Darran Rowbotham
FullnameDarran Rowbotham
Birth date22 October 1966 (age 59)
Birth placeCardiff, Wales
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
PositionStriker
Youthyears 11983–1984
Youthclubs 1Plymouth Argyle
Years 11984–1987
Clubs 1Plymouth Argyle
Caps 146
Goals 12
Years 21987–1991
Clubs 2Exeter City
Caps 2118
Goals 246
Years 31991–1992
Clubs 3Torquay United
Caps 314
Goals 33
Years 41992–1993
Clubs 4Birmingham City
Caps 436
Goals 46
Years 51992
Clubs 5Mansfield Town (loan)
Caps 54
Goals 52
Years 61993
Clubs 6Hereford United (loan)
Caps 68
Goals 62
Years 71993–1995
Clubs 7Crewe Alexandra
Caps 761
Goals 721
Years 81995–1996
Clubs 8Shrewsbury Town
Caps 840
Goals 89
Years 91996
Clubs 9Exeter City (loan)
Caps 92
Goals 91
Years 101996–2000
Clubs 10Exeter City
Caps 10118
Goals 1037
Years 111999
Clubs 11Leyton Orient (loan)
Caps 116
Goals 110
Years 122000–2002
Clubs 12Weymouth

Darran Rowbotham (born 22 October 1966) is a Welsh former footballer who made more than 450 appearances in the Football League playing as a striker.

Career

Rowbotham was born in Cardiff, Wales. He began his career as a junior with Plymouth Argyle, and turned professional with the club in November 1984. Three years later he joined local rivals Exeter City.[1] A key player in Exeter winning the Fourth Division title in the 1989–90 season, his goalscoring had linked him with possible moves to top-flight football. However, he sustained a serious knee injury which kept him out of football for a year, after which his career was restricted to the lower divisions of the Football League.[2]

After four years at Exeter, where he scored 58 goals in 142 games in all competitions, he joined Torquay United for a fee of £25,000. Only four months later he moved on again, following his former Exeter manager Terry Cooper to Birmingham City for a fee of £20,000.[1]

Lack of goals for Birmingham resulted in loan spells at Mansfield Town and Hereford United before he left on a free transfer, signing for Crewe Alexandra before the 1993–94 season.[1] He spent two years there, followed by an 18-month spell at Shrewsbury Town, before returning to Exeter in 1996. He remained at Exeter for four years, including a month on loan to Leyton Orient,[3] before being released at the end of the 1999–2000 season.[2] He ended his career playing alongside brother Jason for Weymouth in the Southern League.[4]

Honours

Individual

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. ^ "A game of two halves". BBC Sport. 29 July 2000. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Darren Rowbotham". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Archived 30 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Jason set to join the Terras". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 25 January 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  5. ^ Lynch. The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes. p. 148.