Rory Fallon

Rory Michael Fallon (born 20 March 1982) is a New Zealand former professional footballer who played predominantly as a forward. He previously played for Barnsley, Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Swansea City, Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town, Yeovil Town, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe United, Dorchester Town. He was also capped by New Zealand a total of 24 times, scoring 6 goals. He represented his country at both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Nations Cup. He was born and raised in Gisborne. His father Kevin managed New Zealand over a four-year period in the 1980s. He retired from professional football in November 2017.[2]

Rory Fallon
Fallon playing for Plymouth Argyle in 2009
Personal information
Full name Rory Michael Fallon[1]
Date of birth (1982-03-20) 20 March 1982
Place of birth Gisborne, New Zealand
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 New Zealand (assistant)
Youth career
Mount Albert Grammar
Barnsley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2003 Barnsley 52 (11)
2001–2002 → Shrewsbury Town (loan) 11 (0)
2003–2006 Swindon Town 77 (22)
2005 → Yeovil Town (loan) 6 (1)
2006–2007 Swansea City 44 (13)
2007–2011 Plymouth Argyle 149 (22)
2010–2011 → Ipswich Town (loan) 6 (1)
2011 Yeovil Town 5 (0)
2011–2013 Aberdeen 37 (3)
2013–2014 St Johnstone 8 (1)
2014 Crawley Town 8 (0)
2014–2015 Scunthorpe United 4 (3)
2016 Bristol Rovers 3 (0)
2016 Truro City 12 (0)
2017 Torquay United 5 (0)
2017 Dorchester Town 1 (0)
Total 428 (77)
National team
2009–2017 New Zealand 24 (6)
Teams managed
2019– New Zealand (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Club career

Born in Gisborne, Fallon started his career at Barnsley, becoming a professional in 1999 after moving up through their trainee programme. He had just begun to cement his place in the first-team when he suffered a stress fracture of his foot, which saw him struggle to regain his place.

Fallon was signed for an undisclosed fee by Swindon Town in November 2003 after a number of impressive performances against them with Barnsley, which caught the eye of manager Andy King. After breaking into the team he scored a number of important goals in the 2003–04 campaign; including an overhead kick from the edge of the box to secure a point against Bristol City.[3]

Despite the departure of Tommy Mooney, Fallon found himself regularly on the bench in the 2004–05 season. He was loaned out to Yeovil Town to increase his confidence and he scored on his debut against Scunthorpe United.[4] He failed to score in the remainder of the season, but a red card for kicking Huddersfield Town defender David Mirfin in the face meant he missed the opening two games of the following season. After Sam Parkin was sold in summer 2005, Fallon was given greater opportunities to play at Swindon, scoring on his return to action against Nottingham Forest.

He signed for League One team Swansea City in January 2006 for a fee believed to be £300,000, the second highest fee ever paid by the Welsh club. A productive year followed for the striker, scoring 13 goals in all competitions from 48 appearances. This prompted interest from Championship side Plymouth Argyle and they paid £300,000 for Fallon on 19 January 2007.[5]

Fallon had only started a handful of games for Plymouth Argyle, and had struggled to get into the team. He went without a competitive goal at Home Park until 19 January 2008, exactly one-year after he signed for the club, when he scored a second half equaliser against Southampton. It was only his fourth goal for the Pilgrims. The 2007–2008 campaign saw Fallon continue to be a regular bench warmer, but he continued with his optimistic attitude that he can become a first team regular, and even rejected a £250,000 move to League One side Southend United,[6] in January 2008.

On 29 September 2009, Fallon scored the winning goal for Plymouth against Peterborough United earning the Pilgrims their first win of the season after seven straight defeats, lifting them off the bottom of the table. Fallon then scored the opening goal in Argyle's next game against Scunthorpe United which they also won 2–1.

On the opening day of the 2010–11 season, Fallon played the full 90 minutes and was the provider for Luke Summerfield's winning goal in Plymouth's 1–0 win over pre-season promotion favourites Southampton. In November, he joined Ipswich Town on short loan,[7] returning to Plymouth in January.[8]

In August 2011, Fallon signed a one-month contract with Yeovil Town after a short trial and featured in all five of Yeovil's games during that period.

