Darren Quigley

Darren is an Ex Irish International!!!

Darren is the ONLY Irish person ever to play on a 'Rest of the World' selection team at any sport! He achieved this feat when he lined out at Villa Park for the 'Rest of the World' versus England to mark 100 years of underage football in the English FA.

Darren names this occasion along with lining up for the Irish national anthem in his first ever international match away to Holland, aged 14, as his most memorable moments in his football career to date.

In the Wicklow & District Schoolboy League, Darren started playing football with Valeview Shankill before signing for Manchester City aged 15 from St. Josephs Boy's. He moved to Manchester with Stephen Ireland but broke a wrist after just 3 weeks into his new life as a professional footballer. After this, Darren found it very hard to settle in England so decided to return home after just 1 year of his 4 year contract had been completed.

On returning home, Darren signed for UCD in the League of Ireland and was very grateful when manager Pete Mahon handed him his first team debut aged just 17 were he went on to play 88 consecutive competitive games.

Derry City was the next stop for Darren in January 2008 when he signed for the 'candystripes' on a 3 year deal. However, lightning struck for a second time when he broke his other wrist after only 2 games!! Since recovering from that break, games were hard to come by for the remainder of 2008 with Darren only featuring in two more games as well as playing 90 minutes against the might of Glasgow Celtic in a friendly at The Brandywell. 2009 has seen Darren go on loan to Sporting Fingal were he can get some games under his belt as well being at home with his new family after the birth of his son in January!

When playing for Don Givens' Under 21 Irish team, Darren has often played in training matches against the Irish team preparing for their World and European Cup Qualifiers. He has trained with Stuart Pearce playing as his left back and Nicolas Anelka shooting at his goal at Manchester City and he doesn't like being reminded of the goals Wayne Rooney scored against him from Wayne's time at Everton!!

Finally, some of the coaches Darren has worked with include Alex Stepney, Peter Bonetti, Packie Bonner and Alan Kelly and he marks Shay Given as the best goalkeeper he has had the pleasure to train with.

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