newspaper=Evening Gazette |location=Middlesbrough |date=14 January 2002 |accessdate=24 December 2014}}</ref> Shildon,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7055787.Gowan_s_fury_as_Shildon_crash_out/ |title=Gowan's fury as Shildon crash out |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Middlesbrough |date=21 October 2002 |accessdate=6 December 2016}}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/6956537.The_Albany_League__Eye_on_treble_as_Dunston_retain_the_title/ |title=The Albany League: Eye on treble as Dunston retain the title |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Middlesbrough |date=4 April 2005 |accessdate=6 December 2016}}</ref>{{snd}}whom he captained to the first round proper of the 2003–04 FA Cup, in which they faced Notts County,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7010399.Support_us_all_the_way/ |title=Support us all the way |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Middlesbrough |date=5 November 2003 |accessdate=6 December 2016}}</ref>{{snd}}West Auckland Town,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7142775.Billingham_enjoy_quick_fire_start_in_FA_Cup_clash/ |title=Billingham enjoy quick-fire start in FA Cup clash |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Middlesbrough |date=22 August 2005 |accessdate=6 December 2016}}</ref> and Darlington Railway Athletic.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/football/club/3730218.RA_finally_get_off_the_mark_at_seventh_attempt/ |title=RA finally get off the mark at seventh attempt |author=Simpson, Ray |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=6 October 2008 |accessdate=24 December 2014}}</ref>

Key was a member of the Coundon Conservative Club team that won the 2007 FA Sunday Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1392240.Brumwell_hails_Coundon_cup_win_as_career_best/ |title=Brumwell hails Coundon cup win as career best |newspaper=The Northern Echo |location=Darlington |date=11 May 2007 |accessdate=6 December 2016}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Key, Danny}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Darlington Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Darlington F.C. players Category:Waterford F.C. players Category:Gateshead F.C. players Category:Spennymoor Town F.C. players Category:Crook Town A.F.C. players Category:Whitby Town F.C. players Category:Shildon A.F.C. players Category:Darlington Railway Athletic F.C. players Category:West Auckland Town F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Northern Football League players Category:Northern Premier League players