Brian Close
| Date of birth | 27 January 1982 |
| Place of birth | Belfast |
| Nationality | Northern Irish |
| Weight | 78 kg |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Position | Defender |
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
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| 2002-03 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 1 |
1
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| 2003-04 | Darlington | League Division 3 | 8 | 4 |
3
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| 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
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1
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| 2005-06 | Darlington | League Two | 4 | 2 |
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| 2006-07 | Darlington | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Darlington | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Darlington | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
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| 2006-07 | Darlington | League Two | 26 | 1 |
4
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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Mar 2004 | Macclesfield Town v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 09 Mar 2004 | Darlington v Cheltenham Town | W | 2-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 13 Mar 2004 | Darlington v Cambridge United | L | 3-4 | League Division 3 | |
| 20 Mar 2004 | Doncaster Rovers v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 27 Mar 2004 | Darlington v Torquay United | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 03 Apr 2004 | Boston United v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 10 Apr 2004 | Darlington v Mansfield Town | W | 1-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 12 Apr 2004 | Southend United v Darlington | L | 3-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 17 Apr 2004 | Darlington v Oxford United | W | 2-0 | League Division 3 | |
| 24 Apr 2004 | Lincoln City v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 01 May 2004 | Darlington v Swansea City | L | 1-2 | League Division 3 | |
| 08 May 2004 | Scunthorpe United v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Division 3 | |
| 07 Aug 2004 | Darlington v Grimsby Town | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 21 Aug 2004 | Darlington v Bristol Rovers | L | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 24 Aug 2004 | Darlington v Barnsley | L | 0-2 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 28 Aug 2004 | Chester City v Darlington | W | 0-3 | League Two | |
| 30 Aug 2004 | Darlington v Cambridge United | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 04 Sep 2004 | Darlington v Scunthorpe United | D | 0-0 | League Two | |
| 11 Sep 2004 | Rochdale v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 18 Sep 2004 | Darlington v Northampton Town | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 25 Sep 2004 | Macclesfield Town v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 28 Sep 2004 | Mansfield Town v Darlington | L | 0-0 (3-4) | LDV Vans Trophy | 1st round - northern section |
| 02 Oct 2004 | Darlington v Southend United | W | 4-0 | League Two | |
| 10 Oct 2004 | Oxford United v Darlington | W | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 16 Oct 2004 | Darlington v Bury | L | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 19 Oct 2004 | Notts County v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 30 Oct 2004 | Darlington v Wycombe Wanderers | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 06 Nov 2004 | Rushden and Diamonds v Darlington | W | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 13 Nov 2004 | Darlington v Yeovil Town | D | 3-3 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Swansea City v Darlington | L | 2-1 | League Two | |
| 20 Nov 2004 | Darlington v Lincoln City | L | 0-3 | League Two | |
| 23 Nov 2004 | Yeovil Town v Darlington | L | 1-0 | FA Cup | 1st round replay |
| 26 Nov 2004 | Cheltenham Town v Darlington | W | 0-2 | League Two | |
| 11 Dec 2004 | Darlington v Leyton Orient | W | 3-0 | League Two | |
| 18 Dec 2004 | Boston United v Darlington | L | 3-1 | League Two | |
| 26 Dec 2004 | Darlington v Rochdale | L | 0-3 | League Two | |
| 28 Dec 2004 | Shrewsbury Town v Darlington | L | 4-0 | League Two | |
| 01 Jan 2005 | Scunthorpe United v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 08 Jan 2005 | Darlington v Oxford United | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 15 Jan 2005 | Northampton Town v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 22 Jan 2005 | Darlington v Shrewsbury Town | W | 3-0 | League Two | |
| 29 Jan 2005 | Southend United v Darlington | L | 2-0 | League Two | |
