- Nigel Callaghan
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Nigel Callaghan 
Personal information Full name Nigel Ian Callaghan Date of birth 12 September 1962 Place of birth Singapore Playing position Right Wing Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1980–1987 Watford 221 (41) 1987–1989 Derby County 76 (10) 1989–1992 Aston Villa 26 (1) 1990 → Derby County (loan) 12 (1) 1990 → Watford (loan) 12 (1) 1991 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 8 (0) Stafford Rangers -1994 Hellenic Total 355 (54) National team 1982–1984 England U21 9 (0) 1984 England B 1 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Nigel Ian Callaghan (born 12 September 1962, Singapore) is a former professional footballer.
Contents
Playing career
Callaghan played on the right-wing for a number of clubs including Watford, Derby County and Aston Villa. Internationally, he represented England at Under-21 level, and played one game for England B alongside fellow Watford player Luther Blissett.[1]
Whilst at Watford, he played in the 1984 FA Cup Final where they lost to Everton. He had broken into their first team during the 1980–81 season and helped them win promotion to the First Division a year later. He also helped them finish second in the league in 1983. In total, he played 223 league games for the Hornets and scored 41 goals, before being transferred to Derby County in February 1987.
He scored four goals in 18 Second Division games for the Rams in the 1986–87 season as they cruised to the division championship and a return to the First Division after seven years away.
Callaghan was ever present for Derby as they secured their top flight status in 1987–88, and he began the 1988–89 season well as Derby emerged as surprise title challengers (though they eventually had to settle for a fifth place finish). He scored twice in 18 league games before moving to Aston Villa in February 1989 and making 16 league appearances for them (scoring once) as they secured their First Division survival a year after promotion. He played just eight games for Villa the following season, however, as they finished second and were beaten to the league title by Liverpool.
He played just twice in the 1990–91 season and was loaned back to Derby County. He also had loan spells with Huddersfield Town and Watford before new manager Ron Atkinson finally gave him a free transfer at the end of the 1991–92. Aged still only 29, his professional career was over, although he did continue playing for a while at non league level with Stafford Rangers.
Retirement
Callaghan retired from football to work as a DJ.[2] While working in a Greek night-club during the late-90's he was featured on a television documentary. He currently lives in Stafford.
Illness
In November 2009 Callaghan was diagnosed with bowel cancer.[3] An operation to remove the main tumour was undertaken in January 2010, however, some traces of cancer have moved elsewhere into his body and he subsequently faces a course of chemotherapy, due to start in late March 2010. In September 2010 it was announced that a benefit match between former stars of two of Callaghan's old teams Derby County F.C. and Watford F.C. would take place at Pride Park Stadium during the close season.
Career statistics
Club performance League Cup Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals England League FA Cup Total 1980–81 Watford Second Division 21 2 0 0 21 2 1981–82 37 5 0 0 37 5 1982–83 First Division 41 9 0 0 41 9 1983–84 41 10 0 0 41 10 1984–85 38 8 0 0 38 8 1985–86 23 4 0 0 23 4 1986–87 20 3 0 0 20 3 1986–87 Derby County Second Division 18 4 0 0 18 4 1987–88 First Division 40 4 0 0 40 4 1988–89 18 2 0 0 18 2 1988–89 Aston Villa First Division 16 1 0 0 16 1 1990–91 8 0 0 0 8 0 1990–91 Derby County (loan) First Division 12 1 0 0 12 1 1990–91 Watford (loan) Second Division 12 1 0 0 12 1 1991–92 Aston Villa First Division 2 0 0 0 2 0 1991–92 Huddersfield Town (loan) Third Division 8 0 0 0 8 0 1992–93 Aston Villa Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total England 355 54 0 0 355 54 Career total 355 54 0 0 355 54 References
- ^ "England – International Results B-Team – Details". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-b-intres-det.html. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ Were you there...
- ^ BBC Derby: Former Ram facing cancer battle
External links
Categories:- 1962 births
- Living people
- British people of Singaporean descent
- English footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Watford F.C. players
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- Derby County F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town F.C. players
- Stafford Rangers F.C. players
- England under-21 international footballers
- England B international footballers
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