In September 2011, he signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen.[9] Fallon's time at Aberdeen was notable for his performances in the 2011–12 Scottish Cup. After scoring in Aberdeen's 4–0, 4th round victory over Forfar Athletic,[10] he set up Aberdeen's opener in the 5th round 2–1 win over Queen of the South.[11] Fallon then scored both goals in the 2–1 quarter final win against Motherwell[12] to become the Player of the Round.[13] Although Aberdeen lost the semi-final at Hampden Park 2–1 against Hibernian,[14] Fallon's second half equaliser went on to be voted the PFA Goal of the Season.[15] On 13 May 2013 Fallon was released by Aberdeen having scored three league goals in 35 appearances.

Fallon joined Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone in July 2013 on a free transfer,[16] the deal was completed in time for Fallon to play a part, if called upon, in St Johnstone's UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie against Norwegian Tippeligaen side Rosenborg.[17] On 31 January 2014, Fallon left St Johnstone by mutual consent.[18]

In February 2014, Fallon joined Crawley Town until the end of the 2013–14 season.[19]

In September 2014, Fallon joined Scunthorpe United on a short-term deal.[20] Fallon scored on his Scunthorpe début in a 3–2 loss to Oldham Athletic on 27 September 2014.[21]

In January 2016, Fallon joined Bristol Rovers on non-contract terms until the end of the season. He made his debut as a 76th-minute substitute, in a 1–0 loss to Accrington Stanley F.C..[22] In the summer of 2016, he Joined National League South club, Truro City F.C. as a player-coach but had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in December 2016.[23]

On 26 July 2017, Fallon joined National League side Torquay United, on non-contract terms, ahead of the 2017–18 season.[24] He played one match for Dorchester Town.

International career

Despite being born in New Zealand and having a father who coached New Zealand at the 1982 World Cup,[25] Fallon chose to represent England at junior level. He played international football for England at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 levels and switched when FIFA changed the eligibility rules.[26]

He did, however, represent New Zealand in an unofficial U-16 World Cup in France in 1998 where Wynton Rufer was the coach. Shortly after, he departed for England to be an apprentice at Barnsley.

In January 2006, New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert suggested that Fallon might still get a chance to represent New Zealand at senior level. Herbert claimed that the only reason why Fallon wasn't picked was due to lack of correspondence from FIFA regarding this matter. Fallon had until he was 21 years old to get clearance from FIFA to change nationalities. It found, however, that Fallon did not apply in the 2004 window to change allegiance for over-21s players. This year-long window was made available by FIFA upon introduction of a rule which allows players with dual nationality to switch their allegiance before their 21st birthday. Under this criterion Fallon could not be available for New Zealand.

On 3 June 2009, FIFA Congress passed a motion removing the age limit for changing associations for players who had already played for a country's national team at youth level under article 18 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes. This allowed for the possibility of Fallon again representing New Zealand.[26]

In August 2009, Fallon was called up to the New Zealand squad for a friendly against Jordan the following month and the crucial two-legged World Cup play-off matches against Bahrain later in the year.[27] Fallon scored on debut in the match against Jordan, which New Zealand won 3–1.

On 14 November 2009, Fallon headed home the only goal just before half-time in the second leg of New Zealand's World Cup qualifier against Bahrain, to send New Zealand to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, their first appearance at the finals in 28 years.[28] Fallon played in all three of New Zealand's finals games.

He recalled into the New Zealand camp for their World Cup play-off loss to Peru. On November 2017, following the matches, he announced his international retirement.[2][29]

Coaching career

After retiring, Fallon worked with Plymouth Argyle's under-14 players.[30] In mid-October 2019, Fallon was appointed assistant manager for the New Zealand national football team under manager Danny Hay.[31]

