{{Short description|English footballer (born 1972)}} {{Use British English|date=August 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Darren Annon | image = | caption = | fullname = Darren Carlton Annon<ref>{{Hugman|422|accessdate=28 June 2015}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1972|2|17}} | birth_place = Chelsea, England | height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}<ref name="Soccerbase" /> | position = Defender, winger | years1 = 1992–1994 | clubs1 = Carshalton Athletic | caps1 = 59 | goals1 = 10 | years2 = 1994–1996 | clubs2 = Brentford | caps2 = 20 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 1996 | clubs3 = Kingstonian | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 3 | years4 = 1996–2000 | clubs4 = Enfield | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 2000–2003 | clubs5 = Farnborough Town | caps5 = 105 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2003–2005 | clubs6 = Margate | caps6 = 62 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2005–2008 | clubs7 = Havant & Waterlooville | caps7 = 37 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2007–2008 | clubs8 = → Redbridge (loan) | caps8 = 4 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2008 | clubs9 = Redbridge | caps9 = 7 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2008 | clubs10 = Tooting & Mitcham United | caps10 = 0 | goals10 = 0 | totalcaps = 292 | totalgoals = 17 | years11 = 2008–2009 | years12 = 2009 | years13 = 2010–2012 | clubs11 = Guildford City | clubs12 = Banstead Athletic | clubs13 = Norton | caps11 = 4 | caps12 = 10 | caps13 = 16 | goals11 = 0 | goals12 = 0 | goals13 = 0 }} '''Darren Carlton Annon''' (born 17 February 1972) is an English former professional footballer. He made 20 appearances in the Football League for Brentford and played the majority of his career with non-League clubs Enfield, Farnborough Town and Margate.
==Career==
=== Carshalton Athletic === A winger, Annon began his career at Isthmian League Premier Division club Carshalton Athletic and made his debut in October 1992.<ref name="margate">{{Cite web |title=Darren Annon |url=https://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/players-profile/?profile=29&player=Darren_Annon |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Margatefchistory.com}}</ref> He made a handful of appearances during the 1992–93 season and established himself during the 1993–94 season, scoring 10 goals and attracting interest from Football League clubs.<ref name="margate" /> Annon departed the club in March 1994.<ref name="margate" />
=== Brentford === Annon's form for Carshalton Athletic earned him a £20,000 transfer to Second Division club Brentford in March 1994.<ref name="margate" /> He made 9 appearances during what remained of the 1993–94 season and scored his first Bees goal in a 3–1 defeat to Stockport County on 29 March.<ref name="BBB90s">{{Cite book |last=Croxford |first=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781906796723 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |pages=479–481}}</ref>{{Sfn|Croxford|Lane|Waterman|2013|p=139}}
Annon was largely out of favour during the early months of the 1994–95 season,<ref name="gazette">{{Cite book |title=Griffin Gazette versus AFC Bournemouth |date=29 April 1995 |publisher=Quay Design of Poole |pages=34–35}}</ref> until a double skull fracture suffered by Paul Stephenson in a match versus Bradford City on 2 November 1994 opened up a place in the team.<ref name="Timeless">{{Cite book |last=Haynes |first=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=0955294916 |location=Harefield |page=12}}</ref> Annon made his first start of the season in a Football League Trophy first round match against Gillingham on 8 November and celebrated his return to the team with the opening goal in a 3–1 victory.<ref name="gazette" /> He started in the following game, an FA Cup first round match away to Cambridge United and scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw.<ref name="gazette" /> Annon made his first league start of the 1994–95 season in a 2–1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 26 November 1994, which kicked off a run of 10 consecutive appearances.<ref name="gazette" /> He scored his third goal of the season in a 7–0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Griffin Park on 17 December.<ref name="gazette" /> Annon's final appearance of the season came in a 2–1 victory over Hull City on 21 January 1995.<ref name="gazette" /> After Paul Stephenson's return to fitness,<ref name="Timeless" /> Annon only received one more call into the first team squad during the remainder of the season.<ref name="gazette" /> He made 13 appearances during the 1994–95 season and scored three goals.<ref name="gazette" />
Annon was out of favour during the 1995–96 season and made just one appearance, as a substitute for Denny Mundee in a 2–0 defeat to league leaders Swindon Town on 2 September 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Griffin Gazette versus AFC Bournemouth |date=4 May 1996 |publisher=Quay Design of Poole |pages=30–31}}</ref> Annon departed the Bees in February 1996,<ref name="Soccerbase" /> after making 23 appearances and scoring four goals during his two years with the club.<ref name="Timeless" />
=== Kingstonian === Annon returned to the Isthmian League Premier Division to sign for Kingstonian in March 1996.<ref name="margate" /> During what remained of the 1995–96 season, he made seven appearances and scored three goals.<ref name="margate" />
