Robert Ullathorne

Infobox Football biography
playername = "Robert Ullathorne"


fullname = Robert Ullathorne
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|10|11
cityofbirth = Wakefield
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=8
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1990-1996
1996-1997
1997-2000
2000-2001
2001-2003
2004
2004-2006
2006-2007
2007
clubs = Norwich City
CA Osasuna
Leicester City
Sheffield United
Sheffield United
Northampton Town
Notts County
Goole Town
Tamworth
Total
caps(goals) = 094 (7)
00? (?)
031 (1)
014 (0)
026 (0)
013 (0)
069 (0)
00? (?)
000 (0)
247 (8)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =

Robert Ullathorne (born October 11, 1971 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England) is former a professional footballer, most recently playing for Conference North side Tamworth, where he played as a defender.

He played most of his professional games for Norwich City F.C..

Playing career

Norwich City

Predominantly a left-sided defender or midfielder Robert Ullathorne was a successful product of Norwich City youth team. He chose to join Norwich City despite having schoolboy trials with the likes of Everton, Cambridge United, West Ham United and Luton Town.

Ullathorne made his first start for Norwich City on April 22, 1991 in an away fixture against Nottingham Forest, he went on to make a total of 115 appearances, scoring seven goals in the process.He was primarily a squad player making the most of his appearances ironically in his last season with the club, but was out of contract at the end of 1995/96 season.

CA Osasuna

After spending six seasons with Norwich City Robert was subject of interest from Crystal Palace but took opportunity of a move to Spanish Segunda División side CA Osasuna on a free transfer, where he was joined by fellow Englishman Jamie Pollock who arrived from Middlesbrough.Ullathorne spent just over nine months with the club before leaving to return to England.

Leicester City

On February 17, 1997 Robert returned to the Premier League to play for Leicester City in a deal worth £600,000. Ullathorne was only eleven minutes of his debut against Wimbledon in a Coca Cola Cup semi-final, when he suffered a suspected broken ankle and was substituted.

Ullathorne recovered, but it was reported that he was unhappy at Leicester City and sought a transfer despite regular spots in the Leicester City first team. Robert had an impressive game for Leicester City in the 1999 League Cup final where he kept David Ginola quiet throughout the game. However Tottenham Hotspur won the game with a last minute goal depriving Robert of silverware.

Ullathorne's career with Leicester City was thrown into disaray when he broke his leg at Chelsea on March 18, 1999 which raised real questions about his future as a footballer and fears that he might be thrown onto the soccer scrapheap. Ullathorne left the club at the end of the 1999/00 season, joining Newcastle United briefly before signing for Sheffield United.

Tamworth

On July 2, 2007 Ullathorne was re-united with his former Notts County manager Gary Mills at Conference North side Tamworth, agreeing a non contract deal.

In a busy day in the transfer market for the club, Ullathorne was also joined at the club by former Notts County team mate Jake Sheridan, as well as another former Notts County team mate Matthew Williams who committed himself to the club for a further season, following initial doubts over his future with the club.

It was announced on August 21, 2007 that Robert Ullathorne registration with Tamworth had been cancelled following a meeting with manager Gary Mills. It was also confirmed that Ullathorne had decided retired from football, and concentrate on a new career away from full time training, and football. During his short time with the club, Robert failed to make a single league appearance. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Ullathorne leaves The Lamb |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/newsDetail.asp?secID=1&newsID=660 |work= |publisher="TheLambs.co.uk" |date=2007-08-21 |accessdate=2007-09-02 ]

Honours

flagicon|England Leicester City

Runner-Up
* 1998/99 Football League Cup

Trivia

* Robert and his former Tamworth team mate Gerry Taggart both participated in the Football League Cup Final 1999 for Leicester City in which they lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

* On April 14th 1996 Ullathorne scored an unlucky own goal against local rivals Ipswich Town when he played the ball back to his goalkeeper Bryan Gunn with the ball bobbling over his foot and into the empty net. The goal would win the game 2-1 for Ipswich Town.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=8089|name=Robert Ullathorne
* [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/ullathorne.htm Career Information at ex-canaries.co.uk]