- Don Hutchison
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Don Hutchison Personal information Full name Donald Hutchison Date of birth 9 May 1971 Place of birth Gateshead, England Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Playing position Midfielder Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1989–1990 Hartlepool United 24 (2) 1990–1994 Liverpool 45 (7) 1994–1996 West Ham United 35 (11) 1996–1998 Sheffield United 78 (5) 1998–2000 Everton 75 (10) 2000–2001 Sunderland 40 (8) 2001–2005 West Ham United 63 (5) 2005 Millwall 11 (2) 2005–2006 → Coventry City (loan) 6 (3) 2006–2007 Coventry City 32 (1) 2007–2008 Luton Town 21 (1) National team‡ 1999–2003 Scotland 26 (6) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:33, 15 May 2008 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:27, 28 May 2011 (UTC)Donald Hutchison (born 9 May 1971 in Gateshead, England) is a Scottish ex-footballer who generally played in midfield but sometimes as a forward. He was a much travelled player with spells at both Liverpool and Everton as well as Sheffield United, Sunderland and West Ham United twice. He earned 26 full caps for the Scottish national team and scored six international goals.
Contents
Club career
Hartlepool United
Hutchison started his career at Hartlepool United as a trainee. He was a member of the Promotion winning squad of the 1990-91 season. However he left long before the season's end with his last game being on 24 November 1990, a 2-0 win against Scarborough.
Liverpool
His talents were quickly spotted by the big guns and he moved to Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish. Hutchison said of his time at Anfield, "I got on well with Graeme Souness and I think he quite liked my style of play because I got a stuck in."
West Ham (first spell)
He then moved on to West Ham for two seasons. He broke the club's record transfer fee - £1.5 million - when he signed for this spell at the club in August 1994.
Sheffield United
Hutchison next moved to Sheffield United where he flourished under the management of Howard Kendall. Hutchison enjoyed good form, so much so that when Kendall left to manage Everton, he made Hutchison one of his signings.
Everton
He is one of a small group of players that have played for both Liverpool and Everton, after joining the Toffees in March 1998 after Kendall had switched to Goodison.[1] Kendall said after Hutchison impressed in the 1-0 win over Blackburn (14 March 1998) in which Hutchison's passing showed an impressive range and vision in the face of some typically robust challenges by Tim Sherwood and Billy McKinlay, "I've given Don a role and he's got the opportunity to show people in the Premiership how good a player is," the Everton manager said. "I thought he was outstanding. Word will get round and I'm sure it will reach Craig Brown."
He was an important player and team captain.
Sunderland
He was sold to Sunderland for £2.5 million in July 2000 after failing to agree to a new contract with Everton.[2] His good form continued and was a key player with the Wearsiders, so much so that he was the subject of another big offer.
West Ham (second spell)
Hutchison signed for West Ham United for £5 million for again a club record transfer fee, this time in August 2001.[3] Hutchison sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2002, only months after his return to Upton Park.[4] When he finally regained full fitness, he found himself out of favour,[5] having missed most of the 2003-04 season through injury,[6] and was unable to force his way back into the first team in the 2004-05 season.[7]
Millwall
Hutchison joined Millwall in August 2005 after being released at the start of the 2005-06 season by West Ham.[8] He spent barely three months at the New Den, during which time he struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting XI. He left Millwall by mutual consent in November 2005 and signed for Coventry City, saying"I have left because of a lack of first-team football. At my age I need to be playing regularly."[9]
Coventry City
In January 2006, he was given a contract until the end of the 2006-07 season,[10] and signed a new one-year deal in June 2006.[11] Manager Micky Adams said of him, "There's a saying that class is permanent and that applies to Don. He may not have the legs he had when he was younger but he possesses a fantastic ability to read the game."[11]
He was released by Coventry at the end of the 2006-07 season after an ankle injury restricted his appearances for the first team.
Luton Town
Hutchison signed for Luton on a one year deal in July 2007.[12] After scoring once for Luton in the Football League Trophy against Northampton,[13] he was released at the end of the season and refused to take his final 2 wage packets from cash-strapped Luton Town, instead offering to sponsor two youth team players from the 2008–09 season.[14]
International career
Although born in Gateshead Don Hutchison consistently stated his passion of playing for Scotland citing the strong relationship he enjoyed with his Scottish father as the reason behind this. Hutchison's father, a miner for 35 years, was from Nairn.
Hutchison's first game for Scotland was a B international against Wales in Wrexham in 1994. However Hutchison had a disappointing game and was substituted prompting an international exile of five years. He later said, "That night at Wrexham was a bit of an anti-climax, but I never thought that was the end of it."
Hutchison debuted for Scotland under Craig Brown coming on as a sub in the Euro 2000 qualifier at Celtic Park while Hampden Park was under reconstruction. The result was a 2-1 won for the Czech republic. In his next game he scored the only goal of the game to give Scotland a 1-0 victory against Germany in Bremen.
