Tadhg Purcell

Tadhg Purcell (born 2 September 1985) is an Irish footballer who plays for Dunbar Rovers FC in the National Premier League. His main position is as a striker, although he can play on the wing.

Tadhg Purcell
Purcell playing for Shamrock Rovers in April 2007.
Personal information
Full name Tadhg Purcell
Date of birth (1985-09-02) 2 September 1985
Place of birth Sandyford, Ireland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Dunbar Rovers FC
Number 7
Youth career
2002–2004 Leicester Celtic
2004–2005 Kilkenny City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 Kilkenny City 35 (10)
2006–2009 Shamrock Rovers 112 (30)
2010 Darlington 22 (9)
2010–2012 Northampton Town 5 (0)
2011 → Darlington (loan) 5 (1)
2012 → Cork City (loan) 16 (3)
2013 Marconi Stallions 23 (8)
2014 Rockdale City Suns 20 (2)
2015–2017 Northbridge 61 (13)
2018 Stanmore Hawks 17 (6)
2019– Dunbar Rovers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 August 2019

He spent his youth with Leicester Celtic, before joining Kilkenny City in 2004. He moved onto Shamrock Rovers two years later, and enjoyed a successful three-year spell with the club, helping Shamrock to win the First Division title in 2006. He won a move to English club Darlington in January 2010, before joining Northampton Town six months later. He was loaned back to Darlington in September 2011, and later went out on loan to Irish side Cork City. He joined Australian side Marconi Stallions in March 2013, he then joined Rockdale City Suns in 2014, and North Shore Mariners in 2015. He's played his trade over the past seasons with other Sydney-based National Premier League teams Stanmore Hawks and Dunbar Rovers.

Playing career

Early career

Tadhg Purcell played most his schoolboy career at Leicester Celtic, where he played alongside future teammate Barry Murphy. He also gained success with his St Benildus team, and was part of the under-18s Dublin Soccer champions team at St Benildus College in 2003, when they beat Malahide 1–0 in the final, which was held at Wayside Celtic's ground.

League of Ireland career

Tadgh Purcell originally received a soccer scholarship from University College Dublin (UCD AFC), where he played the beginning of his senior career. Following the end of his scholarship, Purcell moved to First Division side Kilkenny City, under the management of Pat Scully, for the 2005 season. He scored his first League of Ireland goal on 9 April at Buckley Park. After one season with the "Black Cats", he then moved to Shamrock Rovers for the 2006 season, along with his manager Scully, after Kilkenny City failed to gain promotion from the First Division.

He made his Rovers debut in the opening game of the 2006 season.[2] Following a successful first season with the "Hoops", in which Rovers won the First Division title and Purcell became the club's top scorer with 12 goals, he signed a two and a half-year contract in July 2007.[3] The club finished fifth in the Premier Division the following season, and he was top-scorer again in 2007 after finding the net 12 times, also becoming the fourth highest scorer in the league. Scully left the club by mutual consent in October 2008, and was replaced by Michael O'Neill. Although first team opportunities became limited in 2008 he managed to make an impact in many league games but Purcell eventually departed the club in September 2009.[4] He was the first substitute to appear at Tallaght Stadium,[5] and also played as a substitute in a friendly against Real Madrid.[6] His last goal for Rovers was his only goal in the 2009 season.[7]

Darlington

Purcell signed for Steve Staunton's League Two club Darlington, along with former St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Gary Dempsey, in January 2010.[8] He scored on his debut for the club on 19 January, in a 2–1 win over Rotherham United at the Don Valley Stadium.[9] He also scored on his home debut in a 2–1 loss to Northampton Town.[10] He scored nine goals in 22 games in 2009–10 to become the club's top scorer, as the "Quakers" suffered relegation out of the Football League. He rejected a new deal at The Darlington Arena following the club's relegation,[11] despite new manager Simon Davey's attempts to retain him.[12]

Northampton Town

Purcell signed a two-year contract with League Two side Northampton Town in June 2010.[13] Manager Ian Sampson stated that: "He is a good finisher, has a lot of physical strength and understands the game. He is a major signing for us and we are delighted."[14] On his first start of the season against Wycombe Wanderers, Purcell was stretched off; it was later revealed that he would subsequently be ruled out for the remainder of the 2010–11 season with ruptured cruciate and lateral knee ligaments.[15]

He joined former club Darlington on a one-month loan in September 2011,[16] in what "Cobblers" boss Gary Johnson stated was an attempt to regain match fitness.[17] He scored one goal in five Conference National appearances for the "Quakers", before returning to Sixfields. Purcell joined Tommy Dunne's League of Ireland side Cork City on a four-month loan in February 2012.[18] He scored three goals in 16 Premier Division games during his stay at Turners Cross in the 2012 season. Although a permanent contract was offered Purcell decided to move back to the UK.

He joined Port Vale on trial in July 2012.[19] He scored a hat-trick for the "Valiants" in a friendly against amateur side Alsager Town.[20]

Australia

Purcell joined Australian club Marconi Stallions in March 2013. He later signed for Northbridge FC in 2015.[21]

Personal life

Purcell was raised in Sandyford, Dublin and obtained a degree in Science at undergraduate level, in University College Dublin (UCD) after leaving St Benildus College. Before going to St Benildus College he attended Catholic University School (CUS) for three years.

Honours
Shamrock Rovers

References
  1. "Name: Tadhg Purcell (on loan to Darlington)". ntfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  2. Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine www.shamrockrovers.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  3. Malone, Emmet (13 July 2007) Purcell signs new deal at Rovers Irish Times. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  4. Purcell leaves Shamrock Rovers 28 September 2009. www.rte.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  5. Shamrock Rovers 2–1 Sligo Rovers Archived 13 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine www.shamrockrovers.ie. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  6. Shamrock Rovers 0–1 Real Madrid Archived 9 September 2012 at Archive.today www.shamrockrovers.ie. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  7. Shamrock Rovers 2–1 Derry City Archived 7 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine www.shamrockrovers.ie. 2 August 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  8. Stoddart, Craig (7 January 2010) Three new signings for Quakers Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  9. Rotherham 1–2 Darlington BBC Sport. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  10. Darlington 1–2 Northampton BBC Sport. 26 January 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
  11. "Striker Tadhg Purcell rejects Darlington contract offer". BBC Sport. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  12. "Darlington keen to retain striker Tadhg Purcell". BBC Sport. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  13. "Northampton Town set to sign Darlington striker Purcell". BBC Sport. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  14. Purcell agrees terms www.ntfc.co.uk. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  15. "Northampton Town's Tadhg Purcell is out for season". BBC Sport. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  16. "Darlington sign Northampton Town striker Tadhg Purcell". BBC Sport. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  17. "Northampton Town's Tadhg Purcell lines up Darlington loan". BBC Sport. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  18. "Northampton Town's Tadhg Purcell loaned to Cork City". BBC Sport. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  19. "Tadhg Purcell handed Valiants opportunity". The Sentinel. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  20. "Purcell shines in Alsager friendly". The Sentinel. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  21. Whelan, Padraig. "Purcell pursues career 'Down Under'". extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
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