=== Enfield === Annon signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Enfield during the 1996 off-season.<ref name="margate" /> The 1996–97 season ended in disappointment, with the "Es" finished six points adrift of champions Yeovil Town, despite themselves finishing 28 points clear of third-place Sutton United.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isthmian League 1996–97 |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth1997.htm |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=Football Club History Database}}</ref> Annon featured in Enfield's run to the first round proper of the FA Cup during the 1998–99 season,<ref>{{Soccerbase season|202|1998|accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> taking Second Division club York City to a replay before being knocked out 2–1 at Bootham Crescent.<ref name="FCHDEnfield">{{Fchd|id=ENFIELD|name=Enfield F.C.}}</ref> The Es went one better in the 1999–00 season,<ref>{{Soccerbase season|202|1999|accessdate=20 April 2014}}</ref> defeating Second Division club Chesterfield 2–1 at Saltergate in the first round and taking Preston North End to a replay after a 0–0 draw at Deepdale in the second round.<ref name="FCHDEnfield" /> Featuring mostly as a defender, Annon made over 100 appearances for Enfield before departing at the end of the 1999–00 season.<ref name="margate" /><ref name="Soccerbase">{{Soccerbase|id=202}}</ref>
=== Farnborough Town === Annon joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Farnborough Town during the 2000 off-season.<ref name="Soccerbase" /> He was a virtual ever-present during the 2000–01 season, making 48 appearances and winning the first silverware of his career when the club was crowned Isthmian League Premier Division champions.<ref name="farney">{{Cite web |title=Player Details |url=http://www.farney.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=143&ffc_pid=1002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301201226/http://www.farney.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=143&ffc_pid=1002 |archive-date=1 March 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Farney.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="FCHDFarnborough">{{Fchd|id=FARNBORO|name=Farnborough F.C.}}</ref> Promoted to the Conference, Annon was again a virtual ever-present during the 2001–02 and helped "Boro" to a 7th-place finish.<ref name="farney" /><ref name="FCHDFarnborough" /> Annon made 39 appearances during the 2002–03 season and the highlight came when Farnborough were drawn away to Premiership club Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup,<ref name="farney" /> though "Boro" suffered a 5–1 defeat at Highbury.<ref name="FCHDFarnborough" /> Annon won the Supporters' Player of the Year award and departed the club at the end of the 2002–03 season.<ref name="Soccerbase" /><ref name="gethampshire">{{Cite news |date=15 May 2003 |title=Tommy on the verge of new deals |work=gethampshire |url=http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tommy-verge-new-deals-5369085 |access-date=9 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611052126/http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tommy-verge-new-deals-5369085 |archive-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> He made 130 appearances and scored two goals during his three seasons with Farnborough.<ref name="farney" />
=== Margate === Annon signed for Conference club Margate in June 2003.<ref name="Margate sign duo">{{Cite news |date=13 June 2003 |title=Margate sign duo |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/margate/2986992.stm |access-date=1 January 2008}}</ref> He had a successful first season, making 49 appearances, scoring two goals and winning the Kent Senior Cup.<ref name="margate" /> Margate suffered demotion to the newly formed Conference South for the 2004–05 season and Annon was named as captain.<ref name="margate" /> He filled in at centre back and wing back throughout the early part of the season and his campaign was ended prematurely after he was stretchered off with a ruptured achilles tendon after five minutes of a 1–0 defeat to Hayes on 11 December 2004.<ref name="margate" /> He had made 26 appearances during the 2004–05 season.<ref name="margate" /> The length of Annon's recovery from the injury meant that he missed the start of the 2005–06 season and he departed the club in October 2005 after returning to fitness.<ref name="margate" /> Annon made 75 appearances during his time with Margate and scored two goals.<ref name="margate" />
=== Havant & Waterlooville === Annon moved back up to the Conference South to sign for Havant & Waterlooville in October 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2005 |title=Two New Hawks |url=http://www.oldnonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30348 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051408/http://www.oldnonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=30348 |archive-date=21 April 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com}}</ref> He made 30 appearances during the remainder of the 2005–06 season,<ref name="hawks">{{Cite web |title=player apps breakdown for Darren Annon |url=http://www.havantandwaterlooville.net/stats/appsbyall.asp?p=155 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Hawks.net}}</ref> but his season ended in disappointment after three-point deduction saw the Hawks miss out on a playoff place.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 May 2006 |title=Nationwide Football Conference Division 2 South – Eastleigh 2, Havant & Waterlooville 6 |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5644793.nationwide-football-conference-division-2-south-eastleigh-2-havant-waterlooville-6/ |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}</ref> Annon was retained for the 2006–07 season,<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2006 |title=Baptiste signs new contract |url=http://havantandwaterlooville.co.uk/newsprint.asp?item=514 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Hawks.net}}</ref> but injury problems restricted him to just 10 appearances.<ref name="hawks" /> He made just one appearance during the 2007–08 season,<ref name="hawks" /> before departing the club in February 2008.<ref name="margate" /> Annon made 41 appearances during his time with the club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=player apps |url=http://www.havantandwaterlooville.net/stats/history.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108085745/http://www.havantandwaterlooville.net/stats/history.asp |archive-date=8 November 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Hawks.net}}</ref>