Hutchison scored in the Euro 2000 qualifier 2-1 win against Bosnia Herzegovina in Sarajevo along with Billy Dodds. Hutchison also scored in the 3-0 home win against Lithuania in the same competition. He scored at Wembley in the Euro 2000 1-0 play-off second leg win over England in November 1999. Hutchison recalls. “I remember Christian Dailly playing a good pass to Neil McCann and him delivering a great cross. I finished it off and nothing was going to stop me celebrating a goal in front of the Tartan Army at Wembley.” Scotland lost the tie 2-1, their quest to reach three consecutive major tournaments unravelled by a Paul Scholes first leg double at Hampden. Brown lobbied hard for a postponement of the Old Firm derby the week before. His fears were confirmed when Paul Lambert sustained a fractured cheekbone. As Brown said, “The SPL went ahead with an Old Firm game a week before. I was furious because they did not legislate for a play-off, especially not for one against England. Predictably, we get a major injury and my holding midfielder, who performed with such distinction in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund, cannot play. Barry Ferguson played brilliantly but he was not a holding midfielder. Scholes scored two goals and that was the guy Paul Lambert was going to pick up …”[15]
Hutchison said in 2003, "My father died recently and he was my biggest fan. I cried when they played the national anthem before the Iceland game because Flower of Scotland was played at my dad's funeral. The happiest I ever saw him was when we beat England at Wembley thanks to my goal."[16] He added, ""Playing for Scotland for my dad was something I really wanted to do because it made him feel proud. I will never forget his face when we played England at Wembley."[17]
Hutchison's next international goal was in Dublin in a 2-1 friendly win against Republic of Ireland. His last international goal was in a World Cup qualifier away to San Marino. Scotland won all six games in which Hutchison scored for them.
Craig Brown said of Hutchison, "Don has the all-round game to make things happen, he is good in the air, has an excellent touch and is a terrific passer, lacking only pace. But he makes up for this by being tough and determined. He is a fierce tackler who can mix it, and so is a real presence in any team."
International goals
Scotland goals listed first
# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored 1 28 April 1999 Weserstadion, Bremen 
Germany1-0 Friendly match 1 2 4 September 1999 Olympic Stadium, Sarajevo 
Bosnia and Herzegovina2–1 Euro 2000 qualification 1 3 9 October 1999 Hampden Park, Glasgow 
Latvia3–0 Euro 2000 qualification 1 4 17 November 1999 Wembley Stadium, London 
England1–0 Euro 2000 play-off 1 5 30 May 2000 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 
Republic of Ireland2–1 Friendly match 1 6 7 October 2000 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle 
San Marino2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 1 After playing
Hutchison has forged a new career with Al Jazeera and TalkSport. In his retirement from playing he commented, "I still text Ally McCoist saying ‘come on, if David Weir is getting a game at 39 there is hope for me yet’.”
Hutchinson was recently featured on the "Going for Glold" feature on the fun football show The Football Ramble.
References
- ^ "Don: I'm a good boy now". The Mirror. 27 February 1998. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60692753.html. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison denies greedy jibe". BBC Sport. 17 July 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/833286.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Roeder signs Hutchison". BBC Sport. 30 August 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/1514594.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison out until 2003". BBC Sport. 26 February 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/1842280.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison eyes Ibrox switch". BBC Sport. 18 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/2775531.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison makes Hammers vow". BBC Sport. 27 April 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3662409.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison released from West Ham". BBC Sport. 14 July 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4682059.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Millwall complete Hutchison deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/4693373.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison makes Coventry switch". BBC Sport. 24 November 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/4466742.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Hutchison seals Coventry contract". BBC Sport. 13 January 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/4611104.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ a b "Hutchison pens new Coventry deal". BBC Sport. 5 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/5048504.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Midfielder Hutchison joins Luton". BBC Sport. 26 July 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/6918007.stm. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
- ^ "Luton 2-0 Northampton". BBC. 4 September 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6973856.stm. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
- ^ "Hutchison to sponsor youngsters". BBC Sport. 6 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/luton_town/7545634.stm. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
- ^ England 0 Scotland 1: Is it really 10 years since Don Hutchison’s goal at Wembley?
- ^ Gordon, Phil (4 May 2003). "Vogts' Scotland reign descends into ridicule". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/vogts-scotland-reign-descends-into-ridicule-589919.html.
- ^ http://www.givemefootball.com/league-two/euro-2004-countdown-smudger-brings-you-the-latest
External links
- Don Hutchison career stats at Soccerbase
- Don Hutchison Official Website at Icons.com
- Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net
- Don Hutchison Scottish FA profile
Categories:- 1971 births
- Living people
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Everton F.C. players
- Association football midfielders
- Hartlepool United F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Luton Town F.C. players
- Millwall F.C. players
- People from Gateshead
- Premier League players
- English people of Scottish descent
- Scotland international footballers
- Scotland B international footballers
- Scottish footballers
- Sheffield United F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- West Ham United F.C. players
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