- Nick Colgan
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Nick Colgan 
Personal information Full name Nicholas Vincent Colgan[1] Date of birth 19 September 1973 Place of birth Drogheda, Republic of Ireland Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in) Playing position Goalkeeper Club information Current club Huddersfield Town Number 25 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1991–1992 Drogheda United ? (?) 1992–1998 Chelsea 1 (0) 1993 → Crewe Alexandra (loan) 0 (0) 1994 → Grimsby Town (loan) 0 (0) 1995 → Millwall (loan) 0 (0) 1997 → Brentford (loan) 5 (0) 1998 → Reading (loan) 5 (0) 1998–1999 Bournemouth 0 (0) 1999–2004 Hibernian 121 (0) 2003–2004 → Stockport County (loan) 15 (0) 2004–2008 Barnsley 101 (0) 2005 → Dundee United (loan) 1 (0) 2008 Ipswich Town 0 (0) 2008–2009 Sunderland 0 (0) 2009–2011 Grimsby Town 35 (0) 2010 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 0 (0) 2011– Huddersfield Town 0 (0) National team‡ 2002–2004 Republic of Ireland 9 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 21, 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:47, 16 September 2007 (UTC)Nicholas Vincent "Nick" Colgan (born 19 September 1973) is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Football League One side Huddersfield Town. Colgan has previously played for Drogheda United, Chelsea, Crewe Alexandra, Millwall, Brentford, Reading, Bournemouth, Hibernian, Stockport County, Barnsley, Dundee United, Ipswich Town, Sunderland and Grimsby Town.
Contents
Club career
Drogheda United
Born in Drogheda, County Louth, Colgan began his football career with his hometown club Drogheda United in 1991. He remained at Hunky Dorys Park for one season as a professional when he scouted by overseas clubs. This would see Colgan depart United and move to England.
Chelsea
Colgan signed professional terms with Chelsea, who at the time were a founding club of the newly designed FA Premier League in the summer of 1992. The Blues were managed at the time by Ian Porterfield and Colgan was designated as the third choice keeper at Stamford Bridge behind Dmitri Kharine and Kevin Hitchcock. In February 1993, Porterfield was sacked and was replaced by player-manager Glenn Hoddle, who in turn put Colgan up for loan. In September 1993, Colgan was signed by Dario Gradi in a one month loan spell with Crewe Alexandra, however he failed to make an appearance for the club and soon returned to Stamford Bridge. During the 1994-1995 season joined up with Alan Buckley at Grimsby Town who used him as a deputy keeper to Paul Crichton, but also Colgan went unused at Blundell Park during his spell in Humberside. During the 1995-1996 campaign, Colgan joined London city rivals Millwall on a further loan deal but he again failed to make a first team appearance. For the 1996-1997 season, Hoddle was replaced by Ruud Gullit who handed Colgan his first team professional debut playing in a 3-2 away defeat at the hands of West Ham United on 12 March 1997. Colgan had filled in for the then current first choice Frode Grodas who sat the game out on the bench. The Chelsea team that day featured the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Dan Petrescu, Dennis Wise and Mark Hughes. This would be his only taste of first team football for Chelsea, however he would go on to make 5 loan appearances each for both Brentford and Reading during the 1997-1998 season. In the summer of 1998, Chelsea now managed by Gianluca Vialli released Colgan from the club.
Bournemouth
In July 1998, fresh from his release from Chelsea, Colgan signed on a free transfer for Bournemouth. Colgan would make not one single appearance for the club during his only season at Dean Court, with him playing second fiddle to Mark Ovendale for the entire season.
Hibernian
During the summer of 1999, Colgan signed with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian. His first season at Easter Road he made 31 appearances for the club, and was looked upon as the first choice keeper in a side that boasted Olafur Gottskalksson and John Campbell. He went on to make a total of 147 appearances in all competitions between joining in 1999 and his departure in the summer of 2004. During the 2003-2004 season, Colgan was loaned out , where he spent most of the season with Stockport County. County were under a squad re-shuffle that had seen them use Lee Jones, James Spencer, Boaz Myhill, Anthony Williams and Colgan in the net that season. At the end of the season, Colgan was linked with a permanent move to Stockport but the transfer never materialised.
