Brian Close

Date of birth27 January 1982
Place of birthBelfast
NationalityNorthern Irish
Weight78 kg
Height1.78 m
PositionDefender

Close, who is a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, joined Middlesbrough from St Oliver Plunkett Boys Club.

His contract at Darlington was extended to June 2007 in December 2006.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Middlesbrough 11 Oct 1999 05 Mar 2004
Chesterfield 07 Mar 2003 04 May 2003 L
Northampton Town 23 Feb 2004 27 Feb 2004 T
Darlington 05 Mar 2004 30 Jun 2007

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2002-03 Chesterfield League Division 2 8
1
5
2002-03 Middlesbrough League Cup
1
1
2003-04 Darlington League Division 3 8
4
3
2004-05 Darlington FA Cup 2
2004-05 Darlington LDV Vans Trophy 1
2004-05 Darlington League Cup 1
2004-05 Darlington League Two 37
1
7
1
2005-06 Darlington League Two 4
2
2006-07 Darlington FA Cup 2
2006-07 Darlington Johnstones Paint Trophy 2
2006-07 Darlington League Cup 1
1
2006-07 Darlington League Two 26
1
4


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
08 Mar 2003 Chesterfield v Plymouth Argyle W 3-2 League Division 2
15 Mar 2003 Notts County v Chesterfield D 1-1 League Division 2
18 Mar 2003 Chesterfield v Colchester United L 0-4 League Division 2
22 Mar 2003 Chesterfield v Wycombe Wanderers W 4-0 League Division 2
19 Apr 2003 Oldham Athletic v Chesterfield L 4-0 League Division 2
21 Apr 2003 Chesterfield v Brentford L 0-2 League Division 2
26 Apr 2003 Chesterfield v Bristol City W 2-0 League Division 2
03 May 2003 Blackpool v Chesterfield D 1-1 League Division 2


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
1999-00 Northern Ireland UEFA Under-18
1
2000-01 Northern Ireland UEFA Under-18 2
1
2001-02 Northern Ireland UEFA Under-21 1
1
2001-02 Northern Ireland Under-21 1
2002-03 Northern Ireland UEFA Under-21 4
2
2002-03 Northern Ireland Under-21 1
2003-04 Northern Ireland UEFA Under-21 2
1
2003-04 Northern Ireland Under-23 1


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
11 May 2000 Northern Ireland v Ukraine D 2-2 UEFA U18 2nd round group 1
31 Oct 2000 Portugal v Northern Ireland L 1-0 UEFA U18 Group 14
02 Nov 2000 Northern Ireland v Norway L 1-3 UEFA U18 Group 14
04 Sep 2001 Northern Ireland v Iceland L 1-3 UEFA U21 Group 3
05 Oct 2001 Malta v Northern Ireland D 2-2 UEFA U21 Group 3
12 Feb 2002 Northern Ireland v Germany L 0-1 U21
06 Sep 2002 Scotland v Northern Ireland D 1-1 U21
11 Oct 2002 Spain v Northern Ireland L 1-0 UEFA U21 Group 6
15 Oct 2002 Northern Ireland v Ukraine D 1-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
28 Mar 2003 Armenia v Northern Ireland L 2-0 UEFA U21 Group 6
10 Jun 2003 Northern Ireland v Spain L 1-4 UEFA U21 Group 6
09 Sep 2003 Northern Ireland v Armenia W 3-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
10 Oct 2003 Greece v Northern Ireland W 0-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
27 Apr 2004 Northern Ireland v Serbia and Montenegro D 0-0 U23


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.