| 05 Feb 2005 | Bury v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 12 Feb 2005 | Darlington v Notts County | L | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 19 Feb 2005 | Wycombe Wanderers v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 22 Feb 2005 | Darlington v Swansea City | W | 2-1 | League Two | |
| 26 Feb 2005 | Leyton Orient v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 05 Mar 2005 | Darlington v Boston United | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 12 Mar 2005 | Darlington v Yeovil Town | W | 2-1 | League Two | |
| 19 Mar 2005 | Grimsby Town v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 26 Mar 2005 | Darlington v Kidderminster Harriers | L | 0-2 | League Two | |
| 16 Apr 2005 | Mansfield Town v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 23 Apr 2005 | Darlington v Rushden and Diamonds | W | 2-0 | League Two | |
| 30 Apr 2005 | Lincoln City v Darlington | D | 0-0 | League Two | |
| 12 Nov 2005 | Darlington v Wycombe Wanderers | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 19 Nov 2005 | Macclesfield Town v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 26 Nov 2005 | Darlington v Rushden and Diamonds | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 26 Dec 2005 | Carlisle United v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 28 Dec 2005 | Darlington v Barnet | W | 2-1 | League Two | |
| 31 Dec 2005 | Lincoln City v Darlington | D | 2-2 | League Two | |
| 19 Aug 2006 | Darlington v Swindon Town | L | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 22 Aug 2006 | Stoke City v Darlington | W | 1-2 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 26 Aug 2006 | Walsall v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 01 Sep 2006 | Darlington v Torquay United | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 09 Sep 2006 | Peterborough United v Darlington | W | 1-3 | League Two | |
| 12 Sep 2006 | Darlington v Bury | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Darlington v Bristol Rovers | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 19 Sep 2006 | Reading v Darlington | L | 3-3 (2-4) | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 14 Oct 2006 | Hereford United v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 21 Oct 2006 | Darlington v Barnet | W | 2-0 | League Two | |
| 28 Oct 2006 | Hartlepool United v Darlington | D | 0-0 | League Two | |
| 03 Nov 2006 | Darlington v Chester City | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 11 Nov 2006 | Lewes v Darlington | W | 1-4 | FA Cup | 1st round |
| 18 Nov 2006 | Lincoln City v Darlington | W | 1-3 | League Two | |
| 25 Nov 2006 | Darlington v Milton Keynes Dons | W | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 28 Nov 2006 | Darlington v Mansfield Town | W | 1-0 | Johnstones Paint Trophy | Quarter-final - northern section |
| 02 Dec 2006 | Darlington v Swansea City | L | 1-3 | FA Cup | 2nd round |
| 05 Dec 2006 | Wycombe Wanderers v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 09 Dec 2006 | Stockport County v Darlington | L | 5-2 | League Two | |
| 16 Dec 2006 | Darlington v Notts County | L | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 23 Dec 2006 | Wrexham v Darlington | L | 1-0 | League Two | |
| 26 Dec 2006 | Darlington v Mansfield Town | L | 0-2 | League Two | |
| 30 Dec 2006 | Darlington v Shrewsbury Town | L | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 09 Jan 2007 | Doncaster Rovers v Darlington | L | 2-0 | Johnstones Paint Trophy | Semi-final - northern section |
| 13 Jan 2007 | Darlington v Peterborough United | W | 3-1 | League Two | |
| 16 Jan 2007 | Bury v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 20 Jan 2007 | Grimsby Town v Darlington | W | 0-1 | League Two | |
| 27 Jan 2007 | Darlington v Wrexham | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 03 Feb 2007 | Macclesfield Town v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 06 Feb 2007 | Bristol Rovers v Darlington | W | 1-2 | League Two | |
| 10 Feb 2007 | Darlington v Boston United | W | 2-0 | League Two | |
| 17 Feb 2007 | Swindon Town v Darlington | D | 1-1 | League Two | |
| 20 Feb 2007 | Darlington v Accrington Stanley | W | 2-1 | League Two | |
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 |
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| 2000-01 | Northern Ireland | UEFA Under-18 | 2 |
1
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| 2001-02 | Northern Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 1 | 1 |
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| 2001-02 | Northern Ireland | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Northern Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 4 |
2
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| 2002-03 | Northern Ireland | Under-21 | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Northern Ireland | UEFA Under-21 | 2 |
1
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| 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.