Barnsley
In the summer of 2004, Colgan signed for Barnsley, where he endured a tough first season only playing in 15 games and ending up on loan to Dundee United for 3 months. The 2005-2006 Barnsley campaign showed a turn of fortune for Colgan as he became the team's first choice keeper. His outstanding displays during the season earned him 20 clean sheets in total as well as the title of Barnsley's Player of the Year and helped the team reach the League One Play Off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 27 May 2006 where despite a mistake letting Swansea City take the lead, he recovered to make a historic save in the penalty shoot out which ensured Barnsley won their place back in the Championship.On 4 October 2007 he handed in a transfer request at Barnsley after losing his place to summer arrival Heinz Müller. Manager Simon Davey accepted the request.[2]
Ipswich Town
He signed for Ipswich Town on 31 January 2008 as a free agent after settling his contract at Barnsley until the end of the season. He failed to make an appearance for Town, after fellow keeper Stephen Bywater was loaned in from Derby County who kept the goalkeeping shirt for the remainder of the season. Colgan was not offered a new contract at the end of the season and instead started the 2008–09 pre-season by training with Bradford City in the hope of earning a contract with the League Two club.[3]
Sunderland
On 24 July 2008, Colgan returned to the Premier League and signed with Sunderland under the tenure of Roy Keane. The idea of Colgan's move was to provide cover for first choice keeper Craig Gordon, as well as competitng for a place on the bench with fellow back-up keepers Darren Ward and Marton Fulop. Colgan was named as a substitute on several occasions, but failed to make an appearance for The Black Cats. [4] He was eventually released on 28 May 2009 by Keane's replacement Ricky Sbragia along with six other first team players, notably Dwight Yorke, Rade Prica and David Connolly.[5]
Grimsby Town
Colgan playing for Grimsby Town in 2009
Colgan dropped three leagues down and re-signed for his former club Grimsby Town on 13 July 2009. He had previously spent a month on loan with Grimsby 15 years earlier whilst the club were a mid-table team in what is now the Championship, but Grimsby side had since dropped two divisions to League Two. Colgan signed for The Mariners after being recommended to manager Mike Newell by his former boss at Sunderland, Roy Keane.[6] Colgan stepped into a squad with only teenagers as his cover, Leigh Overton and Ed Eley, neither of whom had any competitive outings in the first team.
Colgan's second stint at Blundell Park got off to a slow start as an early season injury put him out of action for 6 weeks. Mike Newell replaced Colgan with loan signings Tommy Forecast and Josh Lillis. Colgan made his return from injury on 30 September in a 3-2 defeat against Chesterfield. On 23 February 2010, Colgan admitted to an error that had let relegation rivals Macclesfield Town equalise at Blundell Park. He then ruled himself out of the club's next game due to a lack of confidence in his ability. The following week Colgan returned to the team and oversaw The Mariners end a 26 game winless streak by beating Shrewsbury Town. In the clubs 3-2 win over Bournemouth, Colgan made an error when he let a Liam Feeney shot slip through under his legs and into the back of the net.
Over the Easter weekend period, injuries to both Colgan and his young understudy Overton meant that Mark Oxley was signed on an emergency loan to deputise. Colgan returned to the side for the away victory against Hereford United on 10 April. Grimsby finished 23rd in League Two, meaning relegation from The Football League. Colgan activated a clause in his contract which meant he was able to leave the club in the event of relegation. Manager Neil Woods commented that it was up to Colgan if he wished to leave the club. It was also stated that the signing of Rochdale's Kenny Arthur as Grimsby's new first choice keeper could sway Colgan's decision into leaving the club in favour of remaining as Town's back up goalkeeper for the upcoming season.[7]
After failing to agree terms with another club during pre-season, Colgan returned to Grimsby for pre-season training. On 15 October 2010, Colgan moved on a month's loan to Football League One side Huddersfield Town, as cover for the injured Alex Smithies and the experienced Ian Bennett. He made no appearances and returned after one month. It was reported on 17 November 2010 it was stated by Grimsby chairman John Fenty that Colgan had no future at the club [8] and on 7 January 2011 Colgan was released from his contract by mutual consent.[9]
Huddersfield Town
On January 21, 2011, Colgan re-signed for Huddersfield Town on a contract running to the end of the season, mainly as back-up for Ian Bennett, while Alex Smithies is recovering from injury.
