Darren Purse
| Date of birth | 14 February 1977 |
| Place of birth | Stepney |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Height | 1.88 m |
| Position | Defender/Centre back |
Darren Purse grew in stature to become an inspirational figure at the heart of the Birmingham City defence in 2000-01.
Entrusted with the vital injury-time penalty in the Worthington Cup Final against Liverpool, he kept his nerve to fire the ball home and then followed up with another penalty in the shoot-out.
A talented central defender, he attacks the ball in the air with power and determination and is very strong in the tackle.
Despite the disappointment of the Play-Off defeat by Preston North End, Darren finished the campaign on a personal high when he was voted as the Blues' Player of the Year.
Darren joined West Bromwich Albion in June 2004 with a three-year contract before joining Cardiff City in July 2005 in a three-year deal.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday in July 2009 with a two-year contract.
Darren joined Millwall in January 2011 with a contract to June 2011 that was extended to June 2012 in April 2011.
After a loan spell, he joined Plymouth Argyle in January 2012 with a contract to June 2012.
Darren was made available for transfer by Argyle in December 2012 before his contract was cancelled the following month.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leyton Orient | 22 Feb 1994 | 23 Jul 1996 | |
| Oxford United | 23 Jul 1996 | 17 Feb 1998 | |
| Birmingham City | 17 Feb 1998 | 18 Jun 2004 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 18 Jun 2004 | 28 Jul 2005 | |
| Cardiff City | 28 Jul 2005 | 30 Jun 2009 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 02 Jul 2009 | 20 Jan 2011 | |
| Millwall | 21 Jan 2011 | 05 Jan 2012 | |
| Yeovil Town | 21 Oct 2011 | 21 Nov 2011 | L |
| Plymouth Argyle | 22 Nov 2011 | 03 Jan 2012 | L |
| Plymouth Argyle | 05 Jan 2012 | 04 Jan 2013 | |
| Port Vale | 07 Jan 2013 | 30 Jun 2013 | |
| IFK Mariehamn | 08 Aug 2013 | 31 Dec 2013 | |
| Chesham United | 01 Jan 2014 | 09 Jan 2015 | |
| Welling United | 19 Jan 2015 | 01 Mar 2015 | |
| Staines Town | 01 Mar 2015 | 24 Dec 2015 | |
| AFC Rushden and Diamonds | 24 Dec 2015 | 13 Jan 2016 | |
| Hayes and Yeading United | 13 Jan 2016 | 30 Jun 2016 | |
| Chesham United | 01 Jul 2016 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Oxford United | League Cup | 1 |
||||
| 1997-98 | Oxford United | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Birmingham City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Birmingham City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Birmingham City | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2000-01 | Birmingham City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Birmingham City | League Cup | 8 | 1 |
1 |
2
|
|
| 2000-01 | Birmingham City | League Division 1 | 34 | 3 |
3 |
8
|
1
|
| 2000-01 | Birmingham City | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 2 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Birmingham City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Birmingham City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Birmingham City | League Division 1 | 35 | 1 |
3 |
10
|
1
|
| 2001-02 | Birmingham City | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Birmingham City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Birmingham City | Premier League | 19 | 1 |
1 |
6
|
1
|
| 2003-04 | Birmingham City | FA Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2003-04 | Birmingham City | Premier League | 9 |
1
|
|||
| 2004-05 | West Bromwich Albion | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2004-05 | West Bromwich Albion | Premier League | 22 |
2
|
1
|
||
| 2005-06 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Cardiff City | League Championship | 39 | 5 |
8
|
2
|
|
| 2005-06 | Cardiff City | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2006-07 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Cardiff City | League Championship | 31 | 4 |
3
|
1
|
|
| 2007-08 | Cardiff City | League Championship | 12 | 6 |
1 |
3
|
|
| 2007-08 | Cardiff City | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2008-09 | Cardiff City | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2008-09 | Cardiff City | League Championship | 21 | 2 |
2
|
||
| 2008-09 | Cardiff City | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Sheffield Wednesday | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2009-10 | Sheffield Wednesday | League Championship | 39 | 2 |
5
|
||
| 2009-10 | Sheffield Wednesday | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Millwall | League Championship | 9 | 4 |
1 |
1
|
|
| 2010-11 | Sheffield Wednesday | FA Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2010-11 | Sheffield Wednesday | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 4 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2010-11 | Sheffield Wednesday | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2010-11 | Sheffield Wednesday | League One | 22 |
6
|
|||
| 2011-12 | Millwall | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2011-12 | Plymouth Argyle | League Two | 24 | 2 |
2
|
1
|
|
| 2011-12 | Yeovil Town | League One | 5 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Plymouth Argyle | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2012-13 | Plymouth Argyle | League Two | 21 |
5
|
1
|
||
| 2012-13 | Port Vale | League Two | 17 | 2 |
3
|
||
