Darren Purse

Date of birth14 February 1977
Place of birthStepney
NationalityEnglish
Weight80 kg
Height1.88 m
PositionDefender/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
26 Nov 2011 Plymouth Argyle v Northampton Town W 4-1 League Two
10 Dec 2011 Bradford City v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
17 Dec 2011 Plymouth Argyle v Hereford United D 1-1 League Two
07 Jan 2012 Crewe Alexandra v Plymouth Argyle L 3-2 League Two
14 Jan 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Burton Albion W 2-1 League Two
21 Jan 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Crawley Town D 1-1 League Two
28 Jan 2012 Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle L 1-0 League Two
04 Feb 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Southend United D 2-2 League Two
14 Feb 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Barnet D 0-0 League Two
18 Feb 2012 Accrington Stanley v Plymouth Argyle W 0-4 League Two
25 Feb 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Dagenham and Redbridge D 0-0 League Two
28 Feb 2012 Macclesfield Town v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
03 Mar 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Gillingham L 0-1 League Two
06 Mar 2012 AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle W 1-2 League Two
10 Mar 2012 Rotherham United v Plymouth Argyle L 1-0 League Two
17 Mar 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Shrewsbury Town W 1-0 League Two
20 Mar 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Bristol Rovers D 1-1 League Two
24 Mar 2012 Northampton Town v Plymouth Argyle D 0-0 League Two
31 Mar 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Bradford City W 1-0 League Two
06 Apr 2012 Hereford United v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
09 Apr 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Aldershot Town W 1-0 League Two
14 Apr 2012 Swindon Town v Plymouth Argyle L 1-0 League Two
21 Apr 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Oxford United D 1-1 League Two
28 Apr 2012 Morecambe v Plymouth Argyle D 2-2 League Two
14 Aug 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth W 3-0 League Cup 1st round
18 Aug 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Aldershot Town L 0-2 League Two
21 Aug 2012 Dagenham and Redbridge v Plymouth Argyle D 0-0 League Two
25 Aug 2012 Oxford United v Plymouth Argyle L 2-1 League Two
01 Sep 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Northampton Town W 3-2 League Two
08 Sep 2012 Torquay United v Plymouth Argyle D 0-0 League Two
15 Sep 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Port Vale L 1-3 League Two
18 Sep 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Bristol Rovers D 1-1 League Two
22 Sep 2012 Morecambe v Plymouth Argyle W 2-3 League Two
29 Sep 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Southend United D 1-1 League Two
02 Oct 2012 Wycombe Wanderers v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
06 Oct 2012 Plymouth Argyle v AFC Wimbledon L 1-2 League Two
13 Oct 2012 Barnet v Plymouth Argyle W 1-4 League Two
20 Oct 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Rochdale W 3-1 League Two
23 Oct 2012 Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle L 2-1 League Two
10 Nov 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Gillingham D 2-2 League Two
17 Nov 2012 Fleetwood Town v Plymouth Argyle L 3-0 League Two
08 Dec 2012 Plymouth Argyle v York City W 2-0 League Two
15 Dec 2012 Exeter City v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
22 Dec 2012 Accrington Stanley v Plymouth Argyle D 1-1 League Two
26 Dec 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Torquay United D 1-1 League Two
29 Dec 2012 Plymouth Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers L 0-1 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
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.