International career
Colgan made his Republic of Ireland début in March 2002 whilst a Hibernian player against Denmark. He went on to make a total of 9 caps for his country, but was selected many more times for the national squad but usually as a backup keeper to the likes of Shay Given and Paddy Kenny. Despite being selected in the squad until 2006, his last cap for his nation came in a 3-0 defeat against Nigeria on 29 May 2004. In recent years, he has been left out of the Ireland squad in favour of younger goalkeepers such as Keiren Westwood, Joe Murphy and Wayne Henderson.
Career statistics
Club performance Club Season League Level League FA Cup League Cup FL Trophy Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Chelsea 1992–93 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1993–94 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1994–95 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1995–96 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1996–97 Premier League 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1997–98 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Crewe Alexandra (loan) 1993–94 Division Three 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grimsby Town (loan) 1994–95 Division One 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Millwall (loan) 1995–96 Division One 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brentford (loan) 1997–98 Division Two 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 Reading (loan) 1997–98 Division One 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 A.F.C. Bournemouth 1998–99 Division Two 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hibernian 1999–00 Scottish Premier League 1 23 0 5 0 2 0 0 0 30 0 2000–01 Scottish Premier League 1 37 0 5 0 3 0 0 0 45 0 2001–02 Scottish Premier League 1 29 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 33 0 2002–03 Scottish Premier League 1 30 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 35 0 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stockport County (loan) 2003–04 Division Two 3 15 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 17 0 Barnsley 2004–05 League One 3 14 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 16 0 2005–06 League One 3 46 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 50 0 2006–07 Championship 2 44 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 46 0 2007–09 Championship 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Dundee United (loan) 2004–05 Scottish Premier League 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 Ipswich Town 2007–08 Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 Sunderland 2008–09 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grimsby Town 2009–10 League Two 4 30 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 34 0 Huddersfield Town 2010–11 League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 References
- ^ Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 129. ISBN 1852916656.
- ^ Barnsley accept Colgan's request BBC Sport Retrieved on 4 October 2007
- ^ He played his first game in more than 8 months on the 16 July 2008 when Bradford City played Farsley Celtic in a pre-season friendly.Parker, Simon (2008-07-15). "Colgan playing for keeps". Telegraph & Argus. http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sportbcfc/sportbcfcheadlines/3207670.Colgan_playing_for_keeps/. Retrieved 2008-07-15.[dead link]
- ^ "Sunderland sign up veteran Colgan". BBC Sport. 2008-07-24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7523882.stm. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ Setanta Sports (28 May 2009). "Sunderland announce major clear-out". http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/05/28/Prem-Sunderland-release-seven-players/gnid-54867/. Retrieved 28 May 2009.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.grimsby-townfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~1720508,00.html
- ^ "Colgan set to leave Grimsby Town". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/8742358.stm.
- ^ "Grimsby striker 'is not for sale'". BBC News. 17 November 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grimsby_town/9201406.stm.
- ^ http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10417~2261334,00.html
External links
- Nick Colgan player profile at itfc.co.uk
- Nick Colgan player profile at barnsleyfc.co.uk
- Nick Colgan career stats at Soccerbase
Huddersfield Town F.C. – current squad 1 Smithies · 2 Woods · 3 Naysmith · 4 Guðjónsson · 5 P. Clarke (c) · 6 McCombe · 7 Roberts · 8 Kay · 9 Cadamarteri · 10 Gobern · 11 Ward · 13 Bennett · 14 Johnson · 15 Cooper · 16 Arfield · 17 Rhodes · 18 Miller · 19 Lee · 20 McDermott · 21 Novak · 22 Robinson · 25 Colgan · 26 Allinson · 32 Hunt · 33 Crooks · 36 Thomas · Manager: Clark
Categories:- 1973 births
- Living people
- People from Drogheda
- Association football goalkeepers
- Republic of Ireland association footballers
- Republic of Ireland international footballers
- Republic of Ireland under-21 international footballers
- Republic of Ireland expatriate association footballers
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in Scotland
- Chelsea F.C. players
- Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
- Grimsby Town F.C. players
- Millwall F.C. players
- Brentford F.C. players
- Reading F.C. players
- A.F.C. Bournemouth players
- Stockport County F.C. players
- Barnsley F.C. players
- Hibernian F.C. players
- Dundee United F.C. players
- Ipswich Town F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town F.C. players
- Premier League players
- The Football League players
- Scottish Premier League players
- Conference National players
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