Danny Sullivan (footballer)

Daniel Michael C Sullivan (born 1 September 1994) is an English footballer who plays for Taunton Town as a forward. After rising through Torquay United's youth system, Sullivan made his senior debut in August 2013.

Daniel Sullivan
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-09-01) 1 September 1994
Place of birth Plymouth, England[1]
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Taunton Town
Youth career
2011–2013 Torquay United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Torquay United 5 (0)
2014 → Bideford (loan)
2014 → Hereford United (loan) 9 (5)
2015–201? Truro City 6 (3)
201?–2017 Bodmin Town 34 (16 [2])
2017 Tavistock ? (?)
2017- Taunton Town 119 (47 [3])
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:55, 13 January 2021 (UTC)

Career

Youth team

Sullivan attended Ivybridge Community College and played in the same Plymouth Schools side as future Plymouth Argyle professionals Tyler Harvey and Matt Lecointe in 2009.[4] He joined Argyle as a schoolboy but was released and signed for Torquay United on a two-year scholarship in July 2011.[5] Sullivan made his debut for the youth team in August 2011 against Oxford United; the Herald Express claimed his performance "may well have caught the eye" of visiting scouts from Manchester United and Fulham.[6] By November 2011, he was combining youth team duties with playing for Torquay's reserves.[7]

He began the 2012–13 season in fine form after being converted from attacking midfield to lone striker by the club's Head of Youth Geoff Harrop, and he scored a hat-trick in United youth's first game, a 4–3 loss to Swindon Town.[8][9]

After impressive displays over his two years with Torquay's youth team, Sullivan was awarded a professional contract in August 2012 by then-manager Martin Ling, who described the forward as "our youth team's best attacking player for some time."[10] Sullivan was allocated the number 31 shirt and added to Torquay's first team squad for the 2012–13 season.[11][12] Although Sullivan did not make any appearances for the first team and continued to play for Torquay's youth side, he was named as the club's Young Player of the Season for 2012–13.[13][14]

Senior team

Alan Knill was appointed as the club's new manager in summer 2013 and gave Sullivan the chance to prove himself in Torquay's pre-season friendlies, giving the youngster playing time against Tiverton Town, Salisbury City and Yeovil Town. Sullivan duly scored in the latter game in a 2–0 win after coolly rounding Yeovil goalkeeper Marek Stech.[15][16]

After impressive cameos in Torquay's pre-season fixtures, Sullivan was named as a substitute (having seemingly overtaken Ashley Yeoman in the striking roster) for the opening game of the season against AFC Wimbledon on 3 August.[17] He made his senior debut a week later as a late substitute in the 1–1 draw at Morecambe, becoming the 999th player to play for Torquay since they joined the Football League in 1927.[18][19] On 13 August, Sullivan scored twice in a 3–2 friendly win over Cheltenham Town – one with either foot – prompting Knill to admit, "When I watched Danny last year, I wasn't totally convinced, but he's earned our confidence this season."[20][21]

The forward made his home debut in a 0–0 Football League Cup draw with Portsmouth on 3 September; Torquay lost 5–3 on penalties.[22] Sullivan's second league appearance arrived four days later, coming off the bench in a 4–1 defeat at Fleetwood Town.[23] A week later he replaced Jordan Chapell late in the 1–0 loss at Rochdale, but Sullivan had to wait until mid-November for his next appearance, again as a substitute in the 2–0 home reverse against Chesterfield.[24][25]

On 5 February 2014, Sullivan joined Bideford on loan for the rest of the season.[26] With Torquay relegated to the Conference, Sullivan made his first appearance of 2014–15 as a late replacement for Duane Ofori-Acheampong in United's 1–1 draw with Aldershot on 25 August 2014.[27] He subsequently spent time on loan with Hereford United, but returned to Torquay when Hereford were liquidated.

Truro City

Sullivan left Torquay by mutual consent in January 2015,[28] and signed for Southern League club Truro City on 16 January 2015.[29] He made his Truro debut as a second-half substitute for Craig Duff in the 2–1 win at Hitchin Town the following day,[30] and scored on his home debut in the 3–2 win over Redditch United on 20 January, when he again substituted Duff in the second half.[31]

Sullivan then had a spell with Bodmin Town, before signing for Tavistock in June 2017.[32] On 22 September 2017, Sullivan signed for Taunton Town.[33] In his first season with Taunton, he was named the Supporters Player of the Year [34]

References
  1. Meet the Youth Team Archived 2 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine Torquay United F.C. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  2. https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/bodmintownfootballclub/teams/160684/player/dan-sullivan-1701204/40055
  3. https://tauntontown.com/featured-news/sully-stays-a-peacock/
  4. Plymouth Rout West Cornwall in Schools Cup This is Cornwall. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  5. Players Under Written Contract in July 2011 The Football Association. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  6. Gulls lads attracting spotters Herald Express. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  7. Atieno Strikes Twice as Reserves Gain Encouraging Victory 30 November 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  8. United Youth 4–1 Yeovil Youth Archived 2 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Torquay United F.C. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  9. Report: Swindon Youth 4–3 United Youth Archived 2 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Torquay United F.C. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  10. Ling: Signing Danny and Jake made my week Herald Express. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  11. Daniel Sullivan Football Stats Soccerbase. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  12. Ling says no to Ifill but ponders Artemi and Foot This is South Devon. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  13. The Awards: Who Won What Archived 2 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine Torquay United F.C. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  14. Sullivan Presented With Young Player Award Newsprints.co.uk. 28 April 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  15. Torquay United too hot for Yeovil to handle Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Western Morning News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  16. Malsom Ends United's 100 Percent Record Archived 21 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Herald Express. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  17. Line-Ups: Torquay 1–1 Wimbledon The Guardian. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  18. League Two – Morecambe 1–1 Torquay BBC Sport. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  19. 999 Gulls: Sully Debut on Brink of History Archived 13 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine Torquay United F.C. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  20. Daniel Sullivan bags a brace in Cheltenham win Herald Express. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  21. Torquay boss delighted by Sullivan's progress Western Morning News. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  22. Johnstone's Paint Trophy – Torquay 0–0 Portsmouth BBC Sport. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  23. League Two – Fleetwood 4–1 Torquay BBC Sport. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  24. League Two – Rochdale 1–0 Torquay BBC Sport. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  25. Chesterfield: Blues beat Torquay to reignite league form Derbyshire Times. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  26. "Sully To Biddy". Torquay United FC. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  27. Torquay United vs. Aldershot Town - 25 August 25 August 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  28. "Danny Sullivan: Truro City in talks with ex-Torquay forward". BBC Sport. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  29. "Daniel Sullivan signs for City". Truro City F.C. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  30. "Truro City hit back to earn vital win in hunt for promotion". Truro City F.C. 17 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  31. "Dan's the man for Truro City as he scores crucial winner on home debut". Truro City F.C. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  32. https://twitter.com/tafclambs/status/879580102270623744
  33. https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/sport/15552673.football-taunton-town-sign-forward-dan-sullivan-from-tavistock-afc/
  34. https://tauntontown.com/featured-news/sully-stays-a-peacock/
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