Darren Byfield

Date of birth29 September 1976
Place of birthSutton Coldfield
NationalityJamaican
Weight75 kg
Height1.80 m
PositionForward

Byfield made his Aston Villa debut in December 1997 against Leeds United.

He did not break into the first team in 1998-99 and was loaned to Preston North End but returned early after picking up an injury.

He again went on loan at the start of the 1999-2000 season to Northampton Town.

A permenant deal looked on the cards but the asking price of £200,000 was out of Northampton's reach.

Another loan spell followed at Cambridge United and then at Blackpool, he was allowed surprisingly to join Walsall on a free transfer with a year left on his contract in June 2000.

Byfield received regular first-team football at Walsall in 2000-01 as manager Ray Graydon used him either to give the team a flying start or from the subs' bench to provide fresh legs.

He netted some vital goals, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute against Notts County and heading the late equaliser at Bournemouth.

His finest hour came in the second half of extra time in the Play-Off Final against Reading when he hit the unforgettable 20-yard match-winner that took Walsall back to Division One.

He is a pacy striker with quick reactions in the box and a great eye for goal.

He left to join Rotherham United for £50,000 in March 2002.

Byfield joined Sunderland in February 2004 with a contract to the end of the season. The deal included a player exchange with Michael Proctor.

He moved to Gillingham in July 2004 with a two-year contract.

Byfield joined Millwall in June 2006 with a three-year contract.

He joined Bristol City in August 2007 with a one-year contract.

Byfield joined Doncaster Rovers in July 2008 in a one-year deal.

He re-joined Walsall in August 2009 with a five-month contract that was extended to June 2011 in December 2009.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Aston Villa 14 Feb 1994 08 Jun 2000
Preston North End 16 Nov 1998 19 Jan 1999 L
Northampton Town 03 Aug 1999 12 Sep 1999 L
Cambridge United 17 Sep 1999 25 Oct 1999 L
Blackpool 06 Mar 2000 06 May 2000 L
Walsall 08 Jun 2000 27 Mar 2002
Rotherham United 27 Mar 2002 06 Feb 2004
Sunderland 06 Feb 2004 30 Jun 2004
Gillingham 20 Jul 2004 30 Jun 2006
Millwall 07 Jul 2006 30 Aug 2007
Bristol City 30 Aug 2007 30 Jun 2008
Doncaster Rovers 15 Jul 2008 30 Jun 2009
Oldham Athletic 14 Nov 2008 09 Jan 2009 L
Oldham Athletic 06 Aug 2009 25 Aug 2009
Walsall 28 Aug 2009 30 Jun 2011
Solihull Moors 23 Mar 2012 30 Jun 2012
AFC Telford United 07 Sep 2012 25 Jan 2013
Tamworth 25 Jan 2013

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1997-98 Aston Villa FA Cup
1
1997-98 Aston Villa Premier League 1
6
2
1998-99 Aston Villa League Cup 1
1998-99 Aston Villa UEFA Cup 1
1999-00 Northampton Town League Cup 1
1
2000-01 Walsall FA Cup 2
1
2000-01 Walsall LDV Vans Trophy 2
2000-01 Walsall League Cup 2
2
1
2000-01 Walsall League Division 2 21
19
9
5
2000-01 Walsall League Division 2 Play-Offs
2
1
2001-02 Rotherham United League Division 1 3
2
1
2001-02 Walsall FA Cup 2
1
1
1
2001-02 Walsall League Cup
1
1
2001-02 Walsall League Division 1 24
13
4
4
2002-03 Rotherham United League Cup
1
2002-03 Rotherham United League Division 1 24
13
13
6
2003-04 Rotherham United FA Cup 2
1
2003-04 Rotherham United League Cup 3
1
1
2003-04 Rotherham United League Division 1 26
2
7
4
2003-04 Sunderland League Division 1 8
9
5
4
2004-05 Gillingham FA Cup 1
2004-05 Gillingham League Championship 27
11
6
5
2005-06 Gillingham LDV Vans Trophy 1
1
2005-06 Gillingham League Cup 2
1
2005-06 Gillingham League One 27
2
13
8
2
2006-07 Millwall FA Cup 3
1
2006-07 Millwall Johnstones Paint Trophy 1
2006-07 Millwall League One 28
3
16
9
2007-08 Bristol City FA Cup 1
2007-08 Bristol City League Championship 17
16
8
5
2007-08 Bristol City League Championship Play-Offs
1
2008-09 Doncaster Rovers FA Cup
1
2008-09 Doncaster Rovers League Championship 3
12
2008-09 Oldham Athletic League One 8
1
1
2009-10 Oldham Athletic League Cup 1
2009-10 Oldham Athletic League One
3
2009-10 Walsall FA Cup 2
2009-10 Walsall Johnstones Paint Trophy 1
2009-10 Walsall League One 31
6
11
4
2010-11 Walsall League Cup 1
2010-11 Walsall League One 8
11
2
2013-14 Tamworth FA Cup
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2002-03 Jamaica International Friendly 1
2003-04 Jamaica CONCACAF Gold Cup 3
2003-04 Jamaica International Friendly 1
1
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
30 Apr 2003 South Africa v Jamaica D 0-0 International Friendly
06 Jul 2003 Jamaica v Cuba L 1-2 International Friendly
09 Jul 2003 Jamaica v Paraguay W 2-0 International Friendly
13 Jul 2003 Jamaica v Colombia L 0-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals Group B
15 Jul 2003 Guatemala v Jamaica W 0-2 CONCACAF Gold Cup Finals Group B
20 Jul 2003 Mexico v Jamaica L 5-0 CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarter-final


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