| 2015-16 | Staines Town | FA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2016-17 | Chesham United | FA Cup | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1998 | Birmingham City v Wimbledon | L | 1-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 12 Oct 1999 | Birmingham City v Newcastle United | W | 2-0 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 30 Nov 1999 | Birmingham City v West Ham United | L | 2-3 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 11 Dec 1999 | Watford v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Queens Park Rangers v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Aug 2000 | Birmingham City v Fulham | L | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Southend United | D |
0-0 Agg: 5-0 |
League Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 09 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Sheffield United | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Preston North End | W | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Sep 2000 | West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Wycombe Wanderers v Birmingham City | W | 3-4 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Tranmere Rovers | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Sep 2000 | Birmingham City v Wycombe Wanderers | W |
1-0 Agg: 5-3 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 08 Oct 2000 | Crewe Alexandra v Birmingham City | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Oct 2000 | Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Oct 2000 | Birmingham City v Gillingham | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Oct 2000 | Portsmouth v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 31 Oct 2000 | Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City | W | 1-3 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 04 Nov 2000 | Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 07 Nov 2000 | Norwich City v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Birmingham City v Burnley | W | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Nov 2000 | Birmingham City v Huddersfield Town | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Nov 2000 | Birmingham City v Newcastle United | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 02 Dec 2000 | Gillingham v Birmingham City | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 Dec 2000 | Birmingham City v Wimbledon | L | 0-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Dec 2000 | Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 2-0 | League Cup | Quarter-final |
| 17 Dec 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Dec 2000 | Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2000 | Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Jan 2001 | Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Jan 2001 | Manchester City v Birmingham City | L | 3-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 09 Jan 2001 | Ipswich Town v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | League Cup | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 13 Jan 2001 | Barnsley v Birmingham City | W | 2-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Fulham v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 31 Jan 2001 | Birmingham City v Ipswich Town | W |
4-1 Agg: 4-2 |
League Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 03 Feb 2001 | Birmingham City v Norwich City | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Feb 2001 | Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Feb 2001 | Preston North End v Birmingham City | W | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Feb 2001 | Birmingham City v Liverpool | L | 1-1 (4-5) | League Cup | Final |
| 02 Mar 2001 | Birmingham City v Watford | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Mar 2001 | Crystal Palace v Birmingham City | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Mar 2001 | Birmingham City v Crewe Alexandra | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Mar 2001 | Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Mar 2001 | Stockport County v Birmingham City | L | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Mar 2001 | Grimsby Town v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Mar 2001 | Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Apr 2001 | Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Apr 2001 | Birmingham City v Portsmouth | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Apr 2001 | Burnley v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Apr 2001 | Birmingham City v Grimsby Town | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 May 2001 | Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 May 2001 | Birmingham City v Preston North End | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 17 May 2001 | Preston North End v Birmingham City | L |
2-1 Agg: 2-2 (2-4) |
League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Wimbledon v Birmingham City | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 19 Aug 2001 | Birmingham City v Millwall | W | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Aug 2001 | Birmingham City v Southend United | W | 3-0 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 25 Aug 2001 | Walsall v Birmingham City | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Aug 2001 | Birmingham City v Stockport County | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Oct 2001 | Barnsley v Birmingham City | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Oct 2001 | Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Oct 2001 | Birmingham City v Bradford City | W | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Oct 2001 | Birmingham City v Gillingham | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Oct 2001 | Grimsby Town v Birmingham City | L | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Oct 2001 | Portsmouth v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Nov 2001 | Birmingham City v Rotherham United | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 07 Nov 2001 | Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 