=== Redbridge === Annon joined Isthmian League First Division North club Redbridge on a one-month loan on 21 December 2007 and made four appearances before his loan expired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 December 2007 |title=Annon to go on loan |url=http://www.havantandwaterlooville.co.uk/newsprint.asp?item=774 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Hawks.net}}</ref><ref name="mitoo0708">{{Cite web |title=All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Annon Darren Carlton |url=http://football.mitoo.co.uk/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=190314&LeagueCode=isth2007 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Football.mitoo}}</ref> He returned to the club to sign permanently in February 2008.<ref name="margate" /> Annon made seven appearances during what remained of the 2007–08 season and helped the club to a 3rd-place finish and a playoff first round tie with Ware.<ref name="mitoo0708" /><ref name="IL0708">{{Cite web |title=Isthmian League 2007–08 |url=https://fchd.info/lghist/isth2008.htm |access-date=6 July 2023 |website=Football Club History Database}}</ref> The Motormen progressed to the playoff final, but were defeated by Canvey Island.<ref name="IL0708" /> Annon left the club after the season.<ref name="margate" />
=== Tooting & Mitcham United === Annon signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Tooting & Mitcham United during the 2008 off-season.<ref name="margate" /> An injury suffered during pre-season led to him departing the club in December 2008, without having made a competitive appearance.<ref name="margate" />
=== Guildford City === Annon joined Combined Counties League Premier Division club Guildford City in December 2008.<ref name="margate" /> He made only four appearances before departing the club in February 2009.<ref name="westfieldfc">{{Cite web |date=9 March 2009 |title=February Transfers |url=http://www.westfieldfc.com/news/february-transfers-28245.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228054417/http://www.westfieldfc.com/news/february-transfers-28245.html |archive-date=28 February 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Westfield FC}}</ref>
=== Banstead Athletic === Annon moved across the Combined Counties League Premier Division to sign for Banstead Athletic in February 2009.<ref name="westfieldfc" /> He made 10 appearances during the remainder of 2008–09 and retired from football at the end of the season.<ref name="margate" /><ref name="mitoo0809">{{Cite web |title=All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Annon Darren |url=http://football.mitoo.co.uk/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=139771&LeagueCode=COMC2008 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Football.mitoo}}</ref>
=== Norton === Annon came out of retirement to make 16 appearances for Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior First Division club Norton during the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons.<ref name="mitoo1011">{{Cite web |title=All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Annon Darren Carlton |url=http://football.mitoo.co.uk/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=833622&LeagueCode=SSEC2010 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Football.mitoo}}</ref><ref name="mitoo1112">{{Cite web |title=All Competitions : Player's Appearances – Annon Darren Carlton |url=http://football.mitoo.co.uk/PlayersHistory2.cfm?PI=974823&LeagueCode=SSEC2011 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Football.mitoo}}</ref> He later made appearances for veterans club Livingstone RARA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=London FA Programme 2018 Veterans Cup V1 |url=https://www.calameo.com/read/001230235c3b137130f82 |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=calameo.com |page=9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Darren Annon player stats {{!}} Southern Amateur Veterans League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?selectedSeasonID=368091353&personID=188270077&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=1&selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort= |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=fulltime.thefa.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Darren Annon player stats {{!}} Southern Amateur Veterans League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?selectedSeasonID=466069391&personID=188270077&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=1&selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort= |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=fulltime.thefa.com}}</ref>
== Personal life == Annon works as a staff governor, teaching assistant, football coach at Macaulay CE Primary School in Clapham, London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Staff |url=http://www.macaulaycofeschool.co.uk/Staff |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Macaulay C.E. School |archive-date=5 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305235114/http://www.macaulaycofeschool.co.uk/Staff |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Governors |url=http://www.macaulaycofeschool.co.uk/Governors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305235117/http://www.macaulaycofeschool.co.uk/Governors |archive-date=5 March 2014 |access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=Macaulay C.E. School}}</ref> He is also a youth coach at Clapham Rangers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 August 2015 |title=Training |url=https://claphamrangersfc.com/training-2019/ |access-date=3 March 2020 |website=Clapham Rangers Football Club |language=en-GB }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2015 |title=Darren Annon |url=https://claphamrangersfc.com/staff/darren-annon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204053448/https://claphamrangersfc.com/staff/darren-annon/ |archive-date=4 December 2020 |access-date=5 December 2021 |website=Clapham Rangers Football Club |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Career statistics == {{Expand section|<br> * Cup appearances * Margate|date=January 2018}} {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup}} ! colspan="2" |League cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup}} ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="4" |Brentford |1993–94<ref name="BBB90s" /> | rowspan="3" |Second Division |9 |1 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |9 |1 |- |1994–95<ref name="BBB90s" /> |10 |1 |1 |1 |0 |0 |2<ref group="lower-alpha">Appearances in Football League Trophy</ref> |1 |13 |3 |- |1995–96<ref name="BBB90s" /> |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !20 !2 !1 !1 !0 !0 !2 !1 !23 !4 |- | rowspan="4" |Farnborough Town |2000–01<ref name="farney" /> |Isthmian League Premier Division |40 |1 |3 |0 | colspan="2" |— |5<ref group="lower-alpha">2 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian Championship Shield, 1 appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup</ref> |0 |48 |1 |- |2001–02<ref name="farney" /> | rowspan="2" |Conference |34 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— |7<ref group="lower-alpha">4 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian Championship Shield, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Hampshire Senior Cup</ref> |1 |43 |1 |- |2002–03<ref name="farney" /> |31 |0 |4 |0 | colspan="2" |— |4<ref group="lower-alpha">3 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup</ref> |0 |39 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !105 !1 !9 !0 ! colspan="2" |— !16 !1 !130 !2 |- | rowspan="3" |Margate |2003–04<ref>{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2003–2004 – Darren Annon |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=2943 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109063916/http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2003/player_details.php?playerid=2943 |archive-date=9 January 2018 |access-date=8 January 2018 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}</ref> |Conference |41 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |49 |1 |- |2004–05<ref>{{Cite web |title=Player Details: Season 2004–2005 – Darren Annon |url=http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/player_details.php?playerid=2943 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109064037/http://soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/player_details.php?playerid=2943 |archive-date=9 January 2018 |access-date=8 January 2018 |website=SoccerFacts UK}}</ref> |Conference South |21 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |26 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !62 !1 !0 !0 ! colspan="2" |— !0 !0 !75 !1 |- | rowspan="4" |Havant & Waterlooville |2005–06<ref name="hawks" /> | rowspan="3" |Conference South |28 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |2<ref name="FAT-HSC" group="lower-alpha">1 appearance in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Hampshire Senior Cup</ref> |0 |30 |0 |- |2006–07<ref name="hawks" /> |8 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |2<ref name="FAT-HSC" group="lower-alpha" /> |0 |10 |0 |- |2007–08<ref name="hawks" /> |1 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |1 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !37 !0 !0 !0 ! colspan="2" |— !4 !0 !41 !0 |- |Redbridge |2007–08<ref name="mitoo0708" /> |Isthmian League First Division North |11 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |11 |0 |- |Guildford City |2008–09<ref name="mitoo0809" /> |Combined Counties League Premier Division |4 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |4 |0 |- |Banstead Athletic |2008–09<ref name="mitoo0809" /> |Combined Counties League Premier Division |10 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |10 |0 |- | rowspan="3" |Norton |2010–11<ref name="mitoo1011" /> | rowspan="2" |Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior First Division |7 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |4<ref group="lower-alpha">3 appearances in Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Cup, 1 appearance in Geoff Ellis Premier Shield</ref> |0 |11 |0 |- |2011–12<ref name="mitoo1112" /> |4 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |1<ref group="lower-alpha">1 appearance in Geoff Ellis Premier Shield</ref> |0 |5 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !11 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !5 !0 !16 !0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !260 !4 !10 !1 !0 !0 !27 !2 !310 !7 |} <references group="lower-alpha" />
== Honours == '''Farnborough Town''' *Isthmian League Premier Division: 2000–01<ref name="farney" /> '''Margate''' * Kent Senior Cup: 2003–04, 2004–05<ref name="margate" />
'''Individual'''
* Farnborough Town Supporters' Player of the Year: 2002–03<ref name="gethampshire" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Annon, Darren}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Category:People from Chelsea, London Category:English men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football wingers Category:Carshalton Athletic F.C. players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:Kingstonian F.C. players Category:Enfield F.C. players Category:Farnborough F.C. players Category:Margate F.C. players Category:Havant & Waterlooville F.C. players Category:Redbridge F.C. players Category:Tooting & Mitcham United F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Men's association football utility players Category:Guildford City F.C. players Category:Banstead Athletic F.C. players Category:Norton F.C. players Category:Isthmian League players