Career statistics

Club

Reference[32][33]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 1999–2000First Division 0000000000
2000–01 1000000010
2001–02 90001000100
2002–03Second Division 267101010297
2003–04 164001010184
Total 52111030205811
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2001–02Third Division 110000000110
Swindon Town 2003–04Second Division 196000021217
2004–05League One 313302031394
2005–06 25121110212914
Total 77224130739126
Yeovil Town (loan) 2004–05League Two 6100000061
Swansea City 2005–06League One 174000031205
2006–07 248301000288
Total 41123010314813
Plymouth Argyle 2006–07Championship 151000000151
2007–08 297102000327
2008–09 445101000475
2009–10 335201000365
2010–11League One 284101010314
Total 1492250501016022
Ipswich Town (loan) 2010–11Championship 6100000061
Yeovil Town 2011–12League One 5000100060
Aberdeen 2011–12Scottish Premier League 212541100277
2012–13 141210000162
Total 353751100439
St Johnstone 2013–14Scottish Premiership 81101020121
Crawley Town 2013–14League One 8000000080
Scunthorpe United 2014–15League One 4300001053
Bristol Rovers 2015–16League Two 3000000030
Truro City 2016–17National League South 120000020140
Torquay United 2017–18National League 5000000050
Dorchester Town 2017–18Southern League Premier Division 1000001020
Career total 4237621615119447887

International goals
New Zealand score listed first, score column indicates score after each Fallon goal.[34]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 September 2009King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, Jordan1 Jordan2–13–1Friendly
2 14 November 2009Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand3 Bahrain1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 4 June 2010Ljudski vrt, Maribor, Slovenia7 Slovenia1–11–3Friendly
4 19 November 2013Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand17 Mexico2–32–42014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 28 May 2016Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea19 Fiji2–03–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 31 May 2016Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea20 Vanuatu4–05–02016 OFC Nations Cup

Personal life

Fallon's mother, Mere, is of Māori descent.[35] He has a brother called Sean and a sister called Bianca.[35]

Fallon owns a business selling ice cream for businesses and events across Yorkshire and Devon.[36]

References
  1. "List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  2. James, Stuart (19 November 2017). "Former Plymouth Argyle favourite Rory Fallon retires from football". plymouthherald.
  3. "Fallon Overhead Kick". YouTube. 31 October 2006.
  4. "Yeovil 4–3 Scunthorpe". BBC. 22 February 2005. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  5. "Fallon completes Plymouth switch". BBC Sport. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  6. "Heart problem halts Walker switch". 19 January 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "Ipswich Town sign Rory Fallon and Gianni Zuiverloon". BBC Sport. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  8. "Loan striker Rory Fallon leaves Ipswich Town early". BBC Sport. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  9. "Rory Fallon is now a Don". Aberdeen Football Club. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  10. "Forfar 0 – 4 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  11. "Queen of the South 1 – 2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  12. "Motherwell 1 – 2 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  13. "Player of the Round". Scottish Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  14. "Aberdeen 1 – 2 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  15. "PFA Scotland Awards". stv.tv. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2014/matches/round=2000466/match=2012289/prematch/player-lists/index.html
  18. "TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY BUSINESS UPDATE". perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  19. "Rory's a Red". Crawley Town FC. 17 February 2014.
  20. "Rory Fallon: Scunthorpe United sign New Zealand striker". BBC Sport. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  21. "Philliskirk sinks Scunthorpe". Team Talk. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  22. "Accrington Stanley 1-0 Bristol Rovers". 30 January 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  23. "Truro City: Rory Fallon and Durrell Berry leave National League South club". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  24. "Rory Fallon: Torquay United sign former New Zealand international". BBC Sport. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  25. "Fallon keen to play for All Whites". NZPA. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012.
  26. "Protect the game, protect the players, strengthen global football governance # Change of association". FIFA. 3 June 2009.
  27. "Fallon earns New Zealand call-up". BBC Sport. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  28. "New Zealand 1–0 Bahrain". BBC Sport. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
  29. "All Whites striker Rory Fallon hangs up his boots after 18-year professional career". Stuff.
  30. Former Argyle striker Rory Fallon joins New Zealand's coaching staff for international double-header, plymouthherald.co.uk, 14 November 2019
  31. New All Whites coach Danny Hay calls on Rory Fallon to be one of his assistants, stuff.co.nz, 21 October 2019
  32. Rory Fallon at Soccerbase accessdate=29 November 2017
  33. Rory Fallon at Soccerway accessdate=1 December 2017
  34. Rory Fallon at Soccerway
  35. "Rory Fallon: Playing on the side of God". The Herald. 10 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  36. "Rory Fallon: International footballer to ice cream entrepreneur". 28 November 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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