17 Nov 2001 | Sheffield United v Birmingham City | L | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Nov 2001 | Birmingham City v Coventry City | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Nov 2001 | Gillingham v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Dec 2001 | Birmingham City v Norwich City | W | 4-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 11 Dec 2001 | Birmingham City v Crystal Palace | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Dec 2001 | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City | L | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 22 Dec 2001 | Birmingham City v Walsall | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Dec 2001 | Stockport County v Birmingham City | W | 0-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Jan 2002 | Liverpool v Birmingham City | L | 3-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 10 Jan 2002 | Millwall v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 19 Jan 2002 | Birmingham City v Wimbledon | L | 0-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Jan 2002 | West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 16 Feb 2002 | Birmingham City v Barnsley | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Feb 2002 | Birmingham City v Watford | W | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Feb 2002 | Burnley v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 Mar 2002 | Preston North End v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 05 Mar 2002 | Birmingham City v Manchester City | L | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 Mar 2002 | Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Mar 2002 | Bradford City v Birmingham City | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 15 Mar 2002 | Norwich City v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 07 Apr 2002 | Birmingham City v Portsmouth | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 10 Apr 2002 | Birmingham City v Crewe Alexandra | W | 3-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Apr 2002 | Rotherham United v Birmingham City | D | 2-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Apr 2002 | Birmingham City v Sheffield United | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 28 Apr 2002 | Birmingham City v Millwall | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 02 May 2002 | Millwall v Birmingham City | W |
0-1 Agg: 1-2 |
League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 18 Aug 2002 | Arsenal v Birmingham City | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 24 Aug 2002 | Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 28 Aug 2002 | Everton v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Birmingham City v Leeds United | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 11 Sep 2002 | Liverpool v Birmingham City | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 16 Sep 2002 | Birmingham City v Aston Villa | W | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Middlesbrough v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Birmingham City v Newcastle United | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 02 Oct 2002 | Leyton Orient v Birmingham City | W | 2-3 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 05 Oct 2002 | West Ham United v Birmingham City | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 26 Oct 2002 | Birmingham City v Manchester City | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 02 Nov 2002 | Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers | W | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 Nov 2002 | Chelsea v Birmingham City | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 17 Nov 2002 | Birmingham City v Fulham | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 23 Nov 2002 | Sunderland v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 30 Nov 2002 | Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 07 Dec 2002 | Southampton v Birmingham City | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 15 Dec 2002 | Fulham v Birmingham City | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 03 May 2003 | Newcastle United v Birmingham City | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 2003 | Birmingham City v West Ham United | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 16 Aug 2003 | Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Sep 2003 | Birmingham City v Fulham | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 07 Jan 2004 | Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City | L | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 10 Jan 2004 | Birmingham City v Southampton | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Jan 2004 | Chelsea v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Birmingham City v Wimbledon | W | 1-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 31 Jan 2004 | Birmingham City v Newcastle United | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 08 Feb 2004 | Manchester City v Birmingham City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 Feb 2004 | Birmingham City v Everton | 3- | Premier League | ||
| 14 Feb 2004 | Sunderland v Birmingham City | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 22 Feb 2004 | Aston Villa v Birmingham City | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 25 Feb 2004 | Birmingham City v Sunderland | L | 0-2 | FA Cup | 5th round replay |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | England | Toulon Under-21 | 2 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 May 1998 | France v England | D | 1-1 | Toulon Under-21 | Group A |
| 16 May 1998 | England v South Africa | W | 3-1 | Toulon Under-21 | Group A |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.